Carefully read the following poem by Mary Oliver. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how
Oliver conveys the relationship between the tree and family through the use of figurative language and other poetic
techniques.
Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Black Walnut Tree” works to reveal the connection that her family has to the black walnut tree in their yard and how that influences them. Oliver uses this poem to express the importance of the black walnut tree and the similarities between the speaker and her mother and their emotional attachment to the tree as well as the bond it forms between them and the history of their ancestors. It also shows the respect they have for their ancestors and the obligation they feel towards their heritage. Oliver depicts all of these aspects through the idea of the black walnut tree versus paying off the mortgage on their house.
The poem begins with the “debate” (1) about whether or not to cut down the “black walnut tree” (3) in order to “pay off the mortgage” (5). Through the debate, the speaker reveals that selling the tree is the wisest choice because of the “roots in the cellar drains” (10) and the fact that the “leave are getting heavier” (13) and the “fruit/harder to gather” (14-15). However, the two women do not choose to rid themselves of the tree despite their “difficult time” (10). Instead, they silently recognize that to cut down the tree would be to disgrace and dishonor their “fathers out of Bohemia” (22) and the need to “dig and sow” (19) that flows through their veins and that it would also lead them to “crawl with shame/in the emptiness.../in [their] own and [their] fathers’ backyard” (27-29). By the end of the poem the speaker has conveyed that she and her mother stem from a line of farmers and growers and that to cut down the tree would be to symbolically cut down their heritage.
The black walnut tree represents their family tree. In lines 13 through 15 the mother explains that “the leaves are getting heavier/every year, and the fruit/harder to gather.” While this shows the predicament of the tree, it also reflects the position of the family. The “leaves” (13) symbolize their ancestors. They are becoming “heavier” (13) as more and more of their family members pass on and prevent the tree from growing. The “fruit” (14) stands for the future generations of the lineage, which is becoming “harder to gather” (15) as the family shrinks. However, the speaker references the “roots in the cellar drains” (11) which show the deep connection that the family, both living and dead, has as they cannot be safely separated without leaving one or the other destroyed. The “whip-/crack of the mortgage” (34-35) is similar to the struggles that their ancestors may have faced when “filling the blue fields/of fresh and generous Ohio” (23-24) because, just as the money weighs them down, their Bohemian ancestors would have been hindered by the struggles of succeeding in a new land. This explains the use of the “whip-/crack” (34-35) which alludes to slavery or servitude in the history of their family before they were able to “dig and sow” (19) freely. The current struggle of the family, though, shows that they will never be free except in the “leaves and vines and orchards” (25) that are as much a part of them as their own relatives.
When I first read Mary Oliver’s “The Black Walnut Tree” it appeared to be very straight forward to me. But the more times I read it I began to detect the symbolism. I am interested to see what you all thought of the poem and my blog because my initial view on the poem was entirely different from the one I described in my blog which alerts me to the varied interpretations that might spring from this poem. I found it to be enlightening, much like the works of Virginia Woolf, because it continued to expand in my mind until I gained what I consider to be a full understanding once I gave it the opportunity to do so.
After reading your comment on my blog, I must say I feel the same way. I love how all of our blogs tend to be different, yet enlightening in their own ways. This was a really good analysis of the poem. I think that, as you said, after reading it a few times, we come to see more than just the primary things that are displayed in the poem. For you, you saw the tree as an extensive metaphor of their family. I think that is really cool, especially since I didn't see it quite that way. Now though, after reading your blog, I completely understand how you came to that realization. I like the idea of the tree being the past members of their family and the fruits being the new members. It is literally a "family tree". Great work!
Ann, I loved how you brought in the mention of a family tree. I guess I didn’t think hard enough about the poem to realize the reference and symbolism there. Fantastic catch there! I wish you would have mentioned with the part about the roots in the cellar drain about the tree also having roots that go deep into the ground and how they parallel each other in a way. Isn’t it strange that something like being unable to pay the mortgage on a house can be related to struggles such as trying to find a place to make something of yourself in a new country like the speaker’s ancestors did. I never really thought of the poem going into slavery but now that I read what you said, I can see it a little more clearly. They had to dig just like the slaves did. The speaker is a slave to whoever she owes the money to for her mortgage just as her ancestors were slaves to their masters. That was an excellent connection and am so happy you found it. It actually made me like the poem a little more than I had before reading your blog. I also enjoyed that you found enlightenment similar to what you found during your literary specialist project. I think it’s neat to see just how much things like a poem can create parallels and feelings about something we did previously in AP Lit or just in our lives in general. Good thinking this week!
Ann, That is not what I interpreted at all. Haha. But it makes so much sense. I did have a feeling that there was some kind of slavery going on in there. If I were to incorporate that into my blog, the women would be slaving away for the man that is hurting them. I feel you took this poem more literally than I did. I'm not criticizing you at all because many poems are very pointed like this one. However, I mentioned in my blog that something was missing. After reading your blog I was able to patch up some of the holes but not all. I combined both our interpretations into one in my head and it came out to be Jenny's life in Forest Gump. Great blog this week! I love seeing Howe everyone finds something different from one poem.
"The Black Walnut Tree" by Mary Oliver shows the relationship between a mother and daughter, strained by financial and emotional obstacles. The poem is a wealth of symbolism and purposeful diction, which, as a combination, make this poem very powerful and reminiscent of the hard life of farmers and those who rely on the produce of the earth to survive. Mary Oliver uses this poem to show her audience a relationship that is experiencing difficulties, but their one solution has negative aspects attached to it. The black walnut tree in the poem represents the longevity and strength of their family's relationship. This is the major form of symbolism found in the poem.
The black walnut tree is a big part of these people's lives. If it wasn't, they would have no qualms about cutting it down and selling it to the lumberman. But this is not the case. This mother and her daughter are in a bit of a financial crisis, to the point where they need the money from cutting down a tree, simple lumber money, to deal with the crisis. However, the poem states, "that the leaves are getting heavier every year, and the fruit harder to gather away" (13-15). This makes me feel as though the tree is actually very fruitful, which would be a benefit for the family. However, their profit would come over a long period of time, not in the short time needed to pay of the mortgage. Yet, this tree has more value than just the physical parts. This tree holds a significance to their family. It represents the hard work that " my fathers out of Bohemia filling the blue fields of fresh and generous Ohio" (22) did during their time when they were establishing their lives in America. The tree is their family's extensive past that digs deep into the earth, just as these people did when they planted the tree and their harvests.
