So John Goodby is another modern poet, as we discussed. By now we know that this means we may instantly abandon any efforts at looking for a rhyming scheme, though obviously if we find rhymes then we should look at them all the more closely.
Professor Goodby teaches at the University of Swansea. I include this link because it lets us know a bit about his general interests, which particularly includes Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), a Welsh poet and writer from the early 20th century. Of particular interest to me in that first link on Goodby was the following quote:
"His research focuses on late/modernist writing; he has pioneered critical recognition of its importance in Irish poetry, and argues that Dylan Thomas is a hybrid figure whose fusing of modernism and mainstream modes problematises the fault-line in post-Waste Land British poetry."
Mr. Sir's link is by far the most useful single site for research on this poem. That said, use your class notes to develop best conclusions.
On the 'Red Square' aspect of the poem, Mr. Sir believes this is little more than a reference to members of the working class. I think it may show the uncles actually in Moscow. When they swap 'telephone numbers' and participate in 'deals', their presence in Moscow seems to indicate that they went there for business purposes, whether they were invited or went of their own initiative. It is the one moment throughout the poem when the narrator voice seems disapproving of the uncles, as he disdainfully notices their dabbling in (or simply being surrounded by) 'rank communism'.
Key areas to consider for this poem:
- Semantic field
- Imagery
- Concrete structure
Point of View could be used as a supporting point for this poem, or coupled with Shape & Pattern to make a fuller observation. This discrepancy in itself could be meaningful, as point of view is devalued while shape and pattern are employed much more heavily. The narrator observes yet does not necessarily comprehend the complexity of what they're seeing.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
- T. Marcus
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