Wodwo
By Ted Hughes
What am I? Nosing here, turning leaves over
Following a faint stain on the air to the river’s edge
I enter water. Who am I to split
The glassy grain of water looking upward I see the bed
Of the river above me upside down very clear
What am I doing here in mid-air? Why do I find
this frog so interesting as I inspect its most secret
interior and make it my own? Do these weeds
know me and name me to each other have they
seen me before do I fit in their world? I seem
separate from the ground and not rooted but dropped
out of nothing casually I’ve no threads
fastening me to anything I can go anywhere
I seem to have been given the freedom
of this place what am I then? And picking
bits of bark off this rotten stump gives me
no pleasure and it’s no use so why do I do it
me and doing that have coincided very queerly
But what shall I be called am I the first
have I an owner what shape am I what
shape am I am I huge if I go
to the end on this way past these trees and past these trees
till I get tired that’s touching one wall of me
for the moment if I sit still how everything
stops to watch me I suppose I am the exact centre
but there’s all this what is it roots
roots roots roots and here’s the water
again very queer but I’ll go on looking
Summary of Wodwo
- Popularity of “Wodwo”: As a dramatic monologue, the poem “Wodwo” by Ted Hughes or Edward James Hughes, an English translator, child writer, and poet, is not only unique but also interesting. The poem first appeared in 1967 in the book of the same title. The interesting fact about the poem is the presentation of Wodwo, a primeval human being, sniffing the roots for water and thinking philosophically and scientifically while reflecting upon his own physicality. Thus, this primeval man is demonstrating his mental faculty.
- “Wodwo” As a Representative of Primeval Nature of Man: The poem opens with the mythical figure of Wodwo, as Hughes shows him sniffing roots and questioning his own existence when finding something to drink and eat as he enters the water. This shows the curiosity of the primeval man, Wodwo. He is shown doing an investigation about his reflection in the water of that river and then starting inspecting a frog. He, soon, starts ruminating over the situation of the frog, the freedom available to such natural living things, and posits himself amid the natural objects thinking about his own freedom. He thinks about himself and the Creator and sees that the entire ecosystem in which he has seen revolves around him. The confusing final words of Wodwo shed light on the philosophical plight of the poet that Wodwo’s thinking is not only about himself but also about nature in which he finds himself thinking about other things.
- Major Themes in “Wodwo”: Nature, man, and freedom of individuality are three major thematic strands of this poem. The poem opens with this primeval human being sniffing roots for water and going on to think about living and non-living things. He is also ruminating on his position. This rumination gives him an idea of how he thinks about his actions of having freedom vis-à-vis other living things. He also thinks about his own will to do the work, looking at several other things as part of the atmosphere in which he finds himself. He comes to this realization that though he is looking for roots and thinking about himself as having the centrality of everything yet roots and water arrest his attention. These points not only show nature versus nature but also man’s position in nature and his individuality in this ecosystem.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Wodwo”
literary devices are important elements of a poetic piece. The analysis of these literary devices in the poem as given below shows this fact.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /a/ and /i/ in “Following a faint stain on the air to the river’s edge”, /a/ and /i/ in “The glassy grain of water looking upward I see the bed” and the sound of /i/ in “this frog so interesting as I inspect its most secret.”
- Alliteration: It is the use of successive consonant sounds in the initials of the successive words such as /s/ in “seem separated” and “sit still”.
- Anaphora: The poem shows the use of anaphora as the repetition of “I seem…”, “am I…” and past these trees…” in different verses repetitiously coming in the second clause of verse.
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /m/ in “know me and name me to each other have they”, /t/ and /s/ in “to the end on this way past these trees and past these trees” and again the sound of /s/ and /t/ in “for the moment if I sit still how everything.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
for the moment if I sit still how everything
stops to watch me I suppose I am the exact centre
but there’s all this what is it roots
roots roots roots and here’s the water
again very queer but I’ll go on looking,
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. The poem shows the use of imagery such as “shape am I am I huge if I go”, “roots roots roots and here’s the water” and “again very queer but I’ll go on looking.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poem shows the use of metaphors a primeval man and then of roots and water as resources for life.
- Rhetorical Question: Rhetorical question is a question that is not asked to receive an answer; it is just posed to make the point clear. The poem shows the use of a rhetorical question such as;
Of the river above me upside down very clear
What am I doing here in mid-air? Why do I find
this frog so interesting as I inspect its most secret
interior and make it my own?
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem shows the use of the symbols such as water and roots for elements necessary for life.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Wodwo”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Free Verse: As the poem does not follow any rhyme scheme. Therefore, it is a free verse poem.
- Stanza: The poem does not comprise any stanza.
- Repetition: The poem shows the repetition of certain words and phrases such as “Who am I?”, “am I the first”, “I am”, “water” and “roots.”
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Wodwo” are useful during a motivational workshop to stress upon the idea of doing something with useless objects such as roots.
for the moment if I sit still how everything
stops to watch me I suppose I am the exact centre
but there’s all this what is it roots
roots roots roots and here’s the water
again very queer but I’ll go on looking
