Singcol, Johndel T.

July 20, 2018

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and World Grade 11- Guava

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM “QUEER” BY FRANK BIDART USING QUEER THEORY

In the poem Queer by Frank Bidart, from the title itself, exemplifies homosexuality.
We are welcomed by the simple but cleverly thought-of title that quickly leads to our
consciousness thinking that the plot of the poem circulates about the ever so interesting
topic of social identity and gender roles. The author itself is a part of this spectrum-he
being gay and academically inclined that is portrayed through his many critically
acclaimed works, such that of "Ellen West," which Bidart wrote from the perspective of
a woman with an eating disorder, and "Herbert White," which he wrote from the
perspective of a psychopath. He has also written openly about his family in the style of
confessional poetry. Queer is only of the proud works of Frank Bidart that not only tells
a compelling story but also provides a significant narrative that amplifies the underlying
meaning of the joint words. The statement is that heteronormativity exists, and also
explores how going against heteronormativity and embracing yourself can unlock inner
peace. Before delving into the specifics of the poem by stanza by completely reading it
it’s evident that the poem is somewhat related to the authors personal life, it embodies
his experience as a gay child growing in an environment that is shaped by social
construct. Social norms that plays a huge role in societal acceptance both from your
peers, family members and so on and so forth. It boldly explores how the end justifies
the means, especially considering that there is a degree or, high degree rather, of
difficulty to realize that there is a dire need for compromise for us to attain happiness.
Now let us indulge ourselves in the beauty behind the meticulously crafted poem. In the
first stanza there is a quality of exclusion established utilizing the pronouns “they” and
“them”. Meaning there are groups and with how the poem is structured it is of people
belonging to the queer spectrum and people who aren’t. The border between the two is as
thick to that of male and female. You belong and are assigned to one group or the other,
which is one of the bases of heteronormative culture. A negative connotation is often
times associated with being in the out group. In lines four to eight, it is showcasing that it
is a negative thing to be included in the out group of heteronormativity due to the fact
that it means that the speaker is not embracing himself or herself for who he or she is as a
member of the homosexual community. In lines nine to fourteen it is clear that the
speaker has the strong desire of coming out. America in the context of homosexuality
has been, for the most part, unkind, the concept of coming out is quickly followed by
repetition to do the opposite. An echo of the struggle of accepting one’s self and not
following the implied heteronormative rules of being male or female, and to not be queer.
This segment of the poem is a crucial moment in his or her life, particularly for support
and acceptance from loved ones. The following stanza is of one liner category
emphasizing the call for attention to itself and the struggle it outlines. The articulate act
of coming out is hard but if not done will lead to erasing a part of a person. Part of the
reason why this is difficult is that social norms questions if one will be supported by their
community and loved ones. Heteronormativity makes it possible to be unaccepted and
discriminated against, making the decision to openly identify as homosexual a difficult
one. More clues about the heteronormative world of the poem are given in the fourth
stanza. In lines sixteen to twenty-four, in this particular context the parents were either
used as a basic life-giving foundation to grant life, or they could have been able to
discuss what existence means. Given the following blame that the mother would have
dealt is a proof that parents were not preferred basis for understanding homosexuality.
Having family members who see homosexuality as something that needs to have blame
suggests the belief that homosexuality is wrong. The end of the fourth and entirety of the
fifth stanza delves into the idea of terror that permeates the metaphorical closet. Terror is
“the door through which you were shoved out / into the light,” meaning that overcoming
that terror of admitting and accepting yourself is a journey that is worth it to get into the
light . The last stanza appreciates the presence of self-loathing and terror as integral parts
of the journey. The difficulty and perhaps even violence of coming out is shown through
the use of the adjective shoved, implying that the journey was not a smooth one. The last
portion of the fifth stanza is very directed at someone else. In lines twenty-six to thirty
showcases the use of the word genteel with the relationship to fantasies is an adjective to
think about sexual intercourse The rony of polite fantasies about sex is that fantasies may
be as wild or perverted as one may desire – as fantasies, sexuality is not something to be
ashamed or embarrassed of. Terror is something that was helpful against this boring,
exploratory mindset, and allows the idea of sex being a knife to not be part of the
speaker’s reality – their rebellion against heteronormativity and collected fantasies is
something that the speaker is thankful for, perhaps even despite the fear that is associated
with coming out of the closet.