Student Question
Analyze the poem "How Annandale Went Out" by Edwin Arlington Robinson.
Quick answer:
Edwin Arlington Robinson's poem "How Annandale Went Out" primarily explores the theme of healthcare, specifically the limitations of it and the role of physicians when they can no longer alleviate a patient's suffering. Symbolism is used to depict the patient's dire health situation, with terms like "wreck" and "ruin". The poem's form, including a changing stanza length and rhyme scheme, also contributes to the narrative, mirroring the evolving relationship between doctor and patient and the loss of Annandale's life.
To analyze Edward Arlington Robinson’s poem “How Annandale Went Out,” discuss the form, key themes, and notable literary devices.
The primary theme of Robinson’s poem is healthcare, since the speaker of the poem is a “Liar, physician, hypocrite, and friend.” Sticking with the “physician” label, the speaker, as Annandale’s doctor, understands that their patient is incurably ill, with the doctor declaring the situation “An apparatus not for me to mend.” Thus, after analyzing the theme of healthcare, it’s possible to add some nuance and say the poem is about the limits of healthcare and what doctors should do when it’s clear that they can’t help a suffering patient any longer.
To illustrate Annandale’s grave state, Robinson employs a literary device known as symbolism. The “wreck” and the “ruin” represent the patient’s horrible predicament. The patient isn’t literally a wreck or a ruin—Robinson uses these words figuratively to show Annandale’s dire health.
The form, too, contributes to the meaning of the poem. The first stanza is eight lines, while the second stanza is six lines; so it’s as if two lines have been lost, which relates to the loss of Annandale’s life. Additionally, the agile rhyme scheme helps highlight the fluid relationship between doctor and patient. The rhyme scheme changes, and so do the doctor’s responsibilities concerning Annandale as the speaker goes from trying to save his life to mercifully ending it.
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