The Surfer Poetry Analysis

The subject matter can be perceived as the enjoyment a man feels towards surfing from the eyes of a observer. The surfer is poem that can serve the purpose of portraying the way a man surfs and all of the different stages that he experiences for his enjoyment, but it also shows the mood change. for example the first and second stanzas portray the differences between the ocean and man, or man versus nature and only shows the strength of the ocean and on some occasions suggest the the beach is beautiful, enjoyable place of happiness. but as stated in the last stanza the poet strongly demonstrates the mean/dangerous side of the ocean after sunset.

within this poem the mood shifts from one of joy at the surf "as he is water, with delight" to caution "turn home... as the last leaf of gold vanishes." as the poem ends the mood is much more sombre and illustrates the danger of the ocean "grey wolf sea lies, snarling."

The structure of the poem is a three stanza free verse. this best conveys the change in mood from one of joy and closeness, and with the sea to that of caution and damage. the language that is portrayed would be a reflection of the descriptive, vivid choice of words that the poet has used. for example "wires of water," "brown strength," and "gold leaf vanishes from the sea curve, " are all examples that show the meticulously of Judith Wright. These are all vivid striking examples of words that correlate with the poem to created a dreamy set of imagery. striking examples of metaphors for example "brown strength," "broken toys," and "hawthorn hedges in spring." Personification is used throughout the poem examples include "cold twilight wind splits the waves," "sand crouches on sand, fawning and mouthing" and "drops there and snatches again."

The last stanza is symbolic to the water that can be dangerous and rough after sunset. movement can be portrayed through the poem with enjament which helps to add a pause and therefore dramatic effect. the sounds that are conveyed within the poem minimal rhyme e.g curve and serve and onomatopoeia: snarling. this has no real potentially dramatic effects on the poem but it adds to the slowness and down-beat of the poem.

Overall Wright succeeded in demonstrating the theme of man and ocean and just how simply the mood of the poem changes in correlation with the mood of the poem.