Critical Commentary Maori to Pakeha Essay

The words techniques of tone, rhetorical question, repetition, resemblance and Maori style ar entirely apply to clearly instance the roots feeling of anger and plunk for the dominating themes by means ofout the poem. Stanza one explores the image of separation between Maori and Pakeha through a tone that that is accusatory and suggests anger.The first few lines using a repetition of referring to Pakeha as You instantly creates an idea of separatism which is then mute as disconfirming through the use of describing Pakeha as Beak-nosed hairy-limbed narrow-footed. All tierce of these adjectives have negative connotations instantly setting the tone for the poem. As the stanza progresses this negative attitude towards the Pakeha is reinforced, supporting the negative tone. Meanwhile trampling Persia/Or is it India, underfoot/With such cargon less feet is an example of this, touching upon colonization, the blame forward this which reads You singing/Some old English folksong gives further importee to the colonization and and so, oppression. It is not just the land they are colonizing but their glossiness too, as singing is something which is heard and gets into the mind of the people, overriding all thoughts. Stanzas twain and three introduce the device of rhetorical question which are utilise for effect to add to the accusatory tone of the poem.An example of this is Where do you regard you are personnel casualty? used as the opening sentence of stanza two, which is the first rhetorical question used in the poem, and Who do you think you are? used as the last line of stanza three. Supporting the minute tone of the poems, the rhetorical questions are used to represent to the reader the formers feeling of contempt towards the Pakeha. The use of think in twain of these rhetorical questions is important as it is this word which gives the words surrounding it, and therefore the sentence, its accusatory tone. It turns a relatively evenly toned Wh ere are you going? and Who are you into a harsh sounding accusation, therefore adding to the negative tone.Stanza two further demonstrates the idea of separatism through the use of the rhetoric technique, repetition. more(prenominal) specifically the repetition is regarding the tinge of skin. For example This is brown country, man/ browned on the inside/As well as the outside/ cook through and through/Even the music is brown The effect that this has is that it emphasizes the informants feelings towards the separatism, it shows that the author is for the separatism where she believes the Pakeha should leave them alone and have no right to be there.The repetition of colour and brown also illustrate that being Maori is more than just a skin colour, they are dark-brown through and through meaning that their culture is all encompassing and the Pakeha arent just trying to collonise their land, Cant you see youve strayed/Into another colour zone? but also in a manner of sermon collon ise their culture as well, which links into the idea of oppression. Analogy is also used passim the poem to support/illustrate the poems dominant theme of separatism.It is first shown in stanza one, Milton directing your head/Donne pumping your heart This is an analogy for the idea of oppression by Pakeha to Maori as both Milton and Donne were important poets and political figures in 17th century England. The idea that this portrays is that the Pakeha are all ruled by a unified thought that someone else has discrete for them, future(a) their ideas and instructions in a cult-like manner. As the poem progresses, the author starts to incorporate Maori language terms into the poem in order to illustrate resistance to the oppression.For example, in the last stanza of the poem Maori words are used as follows Give your mihi tonight/Korero mai/Till dawn breaks with a waiata. The following four lines give meaning to the use of Maori words Meanwhile dimension me gently/Firmly captive/Here , in the tight curve/of your unknown gird showing that even though the Pakeha are metaphorically keeping the Maori firmly captivein the tight curve of your alien arm which is representing oppression, the speaker is still doing all she can to resist, shown through the use of Maori language even though the poem is directed at English speakers.This idea of resistance is the idea which the author ends the poem on, leaving the reader with the ace of the author fighting oppression and fighting for her Maori heritage. Tone, rhetorical question, repetition, analogy and Maori language are several language techniques that are effectively used throughout the poem Maori to Pakeha by J. C Sturm in order to support and illustrate the dominant themes of separatism and oppression.