Name : Indriana Dewi Lestari N.I.M. : 08.11.106.101301.0565 Class : Evening Subject: Intro to Semiotic Lecture: Drs. Hj.

Siti Hafsah, M.Hum.

A Semiotic Analysis of The Poem A Drink by Mark R Slaughter A Drink With glass, I am a man or so I think! A role to play when blessed with courtly drink: A gin or two, then vintage port or wine To pep me up and gift me with a shine. I know its false, as I now must depend Upon my daily shots with open end. Insidious, it all becomes routine To beg a drink each day for self-esteem.

Copyright Mark R Slaughter 2009 All rights reserved The title of the poem A Drink creates a mind that there is a hidden meaning behind the title. As seen in the title, the word drink has some definitions: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) a liquid that can be swallowed as refreshment or nourishment; a quantity of liquid swallowed at one go; alcohol, or the habitual or excessive consumption of alcohol; a glass of liquid, especially when alcoholic; a social gathering at which alcoholic drinks are served; the sea or another large area of water.

A. Here are the heuristic readings of poetry entitled "A Drink": 1. With glass, I am a man or so I think! This sentence shows that with a glass of water, the man thinks that he becomes a real man. But, the man isnt sure with his mind, so he he said or so I think.

2. A role to play when blessed with courtly drink: This sentence shows that there is a role to play when he was offered with his favorite drink. The punctuation mark colon after the word drink shows that there is a continuation from the previous line to the next one. 3. A gin or two, then vintage port or wine Gin, vintage port, and wine are aperitif. Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries. Vintage ports are wines that originate from a single estate, unlike the standard bottlings of the port wine houses which can be sourced from a number of quintas. The courtly drink mentioned in the previous line means the gin, vintage port or the wine. 4. To pep me up and gift me with a shine. This sentence means the drinks can make the man becomes more excited and and make him having more fun. 5. I know its false, as I now must depend The man feels that his attitude is wrong but he already depends on the drinks. 6. Upon my daily shots with open end. The sentence shows that everyday in his life starting with drinking alcohol without knowing when it will be ended. The word shots means alcohol, and open end means he doesnt know when he will stop drinking. 7. Insidious, it all becomes routine The man realizes that drinking alcohol are dangerous, but now its become his routinity. 8. To beg a drink each day for self-esteem. The man thinks that drinking alcohol everyday relating him to his self-esteem. B. The next step is the hermeneutic readings: This poem tells about a man who addicted to alcohol. Alcohol is something making him become a man. This is conveyed through the first line of this poem, "With glass, I am a man". But he also looks unconveninced so he added the word "- or so I think! - ". Alcohol has been regarded as a drink which is very valuable so he called it as "courtly drink" on the second line. Courtly drink itself means an "elegant" beverage and the man really appreciates the beverage. On the third line he also mentions the types of drinks such as gin, vintage, and wine. The man thought that by drinking alcohol makes him more excited. But behind his pleasure, he realizes that his actions were wrong and make him depend on alcohol. The author mentioned it twice in the second stanza which is on the first and third lines: I know its false, as I now must depend (line 1) Insidious, it all becomes routine (line 2) His realizing on the dangerous of alcohol doesnt make him to stop drinking alcohol, because he felt that drinking alcohol connecting him to his self-esteem. If he doesnt drink alcohol, he thinks that he is not a gentleman.

From the analysis above, the author wants to present an important message about drinking alcohol. The author wants to remind everyone that alcohol is not only dangerous for human physical, but also for human spiritual. Besides damaging the body, alcohol also makes someone depend on alcohol. So, the person will not be easily separated from the dependence without a strong intention and effort of the drinker.