TONE #2: Persimmons by Li-Young Lee on pg. 847 of the Norton.
I found multiple tones throughout this poem. It is as if they author almost told it in different acts in the way that the tone changes. While he may be speaking about the same object, he has a different view on depending on the situation he is in when he speaks about it.
In the beginning the poem has a tone of annoyance. The speaker cannot seem to differentiate between the words "persimmon and precision." He speaks about being frustrated with his teacher for slapping the back of his head and making him stand in the corner. In the stage of his life, the persimmons are a source of anger and annoyance for the speaker. Later, when he talks about Mrs. Walker again, he falls back on the tone of annoyance. He's already learned about persimmons from his mother and chooses to simply observe the other students. In context with his time at school, the speaker is quite annoyed with persimmons.
In the stanzas about Donna and the other words that got him into trouble, the speaker has a reminiscient tone. While he may have embarassed himself, the speaker looks back fondly on these memories. What seems to be his first time with a girl is connected with his confusion with Chinese words. He also speaks about other words that gave him trouble over the years and how he connects those words with his own experiences. Through this entire section, the speaker is quite lightly reminiscient of his memories.
When he goes back to speaking specifically about persimmons, we hear about his father. This section seems almost regretful and happy at the same time. He gives his father the persimmons when he is going blind because his mother told him that inside each persimmon "something golden, glowing" can be found. When we later find out that the father made the painting of the persimmons when he was blind, they take on a greater meaning. The speaker chooses to end the poem with the father's words. In doing so, we get an uplifting tone at the end. It's as if we feel the enlightenment that the speaker experiences through his father's words.
Overall, the tone changes throught the poem as the speaker makes his way through life. The persimmons are more of a symbol for the significant moments in his life. He connects his memories with words and objects, just as any human does. The persimmon has not only created lasting memories for the speaker, but due to the various tones we are able to see that the persimmon is significant to many.
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5 comments:
I agree with Kasey in her saying that most of the poem is reminiscant and the author is reflecting on the major points of his life. However, I saw a major tone shift at the end of the poem. When the point of view switches from the son to the father, the tone becomes enlightening and less informative. The poem also shifts from the historical present to the actual present. Also, the fact that the father's words are in italics show that they are significant to the author. The major shift in tone and point of view at the end of the poem suggest the author's switch in they way he lives his life. All of the things that he can feel are felt stronger by his father who is blind, which teaches him to slow down and live his life more freely.
I thought the tone shifts added to the overall meaning of the poem and title in the end, with the words of the narrators father. I agree that the shifting of tone helps explain the emotions of the narrators past memories and present.
In the beginning, he feels annoyed with mispronouncing, then ponders old memories of trying to teach chinese to his first love. By the end he visits his blind father and fully realizes the meaning of words and the fruit persimmons.
Touching on what kasey said about the importance of the quote,"sun inside, something golden, glowing", the meaning of the fruit evolves for the author, from this revelation. THe tone shows how his rememberance of his mothers words cause him to value the fruit and the power of words more than when he mispronounced them and got in trouble.
His fathers words at the end set a tone of importance and emotional meaning behind the painting of persimmons. The power of these ending words alluminate the essence of the persimmons and life.
I aggree upon the topic of how the speakers tone of the poem changes as he gets older, and gains more knowledge about his actions and the actions of others through experience and time.
The different connections and word play Li-Young Lee uses throughout "Persimmons" contributes to the tone of how everythign is related, and creates an aura of childhood missunderstandings and lessons that anyone can relate to, creatign the ability for the reader to interperate a tone that they have had experiences with.
As the speaker reflects upon memories that are older, the tone shifts into a more serious manner which is deemed appropriate for the subject matter.
clearly, i don't disagree with earlier comments about the reminiscing tone. but to say something even slightly original, i think that the poem's beginning is a little rebellious. He thinks about how his teacher punished every incorrect action he took harshly, but the irony of breaking loose of all rules and fooling around wiht a girl makes the suffering he endured bearable, and his tone somewhat mocking or superior (now that he looks back on it).
The latter part of the poem is much more regretful in tone. His keen observance of the detail in the nature around him suggests both a confirmation of life and beauty in the face of family harships like his father's blindness, but also a need to escape from this in thought.
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