Richard Wilbur's poem 'A Barred Owl' delves into the transformative power of language and the ethical considerations of truthfulness. It narrates a child's fear of an owl's call and the parents' comforting reinterpretation, highlighting the duality of language in concealing and revealing truth. The poem's use of literary devices, such as personification and symbolism, underscores the contrast between innocence and the stark realities of nature.
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The Neo-Formalist movement values traditional poetic forms, as seen in Wilbur's use of consistent metrical pattern and rhyme scheme in "A Barred Owl."
Language shaping perception
Wilbur's poem explores the power of language to shape our perception of the world, as seen in the parents' reimagining of the owl's call as a friendly question
Language distorting or simplifying reality
The poem critiques the use of language to distort or simplify reality, as the child is left in ignorance of the owl's true behavior
"A Barred Owl" raises questions about the morality of using language to alter perceptions, particularly when it involves preserving a child's innocence
The poem centers on a child's fear of an owl's nocturnal call
Reimagining the owl's call
The parents soothe the child by reimagining the owl's call as a friendly question, "Who cooks for you?"
Shielding the child from reality
The parents' explanation both alleviates the child's fear and shields her from the stark realities of nature
The poem serves as a meditation on the power of language to shape our perception of the world, as seen in the parents' comforting narrative
Wilbur uses personification to heighten the sense of fear in the child and to give the owl's call an intrusive presence in the room
Wisdom and ominous aspects of nature
The owl symbolizes both wisdom and the more ominous aspects of the natural world
"Who cooks for you?" as a symbol
The owl's call, often interpreted as "Who cooks for you?" symbolizes the raw truth that the parents choose to soften for their child
The poem's diction transitions from comforting language to unsettling reality, emphasizing the contrast between the parents' narrative and the owl's true behavior
Wilbur's adherence to a strict rhyme scheme and metrical pattern demonstrates his command of poetic form and his skill in expressing intricate ideas within traditional constraints
From informative to cautionary
The poem's tone shifts from informative to cautionary, highlighting the potential for language to misrepresent reality
Beginning like a lullaby and ending like a nightmare
Wilbur's description of the poem reflects the progression from a soothing to a more foreboding tone, paralleling the examination of language's ability to comfort and conceal
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Neo-Formalist movement characteristics
Emphasizes traditional forms, meter, rhyme, and clear expression.
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Narrative focus in 'A Barred Owl'
Child's fear of owl's call, parents' comforting explanation.
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Ethical dilemma in 'A Barred Owl'
Parents' comforting lies vs. exposing child to harsh nature truths.
