The Discovery Essay

The Discovery, by J. C Squire describes a historical type slope Christopher Columbuss discovery of the New World on his 1942 communique across the Atlantic Ocean which initiated the process of Spanish colonisation. The poem has bypast by sev epochl names including The Caravels, Sonnet and thither was an Indian. tin Collings Squire (J. C Squire) (1884-1958) was a British poet, writer, historian, influential literary connoisseur and editor of the post WW1 period. He was similarly a leading poet of the Georgian period. The poem is a aboveboard sonnet made up of dickens quatrains and a sestet.The rhyme fascinate is abab, cdcd, efegfg. The rhyme creates a steady, forward-moving effect similar to the movement of the waves and the inevitability of the oncoming Spanish vessels reaching the shore. The poet uses simple language and imagery which mirror the uncomplicated life of the Indian from whose sweep and quarterar perspective this historical event is ret venerable. The discov ery of the New World is often link up from the perspective of the Spanish colonisers of the 15th and 16th centuries. Squire also reminds us that this was a two-fold discovery as the indigenous Americans discovered a brand-new world of their own.The phrase, an Indian, in the first gear stanza lends a sense of anonymity to the identity of the Indian who witnesses the arrival of Columbus. The indefinite article (an) allows us to recollect that this Indian represents all Native Americans. The opening line is reminiscent of a folktale. This style suggests a mythologizing of this historical event, infusing it with an element of magic. One major power also believe it to be an example of the oral tradition of legends told among Native Americans. kindred other Indians, the Indian in the poem had k todayn no variegate.His life consisted of gathering shells a simple way of life that belonged to an old civilisation for which this discovery was sure to be a shock. The beginning rhyme of s/sh in the line along a sunlit beach. Gathering shells depicts the calm, placid and uninterrupted life of the natives. He strayed content almost aimlessly, along a sunlit beach, in no rush to go somewhat his simple life. The presence of dawn symbolises the dawn of a new era in the life of the Indian. We atomic number 18 reminded that historical records show that the event occurred at dawn.Light also symbolises knowledge and discovery for both the Spanish and the Indians. The caesura in the third line He heard a sudden, strange commingled folie effectively draws our attention to the abrupt change in this placid picture. The caesura evokes a sense of confusion in the atmosphere which was once silent onerously is now filled with an unknown noise. This is created by dint of the use of alliteration and hard consonants. The Indians reaction in the last line of the first stanza looked up and gasped for speech indicates how amazed and speechless he was.The caesura in line four Co mmingled noise looked up and gasped for speech, also denotes the abrupt actions and reactions of the Indian man. The split second stanza is linked to the first stanza by means of a just explanation for the sudden change in the first quatrain. The poet evokes the Indians footprint of amazement and wonder at the calculateance of the huge canoes that appear by magic. The idea of magic evokes a contrast in the midst of the two civilisations the superstitious, tribal beliefs of the natives versus the more advanced scientific beliefs of the Spanish.The poet also evokes the serene, tranquil and undefiled setting and one of confusion which is emphasised by the awe-inspiring image of these unnatural and unfamiliar sea vessels on the water. The Indian is unfamiliar with these large ships. In fact, he can only describe them in terms of what he already knows, for eg. huge canoes and not one oar. The Indians tone of awe is audible even though the poet does not give him a voice. Perhaps, th is is to further emphasise the domination and oppression of the Spanish colonisation of the Native Americans stamping out their voice, culture and traditions.The images used in the stanza are simple yet vivid as can be seen through the image of the Bellying cloths and Fluttering coloured signs. The second quatrain is stylistically kindle because the poet is conscious of the different perspectives that of the Indian man who tries to describe these unfamiliar objects by adapting them to those he is familiar with, and that of the reader who has a knowledge of business relationship and now recognises the Indians attempt to describe the billowing sails, fluttering flags and clambering crews.The alliteration of the letter k sound in the last line of the second stanza And fluttering coloured signs and clambering crews, reminds us of the confusion and cacophony created by the sailors as they prepare to reason. The third stanza, the sestet, begins with the conjunction And, linking it to t he previous stanzas. There is now a Volta as the focus shifts to the Indians reaction to the caravels. There is an even greater use of caesura which creates an abrupt and staccato rhythm which might reflect the fear that has overcome the Indian, maybe his accelerated heartbeat too.The Volta amid the second and third stanzas is also evident in the rhyme scheme which suggests the inevitable, impending conclusion to this sighting as the caravels Slant to the shore, and all their seamen land. The final stanza draws a clear contrast between the native, who is naked and just and the numerous sailors disembarking Columbus doom-burdened caravels. The Indians nakedness suggests his primitive life style and his defencelessness. The Indian reacts in fear and drops his shells.This symbolises the fall of the native civilisation his face turns white and he also kneels behind a stone. He stares at this monstrous sight and did not understand the full impact of what was blossom out before his ey es. The poets intention is to make the contrast between the Spanish and the Indian evidently clear and simple to the reader, in order to draw our attention to the other side of the story which is rarely told in report books. This is emphasised by the choice of perspective for the poem.The image of Columbus doom-burdened caravels is a powerful one, suggesting a grimly mocking or cynical tone because these caravels symbolise the beginning of the corruption of old civilisations. The final image of the sailors come on shore is ominous, adding to the heaviness that weighs upon the readers knowledge of what provide inevitably follow. The poem ends abruptly as the poet does not need to verbalise us anything else due to the readers knowledge of what happens next which has been documented in the history books.