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Greece and Rome
Referring to the Greek and Roman empires. Both empires have become symbols
of power, artistic accomplishment and longevity.
Patinated
Patinated means developing a patina. A patina is the green film that
copper and copper alloys (such as bronze) develop with age. The word
has ambiguous connations. It is asscoiated with decay or corrosion,
but having a patina can also connote an enrichment by age. See the chain
of associations around what is ruined
(opens in new window - close window to return to this page) and what
endures.
Scuttle
Scuttling is a wonderfully multilayered word in this poem. To "scuttle"
is to scurry, a sense of the word that accords with the awkwardness
and vulnerability of the crab. On the other other hand, to "scuttle"
can also mean to sink a ship by putting a hole in it. Since the crab's
claws are compared to "scuttling works of armament," this meaning is
also implied, and emphasizes the strength rather than weakness of the
crab. But since, as we discover, it is the crab who is scuttled--by
the gull--rather than doing the scuttling, we are finally drawn again
toward the crab's weakness. See strength
and vulnerability (opens in new window - close window to return
to this page).
Demitasse
A demitasse is a small cup, usually for coffee. In contrast to the preceding
metaphor "chamber," demitasse emphasizes the small size of the crab
(and also, that, like coffee, it is something to be consumed). Yet where
"chamber" begins with a sense of strength and is then undercut, "demitasse"
works in a somewhat opposite fashion. Its sense of smallness is modfied
by the grandness of the word.
Demitasse suggests a world of luxury and elegance; it is the kind of
cup one might enjoy in the chamber of a grand hotel. Hence the pairing
of "chamber" and "demitasse" beautifully preserves the poem's ambiguous
representation of the crab as both great and small. "Chamber" and "demitasse"
are not only opposite words, but each word also carries within it an
opposite sense that it is in turn opposite to the opposite word's internally
opposite sense. (A grand and elegant effect through a couple small words!).
The elegance of a demitasse cup--something an artist in a grand hotel,
or a cafe, might sip--also associates the crab with art
(opens in new window - close window to return to this page) and
cultural production.
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