A Dog Has Died by Pablo Neruda

“The poem…reflects the choices consciously or unconsciously made concerning the subject
positions, community affiliations, and meaning making activities of self understanding,
represented in written language. Poetic identity (or range of identities)…can be interpreted in the
writing…of the poem” (Hanauer, 59).

There are many ways of interpreting poetry: some are viable, some are not; some work with
specific poems only, others are good for general study. Looking at a poem as a “window to the
soul of the poet” is often a dangerous psychological game, where we more often than not, invent
the person behind the poem. “Dangerous” here, referring to the danger of untruth, or in the case
of poets we know, the danger of misjudgment. However, psychoanalysis through poetry can be
done, only carefully and with great room for error. Oftentimes, the poet’s meaning does not
come across perfectly in his/her poetry, especially when it comes to more abstract poetry, or
poetry on the self. We all view the world from our own lenses, so when we engage in
psychoanalytic examination and study, we must keep this in mind, and approach the poetry with
a humble mind. However, as Hanauer points out in the excerpt above, “Poetic identity…can be
interpreted in the writing…of the poem” (59). So, then, turn to “A Dog Has Died.”

As discussed in the Context section of this website, I will use structuralist means to study
Neruda’s poem. Neruda’s word choice and the emotional arc he carries us through in the poem
places “A Dog Has Died” solidly (though not only) within the poetic sub-genre of Elegiac
Poetry.

As many others have observed, multiple tones are struck at the beginning of the poem. As Paul
Erland pointed out, Neruda titles the poem “A Dog Has Died”, then in the first line, calls says
“My dog has died.” The distance between the man and the dog seems at first almost indifferent,
but then as the poem begins, the dog’s status shifts, their relationship deepens. The line after
deepens it all the more: the garden is a familiar place, a comfortable place that one tends and
cares for. Being buried in the garden, then, seems to go from ownership to favor. Then Neruda
finishes this first stanza with the line: “next to a rusted old machine,” drawing us back to the
surface, back to being confused about the relationship between the man and his dog.

Stepping back, Neruda’s overall reaction to the death of his dog seems almost confused – at least
to start. If we take apart the poem by stanza (using the English translation), we can see Neruda’s
emotional arc more clearly: 1) narrative: the dog has died, he has been buried; 2) thoughts on
afterlife for the dog, not for him; 3) instead of “speak[ing] of sadness” Neruda thinks almost
objectively about the dog: “aloof”, “no exaggerations”, and descriptions of the dog’s actions; 4)
elevation of the dog: “paying me the attention I needed” and “with eyes so much purer than
mine”; 5) description of dog-paradise; 6) description of dog’s life in dog-paradise; and finally 7
& 8) return to reality.

Here, we also see demonstrated the grief-cycle Neruda goes through in coming to terms with the
passing of his dog. “A Dog Has Died” is a textbook example of an elegy: “The elements of a
traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss. First, there is a lament, where the speaker expresses
grief and sorrow, then praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and finally consolation and
solace” (qtd. in Beal 103, originally from poets.org). Pablo Neruda in essence skips this first step
of the elegy, a simple statement replaces the lament – much as a materialist might respond
emotionally on the subject of a death of this kind! Moving forward, Neruda chooses to first
remember the dog as he is. He is initially descriptive, but these descriptions begin to carry the
weight of praise – he is not just talking about the dog, he is talking fondly about the dog. This
easily qualifies for the praise and admiration, though it builds from objective recognition to
glorification. Finally, Neruda goes back to his own mindset and worldview, he is consoled by the
fact that his dog is “gone and…buried.”

The fact that Neruda now believes that there is now going to be a heaven because his dog has
died shows how much affection he actually felt for his dog; enough affection to make him
believe in a heaven when he didn't before. Here he is saying that his dog was more decent than
other dogs, maybe even more decent than some of mankind. His dog, unlike others, actually
listen he adds the word "Sex" to humanize the dog. he also compares his dog to that of a docile
porcupine. Neruda compares his dog to a porcupine through simile. he says that "His friendship
for me, like that of a porcupine
withholding its authority" which means that the dog, like a porcupine, is capable of harming him
but doesn't because he is holding his authority towards him. The dog respects Neruda and
wouldn't attack him. Neruda basically states, "I ain't gonna lie, this dog was pretty chill." Neruda
continues to describe the dog as without insecurites or prejudices, able to enjoy life simply in
being. The dog enjoyed happiness simply because he existed and needed nothing to fuel his joy
and love for life. This is emphasized in the final line, showing that the dog died as he lived; in
the purest of simplicity In the image above, the dog does not discern or pretend to understand the
events occurring around him, as shown by the blurs of color. But on this same point, the dog
smiles and doesn't pretend to understand, he just enjoys the blurs of color for what he perceives
them to be. He lives in blissful ignorance, he doesn't need to know more to enjoy existing, and in
this simple existence it finds bliss. A commentary on "A Dog Has Died" By Pablo Neruda, and
"Happy" By Laura Marsh By stating that he will be buried next to him, Neruda establishes an
eternal bond with his dog.

