KristineKuhfuss

" Eve Names the Animals " by Susan Donnelly
Kristi Kuhfuss


 * Way 1: First Impressions**

My initial and continued reaction to Donnelly's "Eve Names the Animals," was that it revolved around the relationship between Adam and Eve, written from Eve's standpoint.

In the beginning of time, God created the heavens and the earth, all living creatures and Adam from the dust of the ground, his spirit and his breath. Following Adam's creation, God took a rib from Adam and created Eve (Bible 2:7). Per God's request Adam named the animals, he had all the power. While strolling around the Garden of Eden, Eve watched the animals, studied them. She did not agree with the names Adam gave the animals. Eve thought Adam made his decisions too quickly and without consideration of how the animal acted or how the word sounded when spoken. She made mention that "I swear that man never knew animals.Words he lined up according to size" (4-6). As she is able to walk through the garden, she takes time to enjoy her surroundings while observing the animals. She had strong feelings that the names Adam chose were way off base, so she thoughtfully renamed them, taking into consideration how each name sounded as she said it out loud. Disecting line by line, I was able to take away bits and pieces of what I interpret Donnelly's vision to be. In lines 12-14, I interpreted Eve to feel powerless and a bit angry that Adam does not even ask for her input regarding naming-not even for her own name. Line 15, "Mornings, while he slept," gives me the impression that Adam did not let Eve stray far from his sight. So, I initially thought this passage represented male dominance and Eve wanted to escape. In lines 15-20,Eve is talking of "Pickerel hopped on the brances above me. Only spiders accompanied me, nosing every where, running up to lick my hand." To me, Eve is describing birds and dogs, yet named them Pickerel and spiders; why? I am not sure, but I initially interpret that by renaming the animals Eve felt some control, power or strength. The interesting thing I notice in the last 6 stanza's they start with 6 lines and progessivley decrease down to 1 line to end. Lines 21-25,Eve compares Adam to a finch and how she in some way disappointed him when she wanted to get away and be alone. She felt she wanted to run free like a palomino or a fox, or fly away like a raven (26-29). A finch is a small flittering bird, and this is what she compares Adam to Lines30-32 discuss how happy and proud she felt with the names she chose for the animals, "I strung words by their stems and wore them as garlands on my long walks"Then the tone changes in lines 33-34 when the next day Eve comes to find that Adam went back, and changed all the names again. At this point, I interpreted this as Eve was disappointed that the names were changed and that Adam did not appreciate the effort Eve put into the names, and they had very different views on change. Eve liked change as line 35 reveals, she likes time to herself to be creative, while Adam is task oriented and needy.

Way 2: Engaging with the Text**

To me, //lion// was sun on a wing over the garden. //Dove,// a burrowing, blind creature. I swear that man never knew anmimals. Words he lined up according to size,

while elephants slipped flat-eyed through water

and trout hurtled from the underbrush, tusked and ready for battle.

The name he gave me stuck me to him. He did it to comfort me, for me not being first.

Mornings, while he slept, I got away. Pickerel hopped on the branches above me. only spiders accompanied me, nosing everywhere, running up to lick my hand.

Poor finch. I suppose I was woe to him-- the way he'd come looking for me, not wanting either of us to be ever alone

But to myself I was > palomino >> raven >>> fox...

I strung words by their stems and wore them as garlands on my long walks.

The next day I'd find them withered.

I liked change.

