Explore the Ways in Which Poets Explore Masculinity in Two Poems of Your Choice

Explore the ways in which poets explore masculinity in two poems of your choice.

In the poems ‘Chainsaw Vs Pampas grass’ by Simon Armitage and ‘The journal of a disappointed man’ by Andrew motion present the theme of masculinity through multiple similarities and differences between both poems. Masculinity is portrayed through multiple other themes in the poems as well as being described through the physicality of male figures. Both poems have a main focus on masculinity whether it is through personifying objects as male or through male personas.

A similarity in both poems is that masculinity is represented in physicality and personality through the male objects and personas. Personification is used through both poems to present the male figure. In ‘Chainsaw Vs Pampas grass’ the ‘Chainsaw’ is personified to be male which is quite a violent dangerous tool and in ‘The journal of a disappointed man’ the ‘Monsters’ are personified to be male, this gives the male figure an animalistic nature, both these fill certain male stereotypes. The way both poets describe the male appearance and personality hold a violent theme to how they appear in both poems. The Harsh language used to personify the male’s show a realistic theme that how males could relate to, as the tone and imagery of the masculine figures present that throughout both poems.  

A difference between both poems is how masculinity is presented, in Chainsaw Vs Pampas grass masculinity is presented as controlling and violent where is an The journal of a disappointed man it is presented quite subtlety and emotionally. In Chainsaw Vs Pampas grass the masculine theme is presented through hard and plosive consonants which create a sense of anger and aggression - “back to the socket and flicked the switch”. This shows he violent manner as the chainsaw and by extension, stereotypical men, as the they will very quickly unleash pent up anger. In the journal of a disappointed man it uses language such as “monsters”, “mystic”, “original thinker”, “majesty” which are quite subtle, un-harmful phrases. The figurative language in this poem suggests an ambivalent, emotional attitude from the male figure. This shows that in both poems masculinity if pretended through different characteristics of violence and subtle harmonious emotion.