This research work on Derek Walcott’s Poetry is Qualitative research which is descriptive in its literary form. Its objective is to portray the water imagery. The other aspects discussed in this
research are the link between sea (water) and history. Walcott had a bitter experience with history. He is of the opinion that he was plucked from his roots and thrown away in West Indies because
of which he suffered from identity crises. This research seeks to identify how Walcott self consciously uses water animals, water imagery and the significance of sea with its relationship with history in his collection of poems The Star-Apple Kingdom (1979).Walcott was an elated and enthusiastic poet passionately in love with English. He was one of the resilient diasporic Caribbean writers. Derek Walcott was born on a small island in St. Lucia in 1930 and spent almost whole of his life writing about the sea.
This thesis is divided into four chapters. First chapter includes introduction to the topic of the thesis. The second chapter includes literature review. The third chapter deals with the
relationship of sea and history while the fourth and the last chapter deals with the water imagery and how Walcott associates Sea and history with each other. This thesis tends to prove that
Walcott relates sea and history and also he uses a lot of water imagery in in his collection of poems The Star Apple Kingdom.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction
Chapter 2
Literature Review
Research Methodology
Chapter 3
Relationship of Sea and History in the context of poem The Schooner Flight
Chapter 4
Water Imagery and Association of Sea and History according To Walcott in the Context of The Star-Apple Kingdom
Conclusion
Objectives & Research Themes
This research critically explores Derek Walcott’s poetry, specifically his collection The Star-Apple Kingdom, to analyze the poet's use of water imagery and the profound connection he draws between the sea and Caribbean history. It seeks to understand how Walcott addresses themes of identity, post-colonial displacement, and the "historylessness" experienced by Caribbean people.
- The role of water and sea imagery as primary symbolic objects in Walcott’s poetry.
- The relationship between historical consciousness and the Caribbean landscape.
- The impact of post-colonial identity crises on the poet’s creative expression.
- Walcott’s use of animal and elemental symbolism to bridge the gap between present struggles and past trauma.
- An examination of the autobiographical elements within the poem "The Schooner Flight."
Excerpt from the Book
Relationship of Sea and History in the context of the Poem “The Schooner Flight”
History is a witness that thousands of poets came to the world but few of them could register their names in the history of the world. A poet is considered an integral part of the society who writes the facts and the reality of his society. A poet is basically a historian who writes the history of his time. Poets write what they feel and experience and a true poet infuses the same feeling into his reader’s mind through his magnificent imagination, same is the case with Derek Walcott. He easily influences the readers mind and invites them to think like him. Derek Walcott selected the grounds of the poetry in which he has command. He chooses water imagery as his primary object because he knows that though this (Sea) he can better describe the events he faced in his life. Water imagery is not a new thing for poets and readers but Derek Walcott made it new by his splendid skills. Sea has a very important place in Derek Walcott’s life. Having lost the homeland, identity and history of his life, he had nothing his own but Sea so he left no stone unturned in using it as his own and never left any chance in helping him to describe his mood and express his feelings.
Walcott’s disconnection with his history and a strong connection with sea is seen in his magnificent poem The Schooner Flight. He seemed at the peak of his skills of composing poems. He conveyed every single thought and feelings, for sea and his deprivation from his identity, to his reader through this splendid poem.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of Derek Walcott's literary significance, justifying the selection of his poetry for research and outlining the central themes of water imagery and historical identity.
Literature Review: This chapter examines existing scholarly discourse and critical perspectives on Walcott, focusing on his post-colonial background and his complex relationship with the English language and Caribbean history.
Research Methodology: This section explains the qualitative research approach used to analyze how Walcott’s poems, particularly the autobiographical "The Schooner Flight," relate to the sea and historical themes.
Relationship of Sea and History in the context of poem The Schooner Flight: This chapter provides a close reading of "The Schooner Flight," highlighting how the protagonist "Shabine" reflects Walcott’s personal struggles with displacement, identity, and the historical legacy of the Caribbean.
Water Imagery and Association of Sea and History according To Walcott in the Context of The Star-Apple Kingdom: This chapter analyzes the broader water and animal imagery within the collection, demonstrating how symbols like crabs, sharks, and whales represent the survival, trauma, and historical memory of Caribbean people.
Keywords
Derek Walcott, The Star-Apple Kingdom, Caribbean Literature, Post-colonialism, Water Imagery, The Schooner Flight, Identity Crisis, Sea, History, Displacement, Symbolism, Shabine, Diaspora, Colonialism, Poetic Imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the poetry of Derek Walcott, specifically his collection The Star-Apple Kingdom, to analyze the role of water imagery and the connection between the sea and the historical narrative of the Caribbean.
What are the central thematic areas of this thesis?
The core themes include the poet's struggle with post-colonial identity, the impact of historical displacement, the symbolic significance of the sea, and the depiction of the Caribbean experience through vivid imagery.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to identify how Walcott self-consciously employs water imagery and sea-related metaphors to explore his personal and national identity crises, and to prove his unique conceptualization of the sea as a keeper of history.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied in this work?
The study utilizes a qualitative literary research methodology, conducting a descriptive analysis of the poems to interpret deep-rooted meanings and establish links between historical events and literary metaphors.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body systematically analyzes Walcott's literary context, reviews previous scholarly opinions, and provides a textual, thematic interpretation of "The Schooner Flight" and the other poems within The Star-Apple Kingdom.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Derek Walcott, Caribbean identity, water imagery, post-colonialism, historical displacement, and the intersection of sea and memory.
How does Walcott use the protagonist "Shabine" to express his own life experience?
Shabine serves as an autobiographical reflection of Walcott himself; through this character, the poet articulates his own confusion regarding his identity, caught between European cultural influences and his Caribbean roots.
Why does Walcott associate the sea with history?
Walcott views the sea as a witness to the forced migration and suffering of black people during the era of colonization; he believes the sea has "locked up" the secrets and history of his ancestors, making it an inseparable part of his identity.
What is the significance of animal imagery (such as crabs or sharks) in the collection?
The animal imagery is used to assign human attributes to the characters or the people of the Caribbean, symbolizing themes of protection, rebirth, survival against brutal odds, and the struggle for political or historical recognition.
- Quote paper
- Mishal Nasir (Author), 2014, Water imagery and relationship of sea and history in Walcott's collection of poems "The Star-Apple Kingdom", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/281466