Throughout "Eve Names the Animals," Donnelly makes use of assonance which makes words within a line appear to rhyme with repeted use of the same vowel sound. For example, in line 1, "To me, //lion// was sun on a wing," I took the "io" from lion, "u" in sun, "o" in on. The use of this technique makes the line flow together, almost making the reader deliberatly annunciate each syllable. It makes me feel each word while I say it, so I slow down when I am reading. The poem had occassional alliteration which made me feel like those words are important parts of the text when read. For example, "a burrowing blind creature"(3). The only burrowing blind creature I can think of is a mole, which at this time does not work with my initial interpretation of the first stanza. Donnelly also used vivid descriptive wording while explaining the animals "she" named. Because the names were different than they really are, it was imperative she be accurate in her descriptions. With the wording she chose, it was possible to get an image in my head so I was able to put her description with the right animal which contributed greatly in understanding the poem. She also used certain animals as[| symbols] such as "palomino/ raven/ fox..."(27-29) symbolizing freedom. She used these symbols in a way that made it possible for me to get the image in my head; as my interpretation continues, I see a palomino running free in a green pasture, a raven flying high above the earth, looking down to observe, and a sly, sneaky fox running in the forest. These images left no doubt in my mind that Eve wanted time to herself, to explore and see all there is to see. The way the words feel and sound as they are said is not only important to the reader, but it is an important aspect of my interpretation of the reading. Taking time to understand the use of [|alliteration] and [|assonance] in conjunction with her use of symbols and [|imagery] made it easier to grasp some of the authors view, as when utilized makes the reader intentionally annunicate each word and hear it.


 * Way 3: A Point about Form and Its Relationship to Content**

There is really no "form" per say used by Donnelly in this poem, it was written in [|free verse] style, however the seventh stanza begins with five lines and progressivley decreases with each stanza until the last only consists of one line. I feel this was a strong technique to use since the last line, "I liked change" (35) gave the overall theme of the poem. Donnelly does not use rhyme, but does make good use of alliteration and assonance. Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, especially of the consonant sounds in the words used. Use of alliteration makes me stop and slow down during reading, because I am concentrating on the words in my head, as well as when I read the words aloud. Reading the last line of stanza one, "a burrowing, blind creature" repeats the "b" making sure each word is annunciated (3). Another techniqe used was assonance, which is the repition of similar vowel sounds. Beginning in the first line, "To me, //lion// was sun on a wing" assonance is used in order to get the reader concentrating on the words, lion "io" and on "o", sun "u" and wing "w" (1). Slowing down to understand the words is important in any reading, but in this poem, it is imperative in the understanding, and Eve reminds the reader just how important in lines 4-6, "I swear that man/never knew animals. Words/he lined up according to size,". After reading the whole poem, and I went in for the second of very many read throughs, these lines made me realize that the words and names that Eve chose would be one of my keys to unlock the poem.


 * Way 3: A Point about Form and its Relationship to Content**

All of this collaborates with the motif that I interpreted in this poem which was change, creativity and desire for independence. Using or "unpacking" the figurative language allowed me to interpret more than one ,theme at a time. "Eve Names the Animals" was written from the standpoint of the speaker, Eve, which allowed me as the reader to know how she felt. Use of the free form style, without rhythm, rhyme or meter made this poem seem more like a story, or a bible verse. The punctuation that Donnelly utilized helped me determine where and when an important pause or stop was necessary to get the important aspects of the text.


 * Way 4: Unpacking Another Instance of Figurative Language**

Figurative language is the clever "use of imagery, [|metaphores], [|similes] and symbols to like or broaden, deepen, and enrich our understanding of a description, place, person, or turn of phrase. Often it is the figurative elements in a work that subtly convey the theme"(Brown 325). Working from this description, "Eve Names the Animals" is full of figurative language.

The use of symbolism is plentiful, the first being lines 1-3, where I think lion is a symbol for something that I am unsure of at this time, and dove is a symbol of a mole.(I can see the lion being the dove..but where does that leave the mole?) I interprete this from the use of the descriptive words she uses, for instance "burrowing, blind creature"(3) where she is using this description in association with the word dove, however she is representing a mole with the literal translation, or [|denotation] of the word [|mole.]

Thesecond stanza, "I swear that man/never knew animals. Words/he lined up according to size,"implies Eve's annoyance with Adam and his haphazard method of naming the animals, not taking time to understand and appreciate them, just lining them up and giving them names. This implication allowed me to understand where Eve was coming from, yet I do not think it can considered imagery.

