Joe Student
Mr. Mahoney
English12
3/8/12
In the song “Last one to Know”, author Jimmy Mundane helps the listener to see the complexities
of human relationships and seeking one’s identity as an individual in a constrictive society.
He
constructs, builds, explores, elucidates these themes by using, connotative diction, subtle imagery,
and escapist metaphors.
Connotative diction is used to convey the speaker’s sense of alienation from his girlfriend. For
example, his referrals to her “friends” as “hippie-dogs” “Wall Street” “rednecks or “art school” types
implies that she has a wide variety of friends. This insinuates not only infidelity, but the fact that the girl
in question may not be a very genuine person in terms of her values, because she has so many friends
from divergent walks of life.
Imagery is also used to convey alienation and escapism. The speaker refers to going beyond the
signals of the “radio station” or “past the whine of your steel-belted radial daydream”. He also speaks of
finding a new “store” or “job”. These terminologies can be taken literally, but connotatively are meant to
make the reader reflect upon our own struggles with relationships, media images, materialism and a
general dissatisfaction with contemporary American life.
Metaphor is also used to suggest a desire for escapism. When the speaker mentions being thrown from
“the wreckage of the way things used to be”, this implies that he feels fortunate to no longer be a part of
not only the relationship in question, but to be separated from mainstream society as well.
The song is effective because it not only tells the literal story of a person’s dissatisfaction with
relationships, but seems to be a criticism of contemporary culture as being superficial, materialistic, and
limiting. By forcing people into categories such as Hippie-dogs, Wall streeters, Mama’s friends, Rednecks
or art school posers, the author ironically reflect a society which forces a pre-fabricated identity upon
people instead of allowing them true liberty and freedom.
1)
State title, author and what abstract concepts the poem or song describes.
Inspiration Depression Love Hate Courage Curiosity Excitement Adventure Amazement Faith Ego Failure
Awe Freedom Evil Justice Forgiveness Loyalty Romance Infatuation Elegance Imagination Honesty
Determination Humor Humility Hope Despair Honor Pride Redemption Hurt Peace Trust Patience Pain
Helplessness Pleasure Perseverance Graciousness Gratefulness Grace Grief Maturity Fascination Friendship
Brutality Self-Control Jealousy Love Confusion Vulnerability Ability Self-Esteem Mastery Perfection
Excellence.
In the song “Last one to Know”, author Jimmy Mundane (conveys explores communicates
relates expounds upon, helps the viewers to see) the complexities of human relationships and
use abstract concepts above. He constructs, builds, explores, elucidates these themes by using
metaphor, simile, allusion, imagery, connotative diction etc.
2)
Identify at least four examples of figurative language being used:
Metaphor: Language that uses familiar comparisons to communicate abstract concepts:
Arab Spring.
Simile: Language that uses concrete comparisons and the words “like”, “as” or “than” to
communicate abstract concepts: Serious as a twenty-pound tomcat.
Allusion: Language that uses comparisons to literary or historical persons or situations to
communicate abstract concepts: He had finally met his Waterloo.
Imagery: Language that uses detailed descriptions to appeal to the senses.
Connotative Diction: Choosing words that imply a variety of meanings.
He constructs, builds, explores, elucidates these themes by using metaphor, simile, allusion, imagery,
connotative diction etc.
3)
Explain how the examples of figurative language help communicate the abstract concepts being explored.
Connotative diction is used to convey the speaker’s sense of alienation from his girlfriend. For
example, his referrals to her “friends” as “hippie-dogs” “Wall Street” “rednecks or “art school”
types implies that she has a wide variety of friends. This insinuates not only infidelity, but the
fact that the girl in question may not be a very genuine person in terms of her values, because
she has so many friends from divergent walks of life.
Imagery is also used to convey alienation and escapism. The speaker refers to going beyond
the signals of the “radio station” or “past the whine of your steel-belted radial daydream”. He
also speaks of finding a new “store” or “job”. These terminologies can be taken literally, but
connotatively are meant to make the reader reflect upon our own struggles with relationships,
media images, materialism and a general dissatisfaction with contemporary American life.
Metaphor is also used to suggest a desire for escapism. When the speaker mentions being
thrown from “the wreakage of the way things used to be”, this implies that he feels fortunate
to no longer be a part of not only the relationship in question, but to be separated from
mainstream society as well.
4)
Explain how the poem or song relates to a larger universal issue.
The song is effective because it not only tells the literal story of a person’s dissatisfaction with
relationships, but seems to be a criticism of contemporary culture as being superficial,
materialistic, and limiting. By forcing people into categories such as Hippie-dogs, Wall
streeter, Mama friends, Redneck or art school posers, the author ironically reflect a society
which forces a pre-fabricated identity upon people instead of allowing them true liberty and
freedom.