Poetry: Hatred

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5,6

HATRED

Before you start reading, consider this:

It is not an easy thing, to live under a cruel and unjust system of rule. To constantly be on guard, to watch every word you say, to always be afraid, to know that a single mistake could cost you your very life …. Yet this was the grim reality that Wisława Szymborska was forced to face, not once, but twice in her life, for Szymborska was unfortunate enough to have lived through both Communist rule and Hitler’s 12-year reign of terror.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

• "If people are given the chance to experience life in more than one country, they will hate a little less. It's not a miracle potion, but little by little you can solve problems in the 'basement' of a country, not on the surface. That is why I wanted people in other countries to read Persepolis, to see that I grew up just as other children do.“

Frankenstein by M. Shelley

• I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. (Shelley)
• If I have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes, and I shall become a thing of whose existence everyone will be ignorant.(Shelley)

'Blacker the Berry' by K. Lamar

I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015
Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean
Been feeling this way since I was 16, came to my senses
You never liked us anyway, f...... * your friendship, I meant it
I'm African-American, I'm African
I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village
Pardon my residence
Came from the bottom of mankind
My hair is nappy, my d.....*  is big, my nose is round and wide
You hate me don't you? (Lamar)

George Orwell

• The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it. 
• I hate purity, I hate goodness! I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want to be corrupt to the bones. 
• The next moment a hideous, grinding speech, as of some monstrous machine running without oil, burst from the big telescreen at the end of the room. It was a noise that set one’s teeth on edge and bristled the hair at the back of one’s neck. The Hate had started. 

bristle: to react angrily

Hatred (lines 1-5)

See how efficient it still is,

how it keeps itself in shape -

our century’s hatred.

How easily it vaults the tallest obstacles.

How rapidly it pounces, tracks us down

What is the effect of personification in this stanza? 

Comment on the use of the word 'vault'. 

What is the effect of 'adverbs' in this stanza? 

vault: to jump over something by first putting your hands on it or by using a pole.

ponce: to jump or move quickly in order to catch or take hold of something:

Hatred (lines 7 - 12)

It’s not like other feelings.

At once both older and younger.

It gives birth itself to the reasons

that give it life.

When it sleeps, it’s never eternal rest.

And sleeplessness won’t sap its st.ength; it feeds it.

• How does the speake achieve the effect of self-sustainibility and immortality of 'hatred'? 
• Explain the paradox in this stanza.

sap: to make someone weaker or take away strength or an important quality from someone

Hatred (lines 14 - 22)

One religion or another -

whatever gets it ready, in position.

One fatherland or another -

whatever helps it get a running start.  

Justice also works well at the outset

until hate gets its own momentum going.

Hatred. Hatred.

Its face twisted in a grimace

of erotic ecstasy.

How would you summarize this stanca in one sentence? 

Even justice and patriotism can help 'hatred' to start. 

outset: start or beginning. 

fatherland: patriotism. 

Hatred (lines 24 - 31)

Oh these other feelings,

listless weaklings.

Since when does brotherhood

draw crowds?

Has compassion

ever finished first?

Does doubt ever really rouse the rabble?

Only hatred has just what it takes.

Why does the speaker compare 'hatred' with other feelings, as brotherhood, compassio, doubt? 

Comment on the use of personification in this stanza? 

weakling: someone who is weak, either physically or in character.

rabble: a large, noisy, uncontrolled group of people.

Only hatred has just what it takes. - hatred is stronger than other feelings.

Hatred ( lines 32 - 37)

Gifted, diligent, hardworking.

Need we mention all the songs it has composed?

All the pages it has added to our history books?

All the human carpets it has spread

over countless city squares and football fields.

Why does the speaker characterize 'hatred' as 'gifted, diligent, hardworking'?

Hatred (lines 39 - 45)

Let’s face it:

 it knows how to make beauty.

The splendid fire - glow in midnight skies.

Magnificent bursting bombs in rosy dawns.

You can’t deny the inspiring pathos of ruins

and a certain bawdy humor to be found

in the sturdy column jutting from their midst

Explan the effect of irony and imagery in this stanza. 

Comment on the use of 'imagery' and 'juxtaposition'. 

rosy: if a situation is described as rosy, it gives hope of success or happiness.

sturdy: physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt.

jutting: sticking out, especially above or past the edge or surface of something.

midst: the middle of a group of people or things.

column: a tall, vertical stone post, used as a support for a roof or in classical buildings 

Hatred

What is the most apparent irony that is conveyed in the poem 'Hatred?' 

• The most apparent irony in the poem lies in the portrayal of hatred as beautiful and almost skillful in its destructive abilities. 

Poetry: Hatred

•  'Hatred' expresses negative views on human history. 
• 'Hatred'  personifies hatred as a predatory parasite of humanity. 
•  Hatred is presented as the strongest and most influential emotion affecting history.