Stanza's three and four make good use of imagery to understand the animals that Eve is describing. Without the imagery, it would be nearly impossible to distinquish what animals she is talking about. The denotations of the animals are key in Eve's descriptions, although it does not explain why she gave the animals the names she did. Elaborating on that fact, in "while elephants sipped flat-eyed/through water."(7-8) and in " and trout/hurtled from the underbrush, tusked/and ready for battle."(9-11), the description of the animals are reversed. Through the use of vivid description, I was able to understand that the animal she refers to as "sipped flat-eyed/through the water" is actually the trout, and the animal she describes as "hurtled from the underbrush, tusked/and ready for battle" refers to elephants.

In Stanza five,"The name he gave stuck/me to him. He did it to comfort me,/for not being first" (12-14) is the first time I interprete Eve feeling powerless and trapped. The word "stuck" has a negative connotation, like she can't get away from Adam. Then lines 12-14 sound like he gave her the name to comfort her, I interpret this because the literal meaning of [|Eve] is the time immediatley preceeding something, and this implies that he wanted to make her happy and pacify her for not giving her a name before he named the animals.

Stanza six again makes me think that Eve craved freedom to walk and observe her surroundings. Here, Eve discusses "Pickerel/hopped on the branches above me/only spiders accompanied me,/nosing every where,/running up to lick my hand." Much like stanza one, she discussed and described two animals, yet only one of them fit with how I interpret it. [|Pickerel] is a type of fish and the description she gives for "spider" is that of a dog (15-20). This stanza consists of the most lines of the poem, six, and from here every stanza is decreased by one line.

In lines 21-25, Eve compares Adam to a "finch," stating "Poor finch, I suppose I was/woe to him-/the way he'd come looking for me,/ not wanting either of us/to ever be alone," infering again that Adam did not want Eve far from his sight. I read this as being needy, and Eve feels bad that she likes to be away and free, because Adam is desperate to keep her close so she doesn't get any bright ideas putting forth her own thoughts and ideas. I feel like this is where my thought of male dominance comes into my interpretation.

In Stanza eight, Eve describes that in her thoughts, she dreams she is a "palomino/raven/[|fox].." To me, these animals represent freedom to run, fly and discover, someone who is clever and crafty. I believe that Eve is conveying her desire to be free from control, using these animals as symbols. Although I feel my interpretation is on track, I can't help but think about the animals she names--are these the names she provided to them, or are these the actual names?

As the poem closes, lines30-34(stanza's nine and ten), describe how proud she feels of the names she has given the animals, and her disappointment the next day when she finds that Adam has renamed them. "I strung words/by their stems and wore them/as garlands on my long walksThe next day/I'd find them withered" (30-34). Although the use of "like" is not there, I can not help but feel that Eve is comparing the names that she so thoughfully gave to how she feels the next day when she finds that Adam has changed the names of the animals back, to withered flowers; still beautiful, but somehow not as beautiful as she originally thought.

Finally, the last line simply states "I liked change." Eve was carefree and adventurous, where Adam is task oriented and rigid. This line sums up the theme of the poem for me. I continue to believe that Eve loved Adam, and vice vera, but Eve wanted to be her own person. She was not allowed to persue her own identity, and even today, she is known not only as Eve, but as Adam __and__ Eve.

** Way 5: Analyzing the Setting **
The setting in "Eve Names the Animals," although never mentioned is implied as the Garden of Eden. Line two, "over the garden. Dove,"(2) makes reference to a garden, as well as mention of //"branches"// (17),//"stems"// (31), and //"garland"//(32), which all have a garden association. Unpacking the figurative language, and keeping in mind the theme of the poem, I can see the beautiful images of an untouched garden, beautiful and green, clear blue skys, with many animals roaming free. With the main characters being the very well known "Adam and Eve," I feel the setting takes place not only in the "Garden of Eden," but at the begining of time just as I learned in Sunday School so many years ago.

