Essay Questions

Why does the poet use a series of symbols in the first verse?

The series of symbols accentuates the indeterminate perilousness of love. Accordingly, a single symbol is not satisfactory to recapitulate the speaker’s stance on love. The symbols, which the speaker deems ugly, accentuate the menacing aspects of love. A reader who comprehends the appearance of the marine creatures, deduces that the speaker is love-averse due to the flurry of dreadful imagery in the poem.

What is the relationship between the title “The Ugly” and the content in the body (love)?

The title gives the reader the inkling that the poem is about something that is outrageous. However, the verses incorporate symbols that give a picture of love. The ambivalence between the title and the verses begs the question: Is love a disagreeable sentiment? Therefore,love, even though it is prevalently regarded as a pleasant feeling, can be disquieting at times.

What is the effect of Magical realism in “Landscape with Flying Man”?

Magical realism crafts the imagery of man with wings, which is astonishing. Through the realism, the man transcends gravity by hovering in a similar manner to that of birds.

What is the effect of the paradox in “baker’s corpse, rising like dough”?

Corpses do not experience any biological process that could trigger the ‘rising like dough.' Nevertheless, the paradox stresses the repercussions of causation whereby actions are followed by Karma even after the doer of the action is departed. The paradox ultimately emphasizes the inescapability of karma.