“Lessons to Learn” by Natalia Molebatsi is a powerful poem that expresses the poet's desire to learn important lessons in life. Through her careful use of diction, poetic devices, and other features of language, Molebatsi effectively conveys her longing for knowledge and growth. In this essay, I will analyze how the poet employs these literary elements to express her desire for personal development and enlightenment.
The lessons that Molebatsi wants to learn are not explicitly stated in the poem. However, through examining the language and imagery used throughout the text, it becomes evident that she desires to learn about relationships, identity, and the world around her. For instance, in the line "I want to study / the kiss that lands on my child's forehead / say "I love you" in all the languages of the earth" (lines 3-5), Molebatsi expresses her longing to learn about the depth of a mother's love for her child and the diverse ways in which love is expressed across different cultures.
One way the poet conveys her desire for knowledge is through the careful choice of diction. Molebatsi uses strong and evocative words that create a sense of urgency and yearning. For example, in the line "I want to feel / the sun bleeding through my skin" (lines 10-11), the word "bleeding" creates a vivid image of the sun's warmth and power penetrating deep into the speaker's being. This choice of diction emphasizes the poet's intense desire to experience and understand the world fully.
Furthermore, Molebatsi employs various poetic devices to enhance the emotional impact of her words. One such device is repetition, which emphasizes the importance and intensity of the lessons she wants to learn. In lines 7-8, she repeats the phrase "I want to learn" for emphasis. This repetition serves to highlight the poet's strong desire for knowledge and growth, emphasizing that these lessons are of utmost importance to her.
Another poetic device used by Molebatsi is imagery. Through vivid and evocative descriptions, she paints a picture of the lessons she longs to learn. For instance, in lines 14-16, Molebatsi writes, "I want to memorize the threshold / of the rolling ocean / till I can swim in poetry." Here, the imagery of the "rolling ocean" and "swimming in poetry" conveys the poet's desire to immerse herself in the beauty and depth of the world, learning from its vastness and complexity.
In addition to diction and poetic devices, Molebatsi also employs other features of language to express her desire for knowledge. The use of enjambment, where lines break suddenly and continue into the next without punctuation, creates a sense of urgency and fluidity. This technique is seen in lines 9-10, where the enjambment emphasizes the speaker's desire to fully embrace and experience life: "I want to feel / the sun bleeding through my skin."
The poem also exhibits a consistent rhythm and flow, achieved through the use of regular meter and a balanced structure. This musicality of language adds to the emotional impact of the poem and reinforces the poet's desire to learn and grow.
In conclusion, Natalia Molebatsi's poem "Lessons to Learn" effectively conveys her desire for personal growth and understanding through her skillful use of diction, poetic devices, and other features of language. Through careful analysis of the poem's language and imagery, it becomes clear that Molebatsi longs to learn about relationships, identity, and the world around her. By using strong diction, poetic devices like repetition and imagery, and features of language such as enjambment and rhythm, the poet effectively expresses her desire for knowledge and enlightenment. Ultimately, "Lessons to Learn" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of lifelong learning and growth.
Based on the poem “Lessons to Learn” by Natalia Molebatsi, Write a carefully-worded essay of 1000 – 1200 words (approximately 2 to 3 typed pages)
in length, in which you analyse how the poet uses diction, poetic devices and any other
features of language to express her desire to learn some lessons in life. You may start your
essay by identifying the lessons the poet wants to learn and then develop your argument from
there.
Please note:
• Do not provide definitions of the features that the poet uses in her desire to learn some
life lessons. Instead, analyse how these features are used.
• As you quote from the poem to substantiate your argument, explain how each quote
supports your argument.
• Do not discuss anything in your essay that you cannot relate directly to the lessons the
poet would like to learn.
1 answer