Cockroaches - Poem Analysis
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari yam is explored, using the insect as an allegory for the oppressed, particularly highlighting the plight of Kenyans under British colonial rule. The poem's vivid imagery and commanding language emphasize the violent and invasive nature of colonialism. The speaker's shift from commanding to questioning prompts reflection on the morality of such actions, challenging viewers to consider the humanity of those deemed 'suspect' due to their love of darkness, which in the figurative sense represents the oppression and suspicion faced by the colonized.
Takeaways
- 📜 The poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari yam is a powerful piece of literature that uses the insect as a metaphor for a deeper social and political commentary.
- 🌍 The poet's background is significant; born in Kenya in 1947, during the period of British colonization, which ended with independence in 1963.
- 🐜 The title 'Cockroaches' is impactful, invoking negative connotations associated with pests and invasive creatures, setting the tone for the poem's themes.
- 🕊 The first stanza uses imperative commands and vivid imagery to depict the disturbance of the cockroaches' peace, reflecting a power dynamic.
- 🔍 The poem employs exclusive pronouns to distance the speaker from the cockroaches, emphasizing a separation and a sense of 'otherness'.
- 🎨 The language and diction, such as 'Helter Skelter' and 'Scuttle', create a sense of chaos and hurried movement, mirroring the plight of the oppressed.
- 🤔 A shift occurs in the poem where the speaker questions the justification for the violence against the cockroaches, prompting readers to consider the ethics of such actions.
- 🌑 The poem suggests that the love of darkness by cockroaches makes them suspicious to humans, drawing a parallel to how certain groups are marginalized due to their differences.
- 🔗 The poem's structure, with its free verse and varied line lengths, reflects the urgency and haste of the cockroaches' situation, enhancing the emotional impact.
- 🌐 The figurative interpretation of the poem positions the cockroaches as representing oppressed people, particularly those under colonialism, challenging the reader to reflect on historical injustices.
- 📖 The tone of the poem oscillates between cruel and contemplative, inviting readers to engage with the harsh realities of oppression and the thoughtful questioning of such actions.
Q & A
Who is the poet Mari Yam and what is significant about his birth year and location?
-Mari Yam is a Kenyan writer, poet, and university lecturer born in 1947. His birth year and location are significant because Kenya was colonized by the British until its independence in 1963, which is a historical context that influences the themes in his poetry, including 'Cockroaches'.
What is the literal meaning of the poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari Yam?
-The literal meaning of the poem 'Cockroaches' describes the behavior of cockroaches when a light is turned on, causing them to scurry back to their dark shelters. The poem uses commands and vivid language to depict the insects' reactions to human intrusion.
How does the poem 'Cockroaches' use figurative language to represent a deeper theme?
-The poem uses an extended metaphor where cockroaches represent oppressed people, specifically those suffering under colonialism. The figurative language highlights the power dynamics between the oppressors and the oppressed.
What is the significance of the title 'Cockroaches' in relation to the poem's theme?
-The title 'Cockroaches' is impactful because of the negative connotations associated with the insect, which sets the tone for the poem's exploration of oppression and the dehumanizing treatment of the oppressed.
How does the poem use the word 'shy' to enhance the victimhood of the cockroaches?
-The use of the word 'shy' adds to the sense of victimhood of the cockroaches by suggesting that they are timid and vulnerable, much like the oppressed people who are subjected to violence and mistreatment.
What rhetorical device is used in the poem to question the actions of the oppressors?
-The poem uses a rhetorical question, 'who ordained the crash fall of sandals,' to challenge the authority and justification behind the violent actions of the oppressors.
How does the poem's structure contribute to its themes and tone?
-The poem's free verse structure with varying line lengths and enjambment emphasizes the urgency and haste of the cockroaches' movements, reflecting the themes of violence and oppression.
What is the mood of the first two stanzas of the poem 'Cockroaches'?
-The mood of the first two stanzas is cruel, as they describe the violent and aggressive actions taken against the cockroaches, reflecting the harsh treatment of the oppressed.
What contemplative questions are posed in the last two stanzas of the poem?
-The last two stanzas pose questions about the motivations behind the oppressors' actions, such as their love for darkness and their racial prejudices, prompting readers to consider the deeper implications of colonialism and oppression.
How does the poem 'Cockroaches' challenge the reader's perspective on the power dynamics between humans and insects?
-The poem challenges the reader's perspective by presenting the cockroaches as victims and questioning the justification for the brutal treatment they receive, inviting reflection on the ethics of human actions towards other species and, by extension, towards oppressed groups.
What themes are explored in the poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari Yam?
-The themes explored in the poem include violent oppression, colonialism, racism, and the mistreatment of others, using the metaphor of cockroaches to represent the oppressed and reflect on the actions of the oppressors.
