Dianne Williams Stepps The Filbert Orchard portrays a uniquely Essays

Dianne Williams Stepp's The Filbert Orchard portrays a uniquely haunting experience. Dianne Williams Stepp's "The Filbert Orchard" portrays a uniquely haunting experience. The poem blaintly attempts to draw the reader in through its critical lense and perspective. Stepp's usage of many carefully connected literary devices creates a distinctive tone, effect, and message that exposes the tragedy behind southern ideology and values during the civil war. The success of "The Filbert Orchard" can then be traced to its tight construction and use of historical references portrayed through literary detail. Stepp's choice of both imagery and metaphor comprise the poems strength in terms of its overall effect and message. Stepp utilizes imagery as a means of developing her message about southern ideology. This can be seen at various points in the poem where emotions, sights, sounds, objects, places, and figures are all being used to demonstrate the purposely behind a lost generation. In that they are continuing to fight even though family and friends may be on either sides. The author is thus indirectly questioning the ethical and moral nature of the south portrayed through her obvious literary judgments: "the way they staggered in rows down the hill. In spring they sprouted sparse flags waved them foolishly at the jays." (Stepp, lines 4-7) In this example Stepp vividly uses the description of a tree for representation of the lost generations pride. Their pride in the sense of fighting a war that seems not worth fighting for both because of the scarcity of men and their inescapable death. Stepp also accomplishes her message through metaphorical comparisons, which aid in expressing the south's futility: "A compa... ... of a story. The ending changes that perspective and shifts the major themes of loss and disullisionment towards a more local individual level The close attention given to literary elements ultimately enables "The Filbert Orchard" to achieve an extreme level of insight into the southern identity and culture during the civil war. Through its exploration of southern values translated into a vivid storyline the reader is blown away by its short profound thematic integration. The poem is aided by its progressive literal development from appealing to the general society to the localized individual. The journey becomes compounded with introspection because of its ornate literary devices. PS MS KASTE: Did you choose this poem because of your interest in Faulkner and its relatable themes? What is your connection or fascination with literature about the south?