Barn Owl written by Gwen Harwood demonstrates the loss of innocence and individual growth of a child through the rebellion against the child's father. The poem tells the story of a small child who is transformed from ‘innocent’, to ‘a horny fiend’ and finally to ‘afraid’. Harwood’s poetry examines ideas of the growth towards maturity, understanding and wisdom, and the connection this shares with the conventional images of youth and age. In the conclusion, the child employs a metaphor 'owl blind' to convey their sadness for what they have begun is the journey to maturity.
Rebellion against Society
In the first part “Barn Owl,” a child at a rebellious age, experiments with the constraints of authority in an attempt to seek control for herself, as the child sneaks out to kill a barn owl with her father’s shotgun. Through the child’s disobedience of her ‘old No-sayer,’ here referring to her father, she gains knowledge and an insight, primarily between the binary oppositions of life and death and consequences that arise.
The use of imperative and direct speech shown in the poem give a presence to the father of authority and power. Youth and age are also contrasted with the child referring to itself as 'wished hair' and to the father as 'the old No-Sayer.' The use of capitals of 'No' indicate that father is always denying the child which leads to the child's rebellious actions. Harwood challenges the stereotypes associated with young girls by the demolition of the persona’s innocence when she shoots a barn owl with her father’s gun in order to feel the power of taking a life.
Language Techniques
Symbolisation
The father, a symbol of authority and power teaches the child a life lesson through his experience. "End what you have begun." The use of imperative and direct speech give a presence to the father of authority and wisdom. In the conclusion, the child's tears symbolically convey the loss of innocence is bitter experience and that childhood innocence cannot be reclaimed.
Imagery
The poet uses contrast effectively in this poem particularly in religious imagery. In the poem the child talks about the his father dreaming of "a child obedient, angel-mild, old no-sayer, robbed of power by sleep”. This suggests the child is angry with her father and wants to show him she is not an obedient angel, she is going prove to him by shooting the owl early in the morning.
Other
The consequences of the child's rebellion is reflected in the ugliness of death. The use of low modality language to describe the owl: "This obscene bundle of stuff." as if to emphasize the child's inability to comprehend their actions. This combine with the alliteration and onomatopoeia of “dropped and dribbled” adds the impact of the scene of the barn owl dying.
Rebellion against Society
In the first part “Barn Owl,” a child at a rebellious age, experiments with the constraints of authority in an attempt to seek control for herself, as the child sneaks out to kill a barn owl with her father’s shotgun. Through the child’s disobedience of her ‘old No-sayer,’ here referring to her father, she gains knowledge and an insight, primarily between the binary oppositions of life and death and consequences that arise.
The use of imperative and direct speech shown in the poem give a presence to the father of authority and power. Youth and age are also contrasted with the child referring to itself as 'wished hair' and to the father as 'the old No-Sayer.' The use of capitals of 'No' indicate that father is always denying the child which leads to the child's rebellious actions. Harwood challenges the stereotypes associated with young girls by the demolition of the persona’s innocence when she shoots a barn owl with her father’s gun in order to feel the power of taking a life.
Language Techniques
Symbolisation
The father, a symbol of authority and power teaches the child a life lesson through his experience. "End what you have begun." The use of imperative and direct speech give a presence to the father of authority and wisdom. In the conclusion, the child's tears symbolically convey the loss of innocence is bitter experience and that childhood innocence cannot be reclaimed.
Imagery
The poet uses contrast effectively in this poem particularly in religious imagery. In the poem the child talks about the his father dreaming of "a child obedient, angel-mild, old no-sayer, robbed of power by sleep”. This suggests the child is angry with her father and wants to show him she is not an obedient angel, she is going prove to him by shooting the owl early in the morning.
Other
The consequences of the child's rebellion is reflected in the ugliness of death. The use of low modality language to describe the owl: "This obscene bundle of stuff." as if to emphasize the child's inability to comprehend their actions. This combine with the alliteration and onomatopoeia of “dropped and dribbled” adds the impact of the scene of the barn owl dying.