Loosing the produce from the tree, and the monetary gain that it brings, is the big issue in this poem. There is no one there to reprimand the two women for giving away the lumber to pay off the mortgage, but their heritage is so important to them that they are determined to not betray their ancestors. The words that Mary Oliver uses are able to convey the relationship between the mother and daughter and the tree and the family. She uses "churn" to describe an action like a tree blowing down, and this brings the reader to think of earlier times, the times when her ancestors would have lived and their efforts to survive. Then, she uses "whip crack" in the final line to describe the mortgage. Whip crack draws the reader to think of the mortgage as a violent p, controlling force, which in a sense it is. They are suffering through hard times, and this word reflects that on to the mother and daughter, and their ancestors. However, the tree is the one connecting point because it is the one thing that can save them.
I really loved this poem. The words used were powerful and were able to evoke a lot of emotion in the poem. The relationships found in it were interesting too, and I like how she tried to convey them in a natural way. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it too. I actually want to read more of her poetry because it's so beautifully written.
Hannah, What I really loved about your blog, besides it being different from mine, was how you said that the tree connected them by being the one thing that could save them. This thought struck me because the black walnut tree has the potential to save them financially but also emotionally. They problem the mother and speaker recognize is that by being saved from one they must suffer the other. I got the feeling from this poem that the mother and speaker were part of a dwindling family - they seemed alone to me. The tree then came to represent all of the people that came before and might come after them. Cutting the tree down, in my mind, was parallel to ending the family heritage. That was the symbolism I essentially drew from this. I liked how you focused on the mother/daughter relationship - it reminded me of Kaitlin's literary specialist! I did not sense as much of the relationship as you did. I saw it as more of a symbol than a motive in the poem which led me to find your blog interesting as we discovered different things. Good job with your interpretation, I really enjoyed the fresh perspective!
Hannah, I also found symbolism the biggest form of figurative language in the poem! I think that most of us in the class will because of just how much there actually is. I mean there’s the tree, the roots, the storm, etc. I didn’t quite get the same feeling with lines 13-15 about the leaves getting heavier. I actually took it as the tree was getting older and the leaves were getting heavier because of that. The fruit was hard to gather because there wasn’t as much fruit as there used to be because the leaves are so heavy. I took it almost as if the leaves were so heavy that the tree couldn’t bare all of them as well as much fruit. I see where you’re coming from, I just don’t necessarily agree with you. I think it might have been good to mention at the end of your second paragraph the line about the roots sinking into the cellar because you talked about how the tree dug down into the earth (like roots do). I think it would have added a little bit more and just brought your blog up to a little higher level; not that it was not already fabulous. Good thoughts this week. It was nice to read your analysis of this poem.
I was blown away by the amount of symbolism in this poem! There was so much that I found, and I am noticing more now that I am reading everyone else's blogs. In your blog specifically, I love how you said that the black walnut tree itself represented longevity and strength in regards to the relationship of the family. Maybe I'm weird, but I love the word longevity and I am so happy that you used it, especially describing all that the tree stood for in the poem. It truly is the best description. This was such a beautifully written poem, and I really enjoyed it. I'm glad that you did too! It deffinately makes it much easier to analyze. Anyway, your blog was wonderful.You really had a good understand of the poem and you did a great job and organizing and explaining your thoughts. Plus, your vocabulary is amazing. It always blows me away, and I admire it greatly. Wonderful job this weekend, see you soon!
Hannah, I was happy when I read your blog because we seem to have similar views about the purpose and symbolism found in the poem. I loved how you said that the tree represented the longevity and strength of the family. These are beautiful words to describe the tree. I love this poem, and I feel like Mary Oliver wanted to display how important it is to sustain memories of our past ancestors and the hardwork they put forth in order for our lives to be where they are today. I think that was the main struggle the two women were going through. They did not want to shame their family by selling the tree that contains so much history just to fix whatever financial crisis they were suffering from. That just goes to show how the extremes that some people go to to preserve memories. I liked that you mentioned that there would be no one to reprimand the two women if they were to sell the tree. I thought that really pointed out how much they valued the past work of their fathers. You did a wonderful job on this blog, Hannah. Your opinion is always strong and I love it. Great work!
“The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver was not one of my favorite poems we have read this year. In fact, I was not all that fond of it at all, if I’m being honest. However, I do have a healthy level of respect for the poem because of the incredible use of figurative language found within the piece. The poem is in a free verse format and because of this, the structure and meaning behind the poem is less intense and more interpretative. Reading the poem quickly yesterday, I thought the poem was just about a tree and trying to justify getting rid of it in some way before the big storm came and destroyed it. I had no idea how I was going to tie in family. Now that I read it again though, I see that it (the tree) can be related to hard times amongst a family.
Symbolism is the biggest form of figurative language I detected in the poem. The tree meant something to the family. This was comprehendible when the speaker said “what my mother and I both know/ is that we'd crawl with shame/ in the emptiness we'd made/ in our own and our fathers' backyard” (26/27/28/29). They know turning against each other will only separate them in the end and is the complete opposite of what their ancestors would have wanted. The “emptiness we’d made” (28) is a symbol that represents the regret they would feel for separating themselves but also for selling the tree. The roots of the tree represent and symbolize the roots that the family has in one another. Without the roots, the tree cannot stand just as without connection and understanding, the family cannot stand. The tree, besides symbolizing what the roots of what their family stands for, is a representation of all the hard work their ancestors have put into making the land, and the family, what it is during the time of writing the poem. Because of this realization, the speaker and his/her family decide to keep the tree to remind them of their roots and hard work.
The tone is the second thing I really noticed in the poem. It varies several different times. At first it is questioning and unsure. It leaves the reader unsure of where the poem is going. It quickly shifts, however, to something more negative in line six. In the sixth line of the poem, the tone becomes pessimistic to the point where the reader continues to wonder why the poem was written in the first place. The speaker does not know if they should sell the tree or not and then he/she says that the tree is more than likely going to be destroyed in an upcoming storm anyway. At this point in the piece, I really wanted to stop reading. I persevered though and am happy I did. The tone changes again towards the middle of the work. It becomes more positive and optimistic. The speaker contemplates the benefits of keeping the tree because of the sentimental value it offers. The lines “But something brighter than money/ moves in our blood–an edge/ sharp and quick as a trowel/ that wants us to dig and sow” (16/17/18/19) tell of the meaning of the tree. Although it could help the speaker pay off the mortgage, it would bring more regrets and sorrow than being in debt currently does.
Although I was not the biggest fan of this poem, I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read it. It has a much deeper meaning than I originally thought, however, I feel like there could have been something else added. Personally, I felt as if I was missing something; I was always waiting for something else to happen, like something else to come up, but nothing ever did. So there was that disappointment in there, but overall I believe that this poem uses figurative language to express the relationship/connection between an object (the tree) and something everyone has or has had at one point in time (a family).
