Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

ALF BURT, TENANT FARMER, by ROBERT PENN WARREN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Alf Burt, Tenant Farmer" by Robert Penn Warren is a poem that sheds light on the plight of tenant farmers in the rural south during the 1930s. Through the portrayal of Alf Burt, the speaker of the poem draws attention to the difficult circumstances that tenant farmers faced in trying to make a living on the land that they did not own. The poem is a tribute to the resilience and fortitude of farmers like Alf Burt, who continued to work the land despite the challenges they faced.

Explanation:

The poem begins with a description of Alf Burt, the tenant farmer who is the subject of the poem. The speaker describes him as a man who is weathered and worn, with rough hands that bear the marks of hard labor. Despite his age and the physical toll that his work has taken on him, Burt continues to work the land and tend to his crops.

The speaker goes on to describe the hardships that tenant farmers like Burt faced, including the difficulty of making ends meet and the constant struggle to keep the land productive. The poem paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of life on the farm, including the toll that long hours of hard work can take on the body and the constant threat of crop failures and other setbacks.

Through the portrayal of Alf Burt, the poem celebrates the resilience and fortitude of the tenant farmers who continued to work the land in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Despite the many hardships that he faced, Burt remained dedicated to his work and continued to labor tirelessly in order to provide for his family.

Poetic Elements:

Form: The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no set rhyme scheme.
Imagery: The poem makes use of vivid, sensory details to paint a picture of Alf Burt and the world that he inhabits.
Tone: The tone of the poem is admiring and respectful, celebrating the strength and resilience of the tenant farmers who worked the land.
Sound: The poem makes use of repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality.
Language: The language of the poem is straightforward and accessible, using simple words and phrases to convey complex ideas.
Figurative language: The poem makes use of metaphor and personification to bring the land and its crops to life.
Structure: The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying lengths, each of which builds on the previous one to create a sense of progression and development.
Symbolism: The land itself is a powerful symbol in the poem, representing both the source of the tenant farmers' livelihood and the harsh realities of their lives.

Conclusion:

"Alf Burt, Tenant Farmer" is a powerful tribute to the resilience and fortitude of the tenant farmers who worked the land in the rural south during the 1930s. Through the portrayal of Alf Burt, the poem draws attention to the harsh realities of life on the farm, including the constant struggle to make ends meet and the toll that hard work can take on the body. At the same time, the poem celebrates the strength and perseverance of farmers like Burt, who continued to work the land despite the many obstacles they faced.

Poem Snippet:

"In hands like rocks, the earth he grips;

Like a tough old rooster crowing he stands.

Sixty years of making do,

Alf Burt, tenant farmer, his hands are through."