★★★Delight and Disorder★★★
Robert Herrick
★★Summary:
In his poem "Delight in Disorder" Robert Herrick describes how he finds women in a disordered dress more pleasurable than well-dressed ones.The poet is a passionate lover. He describes different articles of clothing of his beloved.He describes about his beloved dress.He said his beloved was wearing an ornament that was random.But it attracts the poet.Then he says his beloved has not given proper care to her cuff.Her petticoat is tempestuous which symbolises the unrestrained personality.Her shoestring is not properly shaped.But the poet finds a wild civility into his beloved.She looks more beautiful and charming with the disorderly dress than formal dress.
★★Rhyme Scheme:
Rhyme scheme is the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse
★The rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb ccdd eeff gg.
"dress"=a
"wantonness"=a
"thrown"=b
"distraction"=b
"there"=c
"stomacher"=c
"thereby"=d
"confusedly"=d
"note"=e
"petticoat"=e
"tie"=f
"civility"=f
"art"=g
"part"=g
Here last word of the 1st line "dress" and last word of the 2nd line is "wantonness".Both have same sound.So we can mark it "a".
Then,the last word of the 3rd line is "thrown" and last word of the 4th line is "distraction".Those words have same sound. So we will mark it " b".
Again,the last word of the 5th, 6th line's are "there" "stomacher".Both also same sound. So we can mark it "c".Then last word of the 7th line is " thereby" and the last word of the 8th is "confusedly" .These also have a same sound.So we can mark it "d". Further,last word of the 9th and 10th are same sound.So we can mark it "e".Again,last words of the 11th and 12th line's are " tie", "civility". These words have also same sound.So we can mark it "f".And finally last word ot the 13th line is "art" and last word of the 14th line is "part". These words also have same sound.So we will mark it "g".
So we can find out that the rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb ccdd eeff gg.
★★Tone:
Tone is a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.
The tone of the poem is light and playful. In the poem, the poet finds beauty into disorder.The dress of his beloved is carelessly put on her shoulders.He describes is in this way that a lace is waywardly put on deep red stomacher. She does not give proper attention to her cuff which allows her ribbons to flow confusedly. Her petticoat is tempestuous that symbolises her unrestrained personality. Her shoestring is carelessly tied. There is no discipline in the ways of her wearing dresses. But the poet finds delight and pleasure in the disobedience of her clothing. So, the tone of the poem is light and playful.
★★Structure:
The poem consists of 14 lines with the rhyme scheme aa bb cc dd ee ff gg.
Its a lyric poem because there are a lyrical quality into the whole poem.The main element of a lyric poem is impulsiveness stirred by a certain event.Here the poet finds pleasure into his beloved wearing dress.Though is was not wearing orderly but it looks very beautiful and attracts the poet's mind.The poet describes it by his own experience and feelings.So its a lyric poem.
★★Theme:
Theme is the central idea in a piece of writing. The whole body explains the theme.
The main theme of the poem "Delight in Disorder" by Robert Herrick are spontaneity, freedom and feminine beauty etc.Beauty and disorderly things is also the main point of the poem.The poet describes about
his beloved dress.Though she do not wear her dress orderly but the poet finds pleasure
at her dress.The woman does not follow the formal format of dressing that signifies her carefree freedom.It also represents also her inborn freedom.Her disorderliness makes her seductive and attractive.It arouses the passion of love to the poet.The poet was attractive by the pleasure of her disorderly dress.
★★Authors Position:
When an author writes to persuade,he/she will have his/her own position on the subject.The author's position is an author's opinion about the subject.It may be subjective or objective.
Subjective means where the writer can use his/her own feelings,emotion, and own choice.
Objective means where writer cann't use his/her own feelings,emotions and own choice.
Its a subjective poem because the poet describes her own feelings, emotions,likes,dislikes and passionate love to her beloved.He describes about his beloved dress and he was attracted by it.As the poet uses his personal experiences, ideas into this poem so its a subjective poem.
★★Figures of Speech:
Figures of Speech means use of ornamental elements into a piece of writing.
★Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sound.
*" Delight and Disorder".
Here,the poem begins with "d" and repeated one more time.So its an example of alliteration.
★Imagery
Imagery means collection of some images.
*"A lawn about the shoulders thrown
Into a fine distraction ;
An erring lace,within here and there".
When we read those lines it creates an image into our minds that's called imagery.
★Metaphor
Metaphor is a figure of speech in which the poet compares two different things without using "as" or "like".
*" A sweet disorder in the dress
Kindles in clothes a wantonness.
A lawn about the shoulders thrown
Into a fire distraction";
Here, a "sweet disorder" is compared with the "fire".
*" lace" is compared with the human beings that makes error.
★Oxymoron
It is a figure of speech in which two contradictory words or phrases are combined in a single expression,producing the effect of a condensed paradox.
*"A sweet disorder in the dress".
Here, "sweet" and "disorder" are opposite words but the poet used those words to concrete a striking place.So its an example of oxymoron.
-----Written by Krishna Mandal