Poetry Analysis - The Surfer by Judith Wright

The Surfer by Judith Wright describes a surfers enjoyment and experience through surfing. It also describes how through the different stages of the day the sea can change, from being a calm enjoyable ride to being something as violent as a *wolf*.

There are many themes and messages the poet (Judith Wright) is trying to get across, some of them are: the pleasures and experience of surfing; also, the regret of having to go back home and leave the ocean as it becomes rougher as the day progresses. It also shows that through the day the moods of the ocean can change and can become really scary. The protagonist is the surfer, the man (that is assumed) who is enjoying the surf and is taking risks as the oceans become more dangerous. Some prime examples of the above ^^^ are in Stanza 1 "he thrust his joy against the weight of the sea" (for the surfers enjoyment) "Turn home, the sun goes down, swimmer turn home" (as the ocean's mood & sun sets/starts to change) and "The last leaf of gold vanishes from the sea curve. and lastly to show how the sea went from being beautiful, to being dangerous is - "For on the sand the grey wolf sea lies, snarling, cold twilight winds splits the waves hair and shows the bones they worry in their wolf teeth.

The persona is that from the view of an onlooker watching the surfer out at sea, but it also changes for a bit to the surfers view of the ocean.

With this poem the mood shifts from one of joy at the surf "as he is water, with delight" to caution " turn home ** last leaf of gold vanishes*. As the poem progresses to an end it becomes much more sombre compared to that of the beginning and illustrates the danger of the ocean "grey wolf sea lies, snarling".

The structure of the poem is a three stanza free verse. This best conveys the change in mood from one of joy and closeness with the sea to that of caution and danger. The poets choice of words are very vivid and striking, they always conjure up meaning and imagery depending on the mood or context, such as once gain for the surfers joy "thurst his joy" or for the ocean when it's at it's peak - "through the hollow and coil' or as it becomes more daunting and dangerous - "on the sand the grey wolf sea lies, snarling." for the beach it's - "it's whitened pebbles and shells". There are many poetic techniques used, those including personification, metaphor, similie and symbolism. A prime example of personification is "thrust his joy" and 'muscle of water' or 'the grey-wolf sea lies, snarling, cold twilight winds, the waves hair and shows the bones they worry in their wolf teeth. O, wind blows". For a Metaphor: "his brown strengh" and "gold vanishes from the sea curve". Similie - "like a gull diving" and symbolism - "green through wiers of water," or "brown strenght" or "gold vanishes" or "cold twilight winds". This poem is read in 3/4 time, it's pace changes from a slow steady beat at the beginning and end to that of a faster pace during the middle. The poem only rhymes in some places, eg 'curve ** serve" or "shows & blows" There are also many notecible sound features, such as allieration, onomatopiea and assonance, enjabment and repetition. eg. "of water, of water" and moral masterful, snarling fawing, last leaf, speed and serve, which also creates imagery.

Overall this poem was very enjoyable due to the vast range of tecnhiques used. The poet was also able to convey the theme of the surfer surfing and his enjoyment and the changing moods of the ocean sucessfully.

Please ignore the spelling mistakes! I was tying very fast!

:)