"Bamboo prides itself on knowing/the art of living long..."
The discourse of gardens and gardening has, historically, entwined the Garden of Eden as ideal and metaphor with everyday gardens as places to (re)enact cultural myths and identity practices.
Jordan Stouck
In Plants, Olive Senior’s persona says that “[t]he world is full of shoots bent on conquest” (line 13). In Bamboo (in Five Variations), Bamboo tells Stone that “… from my roots young shoots spring, routinely” (lines 29 – 30).
How are the generalizations in Plants made more specific in Bamboo (in Five Variations)? In other words, what aspects of plant life, as described in the former poem, are focused on, and expanded in the latter?
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sigh *makes note to think about and write up post for blog*
0_o
mr abbott, i’m going to try and answer
note the word TRY
sigh… where to start?!
let me try.in the last paragraph of
‘plants’ when the persona says that plants outlast us and that they’re one step ahead of us. this aspect of their life is focused on in the 2nd variation of ‘Bamboo’. the point of their long existence is stated again but this time theres a more indept descriptions as to why this is so which id due to their roots that are grasping and strong and are able to bend humbly against who ever tries to destroy it.in Bamboo, the poem also tells us exactly how Bamboo breeds, how they reproduce and survive.while in the poem Plants (stanza2) the persona only made a comment on this .the poem also fails to mention how alike the reproduction of man and plant is and that they live just as long as bamboo do. in Plants there is mention of the militant nature of plants, that they invade our life, while in bamboo this is expanded upon. in bamboo we learn that human beings are unaware of the invasion because the bamboo roots secretly travel underground etc variation 2 stanza 3&4. finally in bamboo the relationship between the bamboo and the persona is expanded upon. we see the persona who is the victim befriending the enemy the enemy.the things that wants to invade their life.
The generalizations in Plants are made more specific in Bamboo (in Five Variations). In Plants,’the world is full of shoots bent on conquest’, suggests that the young plants are determined to be successful in taking over the world, and is elaborated in Bamboo (in Five Variations),’from my roots young shoots spring, routinely’, which suggests that even though the bamboo seem to die it will spring again like a cycle. Which implies that plants will succeeded because they will not die.In Plants, ‘they’ll outlast us, they were always there one step ahead of us’, which indicate that they are more intelligent and will live longer than humans.In Bamboo, ‘Bamboo prides itself, knowing the art of living long.’ meaning that they know how to love long, which is to bend to everything that can destroy it.The implication here is that, they are smarter than us because they know how to live longer.In Plants, ’seduce you into scattering plant progeny’,the suggestion is that the pants are so sly that they trick us to help them in their plan by spreading all over.In Bamboo, ‘roots that are grasping and strong to spread’, suggests that no matter what happens, its roots will always spread, getting stronger and plentiful to regenerate. The implication here is that, plants are able to multiple, get stronger and spread through us, the innocent. In Plants,’plants are deceptive, you see them there looking as if once rooted they know their place’,suggesting that plants are cunning because, they are rooted one place but seem to spread all over. In Bamboo,’while secretly sending deep into cliff and mire’, suggests that, they are cunning underneath and are able to adapt in high and low places. Plants crafty ways are are expanded so much here, where they are able to adapt anywhere, thus increasing their chances of taking over.:)
In ‘Plants’ man is viewed as the enemy,the one to be outsmarted and whose world must be overtaken.’Bamboo’ highlights a deep bond between man and bamboo.Their existence or culture is at threat and they use their natural properties to defend themselves.The deceptive nature of plants is again emphasized in ‘Bamboo’,bamboo appears humble and docile before its foes,bending to their will but with its roots well founded and hidden.Just like a plant to use its outward appearance and appeal to win you over.’Plants’ mentions the ability to fit in and adapt to about any situation.That’s how they survive.’Bamboo’ now speaks clearly about the different circumstances bamboo finds itself in,from the low places to the high(at home or away-as far as man is concerned).No matter where it is or how badly it’s been destroyed it can regain its self and start anew,through its roots.The reproductive nature of plants is of great importance.’Plants’ describes the general agents or methods plants use to multiple-air,water,humans,etc.Bamboos’ roots are its strong point,buried deep in the earth they are untouchable,able to spread,keeping their essence alive.
Hmm. The poem ‘Plants’ can be seen as the introduction to the section ‘Gardening in the Tropics’. Where the persona in Plants stated that “the world is full of shoots bent on conquest”, as Okeisha pointed out , it was seen in Variation Two in Bamboos where it can be seen that the bomboos were determined to continue living as they withstand every natural and manmade disasters; their defence is simply bending; thus new shoots routinely
…spring, hence this is the idea of plants being ‘bent on conquest’ because the Bamboos are “grasping Strong”. Moreover, in Variation Three where a conflict was seen between Bamboo and Stone for the ‘possession’ of Man, Bamboo was seen as the victor because Stone will disintegrate turning into sand, but Bamboo will spring new shoots continuing the conquest of plants; as Plants pointed out that they are “always one step ahead of us”(Man).
THANK GOD AM DONE, I HOPE ITS GOOD:-)
The first stanza of plants begins “Plants are deceptive…” and ‘Bamboo(In five variations)’ shows this;lines 12-16 of the 2nd variation of Bamboo says “…before wind,rain,axe and forager,humbly bending/while secretly sending deep into cliff or mire/roots that are grasping and strong to spread.” and these lines show the deceptiveness of plants. The bamboo might appear humble and accepting of its fate, but it is in fact cunning because while seeming to be destroyed,its roots are so deep that it is practically invincible. This adds to the idea of plants being ‘bent on conquest’. The bamboo is also like a ’special agent’ that is meant to deceive us.
In variation 2 of Bamboo,lines 9 and 10,”Bamboo prides itself on knowing the art of living long…”collaborates with line 33, stanza 9 of ‘Plants’,”They’ll outlast us…” to bring out the idea that plants in general will out live us,humans,which once again evokes the feel that plants are out to conquer the world/are bent on conquest.
Another generalization that is made more specific is lines 29-30,variation 3: “…despite my periodic ending,from my roots young shoots spring,routinely.” In ‘Plants’, line 13,stanza 4 states “The world is full of shoots bent on conquest…” Lines 29-30, once again add to the idea of the bamboo being a special agent that is almost indestructable;it may die,but youngs shoots always spring up, which, also,again adds to the deceptiveness of the bamboo plant.
I hope what I said makes sense.If not,woe be unto me.LOL!
In the poem Plants some generalizations are expanded on in Bamboo (In five variations). In Plants, the plants roots were described that once they were rooted they knew their places. This concept was further explored in Bamboo were bamboo wins the argument with stone because they would outlive man and stone since their young shoots would spring routinely. Also in plants where it says ‘roots in the air…anchoring themselves everywhere?’, is expanded more in bamboo to show that plants will survive long after man and are everywhere because it says ‘roots that are grasping and strong, to spread’. In plants, the plants are described as colonizers of land, in trying to take over the world, and in bamboo the roots are compared to people who are enslaved but deep down are secretly plotting their escape. Additionally, in plants, the plants are said to be seducers by using their beauty to attract both humans and animals. Consequently in bamboo the eleven year old is enjoying the comfort of lying in dry bamboo leaves.
The poems of this collection seek to portray the plant kingdom as one large army and we have seen that being expressed in “plants”.We see that human beings are inferior in every way to the plant kingdom and at the end of the day the plant kingdom will thrive while we as human beings will perish.In bamboo we are introduce to what seems to be surprisingly the bond that we as human beings has with one of the plant kingdom.We have many common traits and at the end of the day we both fight for our very cultures and existence everyday.One of our enemies haw now become a place of refuge and desire.Bamboo seeks to show us that we as human beings are no different than other living things(plants),we may be taken from the earth one day but from that same earth a new generation will continue the never ending battle to validate our species and its existence.
In the first poem of the section Nature Studies named “Plants” we get a generalization of the obvious being PLANTS…There are some brief phrases I’d like to point out within the poem:
“anchoring themselves everywhere…”
“seeking … dispersal”
“colonizing ambitions”
“scattering plant progeny”
” they’ll outlast us…”
These phrases standing alone would bring us the readers the sense of reproduction, that is inevitable and seemingly absolute in necessity also creating a sense of continuity. After reading “Bamboo” who “prides itself on knowing// the art of living long:” we see this definitely relates back to plants especially in its conclusion one of my phrases above ” they’ll outlast us… ” Plants have been ” anchoring themselves everywhere” and “scattering plant protegny” I get a longing or more like a need to procreate/reproduce. Not just an offspring but a continuation of the Bamboo (plant) by the millions. Bamboo ” grasping and strong//to spread.” grasping expresses its desire to do what it has to inorder to fufill its plan/duty.
” With careful tending,
despite my periodic ending, from
my roots young shoots spring, routinely.”
Throughout “Bamboo” the roots are growing, reproducing, its utter devotion to producing offspring is evident. As we see at the end of Bamboo its everlasting presence still exists, the roots are still there continuing the neverending journey. The connection is in existence and highlights what “plants” was generalizing and attempting to achieve. Focus is basically being played on the ways in which the bamboo plant spreads, the way in which it lives on and its connections that remain.
The poem bamboo is indeed an expanded generalization of what Senior is trying to say about plants. Senior is not just speaking about plants themselves, rather she is comparing them to people and colonization. In the poem plants Senior descibes the deceptiveness of plants by telling us (the readers) that they are our enemies. Here plants try to invade (take over), ‘the world is full of shoots bent on conquest’. Then in bamboo this is further expanded, we see that the bamboo is secretly defeating us using their roots, that is, what is beneath that we can’t see because it is hidden underground. As said in plants, they are not like us nor animals for they leave no trace.
Additionally, in plants the persona says that ‘They’ll outcast us, they were always there one step ahead of us…’ This tells us that no matter what plants will always be there, not the same plant per say but others like it will shoot up. We see an expansion of this in bamboo where it said that ‘Bamboo prides itself on knowing the art of living long’. Though ‘one’ will eventually fade/rot there will always be an offspring. This then brings out the whole idea on culture, ”one may die but culture will live on”. Just to mension, this also leads to the point that, like humans plant too reproduce.
In general, one can say that in the poem plants we see a basic generalization of what plants can be percieved as. While in bamboo, the poem here expands outward, trailing and climbing while in pursuit of just order. Just as the indigenous people were seeking to do, that is why we see the major comparison with colonization.
Plant life = Human experiences
Don’t know what else to say except for ‘I tried’.
Ok… to be honest Mr. Abbott I’ve never been as blank as for this blog post… in comparison 2 the others =/ gonna give it a shot n hope for the best
Ok the main aspect of plant life mentioned in “plants” and expanded in “bamboo” is the maintenance of life. This is done in two ways through procreation and through war tactic as the “world is full of shoots bent on conquest.” Bamboo uses its roots in order to help maintain its life it can hold its own against “foragers”, “axe” “wind” “rain” etc but even when fire burns it to the ground “from its roots young shoots spring routinely.” It’s able to rebirth itself and hence continue the battle for survival. This defence mechanism is it’s “art of living long” extending its roots deep in order to defend itself.. presenting a facade of helplesslessness but perfctly self sufficient in order to succssfully achieve its task. The springing of shoots routinely is it’s other method of survival through procreation. This progenic function is reiterated in Plants but exemplified in bamboo. As Plants says “they’ll outlast us” and bamboo explains how “despite my periodic ending.”
sigh.. a little too repetitive no? =/
lets see
The central metaphor in ‘Plants’ is that they were here before us, they will be here after us, they will inherit the earth. Plants know the way to live long but we humans do not, they are “beneath [our] notice”. The ‘Bamboo’ poems explain exactly how they do it. The Bamboo is like one unit in the army of Plants. Bamboo puts its “roots that are grasping and strong” deep into “cliff or mire”. They allow themselves to die individually but ensure that they survive as a race.
Also, in ‘Plants’ the persona addresses ‘you’ who, unlike her, does not notice the plants’ “colonising ambitions” because, again, it is “beneath [their] notice”. In variation 4, Great Aunt Emily is the non-believer who regards the young persona’s version of church, her “bamboo cathedral” as beneath her though it may be more powerful that the version she knows, like the ‘you’ in ‘Plants’.
Similarly, in variation 5, the persona hears the sounds of the Bamboo from “St Clair Avenue Toronto Canada” but ‘you’ tells her she does not- “maybe (as you say)/ it wasn’t the wind dying in bamboo leaves and yes maybe/ that isn’t the sound of wild bamboo flutes…”
The poems that we have studied so far on collection of gardening in the tropics the plants are seen as invaders and very hostile.In plants senior quoted “the world is full of shoots bent on conquest” but the bamboo is portrayed as being less hostile we see the bamboo bowing its head symbolises the natives being humble to their conquerors. In everyone of senior’s poems she makes references to colonialism and the influence of the colonisers culture on the colonies,where as bamboo shows that even if
You destro
The generalisations in Plants are made more specific in Bamboo in various aspects of the poem.In the poem plants they are perceived as an invading army by being deceptive.Whereas in the poem bamboo the deceptiveness is outwardly shown by the tactics used for survival.
oops im not done
Even if you destroy everything physical the only thing indestructable is culture.
The very name of the poems suggests that in one of them it is more specific than the other. That being the broad title of “Plants” and the more specific one of not just “Bamboo”, but “Bamboo (In Five Variations)”. ”Plants” is the general poem while Bamboo (In Five Variations) is like a magnifying glass. The latter poem gives the reasoning behind the “plants” secrets for survival. For instance in “Plants” ‘plants are deceptive…once rooted they know their places’. However, Bamboo (In Five Variations) gave the reason why bamboo roots are deceptive by “humbling bending while secretly sending deep into cliff or mire”.
Moreover, In “Plants” ‘the world is full of shoots bent on conquest informs the reader that plants can take advantage of and take over the world. “Bamboo (In Five Variations) expands on that by stating how with “careful tending …..from my roots young shoots spring routinely”. This expression evokes a sense of endless cycle of renewal.
The main idea that come from the peom `Plants` is that they are here to take over the world.In the peom `Bamboo` it is expanded on how they are able to maintain life.How they are able to send there roots deep underground.So that new shoots are able to grow after the old plant have died.This gives us a sense of continuity.They are able to withstand anything because of this and are also able to out live us humans aswell.!
In the first poem plants we see the war-like nature of plants as described by the poem,which gives a totally different perception of plants than what we generally thought of them i.e being pretty and lovely..in bamboo we get a much more in depth descriptions of this war-like,conquering nature of plants..such as the defences the bamboo has;being able to withstand almost anything whether it be nature it self or man made obstacles. The places in which bamboo grows saying that it could inhabit almost anything whether it be up high or down low,letting us know that unlike us it could easily adjust to whatever is thrown at it.Also we learnt that this bamboo is bent on living long,so long after we are gone bamboo is still going to be there getting closer to it’s goal of domination. Also we see the way in which bamboo grows in thickets,together never alone, in bunches ready to defend it’s self no matter what, in plants we saw the image of armies of plants and here we can see it again an army of a specific plant;the bamboo..
Firstly the the bamboo’s deceptiveness is highlighted where the bamboo humbly bends to those who inflicts harm on it, whether by rain,wind,axe,and forager.As a result it is able to live longer and this tactic proves quite effective for the bamboo’s lenghty existence.Also the bamboo has also proven that it is quite adaptable because it is able to grow in low and high places.This points to the fact that in the poem plants they are able to root themselves and establish their place.
Secondly, the poem plants highlights that plants are able to increase by their deceptiveness and reproduction.This is seen explicitly in the poem bamboo.For example ‘from my roots young shoots spring’,and’roots that are grasping and strong to spread’,this shows that the even though the bamboo plant is destroyed the root would be able to create new ones, thus they will never be able to be eradicated.
The poem plants points to the fact that plants are colonizers and they are going to take over earth.However the bamboo seems to describe a people and their fight for suevival, whether their culture or themselves.Therefore bamboo further expands the concept surrounding the poem plants,their very need for existence and what they are willing to do.
Lastly the poem plants also demonstrates the seductive nature of plants “special agents called flowers”.This is further seen in the poem bamboo because the eleven year old persona seem to view the bamboo grove as her haven and cannot seem to see its deceptive nature.
P.S sorry mr.abbott if im all over the place..but i just remembered i had to do this, so the thoughts were just flowing all over the place
We have said before in class that we can view the plant kingdom as one army and Bamboo is merely one fleet to abolish the human race. Senior simply points out to us in plants that plants and flowers should not be seen as only pretty living organisms but deep inside something sinister and evil. We’ve all heard the saying “keep your friends close but your enemies’ closer” (if not you do now)… well Senior has captured this saying right on the tip in these poems… Bamboo portrays itself as meek and harmless while it’s making a concrete base in order to stand over us and plants portrays themselves and pretty and wonderful while in the process is making vast number of soldiers to fight.
In Plants, Senior points out to us that we may view plants as beautiful and gentle based on its external appearance and she also points out that the plant kingdom may be planning to overthrow us and rule the earth and that this is the reason for their enormity… in other words she doesn’t want us to let our guard down. In Bamboo we get one of the plants’ approaches to take over and we see this in variation 2, where bamboo humbly bends before its enemies to avoid harm and in the meanwhile its roots grow deeper into the earth. This tells us that we would not be able to get rid of bamboo very easily because its roots is the source of its life… we can get rid of the bamboo but the roots will just form a new set.
Don’t know what else to say right now so yeah… oh I think I’m taking these poems too literally that I’m starting to believe them… which is weird… so Mr. Abbott if I develop a phobia of plants I know the sources for that…
Through out bamboo we see the deceptive and duplicitous nature of plants become more evident.Also we see that the plants cannot be generalized and that they have there own nature.IN the 1st poem plants were seen as alien and less than human but in this poem bamboo the bamboo has been humanized this causes plants to seem more sinister because we can imagine them as human.We see the determination by the bamboo to survive which reiterates a point which was made in the 1st poem . As neither wind, rain axe, or forager can defeat it. Also we see that bamboo as all plantes were here before man and that they will outlast mankind. Through the bamboo poem due to the human qualities the bamboo has been given as well as the resilient nature f the bamboo we see this poem as a more introspective poem into the life and mind of the plant as such we grasp how devious and dangerous the plants are.
The issues of invasion and deception presented in “Plants” are further expanded on in the poem “Bamboo in V variations”. Although these matters seem to be serious and somewhat dangerous to the human species in the poem “Plants”, we see that the invasive and deceptive acts of plants are merely a means of survival for them in “Bamboo”.
In “Plants”, plants are described as “shoots bent on conquest” whereas in “Bamboo” the persona gives a more reasonable and less treacherous explanation as to why it is plants bear and shoot up so often. It states in “Bamboo” that “…..from my roots young shoots spring, routinely”, this is a more natural reason as to why plants bear, it is not that they are planning on taking over the world, it is simply the way God made them, to reproduce habitually.
Plants are seen to be very deceptive in “Plants”; it could not be more clearly said as the poem begins “Plants are deceptive…” In “Bamboo” the persona shows that Bamboo can also be deceptive as “…before wind,rain,axe and forager,humbly bending/while secretly sending deep into cliff or mire/roots that are grasping and strong to spread.” This deception we see to be a part of the plants survival, even though it appears to be destroyed on the surface it’s roots remain below keeping it alive and ready to shoot again.
In my opinion, the poem “Plants” creates a negative and unrealistic picture about plants by giving the plants HUMAN QUALITIES, whereas “Bamboo in V variations” does not use as much personification and presents Bamboo in a natural and innocent light, although it is deceptive and invasive like other plants it does so as a means of survival not as a means of conquest.
In both ‘Plants’ and ‘Bamboo’ their is the whole idea of plants deceptiveness. An example is in the first stanza where it states “plants are deceptive.You see them their looking as if once rooted they know their places..”. This essentially suggests that they are for their purpose which is to either to produce fruit or just be pretty,which is the stereotypical perception, but secretly they are bent on taking over the world.This is confirmed when Senior writes “the world is full of shoots bent on conquest…”. The theme of plants deceptiveness continues in ‘Bamboo’.In variation 2 it says “humble bending while secretly sending deep into cliff or mire” .In this case here it is again there is the deception. The appearance of what is on the surface but there is something deeper is rooted below.
mr abbot when are you going to put up the marks?