Glasgow Sonnet(1)

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Glasgow Sonnet (1) A poem which creates a mood and an atmosphere is ‘Glasgow Sonnet (1)’ by Edwin Morgan, the Scottish poet. The poem is concerned with an abandoned building in Glasgow, possibly in the 1960’s. The poet describes the derelict condition of the exterior parts of the building and the neglected surroundings in which it stands. Edwin Morgan also portrays the interior conditions for the few inhabitants that still reside there. The mood of the poem is a depressing one and I intend to show this by referring to structure, imagery and sound techniques that he uses to create the overall mood. The structure does play a small part in helping create a mood/atmosphere but the only significant thing is the way the poem is on the page and it looks like a solid block of words which in a way is a representation of the building. The poem is a sonnet and has a structure which is and octet and sestet, the octet is the first part of and the sestet which is the latter and they are structured in a way it is like you are being forced to witness what it is like in and out of the building and this makes you feel sympathy and depression and adds to the poem mood/ atmosphere and my appreciation overall. The imagery helps back up the depressing mood created by the poet and is best done by the way Edwin Morgan describes the inside of the building and does this well with: “Roses of mould grow from ceiling to wall” The metaphor “Roses of mould” is excellent in conveying the state of building and gives the poem a depressing feel well because it makes you think the building is a state and it is depressing to think what it would be like to live there such as these remaining people do: “Mother and daughter the last mistresses of that black block” This image creates sympathy for these people as they have nowhere to go and are stuck in that building and this also adds to
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