Poem Analysis
Poem: Domestic Work 1937
Poet: Natasha Tretheway
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/domestic-work-1937/
In the poem Domestic Work 1937 is written from a third person point of view.The poet describes the woman cleaning to create an idea of what she is like as a person which is hardworking."All week she`s cleaned someone else`s house/stared down her own face/in the shine of copper/ bottomed pots, polished/ wood, toilets she`d pull the lid to--that look saying...Let`s make a change girl." From this one can infer that this woman is a maid who constantly works and never really has time for herself. She feels tired of the same routines and work she does everyday and she wants a change.In the text the poet talks about how she has the Sunday mornings to herself and she goes to church. However in the evenings she is back working and cleaning. The saying "cleanliness is next to godliness" is being taken into account. She questions herself about her motive behind cleaning. Is she cleaning because she believes she will be next to godliness? Even though she longs for something better.
Literary Devices
In the poem "Domestic Work, 1937" there are many literary devices such as consonance. An example of this in the poem is "a choir of clothes clapping." This is an example because there is a repetition of consonant sounds. Also a clich`e is used in this poem.An example of a clich`e is "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." This is a clich`e because it is something that lots of people say and conveys some sort of idea or message.