Carrie Barnes
McGee
1B
Animals and Nature
People tend to react to death in one of two ways: embracing the loss as inevitable
and therefore necessary, or rejecting the loss with emotion. The deaths of various
animals are addressed in two poems. Though both “Traveling through the Dark” by
William Stafford and “Woodchucks” by Maxine Kumin have similar diction and
allusions, the two poems vary greatly in their tone, rhythm, syntax, and figurative
language.
Both poems have very simple and efficient diction. The word choice focuses on
ability to relate rather than number of syllables. The speakers use descriptive words like
“narrow,” “stiffened,” and “puffed” to give every reader the ability to imagine the poems’
action. Both of Stafford and Kumin’s poems have personal allusions that give off a small
town feel. “Wilson River Road” and “Feed and Grain Exchange” let the speaker relate to
the reader in a personal way, giving more importance to the discussion of the animals and
their demises. Not all allusions are the same in each poem though. “Woodchucks” has
war (“Nazi”; “beheading”) and science (“Darwinian”) references. While still relatable, it
shows the speaker’s blunt attitude in discussing death in comparison to Stafford’s more
reflective poem.
The tone and the syntax vary greatly in both “Traveling through the Dark” and
“Woodchucks.” The tone of Stafford’s poem is solemn and reflective, which is
appropriate for the relay of a story concerning the accidental death of a doe and her
unborn fawn. “Woodchucks,” however, has a tone that is explanatory and unregretful.
The speaker has declared was on the animals, which is clearly reflected in the poem. The
speaker of Stafford’s poem regrets death. This avoidant nature is shown in the syntax
with long sentences and intensive punctuation. Kumin’s attitude of embracing, and even
relishing, death is reflected in sentences that shorten in length as the poem progresses,
quickening the pace.
The pace of both poems is integral to showcasing the speakers’ experiences with
the death of animals. Stafford’s poem has a slow rhythm. “Traveling through the Dark”
stands as a memorial, where “Woodchucks” stands as a march. Though the pace is not as
slow as Stafford’s, Kumin’s poem is quickened enough to show the speaker’s
stubbornness.
Because both speakers are making the reader relate to animals as equal in death,
Stafford and Kumin take full advantage of personification. Stafford even takes it as far as
to make the car seem remorseful with “lowered…lights” and the “wilderness listen” to
the reflection on death. Kumin uses a wider range of figurative language, like metaphors
and repetition, in addition to personification. To give extermination a war-like feel, the
metaphors and obvious allusions, are very necessary.
Death is always a sensitive subject, regardless of species. While Stafford uses
slow, reflective language resources to convey the speaker’s respect for death, Kumin uses
abrasive allusions and quickened pace to provoke that respect in the reader. Two
different poems use two different techniques to result in the same feeling.