Self-Change, Year 11 English Essay
“Change is the only Constant” Explore how this quote relates to 2 of Gwen Harwood’s Poems, along with 2 pieces of related material.
Change itself is the only constant in life, whether we are looking for it or doing everything in our power to avoid it, it always finds a way to strike. Change comes in different forms, some good, some bad, some caused internally, others externally, we can never know how it will hit us, all we can know is that it will. When looking into Gwen Harwoods poetry we see a lot of different ideas and concepts of self-change being explored mainly through the experiences of the persona in each poem, For example “In the park” explores an aspect of self-change, the idea that change can be quite negative, while also linking to the idea that at times we are force to reflect on our self-change when represented with aspects of our past. Another concept of self-change is explored with-in another of Harwoods poems “Glass Jar” where we are shown change brought on by a highly traumatic experience. This same idea is further explored with-in Mumford and sons song “Below My Feet” and Ruth Ostrow’s story “The Violin” as we see the death of someone close acting as a powerful catalyst of self-change. Through the use of a variety of different techniques and structures with-in these 4 pieces we are represented with the main idea that change is inevitable. With-in Gwen Harwoods sonnet “In the Park” we are represented with the personal changes that an aging mother confronts as she encounters a past-lover. The use of powerful contrast and figurative language with-in the structure of this poem successfully explores the idea that change is constant. Harwood creates the initial idea of self-change through the repetitive Juxtaposition in the first stanza. Saying that her clothes are “out of date” implies that they were once in-date and also shows that the mother is now questioning her ‘old-fashioned’ style. Harwood further explores the contrasting situation of the
Change itself is the only constant in life, whether we are looking for it or doing everything in our power to avoid it, it always finds a way to strike. Change comes in different forms, some good, some bad, some caused internally, others externally, we can never know how it will hit us, all we can know is that it will. When looking into Gwen Harwoods poetry we see a lot of different ideas and concepts of self-change being explored mainly through the experiences of the persona in each poem, For example “In the park” explores an aspect of self-change, the idea that change can be quite negative, while also linking to the idea that at times we are force to reflect on our self-change when represented with aspects of our past. Another concept of self-change is explored with-in another of Harwoods poems “Glass Jar” where we are shown change brought on by a highly traumatic experience. This same idea is further explored with-in Mumford and sons song “Below My Feet” and Ruth Ostrow’s story “The Violin” as we see the death of someone close acting as a powerful catalyst of self-change. Through the use of a variety of different techniques and structures with-in these 4 pieces we are represented with the main idea that change is inevitable. With-in Gwen Harwoods sonnet “In the Park” we are represented with the personal changes that an aging mother confronts as she encounters a past-lover. The use of powerful contrast and figurative language with-in the structure of this poem successfully explores the idea that change is constant. Harwood creates the initial idea of self-change through the repetitive Juxtaposition in the first stanza. Saying that her clothes are “out of date” implies that they were once in-date and also shows that the mother is now questioning her ‘old-fashioned’ style. Harwood further explores the contrasting situation of the