Form - History

• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this could provide a visual representation of the destruction of the Twin Towers
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this has an erratic effect to create a sense of falling, metaphorically demonstrating the falling of the Twin Towers
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this creates a sense of falling, which could symbolise the Twin Towers falling, but also the lack of security the speaker feels
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this causes the readers eyes to constantly move backward and forward, this could parallel the speaker's viewing of the beach with his son
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this parallels the sense of confusion felt & strong changes in emotion
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, but is separated into stanzas, this could represent a more structured feel to represent the collected thoughts of humanity
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this is mimetic of the tide ebbing and flowing on the beach, this has a natural effect suggesting that history is natural and can change at anytime
• The poem 'History' has an irregular form, which doesn't have a set line length, this is mimetic of the tide ebbing and flowing, the tide constantly changes, so do historical events and personal experiences - this mirroring of natural cycles reflects how individuals are both shaped by and contribute to the ever-changing historical currents
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, this helps to convey the confusion and strong changes in emotions that could be felt by someone hearing the news, with their thought process becoming erratic as they attempt to process the information
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, this allows the poem to mimic the natural rhythms of thought and speech, this is fitting for a poem that meditates on nature and human existence
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, reflects the natural, unstructured environment of the beach and the spontaneous actions of the characters, such as flying kites
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, a lack of regular rhyme and meter that accentuates the confusion and disillusionment so experienced by the narrator throughout the poem
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, this creates an erratic nature, which serves to reflect the narrator's desperate and unsuccessful attempts to comprehend why something as terrible as 9/11 would happen
• The poem 'History' is written in Free Verse, enhances the introspective quality of the poem - it allows the poet to shift seamlessly between external observations (the beach) and internal reflections (deep philosophical meanings), creating a conversational and intimate tone