Question

Describe the tone of "miss rosie" and how it changes as the poem progresses. How does the the figurative language contribute to the poem's tone? Provide two specific details from the poem, either quoted or paraphrased, to support your response.

eBook: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/miss-rosie

Answer 1

In the poem "Miss Rosie", Lucille Clifton uses a double tone which is initially sad, sometimes rude and progresses to a respectable and caring tone. The dejected old homeless woman Miss Rosie who once used to be Georgia's best looking girl; is now described to have been dwelling in an unhygienic smelly place surrounded by garbage, peels of potatoes and dirt which depicts her tragic state. She is described as a  "wet brown bag of a woman", who is "wrapped up like garbage". The old woman suvives all the lifes hardships alone. This is the main theme of the poem. It is quite commendable how she rises from this tragic condition and is still surviving.

The figurative language used in the poem has hidden deep meaning which depicts more than what is written. The reader can visualise the plightful condition of Miss Rosie who has no future ahead. The poetess honors the old lady and her self worth to be successful in surviving this situation. At the end of the poem the poetess says that she will always stand up for miss Rosie no matter what her condition is. The initial sad tone of the poem is thus changed to a respectful tone because the old women has risen up from destruction. Miss Rosie's condition has declined from being the best to bring pathetic with growing age and isolation. Throughout the poem, the poetess uses figure of speech such as the:

• Simile in , "wrapped up like garbage" and " like the next week's grocery",
• Repetition in "When I watch you", and "I stand", and the
• Metaphor in "wet brown bag of a woman"
• Comparison to other things which are cast aside like how this old lady is cast aside by the insensitive society. This comparison is seen in the words, "garbage", " rotting potato peels", and "an old grocery bag"
• Alliteration in Sitting surrounded by the smell
• Consonance in "cut out", "sitting", and "waiting".
• Assonance in " Too old potato peels"
• Imagery in "old man's shoes with little toe cut" and "Georgia rose"
• Hyperbole in "Who used to be the best looking gal in Georgia"