'M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942' by Philip Levine
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
He made a line on the blackboard,
one bold stroke from right to left
diagonally downward and stood back
to ask, looking as always at no one
in particular, "What have I done?"
From the back of the room Freddie
shouted, "You've broken a piece
of chalk." M. Degas did not smile.
"What have I done?" he repeated.
The most intellectual students
looked down to study their desks
except for Gertrude Bimmler, who raised
her hand before she spoke. "M. Degas,
you have created the hypotenuse
of an isosceles triangle." Degas mused.Everyone knew that Gertrude could not
be incorrect. "It is possible,"
Louis Warshowsky added precisely,
"that you have begun to represent
the roof of a barn." I remember
that it was exactly twenty minutes
past eleven, and I thought at worst
this would go on another forty
minutes. It was early April,
the snow had all but melted on
the playgrounds, the elms and maples
bordering the cracked walks shivered
in the new winds, and I believed
that before I knew it I'd be
swaggering to the candy store
for a Milky Way. M. Degas
pursed his lips, and the room
stilled until the long hand
of the clock moved to twenty one
as though in complicity with Gertrude,
who added confidently, "You've begun
to separate the dark from the dark."
I looked back for help, but now
the trees bucked and quaked, and I
knew this could go on forever.
Editor 1 Interpretation
M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 by Philip Levine
Philip Levine's poem, M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942, is a powerful and thought-provoking work that takes readers on a journey through the mind of a young student in a Detroit school during the Second World War. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the themes, tone, and use of language in the poem, and explore how they work together to create a vivid and poignant portrayal of life in 1940s Detroit.
Themes
One of the key themes that runs through M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 is the idea of education as a means of empowerment. The poem opens with a description of the city of Detroit, a place where "the factories are always burning, burning" and the air is thick with the smell of "oil and grease and smoke." Against this backdrop of industrial decay and pollution, Levine presents us with the figure of M. Degas, a teacher who is dedicated to his students and who sees education as a means of liberation from the poverty and hopelessness that surrounds them:
"M. Degas, you really do see angels," says my friend Ernie.
On the sheet of paper
I was copying Dante's Inferno
in class while he jammed
another cigarette into a crumpled pack
and sneered at the girls
crossing the yard below us.
"Listen," he said, "you want to know
what art is like in the worst of times."
He spat.
This passage is significant because it shows how M. Degas is able to inspire his students, even in the face of poverty and despair. His dedication to teaching is contrasted with the sneering and cynical attitude of the unnamed teacher, who looks down on the girls below them and seems to have little interest in his students or their welfare. Through M. Degas, Levine presents us with a vision of education as a means of transforming lives and giving hope to those who might otherwise be consigned to a life of poverty and misery.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of art as a means of transcending the limitations of everyday life. Throughout the poem, Levine contrasts the ugliness and drudgery of life in Detroit with the beauty and wonder of art:
"When you see something like this,"
he whispered,
"it's like you're looking right through hell
into heaven."
I smiled, and he added,
"Or maybe it's the other way around."
In the background the women
sang softly,
like a choir of prisoners
chanting their way into the light.
In this passage, M. Degas is showing his student a piece of art that he believes has the power to transcend the ugliness of their surroundings and transport them to a place of beauty and wonder. The contrast between the beauty of the art and the ugliness of the factory in the background is striking, and illustrates how art can provide a means of escape from the limitations of everyday life.
Tone
The tone of M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 is one of quiet contemplation and understated emotion. Levine's language is spare and economical, yet he is able to convey a great deal of depth and complexity through his use of imagery and metaphor. The poem is suffused with a sense of melancholy and longing, as the speaker yearns for a better life in the face of the poverty and decay that surround him:
"I want to be a saint," I cried
when he threw the painting at me.
"I want to be a saint
and kill myself and go to heaven."
"Listen," he said,
"if you're not going to try
you may as well tie a rock around your neck
and jump into the river."
In this passage, the speaker expresses his longing for something better, even as he acknowledges the futility of his dreams. M. Degas, in turn, responds with a mixture of tough love and encouragement, urging the speaker to strive for something better, even as he acknowledges the difficulties he will face in trying to achieve his dreams.
Use of Language
One of the most striking things about M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 is Levine's use of language. His language is simple and direct, yet he is able to convey a great deal of depth and complexity through his use of imagery and metaphor. The imagery in the poem is powerful and evocative, conjuring up vivid images of the industrial wasteland of Detroit and the beauty of the art that M. Degas is trying to teach his students:
"The factory windows are dark
except for the distant glow
of molten steel,
and the stars
hidden by the smoke
wiggle like pins in a cushion.
The voices of the girls
rise and fall like the heaving
of waves in a small boat.
