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Ma. Beatriz S . Uy Introduction to Literary Criticism

Yr.IV-14 AB/BSE Literature Dr. Jennie V. Jocson

The Batik and The Maker: Using Formalism on Virginia Morenos Batik Maker

There are several approaches in which we can analyze and interpret a poem;

one way is using the formalistic approach or basing the interpretation of the poem on its

structure and focusing more on the form rather than the content.

As a part of our subject Literary Criticism we used Virginia Morenos Batik Maker

in applying formalism in our interpretation.

Batik Maker

Tissue of no seam and skin

Of no scale she weaves this:
Dream of a huntsman pale
That in his antlered
Mangrove waits
Ensnared;

And I cannot touch him.

Lengths of the dumb and widths

Of the deaf are his hair
Where wild orchids thumb
Or his parted throat surprise
To elegiac screaming
Only birds of
Paradise

And I cannot wake him

Shades of the light and shapes

Of the rain on his palanquin
Stain what phantom panther
Sleeps in the cage of
His skin and immobile
Hands;

And I cannot bury him.

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The structure of the poem Batik Maker by Virginia Moreno has three stanzas with

lines in between each stanza. Nonetheless, each stanza make up a complete sentence
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lines in between each stanza. Nonetheless, each stanza make up a complete sentence

even if theres an unusual division or cut in every stanza of the poem which somehow

adds to the surprise/suspense element of the poem which in some way keep s readers

interest. Repetition of word/ phrase is also present in the poem.

As implied by its title, the poem is about a batik maker. A batik maker who is in

the process of making or creating his/her art which is batik-making. However, the title

could just be a facade for the poem. After later readings, it is easier to say that the

poem is giving the reader a picture of the cloth design (more than focusing on the batik

maker).

The first stanza of the poem suggests about the cloth being plain at first or a

Tissue of no seam and skin and that it still has no details or patterns in it (before the

batik maker started). However, on the following lines of the poem we will learn about the

plan (inferred as dream on the 3 rdline of the poem) on the mind of the batik maker as

she (shereferring to the batik maker, from the 2 ndline of the poem) weaves or put the

design on the cloth. The huntsman being talked about in the poem, is a character or

design imprinted on the cloth, the huntsman which/who is be the main design/detail in

the batik-makers creation.

The author used imageries in the poem such as of nature (maybe in a

forest/wild), to describe things to the readers. For example, on lines 3 to 6 where the

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huntsman is ensnared or trapped in the mangroves, on the second full stanza wherein

an image of the huntsman wounded and struggling was portrayed, and on lines 16 to 21

where a picture of death can be seen.

The repetition of And I cannot in each end of/ in between stanza clearly

shows inability to do something, in this case which is to touch, wake, bury which

pertains to the persona/the batik maker not being able to touch, wake, bury her work yet

because its not yet finish. Because in the process of Batik Making the end is not after

putting the designs, but after letting the wax dry on the cloth. So, the process of creation

(batik making) not being complete yet is what the lines in between would like to suggest.

Using formalism or the formalistic approach on interpreting or analyzing a poem

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would make understanding the poems message easier for the reader. Thus the

connection between the author and his/her audience would be more apparent.

REFERENCES:

http://allaboutjeff.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/batik-maker-by-virginia-moreno/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batik

http://www.ehow.com/how_8762178_make-batik-art.html

http://www.jonathanevans-batikart.com/artOfBatik.php

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