The poem “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver is not what I had expected it to be at all. Sylvia Plath is still stuck in my head, so I guess that had an influence on what I was expecting to read. Immediately upon seeing the title of this weekends poem, I thought of one of Sylvia Plaths biggest metaphors, specifically from the Bell Jar, the fig tree. Therfore, I had this preconception and separate expectations of what “The Black Walnut Tree” would be like. This poem was not what I had expected it to be like at all. This poem was very family oriented and, in my own opinion, had a very calming, positive tone. The poem tells the story of the Black Walnut Tree and the role it plays in the life of a small family who I had assumed lost their father. In this poem, it is discovered that the meaning behind the tree is more valuable than the money that could come from selling it.
Reading this poem, I could actually picture the scene in my head. The descriptions were straight-forward to the point that you knew what they were describing, yet vague enough that you could imagine it in your own way. Along with the imagery in the poem, there was also an exceptional amount of symbolism. The symbolism was my favorite part. Now, the Black Walnut Tree serves as such a great symbol right from the start. I don’t know a lot about trees, but I swear I remember that a speaker came into Mr. Winklebauers room awhile back and said something about how Black Walnut wood was very rich and expensive. I cant quite remember for sure though, so I tried to look some information up online about Black Walnut Trees. I must be bad at technology, because I couldn’t find what I was looking for. All I could find was the definition of a walnut. This might sound irrelevent, and maybe it is, but I think I found some symbolism in the walnut itself with the poems meaning. Online I found that the walnut consists of “two halves contained within a hard shell”. So, when I read this, I immediately thought of the two halves being the speaker and the speakers mother, while the hard shell was the father. The tree had kept all three of them together. I hope that makes sense, because it made sense when I thought of it.
Through this poem, I was able to find a deeper meaning. It honestly brought back a lot of memories for me as well. My grandparents used to have this huge tree right in the front of the house, kind of like the tree in the poem. Except, I don’t think it was a Black Walnut tree. Maybe an oak? Like I said earlier, I don’t know much about trees. Anyways, our story with this tree was much like the poems story with their tree. Our tree was a danger to the house as it was too big and too close, and the roots were hitting the pipes in the basement. No body wanted to cut down the tree, but we all talked about how we had too. Unlike the poem however, we actually did have to cut down the tree in the end because the tree died… but thats a whole separate story. When the tree did die it was a very emotional time as my grandfather had died as well. There are a lot of sentimentals that go along. I think that that might be why I feel such a strong connection to this poem, and why I enjoyed it so much.
Felicia, I thought your second paragraph was my favorite, but then I read your third! What you focused on this week was relatable and, in a way, universal because I believe that we all have an item that we feel ties us to the past and our family. I have had two trees in my life. The first was in Warren. My sister and I climbed in it all the time, pretending we were characters from Lord of the Rings or just talking. When my mom and I drove past shortly after we sold the house the tree was gone. It felt like a blow to my childhood, as if I had no choice to let it end. The second is in my grandparents yard and all of my cousins were in that tree at one time or another. We sold their house after they died and the tree is no longer ours but seeing it still reminds me of the cousin I lost and the ones I never see as well as my grandparents.
That was really off topic, sorry for turning my response into a mini autobiography. Anyway, I just loved how you brought about the idea that we are all interwoven in the nature around us. Its weird but I know the feeling of the grass I used to play in and I know the sound of the birds that wake me up every morning. Was Oliver trying to say something deeper on this subject? I think you definitely touched on it if she was trying to do that. And relating the family to the walnut was beautiful! If the father is the shell and he is gone then you have the two individual women who are separate but still one. I loved your blog this week - the two ideas that you focused on brought me incredible new thoughts about this poem! Fantastic work! By the way - a black walnut 4x4 costs around $10.00 according to the minimal research I just did.
What an awesome blog! I love how you tied in your own personal stories to be blog, especially how Mr. Winklbauer and his knowledge of materials gave you some new ideas for the poem. The whole thing with the walnuts was a really interesting concept because these two were two parts of a whole. But, they were connected and cocooned from any outside influences with the men being gone. These were some really great ideas and I love how you are forever able to bring in things that influence you. Great job!!
This poem I found to be actually quite intriguing for several different reasons. One, if they would simply sell the tree it would solve their financial problem. Two, if the tree has become burdensome later on the logical thing in our age would be to cut it down. Then they are concerned about disappointing their "fathers" (22), who came from “Bohemia" (22). The one thing I could not pick up is if the speaker was male, or female.
The speaker is truly a traditional oriented individual seeing as they care about what their forefather would think of them. However, their financial problems are the root of this poem, and it subtly reminds me of blues poetry. A poem about a struggle, but has deeper meaning that subtly comes through. The two characters, presumably mother and daughter, are struggling through a tough financial period, and the source of their problem is a "black walnut tree" (3). If they sold the tree "to the lumberman" (4) their problems such as: "roots in the cellar drains" (11), “leaves are getting heavier" (13), "the fruit [is getting] harder to gather" (14/15), and their "mortgage" payment would go away. Instead they struggle through this hard time, and keep the tree. For reasons such as not wanting to disrespect/dishonor their forefathers. I personally find this quite admiral, especially since they have decided to work their way through it. They claim that "there is something brighter than money in [their] blood" (16/17), which can be taken different ways to mean stubbornness, honor (as mentioned), or hope.
The one thing that truly stood out for me in the imagery used in this piece. Some of the examples in this poem are strong if you have had experience with them. For example, all the problems with the tree are understandable, if you have worked with trees of the breed. Trees roots can easily compromise a house's foundation if it finds a crack to grow into. Another thing to look at is my absolute favorite piece of imagery in this piece, "the whip/crack of the mortgage" (34/35). If you have ever heard a fresh whip crack, it is something you'll never forget. If I were to describe it I'd have to say, it rings for a short while stinging the air like a hornet to skin. A lot of the wording is geared towards you seeing not only the physical picture, but also an emotional one. As the speaker takes you back to their past in Bohemia, Ohio; the speaker describes the fields around were they lived exposing her natures origin.
I must say that this is not my most favorite poem we have ever read, but it's something different from the normal sonnet, or ballad. I believe that my analysis of this poem is nowhere near scratching the surface of the true meaning behind this piece. I could be completely off, or on the right track. I have no clue, but I am extremely glad it wasn't another talk for this week’s blog.
Before I comment on your blog I would just like to answer the question you posed at the end of your first paragraph, "if the speaker was male or female." I believe that the speaker was female. In the poem, lines 8-10 state "We talk/ slowly, two women trying/in a difficult time to be wise." I wondered the same thing at first! I had thought the speaker was a female from the start, but I couldn't tell for sure so I went back and found this line as proof. You did a good job at explaining your view on the poem throughout the blog. While I don't agree with everything you said, I really enjoyed reading your opinion and finding out what you got out of the poem. I am always amazed how one poem can mean so many different things, all depending on who is reading it. I respect your last paragraph where you admitted your honest opinion. I agree, it was a nice change. I laughed at your last sentence about the talks! Nice blog, Devyn.