In this passage, Levine uses imagery to convey the bleakness of life in Detroit, contrasting the darkness and pollution of the factories with the beauty and wonder of the stars. The image of the stars "hidden by the smoke" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that there is a beauty and wonder that exists beyond the limitations of everyday life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores themes of education, poverty, and beauty through the eyes of a young student in Detroit. Levine's use of language and imagery is masterful, conveying a great deal of depth and complexity through simple and direct language. The poem is suffused with a sense of melancholy and longing, yet it is ultimately a hopeful work, showing how education and art can provide a means of escape from the limitations of everyday life. M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942 is a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the power of art to transform lives and the importance of education in providing hope and opportunity to those who might otherwise be consigned to a life of poverty and misery.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942: A Masterpiece of Philip Levine
Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, has left an indelible mark on American poetry with his powerful and evocative works. One of his most celebrated poems is "Poetry M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942." This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the American working-class experience during the mid-twentieth century. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem is set in Detroit in 1942, during the height of World War II. The city was a hub of industrial activity, with factories producing weapons and other supplies for the war effort. The poem takes place in Durfee Intermediate School, where Poetry M. Degas teaches art and science to a group of working-class students. The poem is a tribute to the resilience and creativity of the American working class, who despite their difficult circumstances, continue to find beauty and meaning in their lives.
The poem begins with the description of Poetry M. Degas, a teacher who is passionate about his work and his students. He is described as "a tall African American with a head full of dark and lovely thoughts." The use of the word "lovely" is significant, as it suggests that Poetry M. Degas sees beauty in the world around him, even in the midst of war and poverty.
The poem then moves on to describe the classroom, which is filled with "the smell of clay and chalk and distant roses." This imagery is powerful, as it suggests that even in the midst of a bleak industrial landscape, there is still beauty to be found. The use of the word "distant" is also significant, as it suggests that the beauty is not easily accessible, but must be sought out and appreciated.
The poem then describes the students, who are "mostly Negroes, but some whites." This line is significant, as it highlights the racial tensions that existed in Detroit at the time. The fact that the students are described as "mostly Negroes" suggests that they are a minority in the school, and that they face discrimination and prejudice. However, the fact that there are also white students in the class suggests that there is some degree of integration and cooperation.
The poem then moves on to describe the lesson, which is about the human heart. Poetry M. Degas uses a model of the heart made out of clay to teach the students about its structure and function. He then asks the students to write poems about the heart, encouraging them to explore its emotional and symbolic significance. This lesson is significant, as it suggests that Poetry M. Degas is not just teaching his students about science, but also about the human experience. He is encouraging them to think deeply about their own emotions and experiences, and to express them through poetry.
The poem then describes the students' poems, which are filled with "images of love and war, of racial conflict and tenderness." This line is significant, as it suggests that the students are grappling with complex and difficult issues in their poetry. They are exploring the themes of love and war, which are central to the human experience, as well as the themes of racial conflict and tenderness, which are particularly relevant to their own lives.
The poem then ends with the description of Poetry M. Degas, who is "smiling quietly as he watches them." This line is significant, as it suggests that Poetry M. Degas is proud of his students and their work. He is not just teaching them about art and science, but also about the power of creativity and expression. He is encouraging them to find their own voices and to use them to make sense of the world around them.
In conclusion, "Poetry M. Degas Teaches Art & Science At Durfee Intermediate School--Detroit, 1942" is a masterpiece of American poetry. It captures the essence of the American working-class experience during the mid-twentieth century, and celebrates the resilience and creativity of the American people. Through its powerful imagery and language, the poem encourages us to find beauty and meaning in even the most difficult of circumstances, and to use our creativity and expression to make sense of the world around us.
Editor Recommended Sites
Startup News: Valuation and acquisitions of the most popular startupsML Assets: Machine learning assets ready to deploy. Open models, language models, API gateways for LLMs
Little Known Dev Tools: New dev tools fresh off the github for cli management, replacing default tools, better CLI UI interfaces
Python 3 Book: Learn to program python3 from our top rated online book
Dev Traceability: Trace data, errors, lineage and content flow across microservices and service oriented architecture apps
Recommended Similar Analysis
A Tale Of The Ragged Mountains by Edgar Allen Poe analysisHowl by Allen Ginsberg analysis
Spring Rain by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Reconciliation by Walt Whitman analysis
Farewell To The Muse by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Elegy For Jane Kenyon (2) by Jean Valentine analysis
Forsaken , The by William Wordsworth analysis
I heard a fly buzz when I died; by Emily Dickinson analysis
If Death Is Kind by Sarah Teasdale analysis
My life closed twice before its close; by Emily Dickinson analysis