Departmental
By an unknown author
An ant on the tablecloth
Ran into a dormant moth
Of many times his size.
He showed not the least surprise.
His business wasn’t with such.
He gave it scarcely a touch,
And was off on his duty run.
Yet if he encountered one
Of the hive’s enquiry squad
Whose work is to find out God
And the nature of time and space,
He would put him onto the case.
Ants are a curious race;
One crossing with hurried tread
The body of one of their dead
Isn’t given a moment’s arrest—
Seems not even impressed.
But he no doubt reports to any
With whom he crosses antennae,
And they no doubt report
To the higher‑up at court.
Then word goes forth in Formic:
“Death’s come to Jerry McCormic,
Our selfless forager Jerry.
Will the special Janizary
Whose office it is to bury
The dead of the commissary
Go bring him home to his people.
Lay him in state on a sepal.
Wrap him for shroud in a petal.
Embalm him with ichor of nettle.
This is the word of your Queen.”
And presently on the scene
Appears a solemn mortician;
And taking formal position,
With feelers calmly atwiddle,
Seizes the dead by the middle,
And heaving him high in air,
Carries him out of there.
No one stands round to stare.
It is nobody else’s affair
It couldn’t be called ungentle
But how thoroughly departmental.
Summary of Departmental
- Popularity of “Departmental”: The poem “Departmental” is an anonymous work that has become popular for its witty portrayal of ant society. It is not found in any of Robert Frost’s collections, nor was it published in 1914. Its humor and use of heroic couplets make it an engaging piece.
- “Departmental” as a Representative of Departmental Working: The poem begins with an ant that remains unfazed by a larger moth, demonstrating a focused dedication to duty. When it discovers a fallen ant, it initiates a chain of reporting that activates the colony’s bureaucratic response. Orders are issued from the queen, and a specialized mortician carries out the burial. The entire process functions with cold efficiency, mirroring the structured “departmental” work found in larger organizations.
- Major Themes in “Departmental”: The central themes revolve around specialized behavior, departmentalized work, and the nature of dutiful action. The poem explores how routines and protocols can override individual feeling, even in the face of death. It suggests that this applies not only to the natural world, as represented by the ants, but also to human organizations and societal structures. It subtly asks us to consider the cost of such detachment.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Departmental
Understanding the poetic devices employed in “Departmental” is crucial to appreciating the depth and nuance of the poem. These techniques contribute to its unique voice and satirical edge.
- Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, creates musicality and emphasis. Notice the repeated “e” sound in “Yet if he encountered one,” the “oo” sound in “Whose work is to find out God,” or the “a” sound in “An ant on the tablecloth.” These sounds subtly connect words and ideas.
- Allegory: the poem operates on an allegorical level, using the ant colony as a representation of human society. The ants’ rigid adherence to protocol, lack of emotional response, and hierarchical structure mirror how bureaucracies and institutions often function.
- Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, adds a pleasing rhythm and emphasis. For example, consider the pairing of “wasn’t with” or “him home.”
- Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds within words, creates a sense of cohesion and texture. Notice the “s” and “t” sounds in “He showed not the least surprise” or the “s” and “m” sounds in “Appears a solemn mortician.”
- Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, creates a sense of momentum and flow. This is evident in lines like:
It is nobody else’s affair
It couldn’t be called ungentle
But how thoroughly departmental.
The lines flow into each other, mirroring the seamlessness of the ants’ routines.
- Imagery: the poet skillfully uses imagery to bring the ant colony to life. Phrases like “An ant on the tablecloth,” “Of many times his size,” and “The dead of the commissary” create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
- Metaphor: the entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, comparing the ant colony to a bureaucratic organization. The ants’ actions, from reporting a death to conducting a formal burial, symbolize human procedures.
- Symbolism: various elements within the poem carry symbolic weight. The journey of the ant represents the pursuit of duty. Death itself symbolizes the inevitable conclusion of life, while the beehive symbolizes the community. The moth, initially ignored, might represent distractions or the larger world outside the ant colony’s narrow focus.
Analysis of Poetic Form and Style
- Diction and Tone: the poet employs precise, often understated diction. The language is deceptively simple, masking a subtle satirical tone. The poem is not overtly critical, but its detached observation creates a sense of irony.
- Heroic Couplet: “Departmental” is primarily written in heroic couplets, pairs of rhyming lines. This form lends a formal, almost mock‑epic quality to the poem, enhancing its satirical effect.
- Rhyme Scheme: the dominant rhyme scheme is AABB, creating a sense of order and predictability. This reinforces the idea of the ants’ regimented lives.
- Stanza Structure: the poem consists of a single, extended stanza. This contributes to the feeling of a continuous, unbroken narrative, mirroring the relentless flow of activity within the ant colony.
Quotes to Consider
These lines from “Departmental” are particularly illustrative of the poem’s central themes and can be used to spark discussion:
Of many times his size.
He showed not the least surprise.
His business wasn’t with such.
He gave it scarcely a touch.
These lines demonstrate the ant’s unwavering focus on duty, even in the face of something overwhelming. They highlight the poem’s commentary on prioritizing action over emotion.