Devyn, First of all, I agree with Felicia in that the speaker was a female. I think that beside the evidence she pointed out, it would also be less of an emotional attachment for a male, at least I think it would. Anyway, we have very similar views on this poem. I liked the way you described what was happening in the poem. While finishing up your blog, it left me wondering if there is a tie between the roots and the whip of the mortgage after you nicely detailed each. I started to think that maybe I was completely wrong in my opinion in that they weren't necessarily afraid of disappointing their ancestors, but more afraid of what the man who once lived with them would do if he were to come back and see the tree gone. Honestly this could be totally wrong as well, but that's poetry for ya. Overall, this was a really great blog, Devyn. I am also glad it was not another podcast. Haha, I was really disappointed last weekend when I saw the topic.
Mary Oliver's "The Black Walnut Tree" is a poem about a daughter and her mother making decisions on their own. Not only this, but a mother is trying to pay for shelter for the both of them to survive. They have to decide to keep the tree that is endangering their home, or sell it to the lumberman for money to pay off the mortgage. I see them as "all talk, no action" type of people. They know that they should sell it, but the roots are crushing the pipes. Even if the lumberman cut the tree down to save the exterior of the house and the women could pay off the mortgage, the tree would still be destroying it.
The use of imagery plays a big part in this poem. I personified the tree as a male. The color black is used to symbolize the evil and malice certain individuals bring upon their wife and children. The lumberman would be the police, and the mortgage is something more personal. So what would the house be? It's their bodies. This man is bringing physical pains into their life. However, it all started with emotions. The roots are begin in the heart, which is connected to he memories of what would happen if they did anything to offend the man that is harming the both of them. If they did turn in this man in, they would lose someone that they believed was close to them and the emotional pain would still be rooted within them. They would still be crushing under his power. Their mortgage is their self satisfaction. They would be proud of their decision to let go. It wouldn't last for long though.
My favorite line in this poem is "But something brighter than money moves in our blood" (16-17). This immediately told me that the man that they were saving was worth more than them. They loved this man, even though he brought much misery to their life. I have a hard time understanding how these women put up with that. My pain tolerance is pretty low. Quite honestly, I don't care how much someone is "worth." If they're bringing pain or are the cause of pain in my life they aren't the person I want in my life. I won't fight to keep someone like that in my life either. This man feels his confidence boosts is through harming women because they're "easier." In this case, they are. They letting him "win," whatever that means at this point. I feel bad for these women for allowing one person to ruin their life, but at the same time they have the power to stop the psychical pain. Over time and with some help, the emotional pains can become bearable.
This analysis is all my opinion. I feel like I'm on the right track, but I'm missing something. Hopefully after I read some other ones I'll be able to understand it a little bit better. I do like this poem a lot. I can relate to the version I presented. However, if this is domestic violence I cannot relate to it. I do like this poem a lot. It's beautifully written and the ending is haunting. I just love poetry.
Kaitlin, I must say Kaitlin I love your second paragraph, and your thoughts of the imagery/symbols. The ideas you propose in this blog are completely understandable. The only thing I must say now it sounds more of an abusive relationship than a blues poem, as I suggested in my blog. However, your ideals are supported and well thought out, I feel like something isn't right. Nothing against you or your blog it just doesn't sit well with me. My favorite line is also "But something brighter than money moves in our blood" (16-17). These lines do show the characters true strength, but also their hope. They are strong enough to endure the pain, as you put it from a man, which means they are do put up with a lot of ****. They hope one day with some help to one day be freed of their burden, the mortgage, and the tree.
Mary Oliver's "The Black Walnut Tree" is an extremely touching poem. I honestly fell in love with the words as the whole theme of the poem is really relatable. Oliver utilized different tactics to capture the attention of her audience and keep it even after they have finished reading the poem.
The poem starts with a mother and daughter discussing the future of the old black walnut tree on their land. It seems like they are gearing more towards selling it to the lumberman because they need the financial aid and there is a good chance the tree could fall down and crush their home. As the tree has aged, the roots have ventured into their cellar, causing a leakage onto the cold floor. The tree is producing more and more fruits each year, something that should be welcomed but is actually a burden for the two women. Yet despite these factors, the mother/daughter duo recall how much their husband/father adored the black walnut. The two women know they would be ashamed of themselves if they were to dig the old tree out of the ground, no matter how much they need the money.
Personally, I feel like the tree symbolizes their last tie with the loving father. It's kind of like when somebody in your family dies and you can't bring yourself to throw some of their belongings away because it carried so much significance to the loved one. This tree is the mother and daughter's way to remember their loved one, and they can't afford to lose that piece of the past. This tree serves as a source for their family history to reside, and that is something worth preserving.
There was a significant change from a more literal sense to a figurative language. This change occurs when the narrator writes "But something brighter than money / moves in our blood" (16-17). This shift represents the change in thought the two women go through to remember how much labor the husband/father performed in order to keep them alive, and they cannot see a better reason to rid themselves of the tree, not even a financial need. The author of the poem, Mary Oliver, conveys the purpose of the writing thoroughly by the imagery presented. I could easily visualize the old tree producing plenty of fruit while also being a burden for the two women. I was able to feel their grief when they decided to do nothing about the tree, allowing it and the memories of their hardworking fathers to remain alive for years to come.
I absolutely love this poem. The words are simply beautiful, and the symbolization found beneath each line mesmerizes me. Mary Oliver is a genius. I feel like this poem would have gone along perfectly with Kaitlin's literary specialist, but that is just me. I hope we read a few more poems of Oliver's, especially if they are as good as this one.
Natalie, First of all, I think it would have went well with my project too. Haha. I find your blog similar to mine, but still the complete opposite. Why? Because the mother and daughter are trying to save themselves from something unhealthy even though they don't want to be saved. It's quite confusing, really. I personally found the roots to play a major part of in this poem. You didn't use the roots as much as I did, or Ann did for instance. She used it to describe how cutting down the tree would be cutting her family apart. I saw it as though the mother/daughter were being manipulated by the roots. In your blog, it's a bit blurry. Although, I do see they can be rooted in their love for their husband/father. Great blog this week. This poem brought so much this week.
Natalie, I feel that your base analysis of this poem was spot on, but I want to focus on your symbolization that caught my eye. I agree that the tree is a symbol of their ties to ancestors that they are connected to through its roots. If so that was one of my worst puns I apologize. The idea is truly simple just elusive till pointed out, which I'm glad you did. The tree then serves as family history tree, which becomes something worth keeping around. I feel like your explanation of the figurative language did explain a lot, like the shift, but a lot of it seemed to be the same material. Unlike you I didn't actually enjoy this poem, the words didn't speak much to me. Perhaps I'll get more into the next poem if we analyze anymore of Oliver's works. Well done Natalie, I look forward to the next.
Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Black Walnut Tree” works to reveal the connection that her family has to the black walnut tree in their yard and how that influences them. Oliver uses this poem to express the importance of the black walnut tree and the similarities between the speaker and her mother and their emotional attachment to the tree as well as the bond it forms between them and the history of their ancestors. It also shows the respect they have for their ancestors and the obligation they feel towards their heritage. Oliver depicts all of these aspects through the idea of the black walnut tree versus paying off the mortgage on their house.
ReplyDeleteThe poem begins with the “debate” (1) about whether or not to cut down the “black walnut tree” (3) in order to “pay off the mortgage” (5). Through the debate, the speaker reveals that selling the tree is the wisest choice because of the “roots in the cellar drains” (10) and the fact that the “leave are getting heavier” (13) and the “fruit/harder to gather” (14-15). However, the two women do not choose to rid themselves of the tree despite their “difficult time” (10). Instead, they silently recognize that to cut down the tree would be to disgrace and dishonor their “fathers out of Bohemia” (22) and the need to “dig and sow” (19) that flows through their veins and that it would also lead them to “crawl with shame/in the emptiness.../in [their] own and [their] fathers’ backyard” (27-29). By the end of the poem the speaker has conveyed that she and her mother stem from a line of farmers and growers and that to cut down the tree would be to symbolically cut down their heritage.
The black walnut tree represents their family tree. In lines 13 through 15 the mother explains that “the leaves are getting heavier/every year, and the fruit/harder to gather.” While this shows the predicament of the tree, it also reflects the position of the family. The “leaves” (13) symbolize their ancestors. They are becoming “heavier” (13) as more and more of their family members pass on and prevent the tree from growing. The “fruit” (14) stands for the future generations of the lineage, which is becoming “harder to gather” (15) as the family shrinks. However, the speaker references the “roots in the cellar drains” (11) which show the deep connection that the family, both living and dead, has as they cannot be safely separated without leaving one or the other destroyed. The “whip-/crack of the mortgage” (34-35) is similar to the struggles that their ancestors may have faced when “filling the blue fields/of fresh and generous Ohio” (23-24) because, just as the money weighs them down, their Bohemian ancestors would have been hindered by the struggles of succeeding in a new land. This explains the use of the “whip-/crack” (34-35) which alludes to slavery or servitude in the history of their family before they were able to “dig and sow” (19) freely. The current struggle of the family, though, shows that they will never be free except in the “leaves and vines and orchards” (25) that are as much a part of them as their own relatives.
When I first read Mary Oliver’s “The Black Walnut Tree” it appeared to be very straight forward to me. But the more times I read it I began to detect the symbolism. I am interested to see what you all thought of the poem and my blog because my initial view on the poem was entirely different from the one I described in my blog which alerts me to the varied interpretations that might spring from this poem. I found it to be enlightening, much like the works of Virginia Woolf, because it continued to expand in my mind until I gained what I consider to be a full understanding once I gave it the opportunity to do so.
Ann,
DeleteAfter reading your comment on my blog, I must say I feel the same way. I love how all of our blogs tend to be different, yet enlightening in their own ways. This was a really good analysis of the poem. I think that, as you said, after reading it a few times, we come to see more than just the primary things that are displayed in the poem. For you, you saw the tree as an extensive metaphor of their family. I think that is really cool, especially since I didn't see it quite that way. Now though, after reading your blog, I completely understand how you came to that realization. I like the idea of the tree being the past members of their family and the fruits being the new members. It is literally a "family tree". Great work!
Ann,
DeleteI loved how you brought in the mention of a family tree. I guess I didn’t think hard enough about the poem to realize the reference and symbolism there. Fantastic catch there! I wish you would have mentioned with the part about the roots in the cellar drain about the tree also having roots that go deep into the ground and how they parallel each other in a way. Isn’t it strange that something like being unable to pay the mortgage on a house can be related to struggles such as trying to find a place to make something of yourself in a new country like the speaker’s ancestors did. I never really thought of the poem going into slavery but now that I read what you said, I can see it a little more clearly. They had to dig just like the slaves did. The speaker is a slave to whoever she owes the money to for her mortgage just as her ancestors were slaves to their masters. That was an excellent connection and am so happy you found it. It actually made me like the poem a little more than I had before reading your blog. I also enjoyed that you found enlightenment similar to what you found during your literary specialist project. I think it’s neat to see just how much things like a poem can create parallels and feelings about something we did previously in AP Lit or just in our lives in general. Good thinking this week!
Ann,
DeleteThat is not what I interpreted at all. Haha. But it makes so much sense. I did have a feeling that there was some kind of slavery going on in there. If I were to incorporate that into my blog, the women would be slaving away for the man that is hurting them. I feel you took this poem more literally than I did. I'm not criticizing you at all because many poems are very pointed like this one. However, I mentioned in my blog that something was missing. After reading your blog I was able to patch up some of the holes but not all. I combined both our interpretations into one in my head and it came out to be Jenny's life in Forest Gump. Great blog this week! I love seeing Howe everyone finds something different from one poem.
"The Black Walnut Tree" by Mary Oliver shows the relationship between a mother and daughter, strained by financial and emotional obstacles. The poem is a wealth of symbolism and purposeful diction, which, as a combination, make this poem very powerful and reminiscent of the hard life of farmers and those who rely on the produce of the earth to survive. Mary Oliver uses this poem to show her audience a relationship that is experiencing difficulties, but their one solution has negative aspects attached to it. The black walnut tree in the poem represents the longevity and strength of their family's relationship. This is the major form of symbolism found in the poem.
ReplyDeleteThe black walnut tree is a big part of these people's lives. If it wasn't, they would have no qualms about cutting it down and selling it to the lumberman. But this is not the case. This mother and her daughter are in a bit of a financial crisis, to the point where they need the money from cutting down a tree, simple lumber money, to deal with the crisis. However, the poem states, "that the leaves are getting heavier every year, and the fruit harder to gather away" (13-15). This makes me feel as though the tree is actually very fruitful, which would be a benefit for the family. However, their profit would come over a long period of time, not in the short time needed to pay of the mortgage. Yet, this tree has more value than just the physical parts. This tree holds a significance to their family. It represents the hard work that " my fathers out of Bohemia filling the blue fields of fresh and generous Ohio" (22) did during their time when they were establishing their lives in America. The tree is their family's extensive past that digs deep into the earth, just as these people did when they planted the tree and their harvests.
Loosing the produce from the tree, and the monetary gain that it brings, is the big issue in this poem. There is no one there to reprimand the two women for giving away the lumber to pay off the mortgage, but their heritage is so important to them that they are determined to not betray their ancestors. The words that Mary Oliver uses are able to convey the relationship between the mother and daughter and the tree and the family. She uses "churn" to describe an action like a tree blowing down, and this brings the reader to think of earlier times, the times when her ancestors would have lived and their efforts to survive. Then, she uses "whip crack" in the final line to describe the mortgage. Whip crack draws the reader to think of the mortgage as a violent p, controlling force, which in a sense it is. They are suffering through hard times, and this word reflects that on to the mother and daughter, and their ancestors. However, the tree is the one connecting point because it is the one thing that can save them.
