William Carlos Williams: Poems Lesson Plan

Discuss a theme in “Complete Destruction.” What literary techniques does WCW use to communicate this theme?

Many students will mention the theme of death, in terms of its cold indifference and also the pain and emotional violence it causes. The poem's brevity, the short, stark diction, the straightforward telling of the events, and the jagged rhythm develop the theme of death’s cold indifference. The contrast between the images of ice and fire suggests painful emotional states in the context of this poem. The violence of the cold and the burning of the fleas (these animals are also dying here, either by fire or ice) may help to portray the emotional violence caused by...