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In the Park by Gwen Harwood

            The journey that takes place in Gwen Harwood's sonnet "In the Park," approaches the concept of taking a journey from many different angles; both physical and emotional. The main character is a mother, following the possible unwilling journey of motherhood and domestication and the sacrifices that have taken place. .
             The fact that this poem is in the form of a sonnet already foreshadows that this poem relates to love, whether it be good or bad. Although a sonnet is usually written about romantic love, in this context it can be taken as the loss of love from a mother's perspective or the unrequited love from the anonymous man. It allows the audience to see some insight before they start to read. There is a lot of enjambment throughout the sonnet, especially in the 3rd paragraph. This allows sthe sonnet will flow and soften the rhymes in it, ensuring that the rhymes don't jumble together and sound repetitive. .
             The tone of the poem is quite sombre and regretful. The mournfulness of the sonnet can suggest that she (mother) is regretting her decision to have children, and that she had have stayed with the man instead. The tone is set right at the start of the sonnet and foreshadows the unhappiness that she holds within. Harwood makes sure to use words such as whine and bicker; these words have been known to have negative connotations associated with them as opposed to words such as playful banter.
             Harwood uses dialogue in the 2nd and 3rd (last stanza) to convey the barriers that she has put up to keep other people from knowing the mothers true feelings. She uses cliche expressions, such as "how nice"" and "time holds great surprises"" to mask her true self and voice. The juxtaposition between the dialogue and her thoughts, especially regarding her attitude toward the children, portray to the audience how she wanted to seem strong and not want pity. She describes them in her mind as whining and bickering, but to him she states that "it's so sweet to hear their chatter " to the man, using unrealistic dialogue in her situation.


Essays Related to In the Park by Gwen Harwood

1. English - Changing Self

This confrontation of change, resistance and final acceptance of change can be seen in the texts, "Sky-High", "The Door", and Gwen Harwood's poems "In the Park", and "The Glass Jar". ... Gwen Harwood's poem "In the Park" is another text that shows us that change is confronting and resisted, but is finally accepted and with this one can grow. ... Another of Gwen Harwood's poems, "The Glass Jar", also shows the confrontation, resistance and acceptance of change. ... These four texts, "Sky-High", "The Door", and Gwen Harwood's poems "In the Park", and "The Glass Jar" show us ...

  • Word Count: 869
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Concept of Change

I have come to this conclusion through the study of Gwen Harwood's poems "In the Park" and "Father and Child", "The Door" by Miroslav Holub, "My Back Pages" a song by Bob Dylan (Another Side of Bob Dylan: 1963), and "First Day of School" a cartoon by Michael Leunig (Sydney Morning Herald: February 2002) "In the Park" by Gwen Harwood presents the reader with the image of a lady sitting in a park looking lethargic whilst surrounded by her young bickering children. ... Like Harwood's "In the Park", Miroslav Holub's poem "The Door" shows the importance of time and attitudes towa...

  • Word Count: 1721
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Gwen Harwood's Poetry And How It Appeals To Me

Gwen Harwood is a poet who appeals to me in many ways. ... Gwen Harwood has created a multitude of poems, which, while being quite philosophical, are still very emotionally powerful. ... She sits in the Park. ... I find many aspects of Gwen Harwood's work immensely appealing and find her poems particularly enjoyable to read. ... I believe Gwen Harwood is a marvelous and outstanding poet....

  • Word Count: 1594
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Change

Such ideas that help to convey to us the nature of change are shown through Gwen Harwood's poems, In the Park' and The Glass Jar', through the stimulus piece The Door' and through additional material such as the visual Thelma and Louise' and Shrek'. ... The idea of change of the better is challenged in the Gwen Harwood poem In the Park' and in Ridley Scott's film "Thelma and Louise-. ... This is supported by "She sits in the park. ... In the Park' and Thelma and Louise' both show that self change is not always for the better and can be j...

  • Word Count: 1458
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

5. In The Park

In the Park Isn't it funny how life turns out? ... So here I am sitting in the park. ... Writers Journal The idea for the story "In the Park" came from Gwen Harwood's poem of the same name. Harwood's poem deals with the issue of single parenting and looks at a woman whose life is going through the motions without ever feeling fulfilled. ...

  • Word Count: 2005
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Change

This can be found true through an analysis of the texts The poem "In the Park- by Gwen Harwood, The poem "Father and child- by Gwen Harwood, The short story "Sky High- by Hannah Robert, Shakespeare's Othello' and the film "Cruel Intentions- by "Kevin Williamson- The poem In the park' composed by Gwen Harwood presents a significant example of someone who regrets the changes in their life. ... However, unlike In the park, the poem Father and Child by Gwen Harwood, displays that many individuals welcome change and appreciate it as they grow. ... Both Sky high'...

  • Word Count: 2540
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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