“Tenebris” written by Angelina Weld Grimkè is a very descriptive poem loaded with imagery. This poem is very much about slavery, but I would argue that it goes a bit farther than that. I would go as far as to say that she is also talking about karma coming back for the plantation owners. Angelina writes: There is a tree, by day, That, at night, Has a shadow, A hand huge and black, With fingers long and black (lines 1-4) Angelina writes about this “shadow” throughout her poem, to me the shadow is an interesting element to look at. The shadow to me represents karma, she speaks of “bricks the color of blood” being plucked from “the white man's house” by the black hands. I take this as her speaking of karma coming to get the white plantation owners who had slaves during that time, and the “bricks the color of blood” being the bloodshed that happened while the slaves were building the house that the hand is now taking apart. I find it interesting that she used the word “plucked” meaning it was fast and swift, other than using another word such as take or grab. The shadow taking apart the house piece by piece is almost as if its justice taking away the things that people do not deserve. I also found it interesting how she explained the fingers to be black, she reused that word four times as well as describing things as dark in color. The title of this poem itself “Tenebris” means dark. Upon doing research on Angelina I found her father was the son of a wealthy white man and a slave, Angeline’s family were all civil-rights activists. Angeline was mostly known for her being an activist for woman's suffrage.
4 Comments
Amy Conrad
9/22/2019 11:30:42 am
I think it was really thoughtful how much depth you provided to your personal interpretation of the poem. I also liked that you looked into Grimke's personal background as well and used that to supplement your analysis. Your mentioning of justice is a good explanation of the significance and purpose of the poem as a whole.
Reply
Katie
9/22/2019 12:37:11 pm
I love your interpretation of the poem referring to karma -- that is something I didn't even think about. Thinking back on it now, I con totally see where you've come to that conclusion. I also found it interesting how she used the word "plucked", it makes the act seem more delicate and determined.
Reply
Rachel Moorman
9/22/2019 07:38:44 pm
Love. Love. Love. Everything about this. I never even thought to look at the shadow as karma but it makes so much sense. I particularly like how you also compare the shadow to justice. I think karma and justice are very close to the same (maybe you meant it that way) and I really enjoy this image you give of it chipping away at injustices that have been done to the people of color. It gives me a feeling and sense of hope. Like the writer is trying to instill hope and encouragement in his people in order to keep them "plucking" away at that house of cruelty they have all be trapped in thus far.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |