Rite of Passage
By Sharon Olds
As the guests arrive at our son’s party
they gather in the living room,
short men, men in first grade
with smooth jaws and chins.
Hands in pockets, they stand around
jostling, jockeying for place, small fights
breaking out and calming. One says to another
How old are you? Six, I’m seven, So?
They eye each other, seeing themselves tiny in the other’s pupils. They clear their throats a lot, a room of small bankers, they fold their arms and frown. I could beat you up, a seven says to a six, the midnight cake, round and heavy as a turret behind them on the table. My son, freckles like specks of nutmeg on his cheeks, chest narrow as the balsa keel of a model boat, long hands cool and thin as the day they guided him out of me, speaks up as a host for the sake of the group. We could easily kill a two-year-old, he says in his clear voice. The other men agree, they clear their throats like Generals, they relax and get down to playing war, celebrating my son’s life.
Summary of Rite of Passage
“Rite of Passage” by Sharon Olds is a striking poem that observes a group of young boys, approximately six or seven years old, at a birthday party. Olds masterfully presents these children as miniature adults, mimicking the posturing, competitive spirit, and even aggressive tendencies often displayed by men. The poem isn’t simply a charming depiction of childhood; it’s a thought-provoking commentary on the socialization of boys and the early manifestations of power dynamics and the inclination toward dominance. The central idea revolves around this unsettling observation, the almost instinctive way these young boys rehearse the behaviors they will carry into adulthood.
Published in her 1997 collection, The World We Left Behind, the poem is remarkable for its concise yet impactful imagery and its ability to simultaneously amuse and disturb. It’s a poem that invites readers to consider the roots of societal norms and the subtle ways in which gender roles are ingrained from a very young age. Understanding the poem’s context—Olds’s frequent exploration of family dynamics and societal pressures—further enriches its interpretation.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used In Rite of Passage
Sharon Olds skillfully employs a range of literary devices to elevate the poem beyond a simple observation and transform it into a nuanced exploration of childhood and societal expectations. These devices contribute to the poem’s evocative power and thought-provoking nature.
Assonance and Consonance
Olds makes subtle but effective use of sound devices to create a musicality that underpins the poem’s gravity. Notice the repetition of vowel sounds in lines like “Hands in pockets, they stand around,” where the short ‘a’ sound is repeated, creating a sense of groundedness. Similarly, the repetition of consonant sounds, or consonance, can be found in phrases like “small fights breaking,” the repeated ‘b’ sound subtly mirroring the combative energy of the boys.
Imagery
The poem is rich in vivid imagery that allows readers to fully visualize the scene. For instance, the description of the boys as “short men, men in first grade with smooth jaws and chins” immediately establishes the poem’s central conceit—the boys attempting to embody adult masculinity. The imagery isn’t just visual; Olds also appeals to tactile senses, such as in the description of the birthday cake as “round and heavy as a turret.” This creates a tangible feeling of solidity and weight, perhaps alluding to the pressures of adulthood.
Metaphor and Simile
The entire poem operates on an extended metaphor, presenting the boys as miniature men. This isn’t a literal comparison, but a figurative one that allows Olds to explore deeper themes. The use of simile, such as “freckles like specks of nutmeg” and “chest narrow as the balsa keel,” adds to the descriptive richness and helps to create a vivid portrait of the son. These comparisons aren’t merely decorative; they subtly reinforce the poem’s themes of fragility and potential, highlighting the boys’ vulnerability even as they attempt to project strength.
Enjambment
Olds frequently uses enjambment— the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next—to create a sense of momentum and flow. This technique can be seen in lines like:
We could easily kill a two-year-old, he says in his clear voice. The other men agree, they clear their throats like Generals, they relax and get down to playing war, celebrating my son’s life.
The enjambment mimics the boys’ rapid-fire conversation and their unthinking acceptance of aggressive impulses. It creates a sense of unease, as the reader is propelled forward without pause, mirroring the boys’ own momentum.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Rite of Passage
Beyond the general literary devices, certain poetic techniques specifically contribute to the poem’s impact.
Diction and Tone
Olds’s diction—her choice of words— is deliberately both colloquial and precise. She uses simple, everyday language—“hands in pockets,” “clear their throats”—to create a sense of realism. However, this simplicity is juxtaposed with more unsettling phrases—“We could easily kill a two-year-old.” This contrast creates a jarring effect, highlighting the disturbing undercurrent of the poem. The overall tone is initially observational, but it subtly shifts to one of concern and perhaps even apprehension as the poem progresses.
Free Verse
“Rite of Passage” is written in free verse, meaning it doesn’t adhere to a traditional rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Olds to create a natural, conversational rhythm that mirrors the boys’ spontaneous interactions. The lack of formal structure also contributes to the poem’s sense of immediacy and raw emotion. The poem’s rhythm is driven by the content and imagery, rather than any predetermined formal constraints.
Single Stanza Form
The poem’s presentation as a single, unbroken stanza reinforces the sense of continuous observation. It’s as if Olds is simply presenting a snapshot of a single moment in time, without commentary or interruption. The length of the stanza further emphasizes the relentless energy of the boys and the overwhelming nature of their behavior.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Rite of Passage” are particularly impactful when discussing the poem’s themes:
As the guests arrive at our son’s party
they gather in the living room,
short men, men in first grade
with smooth jaws and chins.
This opening establishes the central conceit of the poem and sets the stage for the unsettling observations that follow.
We could easily kill a two-year-old, he says in his clear voice.
This line is perhaps the most shocking and memorable in the poem. It’s a stark reminder of the boys’ burgeoning aggression and their disturbing capacity for violence.