The Cod Head

Thesis: Through the images of the ocean Williams is creating an Allegory for everyday life in order to show how average life is.The Cod Head

C

The Cod Head

Miscellaneous weedstrands, stems, debris—firmament to fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble oars whipships churn to bubbles—at night wildly agitate phospores-cent midges—but by dayflaccid moons in whosediscs sometimes a red crosslives—four

fathom—the bottom skidsa mottle of greensands backward— amorphous wavering rocks—three fathomthe vitreous body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—and now a lulling liftand fall—red stars—a severed codhead between twogreen stones—liftingfalling

A

Firmament- the vault of heaven; skyMidges- Small Diseased FlyFlaccid- lacking force; weakFathom- a unit of length equal to six feetAmorphous- lacking definite form; ShapelessMottle-to mark or diversify with spots or

blotches of a different color or shade. Skids-a low mobile platform on which goods

are placed for ease in handlingVitreous- resembling glass, as in

transparencyLulling- to put to sleep or rest by soothing

means

Definitions CC

Life is average and in ways the same.“Miscellaneous weedstrands, stems, debris—firmamentto fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble”

The ocean images are used to show repetition.“body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—andnow a lulling liftand fall—“

We all get stuck in a cycle that we should get away from

“now a lulling liftand fall—red stars—a severed codhead”

Overall Interpretation:

C

Point of View: Third person (detached)Mood: Calm

Tone: “The Cod Head” has a relaxed and calming tone. The poem flows in stanzas of 3 lines that are short and have little climax. The words come together to create a poem that is like water.

“now a lulling liftand fall—” Brings upon a sense of calmness

“between twogreen stones—liftingfalling” Constant image that seems to be

relaxing.

Williams wants the

reader to understand

that life is a flow of

events that are often

quite similar to each

other and apart from

some crises we flow

in the same way.

He uses a detached

third person point of

view to show

similarity because this

person is observing at

a distance thus being

able to see the events

affecting some and

all. The poem flows in

a specific way that

gives it a peaceful

and calming vibe.

Sense: Meaning and Language

A

Allegory: It uses the constant idea of the ocean to reflect the constant idea of life.

“oars whip ships churn to bubbles” Reoccurring event

that is always going on in the ocean, there will always be boats moving about causing a stir in the water which could be a symbol showing how our daily life gets “churned” and that not everything is smooth sailing.

“to fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble” Another event that

reoccurs daily. Fish will always be there and the seagulls will always be there as well, always interacting. This can be how people interact with nature, the people like fish “swim” along with their daily lives as nature interacts with us like the gulls.

Williams wants the

reader to understand

that life is a flow of

events that are often

quite similar to each

other and apart from

some crises we flow

in the same way.

He uses a detached

third person point of

view to show

similarity because this

person is observing at

a distance thus being

able to see the events

affecting some and

all. The poem flows in

a specific way that

gives it a peaceful

and calming vibe.

Sense: Meaning and Language

CC

Allegory: It uses the constant idea of the ocean to reflect the constant idea of life.

“moons in whosediscs sometimes a red crosslives” This could relate to how being hurt or

sick is a part of life although it doesn’t occur all the time. This quote also relates to the midges (diseased flies) which could be used to symbolize things that we are plagued by in life which can be more than being hurt or sick.

“—a severed codheadbetween twogreen stones—liftingfalling” This could be an allegory to how we

may lose ourselves in the daily life cycle that we all go through. The fish head is in a constant motion that remains the same which shows the way we get stuck in repetitions that drag us back and forth.

Williams wants the

reader to understand

that life is a flow of

events that are often

quite similar to each

other and apart from

some crises we flow

in the same way.

He uses a detached

third person point of

view to show

similarity because this

person is observing at

a distance thus being

able to see the events

affecting some and

all. The poem flows in

a specific way that

gives it a peaceful

and calming vibe.

Sense: Meaning and Language

CC

Imagery:Ocean Imagery is used throughout the

poem: Fish, Gulls, Oars, Ships, Fathom, Skids,

Sand and Water

Symbolism:Water: The flow of daily life that we

follow.Fish: People Gulls: NatureOars/Ships: Things that affect youMidges: Things that plague peopleCod Head: Being stuck in the same

repetition

The images come

together to create a

picture of water and

how it is constantly

flowing and things

are always happening

which applies to the

deeper meaning of

the poem. These

common interactions

between these

images relate to the

interactions that we

face in our lives. So

in the way the water

flows is similar to the

way our lives flow

and follow a certain

pattern that is

occasionally stirred

by situations we face.

Senses: Imagery and Symbols

This poem is an imagist poem because it provides vivid images .

A/C

Satire:The way the poem ends is unlike the rest of

the poem and that adds to the way life can get you stuck. The poem for the most part is relaxing and smooth, and it seems ironic how this dark image pops up and finishes the poem. This overall interaction between calm and startling images relates to the overall deeper message of the poem.

“body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—and now a lulling liftand fall—red stars—a severed codhead between twogreen stones—liftingfalling”

The use of satire sets

up a shock to the

reader because

throughout the poem

there is a peaceful

tone that doesn’t

have much climax

until it reaches the

end of the poem. This

creates an emphasis

on this part of the

poem which can serve

as a lesson on how no

to get stuck in a cycle.

So by making this part

completely different

from the rest of the

story it gives the

criticism of being in a

repetition.

Style: Poetry Techniques

C

End-Stopped: Many lines in the poem contain or end in dashes.

“Miscellaneous weedstrands, stems, debris—firmament” “to fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble”

Syntax: The lines are put in a similar pattern (vary slightly) from stanza to stanza.

Purpose: The poem is

set up like this to

give more depth to

the idea of water.

The poem flows in a

way that looks

similar to waves so it

exemplifies the

deeper meaning. The

poem sets up a

constant repetition of

structure because

each set stanza is

almost the same

length.

Structure

“fathom—the bottom skidsa mottle of greensands backward— amorphous wavering rocks—three fathomthe vitreous body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—and

CC

Miscellaneous weedstrands, stems, debris—firmament to fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble oars whipships churn to bubbles—at night wildly agitate phospores-cent midges—but by dayflaccid moons in whosediscs sometimes a red crosslives—four fathom—the bottom skidsa mottle of greensands backward— amorphous wavering rocks—three fathomthe vitreous body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—and now a lulling liftand fall—red stars—a severed codhead between twogreen stones—liftingfalling

Purpose: The poem is

set up like this to

give more depth to

the idea of water.

The poem flows in a

way that looks

similar to waves so it

exemplifies the

deeper meaning. The

poem sets up a

constant repetition of

structure because

each set stanza is

almost the same

length.

Structure

•Pattern/Stanza: Each stanza is 3 lines long, and the lines contain a pattern that looks like waves in the way they vary.

Mis

cellan

eou

s w

eed

str

an

ds,

ste

ms,

deb

ris

—fi

rmam

en

t  to

fish

es—

wh

ere

th

e y

ellow

feet

of

gu

lls d

ab

ble

  oars

wh

ipsh

ips c

hu

rn t

o b

ub

ble

s—

at

nig

ht

wild

ly  ag

itate

ph

osp

ore

s-

cen

t m

idg

es—

bu

t b

y

day

flaccid

  moon

s in

wh

ose

dis

cs s

om

eti

mes a

red

cro

ss

lives—

fou

r  fa

thom

—th

e b

ott

om

skid

sa m

ott

le o

f g

reen

san

ds b

ackw

ard

—  am

orp

hou

s w

aver

ing

rocks—

thre

e f

ath

om

the v

itre

ou

s  b

od

y t

hro

ug

h w

hic

h—

sm

all s

cu

dd

ing

fish

d

eep

dow

n—

an

d  n

ow

a lu

llin

g lif

tan

d f

all—

red

sta

rs—

a s

evere

d

cod

head

  betw

een

tw

og

reen

sto

nes—

lift

ing

fallin

g

A

Consonance: Repetition of the “s” sound

“Miscellaneous weedstrands, stems, debris—firmament”

The sound of “bble”“to fishes—where the yellow feetof gulls dabble oars whipships churn to bubbles—at night wildly”

Williams does

this to further

extend the idea

of water and the

flow of life. At

points it picks up

and other drops

and this constant

rise and fall could

be similar to the

way life is seen.

Sound

CC

Rhythm:Like the structure the poem flows

and sounds the way water does. It picks up at certain lines and draws down in others. It also has lines that are a little longer than others which symbolizes the climax of the wave.

“fathom—the bottom skidsa mottle of greensands backward— amorphous wavering rocks—three fathomthe vitreous body through which—small scudding fish deepdown—and”

Williams does

this to further

extend the idea

of water and the

flow of life. At

points it picks up

and other drops

and this constant

rise and fall could

be similar to the

way life is seen.

Sound

C

Use of Nature to reference life“The Widow’s Lament in Springtime”“Spring and All”“Seafarer”

Strong use of imagery“A Woman in Front of a Bank”“The Eyeglasses”“The Mind Hesitant”

Historical Context:Published in “Collected Poems 1921-1931” in 1934

Connection to other poetry

CC

Each group is going to be given one stanza and in your group you will draw a picture according to that stanza. After everyone is done we will put them together to form the poem.

ActivityA

The poem ends in a way that seems to say that you eventually get stuck in repetition and that you need to get away from this. And the constant flow of life takes a toll unless you can get out of the cycle. And break out of the lift and fall like the cod head eventually will.

Conclusion

C