Do you think the poem icarus allsorts is realistic?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Icarus Allsorts is based on a real incident, where a general at his radar screen mistook a meteorite for a bomb so started a nuclear attack. The poem starts in an ironic tone of voice that sets the feel for the whole piece, reading, “A meteorite is reported to have landed in New England. No damage is said…” The whole poem shows this style of news report against the idea of a nuclear holocaust. The poem is written in a humorous manner, as if making light of the situation, however, perhaps McGough is emphasising the point that war is such an absurd, horrific thing, that the only way you can talk about it, is with comedy. How can you be serious about such things?
The first verse echoes this sense of ironic wit, “A little bit of heaven fell from out the sky one day. It landed in the ocean not so very far away. The general at the radar screen rubbed his hands in glee and grinning pressed the button that started World War Three”. I think the use of black humour is quite effective in delivering a hard-hitting message, the situations is so desperate that all we can do is joke about it. McGough shows this dark humour by using a surreal comparison to a nursery rhyme, “Phillip was in the counting house counting out his money. The Queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey. When through the window flew a bomb and made them go all funny”. By using common conventions from our culture, McGough is expressing the absurdity of war and driving home the reality of the situation.
hroughout much of Icarus Allsorts, the poem ironically shows comparisons to universal devastation, an example of this is bold reference to the Germans in the Second World War, "Raus!’ cried the German butcher as his shop came tumbling down". By using references to classes, cultures and hinting stereotypes, the poem is showing how when war is upon us, we are all the same and we are all effected by it.
The end of the poem mirrors the beginning, repeating, “A little bit of heaven fell from the sky…” but the tone is suddenly different. Icarus Allsorts ends on a serious note, differing from the humour which is expressed throughout. The
final cold statement reads, “But that wouldn’t bring three million, seven hundred, and sixty eight people back. Would it?" By giving the precise number of fatalities, McGough is making the final statement more realistic and personalised, showing each person as an individual. The final, short rhetorical question secures the ruthless truth of the consequence of nuclear war.
yes I do..................