1. The Bastard Peace

2. The Bastard Peace
Thesis: WILLIAMs illustrates the image of poverty while incorporating aspects of springtime in order to comprehend the actual meaning of peace.

3. Overall Interpretation
Servants are trapped and living in poverty
“-where a heavy woven-wire fence topped with jagged ends, encloses a long cinder-field by the river-” (1st Stanza)
People still have the sense of hope
“A dandelion in bloom-and a white butterfly-” (Lines 11-12)
However, people lack confidence for change.
“The sun parches still the parched grass.” (Lines 13-14)
Continue living their “peaceful” life.
“There to rest, to improvise and unbend!” (Line 23-24)
False peace (title)

4. Sense: Meaning and Language
Speaker: A poor individual
Point of view: 1st Person
Internal monologue: Expressive Thoughts
Mood: Hopeless
“Cinder Field” (4)
“Parched Grass” (14)
Diction:
“Bastard Peace” : A false peace (title)
“Disposal Tank”, “Sewer Intakes” : Loss of freedom.
“Dandelion”, “White Butterfly”, “Service Path” : Sense of hope
Repetition:
“Water” repeated 2x: Freedom
“Fence” repeated 3x: Blocked Freedom
Sense: Meaning and Language
Purpose/Effect:
Williams wants to show the understanding of poverty and using 1st person is the effective way.
By involving the images of springtime, it portrays the concealed sense of hope which tells the reader that poverty is not peaceful.
Williams repeats important words to communicate the extent of poverty.

5. Senses: Imagery and Symbols
Imagery of Poverty
Parched Grass/Cinder Field
Cracked Houses
Home-made push cart
Small wooden pit-covers
Two chickens
Springtime Imagery
Dandelion in bloom (line 11)
A white butterfly (line 11-12)
Shining water/river
Sun
Symbolism: color
“a white butterfly” (line 11)
Senses: Imagery and Symbols
Purpose/Effect:
Williams uses the imagery of poverty and springtime to help contrast the ideas between good peace and bad peace visually.
The color ‘white’ is used as a symbol to indicate that the people surrender and are hoping for better peace.

6. Style: Poetry Techniques
Hyperbole
The sun parches still the parched grass. (Line 13-14)
Paradox
Title contradicts poem
Stream of Consciousness
Thoughts show that society is not peaceful
Repetition: ‘fence’ 3x
The essence of springtime
Style: Poetry Techniques
Purpose/Effect:
Williams enhances the bad image of poverty.
Williams’s use of stream of consciousness helps communicate the true thoughts of poverty.

7. Structure: form, organization, and pattern
Poverty is continuous
End Stopped with hyphens
Represents a cycle in the poem
Syntax
Long sentences
No period at third sentence at the end of the poem
Stanza: 4 lines each
No change in society
Exclamation Points
Symbolizes hidden positivity.
“Gid ap!” (Line 21)
“There to rest, to improvise and unbend!” (Lines 23-24)
Structure: form, organization, and pattern
Purpose/Effect:
The structure of the sentences indicates the duration of poverty by showing that poverty is never-ending.
Williams incorporates the exclamation points to contrast the emotion between poverty and peace.

8. Sound: Musicality and Auditory Techniques
End-Rhyme
“by” and “butterfly” (Lines 10 and 12)
Free Verse
Throughout the poem with the exception of line 10 and 12
Sound: Musicality and Auditory Techniques
Purpose/Effect:
Williams uses end rhyme at one point to emphasize the concealed sense of hope to show depression.
Williams uses free verse to consider poverty as ‘peaceful;’ however, it is seen as depressed through the reader’s view.

9. Connection to Other Poetry by Williams
Poems with similar ideas:
“The Poor”
The use of visual imagery to enhance understanding
Same idea of poverty
Historical context:
The Great Depression ( )

10. Draw an image of what you think true peace means to you.
Part 1: Activity
Draw an image of what you think true peace means to you.

11. Illustration

12. Part 2: Discussion
If the poet were to add a period at the end of the poem, would this bring any effect on the idea of poverty and explain why?
The poet has incorporated images of springtime in the poem. Would the main idea of the poem change if the theme ‘spring’ were omitted? How effective would this change be on the main idea of the poem?

13. Conclusion
Based on the use of imagery and structure of the poem, It can be determined that poverty is not peaceful but is consider imaginary peace until a miracle occurs.