Explore the methods the poet uses to present violence in the poem
‘The Gun’ by Vicki Feaver is a dramatic monologue about violence.
The first stanza helps to portray the themes of the poem; it establishes the fact the gun is central to the poems events. Feaver uses enjambment before “changes it.” This adds emphasis to this idea and highlights how she is unsure of its presence in her home. For her, as the narrative voice of the poem, she feels as if the innocence has left making the house harder and more unforgiving. It introduces the idea of violence and death to the poem as the gun is the cause of all of it. The short stanzas are also seen later in the poem. “A gun brings a house alive” also shows her attitude towards it, however it has changed…show more content… The comparison between the tin cans and “a rabbit shot clean through the head” shows the brutality of the weapon. The speed at which it escalates from mere practise to, in reality, murder shows how the handler’s skills have increased. The shot being “clean” shows the handler’s skill and determination to master the gun. The comparison also shows the different between toy guns being used by children for games and the reality that it is a weapon. Another juxtaposition is seen in the last stanza. The contrast between “golden crocuses” and “then King of death” shows the ever present idea of how life and death are closely linked. The mouth sprouting “golden crocuses” gives new life and hope. “Golden” makes them seem rare and mythical; it gives the idea of them being alluring. Alternatively, the colour is a warning. Crocuses are poisonous and making them “golden” would detract would-be predators away from them. In the situation, the flowers sprouting from the mouth of death is ironic. The simple fact that beautiful flowers can cause death is an oxymoron in itself. Juxtapositions between life and death and the difference between practise and perfect show how Feaver’s attitude is
