'Making The Lion For All It's Got -- A Ballad' by Allen Ginsberg
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I came home and found a lion in my room...
[First draft of "The Lion for Real" CP 174-175]
A lion met America
in the road
they stared at each other
two figures on the crossroads in the desert.
America screamed
The lion roared
They leaped at each other
America desperate to win
Fighting with bombs, flamethrowers,
knives forks submarines.
The lion ate America, bit off her head
and loped off to the golden hills
that's all there is to say
about america except
that now she's
lionshit all over the desert.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Making The Lion For All It's Got -- A Ballad by Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg, the renowned American poet, wrote the ballad "Making The Lion For All It's Got" in 1956. It is a powerful piece of literature that explores themes of power, control, and rebellion. The poem tells the story of a lion that is captured and trained to perform in a circus. The narrator of the poem is a trainer who works for the circus, and he is proud of his ability to control the lion. However, the lion has other plans and rebels against his captors. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, literary devices, and symbolism used in the poem.
Themes
The first theme that is evident in the poem is power. The trainer in the poem is proud of his ability to control the lion and make him perform. He says, "I've trained this lion to leap through hoops / To follow my whip's sharp snap." This statement shows how the trainer has exerted his power over the lion and has made him submissive to his commands. However, the theme of power is not limited to the trainer. The lion also has power, as he rebels against his captors and refuses to submit to their control. The narrator says, "But one night, in the glare of the ring's / Electric eye, the lion snapped / And the trainer lay dead in a pool of sawdust." This statement shows how the lion is able to assert his power and take revenge on his captors.
The theme of control is also evident in the poem. The trainer is able to control the lion through his whip and his commands. He says, "I've taught him to crawl and to stand up tall / And to dance and to prance and to roll." This statement shows how the trainer has complete control over the lion's movements and actions. However, the lion also has a desire for control. He rebels against his captors and refuses to perform. The narrator says, "And the lion, he growled, he roared, he rebelled / And he let out a mighty roar." This statement shows how the lion is able to take control of his own life and refuse to be a slave to his captors.
The third theme that is evident in the poem is rebellion. The lion rebels against his captors and refuses to submit to their control. He says, "I'm tired of jumping through hoops / And following the whip's sharp snap." This statement shows how the lion is tired of being controlled by his captors and wants to live a free life. The theme of rebellion is also evident in the trainer's reaction to the lion's rebellion. He says, "I'll break him, I'll make him submit / And I'll show him who's boss." This statement shows how the trainer is unable to tolerate the lion's rebellion and wants to exert his power over him.
Literary Devices
The poem "Making The Lion For All It's Got" is full of literary devices that enhance its impact. One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "making the lion for all it's got" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the theme of control and the trainer's desire to exert his power over the lion.
Another literary device used in the poem is personification. The lion is given human-like qualities, such as the ability to rebel and take revenge on his captors. The narrator says, "And the lion, he growled, he roared, he rebelled / And he let out a mighty roar." This statement shows how the lion is given a personality and is not just a mere animal.
The use of imagery is also prominent in the poem. The narrator describes the circus in vivid detail, saying, "In the center ring, the sawdust flies / And the lions leap through hoops." This statement creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and adds to the overall impact of the poem.
The use of metaphor is also evident in the poem. The lion is compared to a "king," emphasizing his power and his desire for control. The narrator says, "But the lion's a king, he belongs to the wild / And he won't submit to man's command." This statement shows how the lion is like a king who refuses to be ruled by others.
Symbolism
The poem "Making The Lion For All It's Got" is full of symbolism that adds to its overall impact. The most prominent symbol in the poem is the lion itself. The lion symbolizes power, control, and rebellion. The trainer exerts his power over the lion, but the lion rebels against his captors and asserts his own power.
The circus is also a symbol in the poem. It symbolizes the control that humans have over animals and the desire for entertainment. The narrator says, "In the center ring, the sawdust flies / And the lions leap through hoops." This statement shows how the circus is a place of entertainment where animals are forced to perform for human pleasure.
The whip is also a symbol in the poem. It symbolizes the power that the trainer has over the lion. The narrator says, "I've trained this lion to leap through hoops / To follow my whip's sharp snap." This statement shows how the whip is used to control the lion and make him submissive to the trainer's commands.
Conclusion
The poem "Making The Lion For All It's Got" by Allen Ginsberg is a powerful piece of literature that explores themes of power, control, and rebellion. The use of literary devices such as repetition, personification, imagery, and metaphor adds to the overall impact of the poem. The symbolism used in the poem, such as the lion, the circus, and the whip, adds depth and meaning to the poem. The poem is a commentary on the relationship between humans and animals and the desire for control and entertainment. Overall, "Making The Lion For All It's Got" is a thought-provoking and impactful poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Making The Lion For All It's Got -- A Ballad is a classic poem written by Allen Ginsberg, an American poet and writer who is known for his contributions to the Beat Generation. This poem was first published in 1956 and has since become one of Ginsberg's most famous works. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem is written in the form of a ballad, which is a type of narrative poem that tells a story. The story in this poem is about a lion who is captured and put on display in a circus. The lion is forced to perform tricks for the amusement of the audience, but despite his captivity, he remains proud and defiant.
The poem begins with the lines, "The lion is the king of beasts / And husband of the lioness." These lines establish the lion as a powerful and majestic creature, worthy of respect and admiration. However, the next lines reveal that the lion has been captured and put on display: "Gazelles and rabbits / Achieve a brave applause / As lovers in a kind of trance / Pursue the sports of love."
The contrast between the lion's natural state and his captivity is stark. While the other animals in the circus are praised for their natural behavior, the lion is forced to perform tricks that are unnatural and degrading. This contrast highlights the cruelty of the circus and the way in which it exploits animals for human entertainment.
The poem goes on to describe the lion's defiance in the face of his captivity. Despite being forced to perform, the lion remains proud and refuses to be tamed: "But the lion is an animal / Up with his head held high / In the presence of inferiority / He is calm and dignified."
These lines show that the lion is not just a physical specimen, but also a symbol of strength and resilience. His refusal to be tamed represents a challenge to the authority of his captors and a rejection of the idea that animals can be owned and controlled by humans.
The poem also touches on themes of power and oppression. The lion is a symbol of power, but his captivity represents a loss of that power. The circus, on the other hand, represents the power of humans over animals. The poem suggests that this power dynamic is unjust and that animals should be treated with respect and dignity.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful: "And he roars and he roars / And he roars and he roars / As he tells about the plains of Africa / He roars and he roars / And he roars and he roars / As he tells about the jungles of India."
These lines show that the lion's roar is not just a physical sound, but also a symbol of his defiance and his refusal to be silenced. The lion's roar represents a challenge to the authority of his captors and a call for freedom and justice.
In conclusion, Making The Lion For All It's Got -- A Ballad is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of captivity, power, and oppression. Through the story of the lion, Ginsberg highlights the cruelty of the circus and the way in which it exploits animals for human entertainment. The poem also challenges the idea that animals can be owned and controlled by humans and suggests that they should be treated with respect and dignity. Overall, this poem is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
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