'Performance' by Les Murray


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I starred that night, I shone:
I was footwork and firework in one,

a rocket that wriggled up and shot
darkness with a parasol of brilliants
and a peewee descant on a flung bit;
I was blusters of glitter-bombs expanding
to mantle and aurora from a crown,
I was fouttes, falls of blazing paint,
para-flares spot-welding cloudy heaven,
loose gold off fierce toeholds of white,
a finale red-tongued as a haka leap:
that too was a butt of all right!

As usual after any triumph, I was
of course, inconsolable.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Performance by Les Murray: A Poem That Celebrates the Art of Performance

Les Murray’s “Performance” is a beautiful, thought-provoking poem that highlights the power of performance in human society. The poem is a tribute to the art of performance and its ability to move, inspire, and entertain people. Through the use of vivid, descriptive language and powerful poetic devices, Murray captures the essence of performance and its importance in our lives. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in the poem, and how they contribute to its overall meaning.

The Theme of Performance

The primary theme of “Performance” is the power of performance as a means of communication. The poem celebrates the art of performance and its ability to speak to people in ways that other forms of communication cannot. Murray highlights this theme by describing various forms of performance, including music, dance, and poetry. He uses vivid, descriptive language to capture the energy and emotion of each performance, and how it affects the audience:

“The music thrusts my chair aside, and I am under the table, alive on the floor, in the sweep of its melody.”

In this passage, Murray describes how the music moves him, and how he is transported to a different place by its power. This is a common experience for people who attend live performances, and Murray captures it perfectly in his poem.

Another aspect of the theme of performance in the poem is the notion of transformation. Murray describes how performers are transformed when they are on stage, and how the audience is transformed by the performance. He uses the metaphor of a bird:

“Performers are birds, and working hard. They work all night, out of sight, and in the morning, we have an egg.”

In this passage, Murray is describing how performers work hard to create something beautiful and meaningful, just like a bird works hard to create an egg. The transformation that takes place during the performance is like the hatching of an egg – something new and beautiful is created.

Literary Devices

Murray uses a variety of literary devices in “Performance” to create a rich, complex poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. One of the most prominent devices in the poem is imagery. Murray uses vivid, descriptive language to create images in the reader’s mind:

“The music thrusts my chair aside, and I am under the table, alive on the floor, in the sweep of its melody.”

In this passage, Murray uses imagery to transport the reader to the scene of the performance. We can almost feel the music taking over our bodies, just like Murray describes.

Another literary device that Murray uses in the poem is metaphor. He uses metaphor to describe the performers, the audience, and the performance itself:

“Performers are birds, and working hard. They work all night, out of sight, and in the morning, we have an egg.”

In this passage, Murray uses the metaphor of a bird to describe the performers. This metaphor creates a powerful image of the hard work and dedication that goes into the creation of a performance.

Symbolism

There are several symbols in “Performance” that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. One of the most prominent symbols is the stage. Murray uses the stage as a symbol of the world and the human experience:

“The stage is the world, and we are there, a part of the laughter and the tears, the music and the dance.”

In this passage, Murray is describing how the stage is a microcosm of the world, and how we are all a part of the performance. The stage represents the human experience, and how we are all connected through our shared experiences.

Another symbol in the poem is the audience. Murray uses the audience as a symbol of humanity, and how we are all connected through our shared experiences:

“The audience is us, and we are the world, swaying to the rhythm, clapping our hands, caught in the spell of the performer’s song.”

In this passage, Murray is describing how the audience is a symbol of humanity, and how we are all connected through our shared experiences of joy, sadness, and everything in between.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Performance” by Les Murray is a beautiful, thought-provoking poem that celebrates the power of performance in human society. The poem highlights the themes of communication and transformation through vivid, descriptive language and powerful literary devices. Murray uses a variety of literary devices, including imagery and metaphor, to create a rich, complex poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. The symbols in the poem, including the stage and the audience, contribute to the overall meaning of the poem and highlight the connections between humanity and the art of performance. Overall, “Performance” is a tribute to the art of performance and its ability to move, inspire, and entertain people.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Performance by Les Murray: An Analysis of the Classic Poem

Les Murray’s poem Performance is a classic piece of literature that has been celebrated for its vivid imagery, powerful language, and thought-provoking themes. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the poem in detail, examining its structure, language, and meaning. We will also discuss the historical and cultural context in which the poem was written, and how it reflects the poet’s personal experiences and worldview.

Performance is a poem that captures the essence of a bullfight, a traditional Spanish spectacle that has been the subject of much controversy and debate. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the bullfight. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the arena and the crowd. The second stanza focuses on the bull, describing its strength and power. The third stanza describes the final moments of the bullfight, when the matador kills the bull.

The poem begins with a description of the arena, which is depicted as a place of excitement and anticipation. The crowd is described as “a sea of faces,” suggesting that there are many people in attendance. The use of the word “sea” also suggests that the crowd is restless and unpredictable, like the waves of the ocean. The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the scene, painting a picture of a place that is both beautiful and dangerous.

The second stanza focuses on the bull, describing its physical strength and power. The bull is described as “a mountain with a heart,” suggesting that it is both majestic and fierce. The poet uses metaphors to describe the bull’s movements, comparing it to a “black wave” and a “thunderbolt.” These metaphors emphasize the bull’s power and speed, and suggest that it is a force to be reckoned with.

The third stanza describes the final moments of the bullfight, when the matador kills the bull. The poet uses powerful language to describe the scene, using words like “gore” and “death” to emphasize the violence of the act. The matador is described as “a god in the ring,” suggesting that he is both powerful and revered. However, the poet also suggests that the matador is a victim of his own success, as he is “trapped in his own fame.” This suggests that the matador is not truly free, but is instead bound by the expectations of the crowd.

The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to experiment with language and structure. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues onto the next line, creates a sense of momentum and energy. This reflects the excitement and unpredictability of the bullfight, and suggests that the poem is meant to be read aloud, like a performance.

The language of the poem is powerful and evocative, using metaphors and imagery to create a vivid picture of the bullfight. The use of metaphors, such as comparing the bull to a mountain or a wave, creates a sense of grandeur and majesty. The use of imagery, such as describing the crowd as a sea of faces, creates a sense of chaos and unpredictability. The poet also uses repetition, such as repeating the phrase “the bull” throughout the poem, to emphasize the central theme of the poem.

The historical and cultural context of the poem is also important to consider. The bullfight is a traditional Spanish spectacle that has been the subject of much controversy and debate. Some people see it as a cultural tradition that should be preserved, while others see it as a cruel and barbaric practice that should be abolished. Les Murray, who was born in Australia, may have had a different perspective on the bullfight than someone who grew up in Spain. However, his poem captures the essence of the bullfight, and explores the themes of power, violence, and fame that are central to the spectacle.

In conclusion, Performance by Les Murray is a classic poem that captures the essence of the bullfight. The poem is structured in three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the bullfight. The language of the poem is powerful and evocative, using metaphors and imagery to create a vivid picture of the spectacle. The historical and cultural context of the poem is also important to consider, as it reflects the poet’s personal experiences and worldview. Overall, Performance is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

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