I really loved this poem. The words used were powerful and were able to evoke a lot of emotion in the poem. The relationships found in it were interesting too, and I like how she tried to convey them in a natural way. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it too. I actually want to read more of her poetry because it's so beautifully written.
Hannah,
DeleteWhat I really loved about your blog, besides it being different from mine, was how you said that the tree connected them by being the one thing that could save them. This thought struck me because the black walnut tree has the potential to save them financially but also emotionally. They problem the mother and speaker recognize is that by being saved from one they must suffer the other. I got the feeling from this poem that the mother and speaker were part of a dwindling family - they seemed alone to me. The tree then came to represent all of the people that came before and might come after them. Cutting the tree down, in my mind, was parallel to ending the family heritage. That was the symbolism I essentially drew from this. I liked how you focused on the mother/daughter relationship - it reminded me of Kaitlin's literary specialist! I did not sense as much of the relationship as you did. I saw it as more of a symbol than a motive in the poem which led me to find your blog interesting as we discovered different things. Good job with your interpretation, I really enjoyed the fresh perspective!
Hannah,
DeleteI also found symbolism the biggest form of figurative language in the poem! I think that most of us in the class will because of just how much there actually is. I mean there’s the tree, the roots, the storm, etc. I didn’t quite get the same feeling with lines 13-15 about the leaves getting heavier. I actually took it as the tree was getting older and the leaves were getting heavier because of that. The fruit was hard to gather because there wasn’t as much fruit as there used to be because the leaves are so heavy. I took it almost as if the leaves were so heavy that the tree couldn’t bare all of them as well as much fruit. I see where you’re coming from, I just don’t necessarily agree with you. I think it might have been good to mention at the end of your second paragraph the line about the roots sinking into the cellar because you talked about how the tree dug down into the earth (like roots do). I think it would have added a little bit more and just brought your blog up to a little higher level; not that it was not already fabulous. Good thoughts this week. It was nice to read your analysis of this poem.
Hannah,
DeleteI was blown away by the amount of symbolism in this poem! There was so much that I found, and I am noticing more now that I am reading everyone else's blogs. In your blog specifically, I love how you said that the black walnut tree itself represented longevity and strength in regards to the relationship of the family. Maybe I'm weird, but I love the word longevity and I am so happy that you used it, especially describing all that the tree stood for in the poem. It truly is the best description. This was such a beautifully written poem, and I really enjoyed it. I'm glad that you did too! It deffinately makes it much easier to analyze. Anyway, your blog was wonderful.You really had a good understand of the poem and you did a great job and organizing and explaining your thoughts. Plus, your vocabulary is amazing. It always blows me away, and I admire it greatly. Wonderful job this weekend, see you soon!
Hannah,
DeleteI was happy when I read your blog because we seem to have similar views about the purpose and symbolism found in the poem. I loved how you said that the tree represented the longevity and strength of the family. These are beautiful words to describe the tree. I love this poem, and I feel like Mary Oliver wanted to display how important it is to sustain memories of our past ancestors and the hardwork they put forth in order for our lives to be where they are today. I think that was the main struggle the two women were going through. They did not want to shame their family by selling the tree that contains so much history just to fix whatever financial crisis they were suffering from. That just goes to show how the extremes that some people go to to preserve memories. I liked that you mentioned that there would be no one to reprimand the two women if they were to sell the tree. I thought that really pointed out how much they valued the past work of their fathers. You did a wonderful job on this blog, Hannah. Your opinion is always strong and I love it. Great work!
“The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver was not one of my favorite poems we have read this year. In fact, I was not all that fond of it at all, if I’m being honest. However, I do have a healthy level of respect for the poem because of the incredible use of figurative language found within the piece. The poem is in a free verse format and because of this, the structure and meaning behind the poem is less intense and more interpretative. Reading the poem quickly yesterday, I thought the poem was just about a tree and trying to justify getting rid of it in some way before the big storm came and destroyed it. I had no idea how I was going to tie in family. Now that I read it again though, I see that it (the tree) can be related to hard times amongst a family.
ReplyDeleteSymbolism is the biggest form of figurative language I detected in the poem. The tree meant something to the family. This was comprehendible when the speaker said “what my mother and I both know/ is that we'd crawl with shame/ in the emptiness we'd made/ in our own and our fathers' backyard” (26/27/28/29). They know turning against each other will only separate them in the end and is the complete opposite of what their ancestors would have wanted. The “emptiness we’d made” (28) is a symbol that represents the regret they would feel for separating themselves but also for selling the tree. The roots of the tree represent and symbolize the roots that the family has in one another. Without the roots, the tree cannot stand just as without connection and understanding, the family cannot stand. The tree, besides symbolizing what the roots of what their family stands for, is a representation of all the hard work their ancestors have put into making the land, and the family, what it is during the time of writing the poem. Because of this realization, the speaker and his/her family decide to keep the tree to remind them of their roots and hard work.
The tone is the second thing I really noticed in the poem. It varies several different times. At first it is questioning and unsure. It leaves the reader unsure of where the poem is going. It quickly shifts, however, to something more negative in line six. In the sixth line of the poem, the tone becomes pessimistic to the point where the reader continues to wonder why the poem was written in the first place. The speaker does not know if they should sell the tree or not and then he/she says that the tree is more than likely going to be destroyed in an upcoming storm anyway. At this point in the piece, I really wanted to stop reading. I persevered though and am happy I did. The tone changes again towards the middle of the work. It becomes more positive and optimistic. The speaker contemplates the benefits of keeping the tree because of the sentimental value it offers. The lines “But something brighter than money/ moves in our blood–an edge/ sharp and quick as a trowel/ that wants us to dig and sow” (16/17/18/19) tell of the meaning of the tree. Although it could help the speaker pay off the mortgage, it would bring more regrets and sorrow than being in debt currently does.
Although I was not the biggest fan of this poem, I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read it. It has a much deeper meaning than I originally thought, however, I feel like there could have been something else added. Personally, I felt as if I was missing something; I was always waiting for something else to happen, like something else to come up, but nothing ever did. So there was that disappointment in there, but overall I believe that this poem uses figurative language to express the relationship/connection between an object (the tree) and something everyone has or has had at one point in time (a family).
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ReplyDeleteThe poem “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver is not what I had expected it to be at all. Sylvia Plath is still stuck in my head, so I guess that had an influence on what I was expecting to read. Immediately upon seeing the title of this weekends poem, I thought of one of Sylvia Plaths biggest metaphors, specifically from the Bell Jar, the fig tree. Therfore, I had this preconception and separate expectations of what “The Black Walnut Tree” would be like. This poem was not what I had expected it to be like at all. This poem was very family oriented and, in my own opinion, had a very calming, positive tone. The poem tells the story of the Black Walnut Tree and the role it plays in the life of a small family who I had assumed lost their father. In this poem, it is discovered that the meaning behind the tree is more valuable than the money that could come from selling it.
