Analysis of A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift

Naijaoets.com.ng has analyzed some poems relating to London and the poem "A Descrition of A City Shower" is another instance of classic poems written about London. The poet described the messy state of his city during the rainy season. The mental images painted in the poem might not match the present day London but it gave the readers a clear view of what London was in the year 1710 when the poem was crafted by the poet, Jonathan Swift.

The poem divided into multi-stanzas has its summary shown that when its about to rain, their would be a heavy cloud, a thicker odious environment and the cats will be seen so moody, and the poet's advice to stay at with wine than attempt to go for a diner (according to the first stanza of the poem which has a total of twelve lines). 

What follows is the effect of the rain on the people around_ running here and there to hide from the rain: 
"To Shops in Crouds the daggled Females fly (which is metaphor)
Pretending to cheapen Goods, but nothing buy
The Templer spruce, while ev'ry Spout's a-broach (the templer: law student from Temple, London)
Stays till 'tis fair, yet seems to call a Coach. (alliteration found in the line)
The tuck'd-up Semptstress walks with hasty Strides
While Streams run down her oil'd Umbrella's Sides
Here various Kinds by various Fortunes led (various is repeated, Kind = people, Fortunes = ambitions)
Commence Acquaintance underneath a Shed."

From the above quote, the rain changed the course of humans intentions which led to most of them acting wierd and fake; many who wouldn't have been friendly force started friendly conversations with other fellows camped by the sudden rain under a tiny roof, ladies run into shops are seen making enquiries about products they wouldn't buy, the students kept calling the cabs but not with the intention of leaving unless the rain stops, the dressmaker was working hasty under her umbrella as if she would be late for a certain appointment (according to the third stanza of the poem). The fourth stanza is an end-rhyming lines of eleven in total. 

It gave a detailed description of the flood; its smelly nature, how it navigated its ways through the city (They, as each Torrent drives, with rapid Force/ From Smithfield, or St Pulchre's shape their Course/ And in huge Confluent join at Snow-Hill Ridge/ Fall from the Conduit prone to Holborn-Bridge), and how the flood swiftly travel with any helpless things that fall into its path (examples seen in the poem are "Drown'd Puppies", "stinking Sprats", "Dead Cats", "Turnip-Tops").

• Audio Analysis of A Description of A City Shower
• Description of a City Shower: Summary & Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com 
• PDF format of "A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift 
• To view the whole poem: A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift

The author of Gullivers Travels, Jonathan Swift lived between 30th November, 1667 and 19th October, 1745. He was born in Republic of Ireland and did attend University of Oxford. Swift, during his lifetime was known as a poet and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin among other things. 
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Enunwa Chukwudinma S aks samueldpoetry
(the Leo with wings flying)

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Analysis Of London By A S J Tessimond

According to information gathered from wikipedia, the poet behind the poem titled "London" began to publish in the 1920s in literary magazines; during which he published "Walls of Glass" in 1934, "Voices in a Giant City" in 1947 and "Selections" in 1958. The poem London by A. S. J. Tessimond describes London from the poet's personal perspective of the city. He personified the title with the use of "I am" as seen in 1, 6, 12. You can read the complete three stanza poem when you click here

The settings of the poem is sure citylike "…the city of two divided cities" "the city of people sitting and talking quietly" "the city whose fog will fall like a finger gently". In terms of structure, the three unequal stanzas of the poem are void of rhymes and rhythm; the 1st stanza of the poem holds 5lines, the second stanza is in 6lines while the third stanza is seven. The 1st stanza shows the social state in London as a city with two class division of the poor and the rich; the servants and the masters. The 2nd stanza pictured the living system of the
people in the city as regards the relationship and association with each other:

"I am the reticent, the private city,
The city of lovers hiding wrapped in shadows,
The city of people sitting and talking quietly
Beyond shut doors and walls as thick as a century,
People who laugh too little and too loudly,
Whose tears fall inward, flowing back to the heart."
The third stanza reflected the city's environmental and climatic manoeuvres by mentioning the gentleness of the fog, the always tactful approach of the dusk, the reflections of the city lamps at nighttimes.

A poem can be sweet, a poem with anaphora is sweeter. London by A.S.J. Tessimond has some anaphora the same as found in his poem titled "Advertising". In line 2 and 3 "Where the" commenced both lines while "The city of" commenced line 7 and 8 of the poem. It must be noted that the following line can be considered refrain (though not perfect refrain) "I am the city of two divided cities" in line 1, "I am the reticent, the private city" in line 6, "I am the city whose fog will fall like a finger gently" in line 12. There is an obvious hyperbole at the end of second stanza which goes thus "Whose tears fall inward, flowing back to the heart".

"People who laugh too little and too loudly" as seen in line 10 also caught attention. It described the social behavior of the people in London. Not only that, the line holds alliteration via the repetition of letter "L" in "laugh", "little" and "loudly". "Too little" and "too loudly" can be viewed as antithesis since the two phrases are contrasting.

Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
(the Leo with wings flying)

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