A Review of Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah
January 1986
Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series
Carnegie Mellon Poetry Series
by Nathaniel Vasquez
In this collection of poems, Rita Dove cleverly illustrates several themes and literary devices that emerge through the experiences of her characters, her semi-fictionalized maternal grandparents. What stands out greatly as you read through this collection is how prevalent her use of descriptive language and narrative technique binds the poems to one another. She creates poems that are able to stand alone but that can also be linked to one another in a fluid narrative which makes her message about the livelihood of her characters even stronger. An example of this is can be seen in two of her poems, "The Event" and "The Stroke." Both poems showcase the complexity of emotions and the spectrum of experiences that seems to overwhelm the characters, who themselves experience a multitude: from anger to guilt to sadness. However, Dove illustrates the strength of her grandparents' relationship by leaving subtle messages in the poems that the characters are determined to stay together despite these hardships.
Another poem that helps depict the cohesion of their marriage is '"Under the Viaduct," which goes through the difficulties experienced by the couple during the years of the Great Depression. In the poem, Dove's grandfather, Thomas, is left searching for a job. Personal disappointments like this continue to challenge the central relationship but Thomas still desires to make the effort to stay and make things work no matter how tough it would get. Dove's narrative turns beautifully illustrate this commitment. Thomas's openness to replacing previous dreams and goals with family obligation reflects positive change for the character. In "Variation on Gaining a Son," his first daughter gets married which gives him a change of heart and he accepts the present blessings he has rather than what he wanted in the beginning.
Sacrifice is an important facet of the poems which is supported by the details of loss and coping that Dove weaves into the poems. Literary devices such as imagery and symbolism capture the essence of the time period and the events that happened on a larger, societal scale, showcasing African-American history through the lived experiences of her grandparents. Using these devices makes it difficult to grasp the entirety of the poetry sometimes; Nonetheless, there's no doubt that each poem still causes the reader to raise questions and interpretations of his own.
With all of this in mind, including the subtle rhyme scheme, I believe Rita Dove's writing style is impressive, but also a useful study for beginner poets. Her work demonstrates how to weave narrative story while instructing new writers how to properly use symbolism and image-based literary devices in order to capture strong emotions that would otherwise lose depth. As a poet myself, I feel strongly that Dove's work helps me to refocus on my own writing and to use better techniques to illuminate the overall message I am trying to send to my readers.
It's a great read. Pick up a copy at your local used bookstore!
Another poem that helps depict the cohesion of their marriage is '"Under the Viaduct," which goes through the difficulties experienced by the couple during the years of the Great Depression. In the poem, Dove's grandfather, Thomas, is left searching for a job. Personal disappointments like this continue to challenge the central relationship but Thomas still desires to make the effort to stay and make things work no matter how tough it would get. Dove's narrative turns beautifully illustrate this commitment. Thomas's openness to replacing previous dreams and goals with family obligation reflects positive change for the character. In "Variation on Gaining a Son," his first daughter gets married which gives him a change of heart and he accepts the present blessings he has rather than what he wanted in the beginning.
Sacrifice is an important facet of the poems which is supported by the details of loss and coping that Dove weaves into the poems. Literary devices such as imagery and symbolism capture the essence of the time period and the events that happened on a larger, societal scale, showcasing African-American history through the lived experiences of her grandparents. Using these devices makes it difficult to grasp the entirety of the poetry sometimes; Nonetheless, there's no doubt that each poem still causes the reader to raise questions and interpretations of his own.
With all of this in mind, including the subtle rhyme scheme, I believe Rita Dove's writing style is impressive, but also a useful study for beginner poets. Her work demonstrates how to weave narrative story while instructing new writers how to properly use symbolism and image-based literary devices in order to capture strong emotions that would otherwise lose depth. As a poet myself, I feel strongly that Dove's work helps me to refocus on my own writing and to use better techniques to illuminate the overall message I am trying to send to my readers.
It's a great read. Pick up a copy at your local used bookstore!
Bibliography:
Moving Through Color: Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. <http://faculty.uscupstate.edu/jpellegrino/articles/dovearticle.htm>.
Dove, Rita . Thomas and Beulah. 1st ed. Pittsburgh: Carnegie Mellon U Press, 1986. Print.
"Login." AWP: Writer's Chronicle Features Archive. Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Oct. & nov. 2005. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.awpwriter.org/magazine_media/writers_chronicle_view/1786/an_interview_with_rita_dove>.
Moving Through Color: Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017. <http://faculty.uscupstate.edu/jpellegrino/articles/dovearticle.htm>.
Dove, Rita . Thomas and Beulah. 1st ed. Pittsburgh: Carnegie Mellon U Press, 1986. Print.
"Login." AWP: Writer's Chronicle Features Archive. Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Oct. & nov. 2005. Web. 22 May 2017. <https://www.awpwriter.org/magazine_media/writers_chronicle_view/1786/an_interview_with_rita_dove>.
|
Nathaniel Vasquez is a current third-year student at PCC aspiring to become a high school English teacher. His AP Literature teacher during his senior year of high school left such an impression on him that it helped support his dreams of becoming a teacher in the subject even more. He comes from a family where he's the oldest of five and the first to attend college. He hopes to make his parents proud by eventually attaining his Master's Degree in English Literature. He's a compassionate and understanding individual who makes it a mission to learn what he can from everyone, and to be well versed in an academic and personal state of mind.
|