In his 1978 poem ‘Long Distance’ Tony Harrison describes his father’s difficulties in
coming to terms with his wife’s death and the emotions Harrison himself experiences
upon the death his father. To arrive at this interpretation after reading the poem is, by
all means, a valid insight. It would, however, be a pity to be contented with this
alone. For such a reading does probably not allow for the rhetoric means to be fully
appreciated to which Harrison reverted to communicate his poem successfully.
Furthermore, the way in which the reader experiences the poem, as well as how it
affects the reader would not find consideration. In short – the poem’s texture would
not be accounted for. The following analysis, based on my own natural reading,
attempts to describe and explain the texture of Harrison’s poem.
As is to be expected, the first stanza of the poem has a distinct effect on the
reader. For one, this is because the level of concentration is still high. More
importantly, however, the first stanza of the poem presents the reader with an
appealing text world. Foremost, the agent of the sentence is human, namely the
narrator’s father. A human agent, in a way, provides the reader with the possibility to
interact mentally with or develop sentiments towards him. Stockwell (2009: 25)
illustrates this with his empathetic recognisability scale on which human agents rank
highest. Besides this, the line initial positioning and, somewhat obvious,
capitalization of the word ‘Dad’ (l. 2) attract the reader’s attention. Furthermore, the
actions described are all in the active voice and literally convey motion, which will
appear more intense to a reader which Stockwell (2009: 25) terms activeness. Lastly,
the objects described in the first stanza, ‘slippers’, ‘bottles’, and ‘transport pass’
(ll. 2, 3, 4 respectively), all form good attractors as they are concrete, very ordinary
objects to which every reader ought to be able to relate easily. Together, these three
factors ensure that the first stanza remains fairly prominent in the reader’s mind
throughout the reading of the poem.[...]
Table of Contents
- Analysis of Tony Harrison's Long Distance
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this analysis is to explore the texture of Tony Harrison's poem "Long Distance," examining how its stylistic features affect the reader's experience and emotional response. The analysis focuses on how the poem's structure, language, and imagery contribute to its overall impact.
- The impact of stylistic choices on the reader's emotional engagement.
- The role of textual attractors in shaping reader attention and memory.
- The poem's structure and its contribution to the reader's experience.
- The shift in perspective and its effect on the reader's emotional connection.
- The reader's emotional investment and the "moment of payoff."
Chapter Summaries
Analysis of Tony Harrison's Long Distance: This analysis delves into Tony Harrison's poem "Long Distance," focusing on how its stylistic elements influence the reader's emotional response. The study meticulously examines the poem stanza by stanza, highlighting the impact of linguistic choices such as word placement, active voice, and the use of concrete versus abstract nouns. The analysis uses Stockwell's concepts of empathetic recognizability, activeness, and textual attractors to explain the poem's effect. It explores how the poem's structure, characterized by a symmetrical form and consistent rhythm, initially creates a calming effect before shifting to a more emotionally intense experience with the introduction of the first-person narrator. The analysis closely follows the reader's journey through the poem, detailing how their attention and emotional investment are manipulated through specific stylistic choices, culminating in a powerful "moment of payoff" where the reader discovers the full implications of the poem's events. The analysis concludes by considering the personal and emotional impact of the poem, noting the sympathy evoked for both the father and son within the narrative. The analysis emphasizes the interplay between linguistic features and the reader’s emotional and cognitive processes, demonstrating how subtle stylistic choices significantly contribute to the overall impact and meaning of the poem.
Keywords
Cognitive stylistics, Tony Harrison, Long Distance, reader response, textual attractors, stylistic analysis, emotional engagement, poetic structure, narrative perspective, empathetic recognizability, activeness.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Tony Harrison's "Long Distance"
What is the purpose of this analysis?
This analysis explores the stylistic features of Tony Harrison's poem "Long Distance" and how these features affect the reader's emotional response and experience. It examines the poem's structure, language, and imagery to understand its overall impact.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis focuses on the impact of stylistic choices on reader engagement, the role of textual attractors in shaping reader attention and memory, the poem's structure and its contribution to the reader's experience, the shift in perspective and its emotional effect, and the reader's emotional investment leading to a "moment of payoff."
What aspects of the poem are analyzed in detail?
The analysis meticulously examines the poem stanza by stanza, focusing on linguistic choices such as word placement, active voice, and the use of concrete versus abstract nouns. It uses Stockwell's concepts of empathetic recognizability, activeness, and textual attractors to explain the poem's effect.
How does the poem's structure contribute to the reader's experience?
The analysis highlights how the poem's symmetrical form and consistent rhythm initially create a calming effect, which then shifts to a more emotionally intense experience with the introduction of the first-person narrator.
How does the analysis track the reader's emotional journey?
The analysis closely follows the reader's experience throughout the poem, detailing how their attention and emotional investment are manipulated through specific stylistic choices, culminating in a powerful "moment of payoff" where the full implications of the poem's events are revealed.
What is the overall conclusion of the analysis?
The analysis concludes by considering the poem's personal and emotional impact, noting the sympathy evoked for both the father and son. It emphasizes the interplay between linguistic features and the reader’s emotional and cognitive processes, demonstrating how subtle stylistic choices significantly contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the poem.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Cognitive stylistics, Tony Harrison, Long Distance, reader response, textual attractors, stylistic analysis, emotional engagement, poetic structure, narrative perspective, empathetic recognizability, activeness.
What is included in this language preview?
This preview provides the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords of the complete analysis.
- Quote paper
- Rajanikanta Das (Author), 2010, Cognitive Stylistic Analysis of Tony Harrison's Poem "Long Distance", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/197112