Outlines
📜 Colonialism and the Symbolism of 'Cockroaches'
The first paragraph introduces the poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari yam, a Kenyan poet born in 1947. The video discusses the poem's literal and figurative interpretations, focusing on the negative connotations associated with cockroaches as pests and invaders. The poem's opening stanza uses imperative commands to disrupt the cockroaches' sense of safety, highlighting the human perspective of distancing from the insects. The speaker's language emphasizes the urgency and haste of the cockroaches' movements, while also portraying them as victims of human aggression. The paragraph concludes with a rhetorical question that challenges the audience to reconsider the power dynamics between humans and cockroaches.
🤔 Reflections on Oppression and the Human-Cockroach Metaphor
The second paragraph delves deeper into the figurative interpretation of the poem, suggesting that the cockroaches symbolize oppressed people, particularly those suffering under colonialism. The speaker's shift from commanding to questioning introduces a contemplative tone, asking who gave humans the right to treat the 'shy creatures' violently. The use of the word 'shy' adds to the victimhood of the cockroaches, drawing a parallel with the African people who were disrupted and mistreated by colonial powers. The poem's structure, with its free verse and varying line lengths, emphasizes the urgency and haste of the cockroaches, mirroring the aggression of the colonial forces. The final stanzas prompt further contemplation on the motivations behind colonial violence and racial prejudice, leaving the reader with a sense of thoughtfulness and introspection.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Colonialism
💡Cockroaches
💡Metaphor
💡Power Dynamic
💡Imperative
💡Helter Skelter
💡Rhetorical Question
💡Shy Creatures
💡Figurative Interpretation
💡Racial Prejudices
Highlights
Introduction to the poem 'Cockroaches' by Mari yam, a Kenyan poet, and the significance of Kenya's colonial history.
Analysis of the poem's title 'Cockroaches' and its negative connotations, setting the tone for the poem.
Discussion of the first stanza, focusing on the imperative 'turn on the light' and the disruption of the cockroaches' sense of safety.
Use of the word 'Helter Skelter' to describe the disorderly and hasty movement of the cockroaches.
The use of the pronoun 'they' to distance the speaker from the cockroaches, highlighting a human perspective.
Commanding language in the poem, such as 'cut them off' and 'block their many approaches', emphasizing a sense of urgency and aggression.
The connotation of 'hideout' as a criminal shelter, suggesting the cockroaches are seen as wrongdoers.
The rhyme scheme in the poem that adds to the chaotic and hurried movement of the cockroaches.
The speaker's desire to witness the suffering of the cockroaches, depicted through words like 'hopeless' and 'helpless'.
Shift in the poem from commanding to questioning, starting with 'but who ordained'.
The rhetorical question about the power dynamics between humans and cockroaches, challenging the reader's assumptions.
The contemplation of whether the cockroaches' love for darkness makes them suspicious to humans.
The poem's structure as free verse with varying line lengths and occasional rhyme, emphasizing the urgency and haste.
Figurative interpretation of the poem, where cockroaches represent oppressed people, particularly under colonialism.
The contrast between the violent treatment of cockroaches and the actual behavior of the African people under colonialism.
The contemplative tone in the last two stanzas, questioning the actions and motivations of the colonial powers.
The poem's themes of violent oppression, colonialism, racism, and mistreatment of others.
The tone and mood of the poem, described as cruel in the first two stanzas and thoughtful and contemplative in the last two.
Transcripts
hello and welcome to another chutas
video in today's video we're going to be
analyzing the poem cockroaches by Mari
yam so the poet was born in Kenya in
1947 he is a writer and a poet and a
university lecturer it's worth noting
that he was born in Kenya in 1947 Kenya
was colonized by the British for a
period of time and they gained their
independence in
1963 this is significant to note because
um in the figurative interpretation of
this poem we're going to discuss
colonialism so the title of this poem is
cockroaches and it's one of the most
sort of impactful titles of a poem I
think because um the connotations we
associate with cockroaches immediately
spring to mind so obviously a cockroach
is a type of insect but the associations
and the connotations we have are that
they're pest that they're invasive we
have very very negative perception of
cockroaches so this immediately sets up
the rest of the
poem turn on the light and Helter
Skelter they Scuttle to their dark
shelters so this very first stanza we
start with turn on which is imperative
which is a command turn on the light we
know that cockroaches are nocturnal
animals so the dark shelters references
their preference to dark spaces so
turning on the light is going to disrupt
the coach's sense of safety and Helter
Skelter Helter Skelter means disorderly
you're moving in a disorderly haste and
confusion they Scuttle Scuttle means you
run hurridly notice the use of the
exclusive pronoun they so we're having
the speaker is talking sort of from the
human perspective and then he's
distancing himself from the Cockroaches
this is important in our literal
understanding of the poem also in our
figurative one notice the um
alliteration Skelter and SC cuttle that
s sound which mimics the cockroach's
Hasty
Runway cut them off once again a command
from their hideouts block their many
approaches and see cockroaches in
Hopeless flurry and helpless worry so
cut them off commanding once again from
there notice all these exclusive
pronouns being used to show this
distinction between the humans and the
Cockroaches um I know it seems pretty
obvious in terms of literal but keep it
in mind for
figurative Hideout this is referen to
their shelters again but you use the
word Hideout Hideout has a connotation
of like you're a criminal and you have
to hide out you have to go away from um
you know you have to hide from regular
