Poetry

Marianne Moore
I. Essay
Q.1. "Poetry" Is a manual for the readers to analyse their interest in poetry. Explain.
Marianne Moore is one of the most fascinating poets of the twentieth century. Written in a
conversational tone, the poem titled, ‘Poetry’ speaks about how poetry is viewed by various
kinds of
readers. She favours a genuine physical reaction than an intellectual one in the readers.
The poem begins with the expression, "I too dislike it", i.e., the poet too dislikes poetry. Then
the poet tells us why many people dislike poetry. She compares poetry to a fiddle. Poetry
might seem
worthless as it deals with simple things in life. The language of poetry can be ambiguous. But
Moore
says that poetry has a genuine space. It is understood by genuine readers.
The language of poetry is intense and honest. Poetry doesn't discriminate. It just helps
readers
to think about the simplest, unnoticed side of life. This may not sound interesting to
intellectuals or
literary critics. But it can influence genuine readers who can appreciate these qualities.
Poetry helps to
perceive things clearly. It also helps people to hold on to life. Poetry enables us to admire the
simplicity
and variety in life.
Moore also warns the readers against half-poets who are not able to write or appreciate
genuine
poetry. The poet wishes to find poets who create "imaginary gardens with real toads in
them". She
says, if you demand the raw material of poetry in all its rawness, then, it shows that you are
interested
in poetry.
II. Short Answer Questions
1. What are the useful things listed by the speaker?
The useful things listed are genuine things such as hands that can grasp, eyes that can
dilate, and hair
that can rise. They are important because they are useful.
2. According to the poet, how can one find something genuine in poetry?
One can find something genuine in poetry only when there is in it hands that can grasp, eyes
that can
dilate, and hair that can rise.
3. Is the speaker impatient with 'half poets'? Why?
The speaker is impatient with 'half poets'. They drag things into prominence unnecessarily.
The result
is poetry that people dislike.
4. How does the speaker define people who are really interested in poetry?
The speaker says that if you demand the raw material of poetry in all its rawness, and that
which is genuine, then you are interested in poetry. Poetry enables us to admire the
simplicity and
variety in life.
5. "We do not admire what we cannot understand." Can you explain?
Admiration or respect for something comes only when we can understand it properly. We do
not
admire what we cannot understand.
III. Answer the following questions in a paragraph:
6. On what grounds does the speaker say that she is not a fan of poetry?
Moore says that she is not a fan of poetry. She too dislikes poetry because there are things
that are
more important than poetry. Poetry might look unimportant as it deals with the simple things
in life.
The high-sounding interpretations make poetry difficult to understand. We do not admire
poetry when
we cannot understand it. There are also half-poets who are insolent and trivial. What they
produce is
not poetry at all. They bring dishonour to poetry.
7. How does the speaker criticise “high-sounding interpretation”?
The speaker says “high-sounding interpretation” makes poetry difficult to understand. We
do not
admire poetry when we cannot understand it. There are poems on the bat holding on upside
down or
in search of something to eat. Some poems speak about elephants pushing or a wild horse
taking a roll,
or a tireless wolf under a tree. Some others write about the immovable critic, the base-ball
fan and the
statistician. Such writings turn people away from poetry.
8. List out the important phenomena as mentioned by the speaker. Why does she think they
are
important?
The speaker mentions several important phenomena like the bat holding on upside down or
in search
of something to eat, and elephants pushing. There is also a wild horse taking a roll, and a
tireless wolf
under a tree. Then there is the immovable critic who moves his skin like a horse that feels a
flea, the
base-ball fan and the statistician. Business documents and school-books may also be
reckoned. All
these phenomena are important because they help readers to think about the simple,
unnoticed side of
life.
9. According to the speaker, what happens when we read good poetry?
Good poetry helps to perceive things clearly. The language of poetry is intense and honest.
Poetry doesn't discriminate. It helps readers to think about the simplest, unnoticed side of
life. This
may not sound interesting to intellectuals or literary critics. But poetry can influence genuine
readers
who can appreciate these qualities. It also helps people to hold on to life. Poetry enables us
to admire
the simplicity and variety in life.
10. "Then you are interested in poetry." According to the speaker, which are the possible
ways to
analyse one's interest in poetry?
The speaker talks about the possible ways to analyse one's interest in poetry. At the same
time,
she also warns against half-poets who are not able to write or appreciate genuine poetry. The
poet
wishes to find poets who create "imaginary gardens with real toads in them". She says, if you
demand
the raw material of poetry in all its rawness, and that which is genuine, then you are
interested in
poetry. Poetry enables us to admire the simplicity and variety in life.

Marianne Moore
Q.2. Do you agree with the speaker’s opinion that real poetry is “imaginary gardens with real
toads in them.” Why?
Marianne Moore, in her poem, ‘Poetry’, says that real poetry is imaginary gardens with real
toads in them.
Moore admits that she does not like poetry. However, if one reads poetry with
"contempt", one might discover something genuine in it. Things like hands, eyes, and hair
show
their importance not because of the fancy interpretations one can build on them but because
they are "useful." When they are no longer understandable, then they do not matter; we
cannot
admire "what / we cannot understand."
The poet gives examples of things that are "useful": a bat in a cave looking for food, a
horse, a wolf under a tree, a critic's face twitching, a baseball fan, a statistician. One should
not
dismiss business documents or textbooks either.
There is a distinction that should be made, though. Just writing about these things does
not constitute genuine poetry. When "half poets" write of these subjects, they remain trivial.
They have not captured the essence of these things because, though they may attend to
literal
things. They are not yet "literalists of the imagination."
Real poetry is born when poets can give us "imaginary gardens with real toads in them."
You defy the half poets, and demand poetry constituted of "raw material" and "genuine"
feeling. Until that happens, you can officially be deemed "interested in poetry."