ReplyDeleteReading this poem, I could actually picture the scene in my head. The descriptions were straight-forward to the point that you knew what they were describing, yet vague enough that you could imagine it in your own way. Along with the imagery in the poem, there was also an exceptional amount of symbolism. The symbolism was my favorite part. Now, the Black Walnut Tree serves as such a great symbol right from the start. I don’t know a lot about trees, but I swear I remember that a speaker came into Mr. Winklebauers room awhile back and said something about how Black Walnut wood was very rich and expensive. I cant quite remember for sure though, so I tried to look some information up online about Black Walnut Trees. I must be bad at technology, because I couldn’t find what I was looking for. All I could find was the definition of a walnut. This might sound irrelevent, and maybe it is, but I think I found some symbolism in the walnut itself with the poems meaning. Online I found that the walnut consists of “two halves contained within a hard shell”. So, when I read this, I immediately thought of the two halves being the speaker and the speakers mother, while the hard shell was the father. The tree had kept all three of them together. I hope that makes sense, because it made sense when I thought of it.
Through this poem, I was able to find a deeper meaning. It honestly brought back a lot of memories for me as well. My grandparents used to have this huge tree right in the front of the house, kind of like the tree in the poem. Except, I don’t think it was a Black Walnut tree. Maybe an oak? Like I said earlier, I don’t know much about trees. Anyways, our story with this tree was much like the poems story with their tree. Our tree was a danger to the house as it was too big and too close, and the roots were hitting the pipes in the basement. No body wanted to cut down the tree, but we all talked about how we had too. Unlike the poem however, we actually did have to cut down the tree in the end because the tree died… but thats a whole separate story. When the tree did die it was a very emotional time as my grandfather had died as well. There are a lot of sentimentals that go along. I think that that might be why I feel such a strong connection to this poem, and why I enjoyed it so much.
Felicia,
DeleteI thought your second paragraph was my favorite, but then I read your third! What you focused on this week was relatable and, in a way, universal because I believe that we all have an item that we feel ties us to the past and our family. I have had two trees in my life. The first was in Warren. My sister and I climbed in it all the time, pretending we were characters from Lord of the Rings or just talking. When my mom and I drove past shortly after we sold the house the tree was gone. It felt like a blow to my childhood, as if I had no choice to let it end. The second is in my grandparents yard and all of my cousins were in that tree at one time or another. We sold their house after they died and the tree is no longer ours but seeing it still reminds me of the cousin I lost and the ones I never see as well as my grandparents.
That was really off topic, sorry for turning my response into a mini autobiography. Anyway, I just loved how you brought about the idea that we are all interwoven in the nature around us. Its weird but I know the feeling of the grass I used to play in and I know the sound of the birds that wake me up every morning. Was Oliver trying to say something deeper on this subject? I think you definitely touched on it if she was trying to do that. And relating the family to the walnut was beautiful! If the father is the shell and he is gone then you have the two individual women who are separate but still one. I loved your blog this week - the two ideas that you focused on brought me incredible new thoughts about this poem! Fantastic work! By the way - a black walnut 4x4 costs around $10.00 according to the minimal research I just did.
Felicia,
DeleteWhat an awesome blog! I love how you tied in your own personal stories to be blog, especially how Mr. Winklbauer and his knowledge of materials gave you some new ideas for the poem. The whole thing with the walnuts was a really interesting concept because these two were two parts of a whole. But, they were connected and cocooned from any outside influences with the men being gone. These were some really great ideas and I love how you are forever able to bring in things that influence you. Great job!!
Ps this is Hannah posing from Felicias phone.
This poem I found to be actually quite intriguing for several different reasons. One, if they would simply sell the tree it would solve their financial problem. Two, if the tree has become burdensome later on the logical thing in our age would be to cut it down. Then they are concerned about disappointing their "fathers" (22), who came from “Bohemia" (22). The one thing I could not pick up is if the speaker was male, or female.
ReplyDeleteThe speaker is truly a traditional oriented individual seeing as they care about what their forefather would think of them. However, their financial problems are the root of this poem, and it subtly reminds me of blues poetry. A poem about a struggle, but has deeper meaning that subtly comes through. The two characters, presumably mother and daughter, are struggling through a tough financial period, and the source of their problem is a "black walnut tree" (3). If they sold the tree "to the lumberman" (4) their problems such as: "roots in the cellar drains" (11), “leaves are getting heavier" (13), "the fruit [is getting] harder to gather" (14/15), and their "mortgage" payment would go away. Instead they struggle through this hard time, and keep the tree. For reasons such as not wanting to disrespect/dishonor their forefathers. I personally find this quite admiral, especially since they have decided to work their way through it. They claim that "there is something brighter than money in [their] blood" (16/17), which can be taken different ways to mean stubbornness, honor (as mentioned), or hope.
The one thing that truly stood out for me in the imagery used in this piece. Some of the examples in this poem are strong if you have had experience with them. For example, all the problems with the tree are understandable, if you have worked with trees of the breed. Trees roots can easily compromise a house's foundation if it finds a crack to grow into. Another thing to look at is my absolute favorite piece of imagery in this piece, "the whip/crack of the mortgage" (34/35). If you have ever heard a fresh whip crack, it is something you'll never forget. If I were to describe it I'd have to say, it rings for a short while stinging the air like a hornet to skin. A lot of the wording is geared towards you seeing not only the physical picture, but also an emotional one. As the speaker takes you back to their past in Bohemia, Ohio; the speaker describes the fields around were they lived exposing her natures origin.
I must say that this is not my most favorite poem we have ever read, but it's something different from the normal sonnet, or ballad. I believe that my analysis of this poem is nowhere near scratching the surface of the true meaning behind this piece. I could be completely off, or on the right track. I have no clue, but I am extremely glad it wasn't another talk for this week’s blog.
Devyn,
DeleteBefore I comment on your blog I would just like to answer the question you posed at the end of your first paragraph, "if the speaker was male or female." I believe that the speaker was female. In the poem, lines 8-10 state "We talk/
slowly, two women trying/in a difficult time to be wise." I wondered the same thing at first! I had thought the speaker was a female from the start, but I couldn't tell for sure so I went back and found this line as proof.
You did a good job at explaining your view on the poem throughout the blog. While I don't agree with everything you said, I really enjoyed reading your opinion and finding out what you got out of the poem. I am always amazed how one poem can mean so many different things, all depending on who is reading it. I respect your last paragraph where you admitted your honest opinion. I agree, it was a nice change. I laughed at your last sentence about the talks! Nice blog, Devyn.