Society for a reason so we can see the
behavior towards the Cockroaches
indicates that they have done something
wrong but from the description that
we've seen about the Cockroaches just
being in their dark shelters they don't
seem to have actually done anything
wrong they've just sort of acting
normally but the reaction to them is
extremely
volatile block block is a word by itself
on the line um and this is another
command but it also shows how we must
make the it's as as you know as one word
on a singular line it's like we must
isolate the Cockroaches there are many
approaches um approaches once again it
has this like sort of sinister
connotation their approaches could maybe
be like they attempts to seek food and
shelter but the addiction almost sounds
ominous like a criminal like you know
they're they're going to try and
approach you they're going to try and
cause cause chaos and see cockroaches in
Hopeless flurry and helpless worry um
notice that approaches and cockroaches
rhyme and then flurry and worry rhyme um
and the speaker does not really come off
in a good light in these two in these
two last um lines of this stanza um it's
he he wants to witness the suffering of
the Cockroaches it seems notice the use
of hopeless and helpless both with that
less um suffix which showcases how the
speaker wants to deprive the um
cockroaches of any form of Hope or
help but who ordained the crash fall of
sandals on these shy creatures and now
we have a shift so but always indicates
a shift and here we go from this
commanding sense to this questioning
sense
and the speaker asked who ordained
meaning who gave power to the crash fall
of sandals crash fall think of the
connotations of Crash it's violent and
aggressive connotations of sandals and
you can just think of how um humans
typically get rid of cockroaches by you
know just like stepping on them so
sandals is a form of sneky it's a path
that represents a hole because obviously
he's not saying that the sandals really
have the power but it's the humans who
have the power it represents people
but the use of sandals shows that this
is the only thing that cockroaches
actually see they only see the sandal
that's being sort of stamped on them but
it is referen to the humans who are
being violent on these shy creatures so
shy this diction of shy adds to the to
the Cockroaches um sense of victimhood
that the cockroaches in this poem they'
seen as hopeless and helpless and shy
the picture is being created that they
are victims and notice the rhetorical
question at the end of the poem it makes
the reader not the end of the poem sorry
the end of the stanza it makes the
reader think or consider the status quo
in a new way like we always just assume
oh
yeah um you know humans and cockroaches
have this um this this power Dynamic but
now we have to consider it there isn't
also actually an answer to this question
like there's no real answer to justify
this
brutality or is it their love of
Darkness holds them suspect so or this
indicates a contemplative tone is that
they love of Darkness they meaning they
love dark spaces um and therefore they
perhaps get a reputation for evil humans
don't understand this love that they
have for the darkness that holds them
suspect that makes them suspicious to
humans that humans want to um treat them
badly they don't trust them readers are
left considering this with the question
mark and linking the literal to the
figurative um extended metaphor with
this final question so let's quickly
have a discussion about the um literal
versus the figurative because we've
discuss this probe in a literal sense
which makes sense but um definitely the
figurative is going to offer us um a
deeper meaning than just you know
cockroaches and humans and that power
Dynamic so literal is obviously the
cockroach roaches and the humans and
that power Dynamic but the figurative is
that this is an extended metaphor and
the Cockroaches are repres or the
Cockroaches represent oppressed people
and specifically people suffering under
colonialism and the speaker seems to be
from the powerful Colonial
perspective so as we said earlier the
Cockroaches I described as shy and
hopeless these are the oppressed people
African people who have been disrupted
and who have been violently treated by
the colonial powers and this is in
contrast to those in power with
addiction like cut and holds them
suspect is used the colonial forces were
aggressive Territorial and disruptive to
the natural ways of the people and their
Lifestyles they try to crush African
people and were brutal just as humans
are when they encounter a cockroach so
you can notice the effectiveness of this
metaphor in that humans human the human
power damic with cockrides is extremely
violent yes um and so comparing that to
how Colonials treated African people
really emphasizes the sense of brutality
and aggression and inhumanity of their
actions stanza three that question is
quite powerful and this is where the
speaker asks how can they get away how
can the colonal get away with so much
violence who gave them permission to
invade to disrupt and to brutally treat
African people and stanza 4 also asks
another question also of the Colonials
act this way because of their racial
prejudices and their unwillingness to
recognize Africans as fellow human
beings so definitely the first two
stanzas is one part of the poem and the
last two stanzas is a more cont more of
a contemplation about that behavior so I
hope that the figurative interpretation
makes sense as well as the literal
one the structure of the poem this the
poem is free USS um you have different
stances of different line lengths um
there's no particular ordered rhyme
scheme there's just a couple instances
of rhyme there's lots of enjam run on
lines and short lines and this
emphasizes the haste in which the
Cockroaches move and the urgency of the
speaker the theme and the message of the
poem um we can talk about that in terms
of violent
oppression colonialism racism
mistreatment of others um and the tone
and mood you can describe as cruel in
the first two stanzas and the last two
stanzas as thoughtful and
contemplative thank you so much for
watching I hope that you enjoyed the
video please remember to like And
subscribe and I'll see you in the next
one
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)