Otherwise by Jane Kenyon 1 I got out of bed 2 on two strong legs. 3 ...

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Food
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Enjambment
■ “otherwise. I ate / cereal, sweet / milk, flawless / peach. It might” [line 4 ­ 7]
Symbolism
■ Peach
● Symbol for l<strong>on</strong>gevity and state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> good health in many Chinese and
European literature.
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Togetherness
○ Imagery
■ “At no<strong>on</strong> I lay down / with my mate” [line 13 ­ 14]
■ “We are dinner together / at a table with silver candlesticks” [line 16 ­ 17]
Objects that we own
Examples in this case include a dinner table with silver candlesticks, a <str<strong>on</strong>g>bed</str<strong>on</strong>g> and a wall
with paintings ­ more than enough things.
○ Symbolism
■ Silver candlesticks
● Associated with the state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> being aware.
It’s important to be grateful for the little things, because they d<strong>on</strong>’t last forever.
* Motif: “It might have been otherwise” (repeated four times through<str<strong>on</strong>g>out</str<strong>on</strong>g> the poem)
* Situati<strong>on</strong>al ir<strong>on</strong>y and foreshadowing
● “I slept in a <str<strong>on</strong>g>bed</str<strong>on</strong>g> / in a room with paintings / <strong>on</strong> the walls, and / planned another day / just
like this day. / But <strong>on</strong>e day, I know, / it will be otherwise.” [line 20 ­ 26]
* Dicti<strong>on</strong>
● “But <strong>on</strong>e day, I know, / it will be otherwise.” [line 25 ­ 26]
5. T<strong>on</strong>e and Rhythm
The overall t<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the poem is undemanding, the moderate pace makes the poem sounds
relaxed. However, the poem managed to radiate sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgency mainly because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the
dicti<strong>on</strong>s and enjambments ­ “otherwise” is always the last or first word <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a line. The fact that the
pace is quite relaxed also gives readers time to think and reflect as they read al<strong>on</strong>g. Which helps
what I believe to be the purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the poem, to encourage people to be thankful for anything,
everything, they have.
6. C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>
Overall, “<str<strong>on</strong>g>Otherwise</str<strong>on</strong>g>” functi<strong>on</strong>s to urge its readers to be more appreciative towards everything
they have in life, especially the little things. The poem’s gentle t<strong>on</strong>e and slow pacing allows
readers to realize that they have not been quite as thankful as they’re supposed to be.