Essay Questions

Which Ideological concern does W.D Snodgrass present in “Who Steals My Good Name”?

W.D Snodgrass explicates the reputational peril that is integral in credit card fraud, for the poem is addressed to “the person who obtained my debit card number and spent $11,000 in five days.” By elucidating the history of his name, Snodgrass establishes that credit card fraud does not only imperil the victim’s finances, but also the victim’s repute. Snodgrass writes, “My own past/Could subject you to guilt by association:/If you write anything more than false checks,/Abandon all hope of large press publication.” The supposition that the thief could be ‘guilty by association’ accentuates the undesirableness of debit card fraud on the fraudster. The thief partakes a falsehood that would put him/her in jeopardy, for the fraud is illegitimate.

Identify the binary in “The Poet Ridiculed by Hysterical Academics”

Snodgrass exploits Poetry versus Academics binary whereby the poet typifies poetry whereas the scholars who criticize the poet signify academics. The scholars hypothesize that poetry thrives on outmoded notions; thus, the poets cannot match the scholars’ brainpower. The poet’s rejoinders to the critics depict poetry as an art that employs symbolism to transmit utilitarian messages. The materiality of art cannot be gauged by the arbitrary criterion that the Ph.D’s exemplify. According to the poet, the academics are idiots who lack the aptitude of construing art notwithstanding the Ph.D titles.

What can you deduce about Snodgrass in “Pacemaker” ?

“Pacemaker” indicates that Snodgrass is distressed a heart ailment. Snodgrass asserts, “Snodgrass! This new gold gadget,/ Snug as the watch on my wife's warm wrist,/Drives my pulse tempo near twice its old pace—/Go, nonstop start watch! Go, clockwork rabbit,/ Keeping this lame old dog synchronized,/ Steady, sparked up, still in the race.” Although Snodgrass’ endurance is reliant on the pacemaker that has been synchronized in his heart, the pacemaker has not regularized the rhythm of his heartbeat. The pacemaker is intended to augment the functionality of the art; thus, it typifies the connection between nature and science.