AmendsBy Adrienne Rich

Adrienne RichAmerican WomanActive feministFrom the 1960’s onwards wrote many poems about women’s role in society, racism, and the Vietnam WarFather encouraged her to writeFelt unfulfilled due to conflicting roles/ambitions (poet & mother)

Title

Amends =ReparationPutting things rightImprovement Forgiveness

‘nights like this’ = Merchant of Venice, Act 5

The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,And they did make no noise, in such a night,Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls,And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,Where Cressid lay that night.

Stanza 1Nights like this: on the cold apple-boughA white star, then anotherExploding out of the bark:On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones

“cold” = AtmosphereNightHarsh

“white star” =NightBlossoms/moonlight

“then another” =Keeps happeningMany blossoms/light beams

Stanza 1Nights like this: on the cold apple-boughA white star, then anotherExploding out of the bark:On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones

“exploding” =ViolentIncongruousLoudHarsh

“moonlight picking” =1st mentionPersonificationReflecting off some stones

more than others

“small stones” =‘Zoomed in’Small range of view

Stanza 1Nights like this: on the cold apple-boughA white star, then anotherExploding out of the bark:On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones

Mood =Busy

No rhyming Colons =

Itemise/list progression

Sky

Tree

Ground

Stanza 1Nights like this: on the cold apple-boughA white star, then anotherExploding out of the bark:On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones

“Greater Stones” =‘Zoomed out’

“rises with surf” =ReflectsTransparent effectBobbing

“laying its cheek” =RelaxingTouchFemininity

Stanza 2As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surfLaying its cheek for moments on the sandAs it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffsAs it flicks across the tracks

“moments” =Longer than pickingSand more than stones

“sand” =Relaxation

“licks” =Semi-appeal to tasteFemininity (caring, motherly figure)

“broken” =Confirms motherly natureMoonlight trying to make amends

Stanza 2As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surfLaying its cheek for moments on the sandAs it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffsAs it flicks across the tracks

“flows up the cliffs” =WaterLots of reflectionCliffs common near beachesUncontrolledRelaxed, calm (no violent

language)

“flicks” =Little reflection

“tracks” =Common near beachesRelaxing environmentsNature

Stanza 2As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surfLaying its cheek for moments on the sandAs it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffsAs it flicks across the tracks

“picks”, “licks”, “flicks” =RhymeLight touchesFemininity

Mood & Rhythm =RelaxedCalm

Stanza 2As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surfLaying its cheek for moments on the sandAs it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffsAs it flicks across the tracks

“unavailing” = PointlessToo weakContinuously

“pours” = Lots of light

“gash” = Wound in nature

Stanza 3As it unavailing pours into the gashOf the sand-and-gravel quarryAs it leans across the hangared fuselageOf the crop-dusting plane

“quarry” =Links to gashDestruction of natureToo weakContinuously

“leans” =Reflection off planeLack of balance

Stanza 3As it unavailing pours into the gashOf the sand-and-gravel quarryAs it leans across the hangared fuselageOf the crop-dusting plane

“hangared fuselage” =Body of planePlane ‘sleeping’Links to “sleepers”

“crop-dusting” =Poisons (insecticides etc.)Damage nature

Stanza 3As it unavailing pours into the gashOf the sand-and-gravel quarryAs it leans across the hangared fuselageOf the crop-dusting plane

“soaks” =Saturated in lightGathering more energyLike water

“cracks” =Light is ever-presentCannot be destroyed

“trailers” =CaravansPoor people

Stanza 4As it soaks through cracks into the trailersTremulous with sleepAs it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepersAs if to make amends

“tremulous” =People are afraidContrasts with the moon

“dwells” =Gentle wordProtecting the “sleepers”

“as if to make amends” =Uncertain whyInanimateness of the moon Light comforts the “sleepers”

Stanza 4As it soaks through cracks into the trailersTremulous with sleepAs it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepersAs if to make amends

Whole Poem

No full stops (periods)= Continuous

“it” =MoonlightReader forgets “it” is the moon

Constant use of “as” =Adds to the itemising affect caused by the colons in stanza 1Provides a source of animation for the light

Themes

Femininity versus masculinityThe destruction of nature by manThe relationship between humanity and the environmentThe powerlessness of nature to retaliate against man’s actions

Essay Questions

How does Adrienne Rich describe the environment to present a theme in the poem Amends? How is femininity expressed in the poem Amends by Adrienne Rich?What figurative techniques are used to help express Adrienne Rich's opinions of the moon in the poem Amends?

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