ELP Poem and Cartoon Analysis

Both Armitage and Whamond uses their own techniques to draw attention to the parallels of the current COVID-19 pandemic and The Great Plague of the 17th century. In Armitage’s poem he uses language to convey a feeling of desperation as the narrator wishes to escape the hellish world he is in, “I couldn’t escape the waking dream”. The poet uses a “hearth” to symbolize how everyone is isolated in the comfort of their home. A sense of loneliness and a somber tone is brought up when the poet refers to the ill-fated love story between two people in the village of Eyam. The reference to the yaksha and his wife is meant to stir hope in us. An allusion to the silk road is brought up, “an earthly map of camel trails and cattle tracks, drawing similarities with the present situation as COVID-19 was spread through trade and other mediums of globalization. The feelings of lockdown are brought up as the poet implies that the process is “long and slow, but with necessarily so”. Similarily Whamond uses language to illustrate the similarities, but this time in the form of visual language. Originally, Trump said that he was not going to wear a mask. By showing President Trump donning a mask that is identical to those worn by doctors during The Great Plague, this gives the impression that he is qualified to handle the response and his advice should be heeded. Trump’s defensive nature is brought to light in the dialogue, “I never said it”. However, Whadom reveals that Trump has been lying this whole time – as shown by his elongated nose, a callback to the story of Pinnochio. Forms of satire are used to further Whadom’s point that Trump cannot be trusted, as he depicts him in an unappealing way. He ridicules him by highlighting Trump’s insecurity of having small hands and his face looks queasy. Additionally, his hair looks pale making him look more repulsive. Both pieces draw on trusting the law. Armitage’s poem focuses on how sacrifices must be made, leaders must be listened to, in order for the worst to be over. However, in Whamond’s cartoon, it is shown that order is not in the US as the leader is not taking charge and focusing on the response to the pandemic