Naming+Parts

=//Henry Reed//=

History:
Henry Reed was born in Birmingham February 22, 1914, after the conclusion of World War One. After attending the University of Birmingham, he became a teacher and journalist, and arguably discovered his homosexuality. When World War Two (WWII) began and he was drafted, but soon returned to Britain as a Japanese translator. When the war ended he became BBC news broadcaster, and a playwright. His most famous poem is "Lessons of War"which consists of 6 parts. The first part is generally referred to as "The Naming of Parts" (excerpt below). Reed died December 8,1986.

WWII Background
Rifles were in short supply, (U.S. Lend-Lease Act had not yet been passed) leaving the instructor to teach his class with a outdated weapon. The Instructors weapon has elements the other rifle does not have like the outdated Piling swivel. The swivel might appear like Henry Reed, dragged into war, its original purpose forgotten. Notice the dirtying act of firing the rifle is not a part of the cadet training program, ammunition was in short supply.

**I. THE NAMING OF PARTS**
//Henry Reed (601)//

To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday, We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning, We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day, To-day we have naming of parts. [|Japonica] Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens, And to-day we have naming of parts.

This is the lower sling swivel. And this Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see, When you are given your slings. And this is the [|piling swivel], Which in your case you have not got. The branches Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,

This is the safety-catch, which is always released With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easymedia type="youtube" key="Ju_enTEyTpg" width="443" height="369" align="right" If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers: They call it easing the Spring.

They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt, And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance, Which in our case we have not got; and the [|almond-blossom] Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards, For to-day we have naming of parts.


 * =TIME= || Elements Present ||
 * Theme || The "Naming of Parts" implies that war is counter productive. It contrasts preparation for war to the coming of spring. The poem is a satire to strict military order, and war. The desired precision and efficiency in war is appears insignificant and meaningless when compared the the common movements of nature as spring arrives. The speaker does not want to be attending this war lesson and the images of nature are just as much of a day dream as they are a comparison to the contradictory motives of war. A common interpretation of the poem suggests that the recruits words are an internal attempt to reject military doctrine. The recruit does not want to become a unthinking servant to the war, be wants to maintain his civility and individuality so one day he can return to society. The contrast of the war, to the coming of spring represents the natural young, untainted mind of a youth battling against military doctrine. ||
 * Imagery || Visual Imagery of bees fumbling flowers, the simile of "Japonica' Glistens like coral" gardens, and eloquent trees. ||
 * Meter || The "Naming of Parts" is written in free verse. No especial meter is used in the "Naming of Parts" . However, e very stanza has similar breaks and pauses as a result of purposeful punctuation. The lack of strict meter reinforces the indifferent tone. The lacking strict meter can also be considered a written manifestation of the cadets insubordination. Elements of repetition are used cleverly to establish the satirical meaning of the poem, sometimes through the use of puns. ||
 * Emotion || The poem brings its readers to feel the longing for freedom that an individual might feel when he has been forced to participate in war. The words of the recruit and the the words of the instructor are contradictory. ||



Works Cited Onur. “Henry Reed and Existential Temporality: Being-there and Not.” //Onur’s On-Line Texts//. Onur, 20 Jan. 2002. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Steve, Tony. “Frequently Asked Questions about the Lowly and Peculiar Piling Swivel.” //Sole Arabian Tree//. N.p., 13 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Taylor, Crystal. “Naming of Parts.” //Crystal Taylor Blogspot//. Crystal, 8 Apr. 2005. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Last Edited Thursday February 28, 2013 Page created by Alex Brown