Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"How the Pope is Chosen" is a poem by James Tate, first published in his 1991 collection "Worshipful Company of Fletchers". The poem is a surreal and humorous take on the process of selecting a new pope, and it employs a range of imaginative and absurd imagery to create a sense of disorientation and surprise.

Explanation: 

The poem begins with a description of the process of selecting a new pope, with cardinals gathering in Rome to cast their votes. But the poem quickly veers into the surreal and fantastical, as the cardinals begin to undergo bizarre transformations.

One cardinal transforms into a giant praying mantis, while another becomes a penguin. The poem also features a reference to the "lovely train of flowers", which is a traditional part of the papal election process.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more and more absurd, with cardinals turning into donkeys and elephants, and even the election itself taking on a carnivalesque atmosphere.

The poem's use of surreal imagery and humor allows Tate to comment on the nature of power and authority, and to suggest that even the most solemn and dignified processes are subject to the whims of human folly.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "How the Pope is Chosen" is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. This form allows Tate to experiment with language and imagery, and to create a sense of playfulness and spontaneity.
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid and surreal imagery, including the transformation of the cardinals into animals and the depiction of the papal election as a kind of carnivalesque spectacle. This imagery allows Tate to comment on the nature of power and authority, and to suggest that even the most solemn and dignified processes are subject to the whims of human folly.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is humorous and playful, with a touch of irony and satire. The poem pokes fun at the solemnity and pomp of the papal election process, and suggests that even the most sacred institutions are not immune to the absurdities of human nature.
• Symbolism: The transformation of the cardinals into animals is a symbol of the way that power and authority can corrupt and distort human nature. The depiction of the papal election as a kind of carnival is also symbolic of the way that even the most serious and solemn processes can be subverted by human folly and mischief.

Conclusion:

"How the Pope is Chosen" is a humorous and surreal poem that uses imaginative and absurd imagery to comment on the nature of power and authority. Through its playful and satirical tone, the poem suggests that even the most sacred and solemn institutions are not immune to the whims of human folly.

Poem Snippet:

"The cardinals arrive in Rome,

dressed in their finest robes,

but soon they'll be transformed

into animals and clowns."

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