1. P ABLO N ERUDA The United Fruit Co. "I have always wanted the hands of the people to be seen in poetry. I have always preferred a poetry where the fingerprints show. A poetry of loam, where water can sing. A poetry of bread, where everyone may eat."

2. G ENERAL INFORMATION “Born in Chile on July 12, 1904, Pablo Neruda created romantic and epic poetry as well as drama and prose that captured the essence of America.” “Neruda was known as the "poet of the people", the voice for the voiceless who fought passionately for social justice.” Anne Marie Weiss-Armush, President of DFW International, for the Tribute to Pablo Neruda centennial festival.

3. T HE UNITED FRUIT CO. ( THE POEM ) Part of Canto General an epic poem (epic poems are big narratives, like The Odyssey) Subject = the exploitation of Latin American companies by the U.S. Style = simple for anyone to read, but emotional (pathos) at times for effect Motifs with diction (repeated ideas) = religious terms like “Jehovah,” and “rebaptized” hint- the guide refers to these terms as religious metaphors

4. T ONE ( AND HOW IT IS ACHIEVED ) author’s attitude Tone is the author’s attitude about the subject Tone is always achieved through connotation, figurative language, and diction. Connotation (the emotional meaning of words, not literal, that’s denotation) 1. “bloodthirsty flies” = taking away life’s essence, out to harm, kill, and drain one’s blood 2. “ravaging” = emotionally destroying, stealing without reason or cause, corrupting, ruining 3. “juiciest” = sweetest, best

5. A LLUSIONS ( REFERENCES TO HISTORY, LITERATURE, CULTURE, ETC.) “Jehovah” = comes from the bible, name for god These companies are American, and they represent how the U.S. took over in Latin America. In Neruda’s opinion, the U.S. companies felt entitled to the land and resources. “Anaconda” was a mining co., now owned by Arco and BP. “Caesar’s crowns” = Caesar was a powerful military strategist, but a dictator. He proclaimed himself emperor, trying to change the republic to a monarchy. He was killed by his own senate. “Trujillo flies” = 1930-1961 Dominican Republic; took away civil rights and gave $ to his friends “Tacho flies” = 1967-1972 Nicaragua; human rights groups said his rule was inhumane “Carias flies” = 1924-1949 Honduras “Martinez flies” = 1939-1944 El Salvador “Ubico flies” = 1931-1944 Guatamala All dictators who were oppressive

6. U NITED FRUIT CO. HISTORY ◊ Created March 30 1889 in Boston ◊ Traded tropical fruit from “3 rd ” world nations to U.S. and Europe ◊ Maintained such power as to overthrow governments that inhibited their gain in profits ◊ Inspired Gabriel Garcia Marquez to write 100 Years of Solitude The speaker blames the Co. for “drawing” the flies to the people and land. Clearly he feels the Co. is the villain.

7. B ANANA REPUBLIC ?? small dictatorship: a small country with an unstable government and an economy dependent on the export of a single product or on outside financial help ( disapproving ) WrongRight

8. F IGURATIVE LANGUAGE - M ETAPHORS “America’s sweet waist” = metaphor comparing the central region of the Americas to the waist. The waist is in the middle. The “sweet” refers to the value of the land and resources (the fruit is sweet, but so are the profits.) “the dictatorship of flies” = metaphor comparing the rulers to flies. -flies are troublesome, annoying, never go away -flies swarm around the fruit, eating it and ruining it -flies are pests, a negative comparison -these flies are “bloodthirsty” “flies soaked in humble blood” “drunk flies” “circus flies” “clever flies versed in tyranny”

9. F IGURATIVE LANGUAGE – M ETAPHOR AND SIMILE “a body rolls down…A bunch of lifeless fruit dumped in the rubbish heap” = compares a dead body to fruit; the speaker is saying both are discarded without a care. The Co. doesn’t care about the people, it uses them and throws them away. “its ships that spirit away our submerged lands’ treasures like serving trays.” = simile compares the resources to dispensable trays Reinforces the attitude the Co. has towards the resources, the abuse of them. The trays are “serving” which also implies the superiority of the Co.

10. S O … WHAT IS NERUDA ’ S TONE TOWARDS THE COMPANIES ? Add it all together: connotation + allusions + metaphors + similes = tone His tone is resentful towards them for their exploitation of this land and people. Tone needs to be specific. “Mad” or “upset” would not work for Neruda’s attitude. You could argue his tone is lamentable…but you’d need to argue this with evidence and interpretation.