Humanitarian Recognition in Jon Silkin's 'Caring for Animals'
Faculty Mentor
Paul Lindholdt
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2024 10:20 AM
End Date
5-7-2024 10:40 AM
Location
PAT 304
Primary Discipline of Presentation
English
Abstract
This project focuses on the underlying themes of Jon Silkins's poem “Caring for Animals,” published in his book The Peaceable Kingdom (1954). In this poem, Jon Silkin explores humanity through the imagery of animals that are hurt and in need. Using the allegory of wounded animals in place of the concept of destitute humans, Silkin pulls at the emotional heartstrings of the reader, who might be called to take action. Through exploration of the poem line by line, it can be interpreted that the meaning of the poem is connected to humans more than the presented animals. Research of Jon Silkin’s tumultuous life provides context to the poem as well. His service in World War I, his homelessness and food insecurity, and the death of his first son were all attributes that might have contributed to Silkin's underlying theme of the need for humanitarian efforts in “Caring for Animals.”
Recommended Citation
Gearing, Katie, "Humanitarian Recognition in Jon Silkin's 'Caring for Animals'" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 4.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/op_2024/o1_2024/4
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Humanitarian Recognition in Jon Silkin's 'Caring for Animals'
PAT 304
This project focuses on the underlying themes of Jon Silkins's poem “Caring for Animals,” published in his book The Peaceable Kingdom (1954). In this poem, Jon Silkin explores humanity through the imagery of animals that are hurt and in need. Using the allegory of wounded animals in place of the concept of destitute humans, Silkin pulls at the emotional heartstrings of the reader, who might be called to take action. Through exploration of the poem line by line, it can be interpreted that the meaning of the poem is connected to humans more than the presented animals. Research of Jon Silkin’s tumultuous life provides context to the poem as well. His service in World War I, his homelessness and food insecurity, and the death of his first son were all attributes that might have contributed to Silkin's underlying theme of the need for humanitarian efforts in “Caring for Animals.”
