AP Spanish Literature Study Guide: "Walking Around" by Pablo Neruda

This poem is a frequent topic on the AP exam due to its rich themes and literary devices. Understanding it well is key!

📚 Context Behind "Walking Around"

👤 Author Background

Pablo Neruda (pen name of Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto) was a Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician. He was a Nobel laureate known for his passionate and emotionally charged poetry, often centered on love, nature, and social justice. His deep political involvement also influenced his work.

Image Courtesy of Getty Images

🕰️ Time and Place

📜 Historical Context: Mid-20th century, a period with rigid gender roles, increasing industrialization, and urbanization. This era saw social upheaval and changing perceptions of masculinity and femininity.

🗺️ Geographic Context: While not explicitly stated, the imagery suggests landscapes of Chile, with its diverse mountains, lakes, and coastline, which often served as a backdrop for Neruda's poetic exploration of nature and human emotions.

🌍 Societal Context

👑 Political: Neruda was a leftist, associated with the Communist Party of Chile. His poetry often contained subtle political messages advocating for social justice and criticizing oppression.

🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Socio-economic: The poem reflects urban life and consumerism, with the protagonist encountering tailor shops, movie houses, barbershops, and stores, highlighting the commodification of human existence and the pressures of conformity. There's a hint of economic disparities, symbolized by the "half-frozen" warehouse with corpses.

🎭 Cultural: Chilean culture has a strong literary tradition, and Neruda is a celebrated figure. The poem explores universal themes of existential angst and the search for authenticity, transcending specific cultural boundaries.

---

📝 Need to Know About "Walking Around"

Image Courtesy of Spillwords

🎭 Characters

The Protagonist: A disillusioned individual, tired of societal expectations of manhood, longing for liberation and contemplating drastic actions. Their internal struggle reflects alienation and existential angst in a conformist society.

✍️ Literary Terms and Devices

• 🕊️ Verso libre (Free verse): No strict meter or rhyme, creating a natural and unforced flow, enhancing emotional intensity and introspection.

• 📝 Enumeración (Enumeration): Lists of sensory details and objects (tailor shops, movie houses, etc.) to highlight disillusionment with materialistic society.

• 🌟 Símbolo (Symbol):

  • "Green knife": Urge for radical change and liberation.
  • "Half-frozen warehouse with corpses": Emotional numbness and disconnection.

• 🖼️ Imagen (Imagery): Vivid sensory descriptions to evoke powerful emotions (e.g., "water of wombs and ashes," "smell of barbershops").

• 📚 Alusión (Allusion): Subtle references to authority and tradition (e.g., "law clerks," "nuns"), suggesting a desire to challenge the established order.

• 🔍 Asíndeton (Asyndeton): Omission of conjunctions to create urgency (e.g., "no more stores, no gardens, no more goods...").

• ✅ Polisíndeton (Polysyndeton): Repetition of conjunctions to add rhythm and emotional cadence (e.g., "my eyes, my shoes, my rage").

• 📈 Verosimilitud (Plausibility/Realism): Relatable portrayal of disillusionment and the yearning for authenticity.

• ⚖️ Antítesis (Antithesis): Contrasting weariness with the desire for radical change.

• 🔃 Paradoja (Paradox): The title itself suggests brevity, while the poem explores complex themes.

• 🧩 Yuxtaposición (Juxtaposition): Placing contrasting images and emotions side by side (e.g., "water of wombs and ashes").

• 🌈 Sinestesia (Synesthesia): Blending sensory experiences to evoke emotional responses.

---

📝 Summary of "Walking Around"

The poem is a deeply introspective monologue of a person weary of their gender role and the materialistic trappings of society. The protagonist desires to break free from the mundane and searches for authenticity. There is a longing for a radical transformation, seeking to escape the pressures of being "a man" and find meaning beyond the superficial aspects of life.

The poem also presents a desire for transgressive acts that could shatter societal norms. Fantasies of shocking gestures serve as a cathartic release for the protagonist's pent-up frustrations and existential unrest.

---

🧐 Analysis and Significance of "Walking Around"

The poem is an expression of existential disillusionment, capturing the universal human desire for authenticity and self-discovery. Neruda portrays the protagonist's internal struggle, making it relatable to readers across cultures. The poem's significance lies in its timeless exploration of the individual's search for meaning and identity.

The poet's use of vivid imagery and emotionally charged language intensifies the impact of the protagonist's disillusionment and longing for authenticity. The poem employs a wide array of literary techniques to convey the character's state of mind, such as free verse (verso libre) and enumeration, creating a sense of urgency and emotional intensity. The use of symbols, like the green and the knife enhance the underlying themes. Neruda's skillful incorporation of asyndeton and polysyndeton further heightens the poem's emotional rhythm, representing the character's turbulent thoughts and emotional turmoil.

