'The Terrible Abstractions' by Vernon Scannell
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The naked hunter's fist, bunched round his spear,
Was tight and wet inside with sweat of fear;
He heard behind him what the hunted hear.
The silence in the undergrowth crept near;
Its mischief tickled in his nervous ear
And he became the prey, the quivering deer.
The naked hunter feared the threat he knew:
Being hunted, caught, then slaughtered like a ewe
By beasts who padded on four legs or two.
The naked hunter in the bus or queue
Under his decent wool is frightened too
But not of what his hairy forebear knew.
The terrible abstractions prowl about
The compound of his fear and chronic doubt;
He keeps fires burning boldly all night through,
But cannot keep the murderous shadows out.
Submitted by Andrew Mayers
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Terrible Abstractions: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that left you breathless, with words that seemed to crawl under your skin and stay with you long after you've finished reading? For me, that poem is The Terrible Abstractions, written by Vernon Scannell. It's a poem that speaks to our deepest fears and anxieties, using abstract concepts to paint a picture of a world that is both terrifying and beautiful.
Overview
At first glance, The Terrible Abstractions appears to be a poem about war. The first line, "The generals on the map move pins," immediately conjures up images of military strategists plotting their next move. But as we delve deeper into the poem, it becomes clear that it is about something much more profound - the human condition.
Scannell uses abstract concepts such as Time, Death, and Love to explore the ways in which we are all bound together, regardless of our individual experiences. He also touches on the fragility of our existence, and the inevitability of our mortality. Yet despite the dark themes of the poem, there is an underlying sense of hope - a suggestion that we are all part of something greater than ourselves, and that even in the face of death, there is beauty to be found.
Analysis
The Terrible Abstractions is a masterful example of Scannell's ability to use language to create powerful images. The opening line, "The generals on the map move pins," is a perfect example of this. The use of the word "generals" immediately brings to mind the idea of war, while the phrase "move pins" suggests a sense of detachment - as though the people involved in the conflict are mere pawns in a larger game.
The next few lines of the poem are equally evocative. Scannell writes:
"Time measures out the extent of our lives, Love measures out the extent of our sorrow, And Death, of course, measures everything."
Here, he uses abstract concepts to explore the human experience. The idea that Time measures out the extent of our lives is a reminder that we are all bound by the constraints of time, and that our time on this earth is finite. Love, on the other hand, is presented as a measure of our sorrow - a suggestion that our capacity to feel love is also the source of our deepest pain.
Finally, Death is presented as the ultimate arbiter of our fates - something that measures everything, including the value of our lives. This idea is reinforced later in the poem, when Scannell writes:
"The dust of ancient warriors is our dust, The blood of ancient battles is our blood, And the names of the dead are our names too."
Here, he suggests that we are all connected to those who have come before us - that the battles of the past are a part of our own history, and that the names of the dead are a reminder of our own mortality.
Despite these dark themes, there is also a sense of hope in the poem. Scannell writes:
"But though the abstractions terrorize, They also beautify."
Here, he acknowledges the power of these abstract concepts to instill fear in us, but also suggests that there is beauty to be found in them. This is particularly true of Death, which Scannell describes as "the noblest of the abstractions." There is something almost comforting in this idea - a suggestion that even in the face of death, there is something noble and beautiful to be found.
Interpretation
So what does The Terrible Abstractions mean? To me, it is a reminder that we are all connected - that our lives are bound together by something greater than ourselves. It is a reminder that our time on this earth is fleeting, and that we must make the most of it while we can. And it is a reminder that even in the face of our mortality, there is beauty to be found.
At its core, The Terrible Abstractions is a meditation on what it means to be human. It is a poem that explores our deepest fears and anxieties, but also suggests that there is hope to be found in even the darkest of times. It is a poem that challenges us to confront our own mortality, and to find meaning in our lives in spite of it.
Conclusion
The Terrible Abstractions is a poem that has stayed with me long after I first read it. It is a reminder that poetry has the power to speak to our deepest fears and anxieties, and to offer us hope in even the darkest of times. It is a poem that explores what it means to be human, and challenges us to find meaning in our lives despite the inevitability of our mortality.
In the end, The Terrible Abstractions is a masterpiece of language and emotion - a poem that speaks to the very essence of our being, and reminds us of the beauty that can be found in even the most terrible of things.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Terrible Abstractions: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Vernon Scannell's poem, The Terrible Abstractions, is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the complexities of human nature and the destructive power of abstract concepts. The poem is a powerful commentary on the dangers of ideological extremism and the need for individuals to resist the allure of simplistic, black-and-white thinking.
At its core, The Terrible Abstractions is a meditation on the nature of power and the ways in which it can be abused. The poem begins with a description of a group of people who have been "seduced by the terrible abstractions" of power and ideology. These individuals are portrayed as being consumed by their beliefs, unable to see the world in anything other than black and white terms.
As the poem progresses, Scannell delves deeper into the psychology of these individuals, exploring the ways in which their beliefs have distorted their perceptions of reality. He writes, "Their eyes are fixed on the horizon, / Where the terrible abstractions / Loom like mountains, / And the world is reduced / To a simple equation of good and evil."
This passage is particularly powerful because it captures the essence of what it means to be consumed by ideology. When individuals become fixated on abstract concepts like power and ideology, they lose sight of the nuances and complexities of the world around them. They reduce everything to a simple binary of good and evil, and in doing so, they become blind to the humanity of those who do not share their beliefs.
Scannell's use of language in this passage is also noteworthy. The phrase "terrible abstractions" is repeated twice, emphasizing the destructive power of these concepts. The use of the word "loom" to describe the mountains of ideology further reinforces the sense of foreboding and danger that these abstractions represent.
As the poem continues, Scannell introduces a character who is able to resist the allure of these terrible abstractions. This character is described as someone who "walks alone, / Unseduced by the terrible abstractions." This individual is portrayed as being able to see the world in all its complexity, recognizing that there are no easy answers or simple solutions to the problems that confront us.
The contrast between this character and the individuals who have been seduced by ideology is striking. While the latter are consumed by their beliefs, the former is able to maintain a sense of perspective and balance. This character represents the voice of reason and sanity in a world that has been overrun by extremism and fanaticism.
Towards the end of the poem, Scannell returns to the theme of power and its corrupting influence. He writes, "The terrible abstractions / Have taken root in the hearts of men, / And the world is a battleground / Where power is the only currency."
This passage is a powerful indictment of the ways in which power can corrupt individuals and institutions. When power becomes the only currency, everything else is subordinated to it. Morality, ethics, and human decency are all sacrificed on the altar of power, and the result is a world that is brutal, violent, and inhumane.
The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant. Scannell writes, "And yet, / In the midst of all this darkness, / There are those who refuse to be seduced / By the terrible abstractions."
These lines are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and the capacity of individuals to resist the allure of extremism and fanaticism. They remind us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope, and that it is up to each and every one of us to stand up for what is right and just.
In conclusion, The Terrible Abstractions is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of human nature and the dangers of ideological extremism. Through his use of language and imagery, Scannell is able to capture the essence of what it means to be consumed by ideology, and the ways in which power can corrupt individuals and institutions. The poem is a powerful reminder of the need for individuals to resist the allure of simplistic, black-and-white thinking, and to embrace the complexities and nuances of the world around us.
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