**// Way 6: Identifying and Analyzing Point of View//**
As stated in the title, Eve is the protaganist, or the main character in this poem, and it is told from her standpoint or point of view. As the narrator, Eve refers to herself in the first person; //"To me"// (1),//"I swear"// (4), and //"I got away"// (16), the use of these words are very important in determining the point of view taken in the poem. Using the first person point of view does have limitations, since it is impossible to know what Adam is thinking or feeling, except for how explained by Eve. In studing the first person point of view of Eve, I understand her point to be the desire of creativity, and freedom, and that she feels somewhat stifled in both of these areas.

//** Way 7: Analyzing Complexity, Ambiguity, & Difficulty**//

Ambiguity plays an important role in the poem "Eve Names the Animals." The [|//ambiguous//] words and phrases are somewhat tricky, in that they assist in understanding what animal Eve is truely naming versus the name she has given the animal. The tricky part is made clear with the use of vivid imagery used in giving the description of the animals. For instance, "burrowing, blind creature."(3), this just one of the ambigous phrases in the poem that makes the reader stop and rethink how this fits and what it really means. The ambiguous terms really are those that helped me put the pieces together, because it made me stop, slow down and read thorougly. I think this whole poem is built on ambiguity.

For me, the difficulty in this poem lies in the use of so many ambiguous phrases. I relied on how the speaker (Eve) was painting the picture in order to decipher the ambiguities. I also relied heavily on how the poem sounded as I read it out loud. I never thought that by simply reading something out loud could help me understand it-but it works!

//** Way 8: Horizontal Thinking: Connecting the Text to Wider Contexts Considering Canonicity**//

Our text describes the canon as a list of literary superiority, the who's who on the what to read list. The readings chose by literary scholars, readers, authors and critics are chosen based on its "perceived aesthetic and cultural value." (Brown 2), are the readings most likely used in literature education and appreciation. Another question used to base the canonocity of a work is "will people be reading it in fifty years? A hundred?" (Brown 3). Considering the setting and theme of this poem is biblical; Adam and Eve, I do believe that people will be reading it in fifty and one hundred years. The bible is and always will be part of the canon, and it is and always will be a source of controversy, add this contraversy with a feminist spin,and this poem is timeless with endless longevity. Since the canon is ever revolving, I believe with today's climate regarding women and their place in politics,feminism, etc. that "Eve Names the Animals" deserves a spot at this time in history.

Finding a connection between the author and her writing has proven to be quite difficut, since finding any biographical information on Susan Donnelly has been virtually impossible. The limited information that I was able to access told me she came from a very large Irish American family from Massachusetts (Iris). Knowing that traditionally, the Irish culture is predominantly Catholic, I assume that Susan Donnelly is well versed in the Bible. Using this assumption, it appears that she wrote "Eve Names the Animals" from a different viewpoint than the Bible initially portrays, possibly in an effort of rebellion. Considering that "Eve Names the Animals" theme involves Adam and Eve, I felt that a biblical background could assist me in deeper understanding, which has proven to be true.

//** Way 10 : Historical and Cultural Contexts **//
Taking the Bible into my interpretation of the poem, I have found many comparisons. I am now able to see the frustration that Eve felt, when she was given a name after the animals. It helped illuminate the bigger picture of this poem--early feminism. It started right away in the begining-God creating the animals then Adam, then created Eve from Adams rib. As I interpret the poem, Eve loves Adam, and she loves the garden, I feel that in a way she feels taken for granted and underutilized in her abilities. This became a stronger feeling for me as I reread Genesis and felt that Eve finally just rebelled at being constantly told what to do,what not to do, and how to do it-- and she ate that apple.

