Oh No by Robert Creeley - Essay Example

?Essay Outline of the Poem: ‘Oh No’ by Robert Creeley Summary: The poem is about a personal journey that ends in disappointment. The speaker inthe poem addresses the reader directly and narrates an ironic experience of setting upon a journey. The journey is long and slow. Though time factor is not clear, yet terms like ‘far enough’ denote that this particular journey is not an ordinary one. Upon reaching the destination, one would surprisingly be welcomed by other individuals who are termed as ‘friends’. This means that there is something common between the new comer and the people who are already there. Though they are apparently hospitable; yet there is some sort of sarcasm in their attitudes. The fact that they offer a place to sit to the newcomer means that they have been waiting for his/her arrival. The reason for their ironic behavior is unclear; but whatever it is, it does not give pleasant vibes to the new comer and he/she inwardly exclaims: Oh no; meaning thereby that he/she wasn’t expecting it at all. The use of metaphors, imagery, and irony by Creeley signify a lot of important aspects of this poem. The whole course of journey and the pain that one suffered from going all the way to reach this destination doesn’t reap the desired results. This is what often happens in reality. Sometimes, people work hard to attain something or to get to somewhere in their lives; but when it actually happens or when their dreams come true, they realize that the journey was not worth it. This sense of worthlessness is reflected upon in this poem. Thesis statement: The sharp contrast between reality and dreams or fascination is obvious from the experience of going through such a journey. It begins with a lot of hope but ends in despair. The ending of the poem is rather poignant because the journey is irreversible. The result or the final outcome of conducting such a journey is absolute or definite. Symbolically, it might also mean that the result of our actions is definite- it cannot be altered or redone. In other words, it is a point of no return and whatever one has sown shall have to be reaped- even if one disdains it! Main Ideas and Terms: The main idea of the poem is a journey that ends in an unwanted situation. The course of the journey is slow and smooth but it culminates abruptly in disillusionment. The running theme of the poem is embedded in irony, metaphor, imagery and voice. When the journey begins, one has no idea where it might lead to, or where it shall end. Probability is contrasted with absolutism; and dreams with reality. The ironic attitude of the friendly persons already present at the final destination reveals the selfish and eerie atmosphere of that place. Their smiles might be hiding their disdain, disapproval or sarcasm at the arrival of the newcomer. The newcomer has finally reached the final destination- and he/she is rewarded by being assigned a place like everyone else. This also shows that everyone has a fixed place in that world, and perhaps fixed roles to play. One cannot say for sure what roles they are supposed to play but the newcomer is definitely not happy with the role and the place assigned to him/her. There are strong undertones of resentment for carrying out such a journey by the person who undertakes it. Daniel Alverez Professor Benavides English 2336.02 2011-03-02 Oh No by Robert Creeley The theme of the poem ‘Oh No’ (Creeley, 659) is about a journey that ends in utter surprise. The ending of the journey is absolutely unexpected and unwanted. This is emphasized by the poet in the irony and metaphor employed in the poem. The first word ‘if’ of the poem denotes probability: meaning thereby that if someone wishes to set on a journey, it might end in a number of probable situations. But the ending is in sharp contrast with the beginning of the poem, as the ending is definite and to some extent irreversible. The journey could be simply a journey of life; or a career; or a relationship; or a decision that could alter the whole course of one’s life- whatever it may be, it is bound to end in a similar situation. The poem is about a journey- a transcendental journey that takes one to another world, which is full of surprises. Apparently, the journey is a long one and the tone and the imagery of the poem are set in a way so that one can visualize the journey. Phrases like ‘wander far enough’(1); ‘come to it’ (2); and ‘get there’ (3) clearly explain that this is another world where the unexpected is bound to happen. It is not a place offering comfort or solace as it is apparently appears- rather it is a place where one would not like to be. The philosophy of the poem is expressed very subtly and it works on the sub conscious level of the reader. The journey itself appears to be smooth- not abrupt. The destination place is somewhere ‘far enough’ (1) and one doesn’t reach over there accidentally or quickly. Usually, slow journeys are associated with contemplation and a lot of thoughtful introspection on the way. Though, the exclamatory title of the poem comprises of two words; yet it explains the deep and strong feelings one is likely to experience after reaching such a place. The relationship between the title and the text of the poem is ironic in the sense that the tone of the poem is calm unlike the title, which is an exclamatory remark. Creeley successfully implies irony between the expectations and the reality. The journey is very smooth but its ending is surprising and perhaps unwanted. The effect that is created by the imagery in the poem is strong yet subtle. The person who finally reaches such a place would inwardly be exclaiming: Oh No! The choice of the words and the effects that they create are ironic in the sense because they create just the opposite effect. The destination place is not warm or friendly or even comfortable, although the characters in that world appear to be welcoming. They await the arrival of the new comer and have even reserved a place for him/her. ‘Smiles on their faces’ (7) are ironic because one has no idea whether their smiles are sympathetic, sarcastic, or humorous. Their attitude is triumphant as if the arrival of the newcomer has rewarded them in some way. The fact that they had reserved a place for the newcomer shows that there must be some common grounds or similarities between them and the newcomer. Their ironic attitude suggests that they are aware of the feelings the newcomer might be experiencing and their hospitality is contradicted by their smiles that doesn’t appear to be genuine. Creeley has purposely used the second and the third person voice in the poem, so that the reader can experience the journey himself/herself. By directly addressing the reader, this journey can be personalized and interpreted in a number of ways. This way, the reader can be taken to this world where he/she can visualize the journey and its ending on a personal level. It can also be inferred that no matter what kind of journey one undertakes, one shall always find other individuals who have had the same experiences of life and they all ended up in similar circumstances. The journey begins for a single person but it ends at a point where one may find all of his/her friends in their respective places. This shows that our personal journeys are not different from those of others- as the destination is common for everyone. The poet has explained how a personal journey carried out alone may end at a common destination. The person who has carried out a solo journey might have exclaimed: ‘Oh No’ to see his friends already there, waiting for him/her. The poem is also about illusions and disillusions. The endings of all journeys are disillusioning for people because they might have failed to see the consequences of their actions. The final note of the poem suggests that our actions may vary but the consequences are definite- and irreversible. Work Cited Kennedy, X and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 11th ed. Canada: Paerson Education, 2009. Print. Read More