Poetry

Revelation

Summary of the poem:

"Revelation" by Liz Lochhead is a poem that explores the theme of evil as it becomes physically present in the world. The poem narrates a young girl's visit to a farm, where she encounters a powerful and menacing black bull, which symbolises the presence of evil. This encounter leads to her loss of innocence as she begins to see the world as a scary place filled with malevolent forces.

Inspiration for the poem:

The poem is inspired by the idea of a profound realisation or awakening, symbolised by the encounter with the black bull. The poem delves into the themes of evil, the loss of innocence, and the nurturing quality of women, using this encounter to illustrate the impact of such a revelation on the young girl.

Form of the poem:

1. The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying lengths.

2. It lacks a regular rhyme scheme, giving it an organic and spontaneous feel.

3. The use of enjambment reflects the disorganised way in which a child experiences a significant event, emphasising the girl's confusion.

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Poetry

Explanation of each stanza

Stanza 1:

The first stanza of Liz Lochhead's poem "Revelation" introduces the reader to the poem's central theme. It starts with the speaker recalling a memory from childhood when she, as a young girl, visits a farm. The word "threshold" signifies a significant transition, suggesting that the girl is about to move from innocence to experience. The presence of a malevolent bull, initially concealed behind a mundane name, is introduced. The use of sensory descriptions like "hot reek" and "immense" conveys the girl's overwhelming fear upon encountering the bull, creating a sense of dread and awe. The stanza suggests that this moment marks the girl's passage from innocence to awareness of the existence of evil in the world.

Stanza 2:

In the second stanza, the poem shifts to the farmyard outside, contrasting the oblivious hens with the sinister presence of the bull. The hens, symbolising innocence, are portrayed as unaware of the bull's proximity. The bull's presence is only faintly heard, and it is linked to the idea of a "festive tinkling," which contrasts its true nature. The bull's chain, described as "festive," adds a layer of irony, as it signifies ignorance of the impending evil. The use of "Black Mass" with capital letters connects the bull to evil worship and Satan. The poem suggests that the girl's revelation is not entirely sudden but builds upon her existing awareness of evil in the world, and the stanza highlights the contrast between innocence and malevolence.

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Poetry

Stanza 3:

The third stanza shifts to a different location, a lane leading away from the farm, where the girl flees from the bull in terror. The mention of "pigtails" emphasises the girl's youth and femininity. She passes "big boys," who are older and male, suggesting that she now associates them with the malevolent forces she has encountered. Although it's unclear whether she witnesses the boys' actions, the stanza underscores her growing awareness of potential evil in the world. The imagery of a thorned hedge and a harried nest further conveys a sense of the world under threat from malevolent forces, endangering the vulnerable and nurturing aspects of life. The mention of eggs and milk symbolises life and order, which are contrasted with the chaos and evil represented by the bull. The girl's fear that the eggs will break and the milk will spill indicates her newfound awareness and responsibility. This stanza represents the girl's transition from innocence to a more mature understanding of the world and her role in protecting what is precious.

Each stanza of 'Revelation' contributes to the overall narrative of a young girl's encounter with the bull and her transformation from innocence to an awareness of evil in the world, supported by vivid imagery, style techniques, and language techniques.

Themes:

Evil:

• The black bull symbolises the physical presence of evil.
• The girl's encounter with the bull confirms her preexisting fear and understanding of the existence of evil in the world.

Loss of Innocence:

• The encounter with the bull leads the girl to perceive the world as a frightening place.
• She becomes aware of the potential harm and malevolence that lurks around her, particularly in males.

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Poetry

The Nurturing Quality of Women:

• Female symbols such as eggs and milk represent life, growth, and innocence.
• These symbols are contrasted with the malevolent forces and chaos depicted as male.

Imagery:

The Black Bull:

• "Hot reek of him" and "Then he was immense" describe the girl's overwhelming fear upon seeing the bull.
• The bull is presented as a monstrous, evil figure that instils dread.

Eggs and Milk:

• These symbols represent order, calm, and female nurturing.
• They are contrasted with the disorder and evil represented by the bull, symbolising anarchy.

Style Techniques:

Enjambment:

• The poem uses enjambment to present ideas and impressions as they occur to the speaker, reflecting the girl's disorganised thoughts.
• Enjambment adds a sense of spontaneity and confusion.

Synesthesia:

• The poem combines sensory descriptions to convey the girl's experience of the bull.
• For example, "hot reek of him" combines smell and feeling to evoke discomfort and fear.

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Poetry

Language Techniques:

Synecdoche:

• The bull is described as a series of powerful but separate sounds and details.
• This emphasises the physicality and threat of the bull, highlighting its impact on the girl.

Pun:

• The phrase "Black Mass" is a pun that refers both to the bull's immense size and to a ceremony associated with evil worship.
• It reinforces the bull's symbolism as a manifestation of evil and chaos.

The poem "Revelation" explores the awakening of the young girl to the existence of evil in the world and her transition from innocence to awareness, using vivid imagery, style techniques, and language techniques to convey these themes and the impact of the encounter with the bull.

Personal Reflection

1. How does the poem's portrayal of the girl's encounter with the bull resonate with your own experiences of discovering the existence of evil in the world?

2. What emotions did the poem's vivid imagery and sensory descriptions evoke in you, and how do these emotions reflect your own perception of the world's complexities and malevolence?

3. In what ways does the poem challenge your understanding of innocence, awareness, and the roles of gender in shaping one's perspective of the world?