Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Title: The Barbarous Bird-Gods: A Savage Parabasis Author: Andrew Lang

Provenance

Andrew Lang, a Scottish poet and writer from the 19th century, authored "The Barbarous Bird-Gods: A Savage Parabasis." Lang was famous for his versatility in various literary forms and was an important contributor to folklore and anthropology studies. This poem draws inspiration from the classical Greek play, "The Birds" ("Aves") by Aristophanes, where birds claim they're older than gods and have benefited mankind greatly.

Theme Analysis

Primacy of Birds: Borrowing from Aristophanes' concept, the poem argues that birds are older than humans and other deities and have been important benefactors of humanity.

Creation and Mythology: The poem incorporates various elements of global mythology to emphasize the role of birds in creating, illuminating, and supporting the world.

Betrayal and Ingratitude: The birds argue that humans, whom they helped create, have forgotten their origins and have hunted and killed birds ruthlessly, highlighting humanity's disrespect and ingratitude toward nature and its benefactors.

Poetic Devices

Rhyme: The poem has an intricate rhyme scheme which varies from stanza to stanza, offering a diverse rhythm and tone.

Mythological Allusions: The poem refers to various myths, like the Tonatiu's tail sparking the world's first light, the Hawk (Pundjel) creating the first humans, and the Eagle god stealing the famed Suttung's mead, to underscore the importance of birds in global mythologies.

Imagery: Lang uses vivid imagery to convey the important role birds have played in the world's creation and continuity. He describes how the Hawk lit the Sun and Moon, how the Wren stole fire for humans, and how the Eagle brought the fountain of song to humans, offering vivid, memorable pictures.

Satire and Irony: The poem uses irony and satire to criticize humans for their ingratitude and cruelty towards birds, despite the birds' beneficial role. This is evident in lines such as, "yet your gratitude's small for the favours they've done," highlighting humans' lack of appreciation and respect for nature.

Repetition: The use of repetition reinforces the birds' claims of their importance and humans' ingratitude. The repeated accusations against humans underscore the critical message of the poem.

In conclusion, "The Barbarous Bird-Gods: A Savage Parabasis" is a richly allusive poem that uses mythology to present a case for the importance and primacy of birds. The poem, while couched in humor and wit, delivers a potent message on humanity's disregard for the natural world, from which it has benefited immensely.

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