P.K. Page's "Adolescence"-Core – VIII CANADIAN STUDIES

 Core – VIII CANADIAN STUDIES

Unit – I

Lesson 1: P.K. Page's "Adolescence" and "First Neighbours"

Stanza 1: 

"In love they wore themselves in a green embrace. 

A silken rain fell through the spring upon them. 

In the park she fed the swans and he 

whittled nervously with his strange hands. 

And white was mixed with all their colours 

as if they drew it from the flowering trees."

Let's break it down:

This stanza sets a scene of young love in springtime. The "green embrace" suggests the freshness and vitality of their feelings. The nervous whittling and feeding of swans show the awkwardness and tenderness of adolescent romance. The whiteness mixing with their colors implies a sense of purity or newness in their experience.

Stanza 2: "At night his two finger whistle brought her down 

the waterfall stairs to his shy smile 

which like an eddy, turned her round and round 

lazily and slowly so her will 

was nowhere---as in dreams things are and aren't."

Let's break it down:

This stanza describes the dreamy, disorienting nature of young love. The "two finger whistle" suggests a secret language between the lovers. The waterfall stairs and eddy imagery convey the rush of emotions and the feeling of being swept away. The dream-like state where "things are and aren't" captures the surreal quality of intense adolescent feelings.

Stanza 3: "Walking along avenues in the dark 

street lamps sang like sopranos in their heads

 with a violence they never understood 

and all their movements when they were together

 had no conclusion."

Let's break it down:

Here, Page portrays the intensity and confusion of adolescent emotions. The singing street lamps represent the heightened sensations experienced by the young lovers. The mention of "violence they never understood" hints at the overwhelming nature of these new feelings. The lack of conclusion in their movements suggests the aimlessness and uncertainty characteristic of adolescent relationships.

Stanza 4: "Only leaning into the question had they motion; 

after they parted were savage and swift as gulls. 

asking and asking the hostile emptiness 

they were as sharp as partly sculptured stone 

and all who watched, forgetting, were amazed

 to see them form and fade before their eyes."

Let's break it down:

This final stanza captures the volatility of adolescent emotions. The contrast between their united "leaning into the question" and their separation like "savage and swift" gulls highlights the dramatic shifts in teenage relationships. The image of "partly sculptured stone" suggests their unformed, evolving identities. The last two lines emphasize the transient nature of adolescent love and how it can seem both intense and fleeting to observers.

Let's begin with an introduction:

This lesson explores two poems by P.K. Page: "Adolescence" and "First Neighbours". We'll examine Page's unique style, her use of imagery, and the themes she addresses in these works, which showcase her ability to capture complex human experiences and emotions.

Part I: "Adolescence" by P.K. Page

Quick Review - Short Questions:

1. Q: What color is associated with the lovers' embrace in the first line?

   A: Green is associated with the lovers' embrace.

2. Q: What season is mentioned in the poem?

   A: Spring is mentioned in the poem.

3. Q: What animals does the girl feed in the park?

   A: The girl feeds swans in the park.

4. Q: How does the boy summon the girl at night?

   A: The boy uses a two-finger whistle to summon the girl.

5. Q: What natural feature is associated with the stairs the girl descends?

   A: The stairs are described as "waterfall stairs."

6. Q: What are the street lamps compared to in the poem?

   A: Street lamps are compared to sopranos.

7. Q: After parting, what birds are the lovers compared to?

   A: After parting, the lovers are compared to gulls.

8. Q: What material are the lovers likened to near the end of the poem?

   A: The lovers are likened to partly sculptured stone.

9. Q: What color is associated with the lovers besides green?

   A: White is associated with the lovers besides green.

10. Q: What do the lovers draw from the flowering trees?

    A: The lovers seem to draw whiteness from the flowering trees.

Detailed Discussion - Longer Questions:

1. Q: Analyze the use of natural imagery in "Adolescence" and its relation to the poem's theme.

   A: Page uses natural imagery extensively in "Adolescence" to represent young love and transformation:

   - The "green embrace" suggests vitality and growth of new love.

   - "Silken rain" and "flowering trees" create a lush, sensual atmosphere.

   - Swans symbolize grace and romantic love.

   - The "waterfall stairs" imply a rushing, uncontrollable descent into love.

   - Comparison to "gulls" when apart suggests freedom and wildness outside the relationship.

2. Q: Discuss the portrayal of adolescent love in the poem.

   A: Page portrays adolescent love as:

   - Intense and all-encompassing ("wore themselves in a green embrace")

   - Transformative ("white was mixed with all their colours")

   - Dreamy and surreal ("as in dreams things are and aren't")

   - Lacking direction ("had no conclusion")

   - Volatile ("savage and swift as gulls" when apart)

3. Q: Explain how Page creates a sense of uncertainty and transience in "Adolescence".

   A: Page creates a sense of uncertainty and transience through:

   - The lovers' nervous actions (he "whittled nervously")

   - Comparison to dreams and eddies, suggesting instability

   - Lack of conclusion in their movements

   - The image of "partly sculptured stone," implying incompleteness

   - The final lines about forming and fading, emphasizing impermanence

In-depth Analysis - Essay Question:

Q: Analyze how P.K. Page uses imagery, structure, and tone in "Adolescence" to convey the experience of young love. How does the poem capture the essence of adolescent relationships?

Let's begin with an introduction:

P.K. Page's "Adolescence" is a vivid portrayal of young love, capturing its intensity, uncertainty, and transient nature. Through carefully crafted imagery, structure, and tone, Page creates a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors the disorienting yet captivating experience of adolescent relationships.

I. Imagery

Page employs rich, multisensory imagery to evoke the experience of young love:

- Visual: The "green embrace" and "silken rain" create a lush, romantic setting.

- Auditory: The "two finger whistle" and street lamps singing "like sopranos" add to the surreal atmosphere.

- Tactile: The "shy smile" that turns the girl "round and round" suggests the physical and emotional impact of love.

These images work together to create a sensory-rich environment that reflects the overwhelming nature of adolescent emotions.

II. Structure

The poem's structure mirrors the unpredictable nature of young love:

- The first stanza sets the scene with flowing, descriptive lines.

- The second stanza introduces more fragmented thoughts, reflecting growing uncertainty.

- The final stanza becomes more abstract, with sharp imagery ("savage and swift as gulls") suggesting the volatile nature of the relationship.

This progression from fluidity to fragmentation echoes the evolution of adolescent relationships.

III. Tone

Page maintains a dreamy, slightly detached tone throughout the poem:

- The observer's perspective ("all who watched") creates a sense of distance.

- Phrases like "as in dreams things are and aren't" contribute to a surreal atmosphere.

- The violence that the lovers "never understood" suggests an underlying tension.

This tone captures the confusion and intensity of adolescent emotions, where experiences can feel both intensely real and dreamlike.

Conclusion:

Through her masterful use of imagery, structure, and tone, P.K. Page creates a poem that encapsulates the essence of adolescent love. "Adolescence" portrays young romance as a transformative, often confusing experience, full of intensity and uncertainty. The poem's dreamlike quality reflects the surreal nature of first love, while its progression from fluidity to fragmentation mirrors the often turbulent course of adolescent relationships. Page's work serves as a poignant reminder of the powerful, yet often transient, nature of young love.