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  • Essay / Close reading of "The Panther" - 1262

    The poem "The Panther" by Rainer Maria Rilke is written in the form of free verse. As such, it is about capturing images and conveying emotions ("Writing Free Verse"). The poet deliberately chose the length of each line, so that a rhythm was established despite the absence of rhyme. This rhythm was created because the lines of the poem resemble the structural patterns of normal speech (“Writing free verse”). The flow this gives the poem becomes evident when read aloud. The poet has also made another effort to establish the rhythm of the poem. Some poems use a capital letter at the beginning of each new line, whether the line is a new sentence or not. By choosing not to do this, Rilke avoids giving the appearance of a new sentence or idea with each new line. Instead, his use of lowercase letters at the beginning of each line allows the poem to be read as one continuous, rhythmic idea. “The Panther” consists of three stanzas. Here is the first: His vision, because of the constantly passing bars, has become so tired that it can no longer contain anything else. It seems to him that there are a thousand bars; and behind bars, no people. (Lines 1-4) A main function of this first stanza is to establish the setting. Extensive, repetitive images of bars set the scene. The words “constantly passing bars” (Rilke 1) form the image of blurred bars in front of the panther; the panther's vision has seen the large quantity of bars for so long that it has "become so tired...that it can no longer hold/anything else" (Rilke 2-3). “A Thousand Measures” (Rilke, 4) further develops the imagery. This large number is probably an exaggeration and it contributes to intensifying the ideas of stress and confinement which are... middle of paper ......ars that the superego (representing society) has built around itself precisely to the goal of suppressing the animal instincts harbored in the Id. Thus, by using a panther as the embodiment of human identity in his engaging and eloquent poem, Rilke elaborately develops the theme of how animal nature is at the very heart of man. Works Cited “The Biography of Rainer Maria Rilke”. PoemHunter.com. PoemHunter.Com, and Web. May 14, 2014. Boeree, C. George. “Sigmond Freud.” Page by George Boeree. George Boeree, 2009. web. May 14, 2014. Lye, John. “Critical Reading: A Guide.” John Lye's course and source pages. Brock University, 1997. Web. May 13, 2014.Rilke, Rainer M. “The Panther”. PoemHunter.com. PoemHunter.Com, January 3, 2003. Web. May 14, 2014. “Writing Free Verse.” Playing With Poetry. Saint-Jean primary school, February 16, 2004. Web. May 13 2014.