Devyn,
DeleteFirst of all, I agree with Felicia in that the speaker was a female. I think that beside the evidence she pointed out, it would also be less of an emotional attachment for a male, at least I think it would. Anyway, we have very similar views on this poem. I liked the way you described what was happening in the poem. While finishing up your blog, it left me wondering if there is a tie between the roots and the whip of the mortgage after you nicely detailed each. I started to think that maybe I was completely wrong in my opinion in that they weren't necessarily afraid of disappointing their ancestors, but more afraid of what the man who once lived with them would do if he were to come back and see the tree gone. Honestly this could be totally wrong as well, but that's poetry for ya. Overall, this was a really great blog, Devyn. I am also glad it was not another podcast. Haha, I was really disappointed last weekend when I saw the topic.
Mary Oliver's "The Black Walnut Tree" is a poem about a daughter and her mother making decisions on their own. Not only this, but a mother is trying to pay for shelter for the both of them to survive. They have to decide to keep the tree that is endangering their home, or sell it to the lumberman for money to pay off the mortgage. I see them as "all talk, no action" type of people. They know that they should sell it, but the roots are crushing the pipes. Even if the lumberman cut the tree down to save the exterior of the house and the women could pay off the mortgage, the tree would still be destroying it.
ReplyDeleteThe use of imagery plays a big part in this poem. I personified the tree as a male. The color black is used to symbolize the evil and malice certain individuals bring upon their wife and children. The lumberman would be the police, and the mortgage is something more personal. So what would the house be? It's their bodies. This man is bringing physical pains into their life. However, it all started with emotions. The roots are begin in the heart, which is connected to he memories of what would happen if they did anything to offend the man that is harming the both of them. If they did turn in this man in, they would lose someone that they believed was close to them and the emotional pain would still be rooted within them. They would still be crushing under his power. Their mortgage is their self satisfaction. They would be proud of their decision to let go. It wouldn't last for long though.
My favorite line in this poem is "But something brighter than money moves in our blood" (16-17). This immediately told me that the man that they were saving was worth more than them. They loved this man, even though he brought much misery to their life. I have a hard time understanding how these women put up with that. My pain tolerance is pretty low. Quite honestly, I don't care how much someone is "worth." If they're bringing pain or are the cause of pain in my life they aren't the person I want in my life. I won't fight to keep someone like that in my life either. This man feels his confidence boosts is through harming women because they're "easier." In this case, they are. They letting him "win," whatever that means at this point. I feel bad for these women for allowing one person to ruin their life, but at the same time they have the power to stop the psychical pain. Over time and with some help, the emotional pains can become bearable.
This analysis is all my opinion. I feel like I'm on the right track, but I'm missing something. Hopefully after I read some other ones I'll be able to understand it a little bit better. I do like this poem a lot. I can relate to the version I presented. However, if this is domestic violence I cannot relate to it. I do like this poem a lot. It's beautifully written and the ending is haunting. I just love poetry.
Kaitlin,
DeleteI must say Kaitlin I love your second paragraph, and your thoughts of the imagery/symbols. The ideas you propose in this blog are completely understandable. The only thing I must say now it sounds more of an abusive relationship than a blues poem, as I suggested in my blog. However, your ideals are supported and well thought out, I feel like something isn't right. Nothing against you or your blog it just doesn't sit well with me. My favorite line is also "But something brighter than money moves in our blood" (16-17). These lines do show the characters true strength, but also their hope. They are strong enough to endure the pain, as you put it from a man, which means they are do put up with a lot of ****. They hope one day with some help to one day be freed of their burden, the mortgage, and the tree.
Mary Oliver's "The Black Walnut Tree" is an extremely touching poem. I honestly fell in love with the words as the whole theme of the poem is really relatable. Oliver utilized different tactics to capture the attention of her audience and keep it even after they have finished reading the poem.
ReplyDeleteThe poem starts with a mother and daughter discussing the future of the old black walnut tree on their land. It seems like they are gearing more towards selling it to the lumberman because they need the financial aid and there is a good chance the tree could fall down and crush their home. As the tree has aged, the roots have ventured into their cellar, causing a leakage onto the cold floor. The tree is producing more and more fruits each year, something that should be welcomed but is actually a burden for the two women. Yet despite these factors, the mother/daughter duo recall how much their husband/father adored the black walnut. The two women know they would be ashamed of themselves if they were to dig the old tree out of the ground, no matter how much they need the money.
Personally, I feel like the tree symbolizes their last tie with the loving father. It's kind of like when somebody in your family dies and you can't bring yourself to throw some of their belongings away because it carried so much significance to the loved one. This tree is the mother and daughter's way to remember their loved one, and they can't afford to lose that piece of the past. This tree serves as a source for their family history to reside, and that is something worth preserving.
There was a significant change from a more literal sense to a figurative language. This change occurs when the narrator writes "But something brighter than money / moves in our blood" (16-17). This shift represents the change in thought the two women go through to remember how much labor the husband/father performed in order to keep them alive, and they cannot see a better reason to rid themselves of the tree, not even a financial need. The author of the poem, Mary Oliver, conveys the purpose of the writing thoroughly by the imagery presented. I could easily visualize the old tree producing plenty of fruit while also being a burden for the two women. I was able to feel their grief when they decided to do nothing about the tree, allowing it and the memories of their hardworking fathers to remain alive for years to come.
I absolutely love this poem. The words are simply beautiful, and the symbolization found beneath each line mesmerizes me. Mary Oliver is a genius. I feel like this poem would have gone along perfectly with Kaitlin's literary specialist, but that is just me. I hope we read a few more poems of Oliver's, especially if they are as good as this one.
Natalie,
DeleteFirst of all, I think it would have went well with my project too. Haha. I find your blog similar to mine, but still the complete opposite. Why? Because the mother and daughter are trying to save themselves from something unhealthy even though they don't want to be saved. It's quite confusing, really. I personally found the roots to play a major part of in this poem. You didn't use the roots as much as I did, or Ann did for instance. She used it to describe how cutting down the tree would be cutting her family apart. I saw it as though the mother/daughter were being manipulated by the roots. In your blog, it's a bit blurry. Although, I do see they can be rooted in their love for their husband/father. Great blog this week. This poem brought so much this week.
Natalie,
DeleteI feel that your base analysis of this poem was spot on, but I want to focus on your symbolization that caught my eye. I agree that the tree is a symbol of their ties to ancestors that they are connected to through its roots. If so that was one of my worst puns I apologize. The idea is truly simple just elusive till pointed out, which I'm glad you did. The tree then serves as family history tree, which becomes something worth keeping around. I feel like your explanation of the figurative language did explain a lot, like the shift, but a lot of it seemed to be the same material. Unlike you I didn't actually enjoy this poem, the words didn't speak much to me. Perhaps I'll get more into the next poem if we analyze anymore of Oliver's works. Well done Natalie, I look forward to the next.