English Essay on Cynics free essay sample

Cynics This essay will critically analyse Chris Mann’s Cynics, it will discuss the poem’s subject matter and message, and pay close attention to the relationship between the poem’s content and form, how Mann’s language, imagery, tone use of rhetorical questions contribute to the poem’s effectiveness. This essay will also explore how an awareness of the political context out of which the poem arises, helps the reader appreciate its significance, meaning and power as a ‘critique’ and how the features of the poem makes it distinctively South African. The form of this poem is free verse, which means that this poem has no set pattern, rhythm or rhyme. This is often used so that the poet can create a visual shape to support the poem’s message. The form used in stanza two and three show the intensity of Mann’s true feelings towards the cynics, and by using enjambment the reader is able to grasp the feelings expressed by Mann even more. We will write a custom essay sample on English Essay on Cynics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The content of this poem shows us the passion Mann has against cynics however, he expresses these deep feelings in a cynical matter. The form and content of this poem link because they both relate in the way that Mann feels, the language and the way the poem was written both help enhance the poem’s intensity and the emotions and feelings of Mann against cynics. The language of the poem is quite simple yet very descriptive, Mann uses words such as â€Å"backstabber†, â€Å"Cunning flatterers†, â€Å"malevolent eyes†, â€Å"pessimist†, and â€Å"innocence† which helps the reader create a picture in their mind of the poem’s deeper meaning. The imagery of the poem is very capturing, and helps the reader ‘see’ exactly what Mann wants us to see. In this poem Mann creates an image of bitter and evil people, who are in poor areas that you cannot trust. The tone of this poem is very matter of fact, Mann portrays that he knows everything about cynical people and he knows exactly what they are like and what type of people they are, this creates a concrete image of cynics in the readers mind. Mann asks one rhetorical question, â€Å"I don’t know what else is. Cynics? † which relates to Mann’s tone where he tells us exactly what they are, and the use of this rhetorical question asks the reader almost to agree with Mann that this is what a cynical person is like. All of these literary devices help the reader identify the deeper meaning of the poem. Additionally, I think that the poem is commenting on the politicians of the apartheid government because of the language, tone and images that Mann uses. The words that Mann uses such as; â€Å"the pure sulphuric acid smile† and â€Å"the old Iago† could show the ‘fakeness’ in the government and the false promises that the government creates. In stanza three we see the references to the bible and the church which is suppose to give hope to people, but there are so many problems in these places and things that are suppose to give us hope that people lose faith and the government just â€Å"lop them off with a gleeful laugh. The tone of the poem is matter of fact which could show that the government portrays themselves that they know exactly what they are doing, but actually don’t. In this poem Mann is cynical about cynics, showing that he is self-cynical, which could be seen as Mann’s commenting on the government, that they are self-cynical. This could show that the government are portraying the black South African as cynical but are being cynical themselves. This shows the irony in the poem, that the government is saying that something is bad, yet they are doing it as well. This helps the reader see the contradiction of the apartheid government and how they did certain things and said certain things were bad but that they were actually doing and saying those immoral things as well. Furthermore, the reader can tell that is poem is South African by Mann using the word â€Å"shebeens†. A Shebeen is a South African word for an illegal bar or pub that were usually set up in townships that sold alcohol illegally. Thus this helps the reader understand the time that this poem was written and the ‘locality’ of the poem and how Mann was influenced by this certain period in South Africa. In conclusion, one can see that the poem’s main message with to show the cynical manner of the South African apartheid government and they way that the people, especially the black people were oppressed under the apartheid government. The poem shows message of the innocence of the people and how they felt and the lack of hope that the oppressed people had experienced.