Understanding Auto Wreck
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"Auto Wreck" by Karl Shapiro is a poem where the poet himself takes on the role of a victim in a horrific car accident. He carefully describes the aftermath of the accident and him and fellow victim's feelings in order to reveal the uselessness and pointlessness of the accident itself to the point that he's just about making fun of it. In doing so, Shapiro demonstrates how the accident is almost ignored and forgotten by rest of the world with no real impact just as soon as it happens; illuminating how unnecessary tragedies such as this one is.
To effectively convey his message, Shapiro uses a large amount of figurative languages and sound devices in his poem. Usage of words and phrases such as "tight as tourniquets"(Line 22), "leap open"(Line 8), and "terrible cargo"(Line 12) not only enrich descriptions, create pictures in the readers' head, manipulate readers' thoughts, they also trigger emotion that is much needed in order to make this poem strong and convincing.
Figurative languages and sound devices such as the ones mentioned above also create vivid sensory images. By reading the poem and understanding the devices used, I can see the rush of the ambulance as it "[pulses] out red like an artery." (Line 3) The image of the casualties, sickening blood, and unpleasant warning lanterns are morphing from words into pictures as I read the lines to myself. In the meanwhile, I am also disgusted by the carelessness of paramedics as they coldly take the victims who already feel worthless and insignificant away.
Another method Shapiro used to make a point is by the means of motifs recurring ideas and word patterns...