How Earl Birney's Tradgic Poem "David" Broadens, Deepens, and Sharpens the Reader's Awareness of the World

Outline

Topic: David

Purpose: To describe how the author, Earle Birney, Broadens and Deepens, and Sharpens the awareness of the world around the reader.

Thesis: Through the tragic and emotional poem "David", Earle Birney attempts to strengthen the reader's footholds by broadening and deepening, and sharpening his awareness of the world in which he lives.

I. Broadens

A. Vocabulary

B. Mountain Structures

C. Wild Life

II. Deepens

A. Friendship

III. Sharpens

A. Euthanasia

David fell. It all happened in a few precious seconds, "without a gasp he was gone" (7.7.1). His foothold had crumbled. Everyday, throughout life, individuals face upward climbs. They try to navigate and negotiate difficult terrain, using various hand and foot holds that one comes across. Through the tragic and emotional poem "David", Earle Birney attempts to strengthen the reader's footholds by broadening and deepening, and sharpening his awareness of the world in which he lives.

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Many times, one's footholds are their only support, the only things that allows them to carry on in life. Earle Birney attempts to broaden their footholds by expanding and building on past knowledge of the world around the reader. One of the ways he broadens the reader's knowledge is by exposing him to a library of new and extravagant vocabulary. Some examples of such advanced vocabulary are: fetid (Having an offensive odor), faceted (One of the flat polished surfaces cut on a gemstone or occurring naturally on a crystal), gyrate (To revolve around a fixed point or axis), and rampart (A means of protection or defense). This vocabulary possesses exactness and color and is prized over average vocabulary. Birney also attempts to exhibit various land formations and mountain structures. Taking advantage of imagery, he paints a picture of ice massed upon glaciers, the "seracs that shone like frozen salt green...