The Diver :: essays research papers

The Diver Robert Curries The Diver, on the surface, recounts a pistons stock certificate and ascent into a river as onlookers eagerly holler his fate. Beneath the surface, this poem is actually very spiritual. The divers descent into the weewee, and his arising from the water, can be compared to the crucifixion of savior. Through the masterful use of resourcefulness and Biblical comparisons, Currie depicts the message that rebirth and hope can captivate and regenerate our spirits. An essential key to the infrastructure of The Diver is through the subtle up to now prevailing use of Biblical references. From the very beginning of Curries poem, a simile is used when describing the bridge like a Ro reality arm. This garters to set the tone that something important is about to happen and alike provides a Biblical base to the structure of the poem. Lines four to six describe the mans journey up towards the bridge. This journey can be compared to saviour struggle towards the t op of the hill where he was crucified. Perhaps this man was also carrying a load on his shoulders, so to speak. The poem becomes even off more than Biblical as others bet upon his chance, much like Jesus own fate. As the diver prepares for the inevitable, his situation has Biblical meaning. At the baksheesh of the span he rose/ his arms outstretched/ flung a sail against the sun, are perhaps three of the most powerful lines in the poem. These lines are followed by much anticipation from the crowd below. The dive symbolizes the cobblers last of something, which is also supported when The river circling away/ grew silent as held breath/ assuage as death. These lines make is seem as though everything, and everyone, even the river, are holding their breath in anticipation of the outcome of the dive. Then, jump at line twenty-one, the rebirth begins, as, from unknown depths/ his head broke the water/ shook out a crown of sunlit spray. There is a strong Biblical presence in the com parisons used in this poem, which help to support the theme of hope and rebirth, while providing powerful imagery. A rattling element of Curries The Diver is the strong presence of imagery, which helps to sustain the theme of captivating hope. The image of the solitary figure provokes a strong experience of despair, followed by his painful struggle up the arch. The images give the touch sensation that the events are unfolding in a captivating slow-motion means.