ICG f6/2
safeena wisal
STYLISTIC ANALYSIS
Assignment: 2
Submitted to: Maam Ayesha Hanif
Submission date: 14 /12/ 24
Stylistic Analysis
Dream Song 14
By John Berryman
Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.
After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns,
we ourselves flash and yearn,
and moreover my mother told me as a boy
(repeatedly) ‘Ever to confess you’re bored
means you have no
Inner Resources.’ I conclude now I have no
inner resources, because I am heavy bored.
Peoples bore me,
literature bores me, especially great literature,
Henry bores me, with his plights & gripes
as bad as achilles,
who loves people and valiant art, which bores me.
And the tranquil hills, & gin, look like a drag
and somehow a dog
has taken itself & its tail considerably away
into mountains or sea or sky, leaving
behind: me, wag.
Summary:
The poem expresses a deep sense of boredom and a lack of inner resources. The speaker feels
disconnected from the world around them, finding no solace in nature, literature, or human
connection. The poem highlights the pressure to maintain a positive facade and the internal
struggle that arises from feeling uninspired and unfulfilled
Phonological Level of analysis:
1. Alliteration:
o Subtle repetition of consonant sounds creates rhythm. Examples include:
“sky flashes, the great sea yearns” (repetition of “s”).
“plights & gripes” repeats the “p” sound.
o This emphasizes key ideas and mirrors the speaker’s bored, circular thoughts.
2. Assonance:
o The poem employs vowel repetition to stretch the monotony of sound:
“bored,” “moreover,” “resources” repeat long “o” sounds, creating a drag-like effect
that mimics boredom.
3. Consonance:
o The hard “r” sound in “bored,” “resources,” and “gripes” intensifies the blunt,3
disillusioned tone.
4. Rhythm and Meter:
o The poem is written in free verse with irregular line lengths. This lack of structure reflects
the speaker’s lack of enthusiasm and his disjointed, wandering thoughts.
o Short lines like “Peoples bore me” add abruptness, mirroring the flat emotional tone.
5. Onomatopoeia:
o The final word “wag” imitates a tail’s movement, injecting a moment of ironic
playfulness that contrasts with the speaker’s overall heaviness.
6. Sound Effects and Tone:
o Repeated words like “bore,” “bored,” and “bores” create an auditory monotony that
mimics the speaker’s ennui.
Phonologica Conclusion:
The sound patterns contribute to the feeling of exhaustion and disinterest, reflecting the
speaker’s existential boredom.
Graphological Level
1. Structure and Layout:
o The poem is divided into three irregular stanzas of varying lengths, contributing to its
free verse form.
o The lack of stanza symmetry reflects the speaker’s scattered thoughts and rejection of
poetic formalism.
2. Punctuation:
o Use of commas and parentheses:
“(repeatedly)” adds a conversational tone, as if the speaker is mimicking or mocking
his mother’s advice.
o The colon in “leaving behind: me, wag” adds a dramatic pause, emphasizing the
speaker’s sense of isolation.
3. Capitalization:
o “Inner Resources” is capitalized to highlight its importance as a central theme in the
poem.
o Proper nouns like “Henry” and “Achilles” are capitalized to emphasize cultural and
literary references.
4. Typography:
o The ampersand (&) is used instead of “and,” creating an informal, hurried tone.
o This visual choice reflects the speaker’s dismissal of literary conventions.
Graphological Conclusion:
The visual simplicity and irregularity of the poem mirror the speaker’s casual tone and
fragmented mindset. Punctuation and capitalization emphasize key ideas like “Inner
Resources” while maintaining a conversational style.
Semantico-Syntactic Level
1. Lexical Choices:
o Words like “boring,” “drag,” “gripes,” and “bored” are plain and conversational,
reflecting the speaker’s disillusionment with life.
o Elevated language like “valiant art” and “great sea yearns” contrasts sharply with his
boredom, adding irony.
2. Syntax:
o Simple declarative sentences such as “Peoples bore me” and “Henry bores me” reflect
bluntness and emotional emptiness.
o The use of longer, enjambed sentences like “After all, the sky flashes, the great sea
yearns, / we ourselves flash and yearn” contrasts with the monotony, as if the speaker is
grasping for meaning.
3. Irony and Humor:
o The speaker’s sarcastic tone is evident when he dismisses “great literature” and mocks
his own lack of “Inner Resources.”
o The closing image of the dog leaving “me, wag” combines humor and sadness,
highlighting the speaker’s isolation.
4. Symbolism:
o “Inner Resources”: Symbolizes emotional or intellectual depth, which the speaker
ironically claims to lack.
o “Dog”: The dog leaving with its tail “into mountains or sea or sky” symbolizes escape
from the speaker’s mundane world, leaving him alone with his boredom.
5. Themes:
o Existential Boredom: The speaker struggles to find meaning in life’s beauty, literature,
and relationships.
o Isolation: The speaker’s disconnection from people, art, and nature reflects emotional
alienation.
o Irony: Despite describing a vibrant world, the speaker remains unimpressed,
underscoring his internal emptiness.
Semantico-Syntactic Conclusion:
The poem’s syntax and word choices reflect the speaker’s dissatisfaction and alienation.
Blunt, simple sentences contrast with elevated imagery, creating irony and emphasizing
existential themes.
Overall Analysis
John Berryman’s Dream Song 14 combines conversational language with irregular structure
to reflect the speaker’s disillusionment with life. At the phonological level, repetition and free
verse create a sense of monotony. Graphologically, the layout and punctuation emphasize key
ideas. Semantically, the poem explores themes of boredom, isolation, and irony through blunt
statements and subtle symbolism.
Let me know if you need any further adjustments or elaboration!