Beyond its personal and emotional exploration, the poem's significance lies in its timeless relevance to the human condition. It serves as a poignant reminder that societal pressures and materialistic pursuits can lead to a sense of disconnection and alienation. Neruda's portrayal of the character's inner struggle resonates with readers across generations and cultures, urging them to reflect on their own lives and the pursuit of authenticity. Through the exploration of identity, societal constraints, and the longing for genuine connection, the poem remains an enduring piece of literature that encourages introspection and self-discovery. It exemplifies the power of poetry to convey complex emotions and universal themes, making it a timeless and cherished work in the realm of literary expression.

🎯 Final Exam Focus

• Highest Priority Topics:

  • Literary devices and their effect on the poem's meaning.
  • Themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for authenticity.
  • The poem's historical and societal context.
  • Character analysis of the protagonist and their internal conflicts.

• Common Question Types:

  • Multiple-choice questions about literary devices and their function.
  • Short-answer questions analyzing specific passages or themes.
  • Free-response questions requiring in-depth analysis of the poem's meaning and significance.

• Last-Minute Tips:

  • Time Management: Practice pacing yourself during practice tests to ensure you have enough time for each section.

  • Common Pitfalls: Don't just identify literary devices; explain their purpose and effect. Avoid vague statements; use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

  • Strategies: When tackling challenging questions, break them down into smaller parts and focus on what you do know. If you're stuck, make an educated guess and move on. Don't spend too much time on one question.

📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. In "Walking Around," the use of enumeration primarily serves to: a) Create a sense of order and structure b) Highlight the protagonist's joy and contentment c) Emphasize the monotony and materialism of society d) Introduce a variety of different characters

2. The "green knife" in the poem is best interpreted as a symbol of: a) The protagonist's love for nature b) The protagonist's desire for radical change c) The protagonist's fear of violence d) The protagonist's obsession with material possessions

3. Which of the following literary devices is NOT prominently used in "Walking Around"? a) Asíndeton b) Polisíndeton c) Metáfora d) Enumeración

Free Response Question:

Analyze how Pablo Neruda uses literary devices in "Walking Around" to convey the protagonist's sense of disillusionment and desire for change. In your response, discuss at least three literary devices and provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis. (15 points)

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis Statement (2 points): A clear and specific thesis statement that identifies the main themes and literary devices used in the poem.

• Identification of Literary Devices (3 points): Correctly identify at least three literary devices used in the poem (1 point per device).

• Analysis of Literary Devices (6 points): Provide a detailed analysis of how each literary device contributes to the protagonist's sense of disillusionment and desire for change. (2 points per device).

• Specific Examples (4 points): Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis of each literary device (1 point per example).

Example Response:

In "Walking Around," Pablo Neruda masterfully employs various literary devices to convey the protagonist's profound sense of disillusionment and yearning for change. Through the use of enumeration, symbolism, and asyndeton, Neruda creates a vivid portrayal of a character trapped by the monotony of societal expectations and yearning for a radical transformation.

Neruda's use of enumeration, such as the list of tailor shops, movie houses, and barbershops, serves to emphasize the protagonist's growing disenchantment with the materialistic and consumer-driven aspects of society. This technique highlights the character's sense of alienation and dissatisfaction with their surroundings, as they are surrounded by reminders of conformity and superficiality. The protagonist feels trapped in a world of mundane routine, and the enumeration amplifies this sense of being overwhelmed by the ordinary.

The symbol of the "green knife" represents the protagonist's urge for radical change and liberation from societal constraints. This image is not literal but rather symbolizes the character's desire to disrupt the established order and break free from the monotony of their existence. The knife is a tool of action and transformation, reflecting the protagonist's longing for a drastic shift in their life. The color green can also be interpreted as a symbol of hope and a new beginning, further emphasizing the protagonist's desire for change.

Neruda's use of asyndeton, the omission of conjunctions between phrases, creates a sense of urgency and emotional intensity. For example, the phrase "no more stores, no gardens, no more goods, no spectacles, no elevators" emphasizes the protagonist's overwhelming desire to escape from the trappings of consumerism and societal expectations. This technique intensifies the character's internal conflict and the sense of detachment from their surroundings, as they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of things they wish to escape from. The absence of conjunctions creates a rapid pace, reflecting the character's turbulent thoughts and emotional turmoil.

Through these literary devices, Neruda effectively conveys the protagonist's profound sense of disillusionment and desire for change. The poem serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of questioning societal norms and embracing one's true self, transcending the constraints imposed by culture and society.

Good luck, you've got this! 🚀