The Ferryman's Arms: Form and Structure

The Ferryman’s Arms: Form and Structure

Form and Structure

  • Free verse is a significant feature of “The Ferryman’s Arms”, true to Paterson’s style. This allows for increased scrutiny on the word choice and semantic content over rhythm or rhyme.

  • The irregular structure and varying line lengths serve as a mirror to the chaotic nature of the narrator’s thoughts and feelings being depicted in the poem.

Line-by-Line Analysis

  • In “The Ferryman’s Arms”, the first person narrative utilises a style that is both elegant and intellectually stimulating. Readers are encouraged to sympathise with and delve into the complex circumstances of the speaker.

  • The poem showcases a strong use of simile and metaphor, including ‘as quiet as a cupboard’, which enhances the aesthetics and builds a visceral experience for the reader.

  • Notably, the ‘quiet as a cupboard’ metaphor can be interpreted in several ways, such as silencing the inner voice, hiding truths in secret compartments, or emphasising the solitude that the speaker feels.

Visual Structure and Layout

  • The absence of frequent punctuation enables many lines to merge into the next, a technique known as enjambment. This coupled with run-on lines and sparse punctuation, can signal the unceasing flow of the speaker’s thoughts and emotions.

  • The spacing between each line within the poem can subtly manipulate the reader’s pace, inviting focus onto individual lines and enhancing the impact of each phrase.

Themes and Purpose

  • The key themes resonate around loneliness, desolation, and introspection in “The Ferryman’s Arms”.

  • Paterson employs striking metaphor and emotive language to incite contemplation on dense topics like introspection and loneliness. His infusions of haunting imagery and the layers of interpretation in his metaphors underline the multifaceted nature of human emotions.

For a comprehensive understanding of this poem, it is essential to decipher not only its overt meaning, but also to discern the hidden truths buried within the poetic devices, imagery and structure designed by the poet.