Giacometti’s dog
According to Wallace, what impressions are formed on reviewing the dog sculpture?
The dog sculpture is seen as a very unattractive and unappealing. Dogs seen on the streets look neat and adorable. However, Wallace uses the word “scruffy”, which gives the impression that the dog does not look appealing and attractive but looks very ragged, dirty and thin, like dogs that have been loitering in the streets with no owners. The word “thin” is used along with the word “scruffy” which gives the impression of an unhealthy dog that has not been fed, looking very abnormal. Wallace also states the dog’s head is down and has a long neck with hanging ears. This makes the dog sculpture look very sad and lifeless, without any signs of other feelings. Wallace also states that the dog sculpture is eyeless and has ears that hear nothing, making the dog sculpture seem very vague, making it seem like the sculpture is just a dog with head, ears, four legs with a tail with no other facial features, making the sculpture look very plain and no detailed.
Wallace also gives the impression that the dog is thinking, giving a slight sign of life in the sculpture. Wallace states that the dog is “travelling intent on his own aim”, showing that the dog is aiming to travel somewhere and the sculpture has capture the image of the dog in the midst of moving. Wallace also states that the dog sculpture was “lofting with a gaiety”, showing that the dog still has a tinge of happiness and a sign of hope, despite its ugly features.
Wallace gives the readers an impression of a very unattractive and unappealing dog sculpture. However, Wallace states another observation of the sculpture, that the dog’s was actually taking a step forward, showing a sense of hope and motivation, showing us two sides that the dog sculpture show.
How does the poet convey his impressions of the sculpture?
The poet writes the poem in a structure that divides the poem in three sections. In the first half...