Yu Rong Teng (LP)

John Clare Essay 3

How could December from The Shepards Calendar be viewed as an appropriate introduction to
Clares poetry?
Clare, in many ways can be deemed an eco-critic as he emphasizes the cultural connections of the natural
environment with human relationships and this is made seemingly clear in December, however some may
believe that the poem alone does not encapsulate Clares poetic verse. transience
December, being the first of many poems in the Everymans Poetry anthology is arguably an appropriate
introduction to Clares writings as it provides the readers with a general overview with Clares main beliefs
and ideologies. Through the regularity of the poems rhyme and rhythmic structure, we could insinuate Clares
credence of communal friendship within the rural annual cheer. It is in this poem, that Clare addresses the
readers in three different perspectives such as his personal experience of Christmas Eve, as well as the effect
the celebrations have upon the individuals in the poem and that of the wider cotter community. Winter is
portrayed to be a multi faceted time of the year as through personification, the two contrasting feelings of
warmth and cold are juxtaposed with each other as a time of celebration of the customs of the rural villages as
it is a celebration of when Winter meets the warmth of May. Perhaps, winter is subjectively one of the most
important times in the year for the rural community as for Clare himself, it may be one of the only
opportunities for him to be accepted within a social gathering and it his personal attachment to the rustic
villages which further highlight the traditional customs of winter such as how neighbours come together to
resume their annual cheer putting aside their differences in order to celebrate life for one night, namely
Christmas Eve. It is this thematic celebration of life that Clare addresses in December, shared with another
poem by Clare, St Martins Eve. Both of these poems have Clare describe of how although winter is often
labeled as a time of death, it is misunderstood in the same way that individuals are, in particular the poet.
Clare in fact dedicates an entire segment of the poetry collection to the celebration of rural life, namely A
country village year. The deathful undertones implicitly addressed by Clare highlight how readers should
embrace their cultural heritages and memories, as it is our upbringings that shape our identities and beliefs.
The poetic techniques, of caesura and enjambement are employed in St Martins Eve in the same way that
Clare attempted to achieve in December. The regularity of such devices throughout the poem is also
suggestive of a harmonious rural environment highlighting the comfort and acceptance that Clare wishes to
seek. In St Martins Eve, Clare addresses his readership through a positive attitude in that the joys and
ecstasies of the festive celebration is ostensibly conveyed as the beginning of advent for Christmas is
somewhat of a snapshot of the rural community. Like December, the friendly nature of the villagers is
described through the telling of tales such as how the dames best blue china had broke that day. The use of
alliteration again is used to highlight the collective nature of those living in the countryside in a perhaps
parochial scene, as many would have readily believed (ideas) if once put down in print. One could
conceivably state that December does not highlight the conservatory nature of individuals, however it does
indeed celebrate the prospect of rural life inferred from the cheer to share at the communal gathering. The
poet also synonymously stresses the importance of narrative poetry, like that of St Martins Eve as in both
poems, Winter is a time for forgiveness but bliss as fatigue and all its countless ills are forgotten when the
villagers gather to dance and eat.
Though Clare may have believed that he was in fact mentally stable, and was wrongfully placed in an
institution to treat his psychological disorders, and perhaps Winter is a symbol for Clares
Loss: The celebration of Christmas through ones self further allows Clare to encourage his readers to
appreciate the natural cycle of nature and accept death as a part of the cycle of life.
recusant
intrinsic