// Way 11: Theoretical Application//
Application of the Feminist Criticism seemed the appropriate place to start. Feminism is a group dedicated to ensure equal rights and opportunity to women in every aspect of life,therefore, carrying over into literature ensuring women get equal time and attention (Brown). In "Eve Names the Animals," Susan Donnelly was very creative in describing the differences between Adam and Eve. Tradition has told us that the male is the dominant gender, it is a role that has been handed down, generation to generation. In this poem, Donnelly doesn't come out and rebut this role but portrays Adam as the needy companion, the one who needs the attention and does not want to be alone. If I were able to know more about Donnelly's background I may be more accurate, but I perceive that this poem was a way to express her feminist feelings and that she, as a woman is smart, and strong and has more to offer than emotions. This poem may have been her way to assist women to believe in themselves and show them to carry on and perservere; Donnelly takes the typical male female stereotype and turns it to show that women are strong too, and although different men and women both have much to offer to equal a whole//.//

// Way 12: Another Theorectical Application//
The term psychoanalysis automatically makes me think of Dr. Sigmund Frued and his study of the mind (conscience and unconscience) and behaviors, using communication and talking as the method of extracting the undercover truth (Brown). Using Freudian analysis, Donnelly wrote "Eve Names the Animals" in the first person point of view, using the word "I" numerous times throughout the poem. According to psychoanalytic criticism and Freud, the word "I" is difficult to get around. Understanding this, I am under the impression that even though Donnelly uses Eve as the protagonist she is really revealing thoughts she herselfs holds true. The aspect of this theory in relation to this poem is pretty interesting to me since Donnelly uses the very first impressions of both man and woman as the basis of her poem, and shows that that the very first woman on earth did not like taking the supporting role, and wanted too, to be a main character. Using psychoanalysis in the text, Donnelly uses alliteration to stress the importance of the words, and how they sound, and how they are said. Alliteration helps the reader stop and slow down so these important aspects are not missed.

The poem "Eve Names the Animals," by Susan Donnelly, written in free verse style, is a poem based on who I believe to be the biblical characters Adam and Eve. Eve is the protaganist in this poem, and from her point of view describes how Adam came to name the animals, and her attempt to partner with him in the task. The poem begins with Eve so eloquently describing what she described as a "//lion//", as "sun on a wing" (1). This starts the pace of the poem, and shows the begining of Eve's desire to express her creativity. As the poem continues, Eve states, "I swear that man/ never knew animals. Words/ he lined up according to size," (4-6). These lines begin the reader with the thought that Eve may be a bit disgruntled with the current role assignment, and that Adam did not think enough about the job of naming the animals to actually take the time to put any thought into it--it was just a job to him.

Throughout the poem, Eve shows her observient and creative side by naming the animals after quiet watching and walking through the garden. With thoughtful appreciation, Eve explains the animals, using vivid imagery and giving the reader the names she chose--by how they fit to the animal, how the names sounded as she said them. After she took the time, she went back the next day to find that Adam had changed the names back to what he originally chose. This upset Eve and reminded her that Adam had chosen her name as well; Eve, meaning time immediatley preceeding something (Merriam-Webster). The name Adam chose is a significant detail in "Eve Names the Animals," and that is reflected in lines 12-14; "The name he gave me stuck/me to him. He did it to comfort me,/ for not being first." These lines illustrate the feeling of second fiddle that Eve felt. This is also where Eve discusses the secret time she steels away to be by herself to enjoy her surroundings, to take time to be with her surroundings, which Adam does not understand-he wants to keep Eve where he can see her.

As the poem comes an end, the freedom and creativity Eve craves comes to a head as she imagines herself to be a "palomino/ raven/ fox..." (26-29). As she dreams of freedom to express herself, Eve talks of the names she chose for the animals, and how (she) "I strung words/by their stems and wore them/ as garlands on y long walks./ The next day/ I'd find them withered./ I liked change." (30-35). Eve was proud of the names she so thoughfully chose, but how she was a bit sad to find them the next day changed again. The theme is obvious by the last line; Adam and Eve had very different views on things, and in particular change. Eve was much more comfortable with change where Adam being a bit less flexible.