Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" is a poem by Robert Graves, a British poet and novelist who lived from 1895 to 1985. The poem is a meditation on death, and explores the emotions and sensations associated with drowning.

Context:

Graves wrote "I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" during the early 20th century, a time when many writers and artists were grappling with the existential questions raised by the horrors of war. The poem reflects the influence of the Modernist tradition, which placed a strong emphasis on the subjective experiences of individuals.

Content:

"I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" is a poem that explores the emotions and sensations associated with drowning. The speaker imagines what it would be like to be submerged in water, and reflects on the physical and emotional experience of drowning. The poem suggests that death is a mysterious and powerful force that can evoke a wide range of emotions and sensations.

Form:

The poem is written in free verse, which allows Graves to create a sense of spontaneity and naturalness in the poem. The poem is divided into stanzas of varying lengths, and Graves makes use of poetic devices such as imagery and metaphor to create his effects.

Poetic Elements:

Graves' use of vivid imagery and metaphor in "I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" creates a powerful sense of the emotional and physical sensations associated with drowning. The poem also makes use of repetition and contrast to emphasize the emotional impact of the poem.

Summary:

"I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the emotions and sensations associated with drowning. Graves' use of free verse and poetic devices creates a sense of naturalness and immediacy in the poem, while his use of imagery and metaphor adds to its emotional impact. The poem suggests that death is a mysterious and powerful force that can evoke a wide range of emotions and sensations, and that the experience of drowning is a powerful metaphor for the human experience of mortality. Overall, "I Wonder What it Feels Like to be Drowned" is a memorable and evocative poem that challenges its readers to contemplate the nature of life, death, and the human experience.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...