Margaret Atwood - Morning in the Burned House

Morning in the Burned House

This intriguing poem "Morning in the Burned House" is a free verse poem written by Margaret Atwood. The author expresses varieties of uses of literary and poetic devices throughout the poem. The main device that the author had employed is imagery. The author describes about herself and what she sees in the house after the fire.

This poem essentially portrays about a tragic incident. A fire occurred in a house which led to the death of the author's families and herself as well. This assumption can be made from the quotes "where have they gone to, brother and sister, mother and father? Off along the shore, perhaps. Their clothes are still on the hangers", "I can't see my own arms and legs", and "holding my cindery, non-existent." Additionally, the first perspective used in this poem represents the presence of the author. The author is going through a reminiscence and present position continuously throughout the poem.

"Morning in the Burned House" is a narrative poem. The author is intending to tell about the tragedy that had happened to her. The poem's intention is to tell the audience about a catastrophic experience that the author had suffered through. She describes herself alone in the burned house. The author uses a first perspective point of view to emphasize that the poem is narrative.

In the poem, Atwood does not make the readers feel sympathy and remorseful for her through the misfortunate disaster. Yet, the readers' feelings are rather curious and wondering. The author does not clearly state whether she is dead or alive. In the quote "in the burned house I am eating breakfast. You understand: there is no house, there is no breakfast, yet here I am." This supports the author's presence in the house. However, in quotes "I can't see my own arms and legs" and "holding my cindery, non-existent, radiant flesh," it is certain that the author is dead. Therefore, the author makes the readers feel wondering. Her presence of being dead or alive is open to the readers.

Although the poem encloses wretched information of a tragedy in fire, the author's tone is relatively calm. Throughout the verses "The day is bright and songless ... to those flares where the sun hits them," the author's attitude is tranquil. Also, the author shows no particular emotions or attitudes in the poem.

Many objects are mentioned by the author to symbolize significant figures. The house symbolizes the nothing that the author has. In the first stanza, it is quoted "you understand: there is no house, there is no breakfast." Due to fire, everything had disappeared including the house. Therefore, house represents the major thing that the author had lost excluding her family and herself.

This poem consists full of imageries. The poem