“The Eyeglasses”

1. “The Eyeglasses” By Williams Carlos Williams

2. The Eyeglasses The universality of things draws me toward the candy with melon flowers that open about the edge of refuse proclaiming without accent the quality of the farmer’s shoulders and his daughter’s accidental skin, so sweet with clover and the small yellow cinquefoil in the parched places. It is this that engages the favorable distortion of eyeglasses that see everything and remain related to mathematics- in the most practical frame of brown celluloid made to represent tortoise shell- A letter from the man who wants to start a new magazine made of linen and he owns a typewriter- July 1, 1922 All this is for eyeglasses to discover. But they lie there with the gold earpieces folded down tranquilly Titicaca-

3. Thesis • Williams uses contrasting imagery to show the difference between the glasses and its observations; this also shows the importance of both to the speaker

4. Examples Observations Glasses “in the most practical frame of brown celluloid made to represent tortoise shell” • “melon flowers that open” • “farmer’s shoulders” • “daughter’s skin”

5. Analysis • The speaker sees a lot of great scenes when wearing his glasses, however he is not wearing them throughout the poem • His observations are also very precious to him • He wouldn't notice these things if he didn’t care

6. Senses: Meaning and Language • Speaker: a person who owns glasses • a sense of ambiguity because we don’t know if they are a man or a woman • Point of View: Third Person • Unlike some of his other works, it does not have an internal monologue • By using the owner of the glasses as the speaker, the reader gets a first-hand account • Mood: positive, observant, appreciative • Diction: a mix of high and low • Cinquefoil: five-leaved • Celluloid: a tough, non-flammable thermoplastic • Titicaca: a lake in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia

7. Senses: Imagery and Symbols • Symbols: The glasses • Symbolize his appreciation for the world and for what they allow him to see • Imagery: • Tactile: - “ daughter’s accidental skin” - “made of linen” • Very heavy use of visual imagery • Auditory imagery: - the typewriter

8. Sound • The similar number of syllables in each line, about 6-8, creates unity throughout piece that connects imagery and symbols • There is not a significant use of rhyme

9. Structure • Very prominent use of enjambment throughout the poem, extending through stanzas but break off at 5th • End-stopped with dashes in four places • “related to mathematics-” • “represent tortoiseshell-” • “and he owns a typewriter-” • “tranquilly Titicaca”

10. Style • The use of juxtaposition by comparing the natural/organic imagery with the precise/structured imagery is to emphasize the importance of both to the man or woman • The speaker seems to be somewhat in awe of both the glasses themselves and the images they can see with them, leading this poem to be a thoughtful stream of consciousness

11. The Date • July 1, 1922 • The actual date provides no significant event in William’s life • However, in 1922, he published which became a literary sensation f overshadowed Williams very different brand poetry

12. Lake Titicaca • A lake in the Andes by Peru and Bolivia • Is the largest lake in South America • Peacefulness and tranquility can be reflected in the glasses • Glasses sitting on a table reflect nearby images on their glass

13. Conclusion • The imagery used throughout the poem contrast to emphasize the difference between the glasses and what one can see with them • This poem in particular give the reader a real sense of what the man/woman sees, and what is precious to them

14. Activity! • On a sheet of paper, choose and draw your own representation of a specific scene or image used in the poem