Poem Analysis: A Dog Has Died

The poet writes this poem in a way that it is simple. The readers could easily read it and
understand the man’s love towards his dog. It tells me that the man’s love towards his dog was
simple, pure love. He loved his dog unconditionally, thus having no regrets as the dog left him
for ‘dogdom’ and he wanted to believe that he would reunite with the dog in his afterlife. This
tells me that the poet greatly loved his dog as he used to be materialistic but then love changed
him.

The man does not treat his dog like his pet, but however, his companion. He respected the dog
and treated him like family, showering the dog with love and all. He felt that the dog deserved it
as the dog did not disrespect him, or be a troublesome being. Thus, the man felt comfort from the
dog, thus felt secure whenever he was with the dog, treating the dog like family.
The poet feels that the dog loves the man too. The dog paid him all the attention he did not get
from others, ‘with those eyes so much purer than mine, he'd keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone’. Although the dog depends little on the man, the man
depends on the dog’s attention and love. This is enough for the man to feel love from such
simple acts from his dog. As the dog’s eyes are pure, there would be nothing in its mind that’s
unpure.

The image of the scenery is described in detail as the poet wants the readers to have a clear
image of what he is picturing about. The poet wanted the readers to know as he wanted to help
the readers understand the precious memory between the man and his dog.

The dog had never troubled the man, instead the man had always needed the dog and thus, letting
go of the dog without grieving much, is a way of the man expressing gratitude toward the dog.
The dog loves the man, and thus, did not want the man to be sad. That is why, the man did cry
over the dog as he did not want the dog to feel guilty.

ANALYSIS FOR "A DOG HAS DIED"

In the poem "A Dog Has Died" by Pablo Neruda, the main theme is death, and the poet is
expressing his emotions after his dog's death. In this poem, imagery is used to describe the dog
and how the poet felt towards him. He uses images that show how deeply he cared for and how
much he valued his dog. He tells the readers of the poem that his dog was not like other dogs,
that his friendship for the poet was unconditional, that he was always loyal to his owner. He says
that the dog "never rubbed up against his knee" or "never climbed all over his clothes". These
images are used to make the poem more personal and more specific. Instead of saying "He was
so precious for me, he was nothing like other dogs," and so on, the poet uses images to show
us how the dog was different and how their relationship was. The poet uses plenty of other
examples of imagery such as "his golden tail held high" and "those eyes so much purer than
mine" when describing his dog. The poet also uses some imagery when making the description
of the heaven he doesn't believe in.

1. Title
The Title here is bare and minimum, with no melancholy cries of anguish. Just a straight, factual
set-up of "A Dog Has Died". Nothing more, nothing less. Utilitarian and direct.
2. Paraphrase
My dog has died, and I buried him in the garden

I believe he's gone somewhere better, and although I don't believe in it usually, I'm going there
too.
No, He never gave me too much love, and he was different

He gave just enough attention to make me now he was there, by my side, offering no assistance,
and asking nothing of me.

I was once jealous of him, and how the sea brought him alive.

Only he could be happy

No good-byes between, for we never once lied to each other

He's gone, plain and simple

3. Connotation
The poem is a multi-stanza free-verse poem
with no rhyme or rhythm to it. This combined
with the simple and easy diction creates a very easy to understand package that shows the
persona's view on death. Not as a thing of infinite mystery and horror, but as a simple un-
deniable force in our life.
4. Attitude
Instead of the usual melodramatic talk of dark and hopelessness, the persona talks of fond
memories and open truths about the love he and his dog shared for each other. The tone is dry
and
somewhat heartfelt, not so much a teary eyed confession, more a remembrance speech. The
persona's attitude is open. He just wants the world to know his dog is dead, and he can't wait to
re-join him when his time comes.
5. Shifts
During the 5th stanza, the location switches to one particular occurrence on "Isla Negra", which
highlights the underlying playfulness of the dog. A natural curiosity and energy brought upon by
the sea, and only the sea. As well in the next stanza, Neruda says "...joyful, as only dogs know
how to be happy...". Seemingly, he envies him, and envies his easy happiness, a happiness he
will never be able to give his companion. He knows their freedom is what makes dogs happy, or
at least makes his dog happy, and that's all that matters to him.
6. Title
The meaning changes little after several
readings. It still states the simple fact, "A Dog Has Died".

7. Theme
Although the death of a loved one is a sad thing, it is
an eventual thing. We should not mourn long, for they lived good lives, and it was bound to
happen anyway. We must await the day we can re-join them.
Date, Time, Rhetorical Strategies, and Form effects
The date and time could not be found. On the other hand, the rhetorical strategies used by
Neruda are plentiful and right in sight. One of the smallest and strongest is the first stanza, which
parallels the garden, archetypal a place of birth an life, with the dog and the rusted machine. The
rusted machine represents his knowledge of his companion's demise, and that he knew of it for a
long time. As well, the star metaphor in stanza three helps us to understand one thing very well
about Neruda. He held his dog in high esteem, even thinking of the hound as better than him. He
calls himself "materialistic" and "vain", but calls the dog "pure" and "joyful". As well the overall
form of the poem resembles the grass growing over the grave of the dog. Another symbol of
Neruda's view of death, as a necessary evil, a simple bump in the road until he can finally re-
unite with his lost companion.