The Ice Flows By E.J. Pratt Essay, Research Paper

The poem Ice Floes was written by E. J. Pratt and published in 1923. This author attempts to convey a concept of interconnectedness between many parts of life. Throughout this poem the author used poetic devices to bring this concept into the reader s consciousness. These devices allow the reader, who previously may have been ignorant to the poet s viewpoint, to become enlightened as to his train of thought. These poetic devices include metaphor, simile and personification. Other devices are used in the poem, however, these examples are very prominent and have a large impact on the poem and he readers understanding of it. Any reader would appreciate this particular poem because of the author s ability to evoke sympathy for the seal hunters at the same time as showing that what they were doing was an undesirable coarse of action. That is, in this narrative poem, E.J. Pratt makes the reader look through the eyes of both the man and animal. He shows the men in the same position as the seals were. The seal s fates were at the hands of the men, whereas the men s fates were at the mercy of the whims of the ocean. The author does this by making good use of poetic devices such as personification in the line: The Eagle in wild pursuit of her men. This use of personification helps to develop the poem and engage the reader. Seeing the men s boat as a living thing helps the reader to understand its importance to the sailors. It is not just a boat to the men, it is their means of survival. The Eagle near, though in that blast The mother was fully as blind as her brood. This line compares the dependence of the sailors on their boat to the dependence of the pups to their mother. This comparison is especially exemplary when considering the underlying meaning of this poem.The use of similes can also be seen in the poem. One especially good simile is seen in the line: Each other; like sheep we huddled and broke. Again, Pratt demonstrates to the reader that the men are alike to animals. Instead of the seals, now they are sheep. This shows the continuity that exists between the sailors and animals and the ocean. In other words, all things are connected to each other. Throughout the poem Ice Floes, you find a wide range of poetic devices. These devices add life and depth to this capturing poem. They serve to involve the reader and to make them more fully understand the author s thoughts. The success of this poem is in large part due to the many varying devices. The fact that the author personifies the boat serves to familiarize the reader with concepts that may previously be foreign. Overall, this poem is effective in conveying the author s views and is well worth reading.

The poem Ice Floes was written by E. J. Pratt and published in 1923. This author attempts to convey a concept of interconnectedness between many parts of life. Throughout this poem the author used poetic devices to bring this concept into the reader s consciousness. These devices allow the reader, who previously may have been ignorant to the poet s viewpoint, to become enlightened as to his train of thought. These poetic devices include metaphor, simile and personification. Other devices are used in the poem, however, these examples are very prominent and have a large impact on the poem and he readers understanding of it. Any reader would appreciate this particular poem because of the author s ability to evoke sympathy for the seal hunters at the same time as showing that what they were doing was an undesirable coarse of action. That is, in this narrative poem, E.J. Pratt makes the reader look through the eyes of both the man and animal. He shows the men in the same position as the seals were. The seal s fates were at the hands of the men, whereas the men s fates were at the mercy of the whims of the ocean. The author does this by making good use of poetic devices such as personification in the line: The Eagle in wild pursuit of her men. This use of personification helps to develop the poem and engage the reader. Seeing the men s boat as a living thing helps the reader to understand its importance to the sailors. It is not just a boat to the men, it is their means of survival. The Eagle near, though in that blast The mother was fully as blind as her brood. This line compares the dependence of the sailors on their boat to the dependence of the pups to their mother. This comparison is especially exemplary when considering the underlying meaning of this poem.The use of similes can also be seen in the poem. One especially good simile is seen in the line: Each other; like sheep we huddled and broke. Again, Pratt demonstrates to the reader that the men are alike to animals. Instead of the seals, now they are sheep. This shows the continuity that exists between the sailors and animals and the ocean. In other words, all things are connected to each other. Throughout the poem Ice Floes, you find a wide range of poetic devices. These devices add life and depth to this capturing poem. They serve to involve the reader and to make them more fully understand the author s thoughts. The success of this poem is in large part due to the many varying devices. The fact that the author personifies the boat serves to familiarize the reader with concepts that may previously be foreign. Overall, this poem is effective in conveying the author s views and is well worth reading.