Tangi

The poem Tangi by Hone Tuwhare is a poem about Hone Tuwhare and how he describes how he feels at a European funeral and at a Maori Tangi. In the poem Tangi the main idea how different cultures deal with grief and death. There are two techniques used to describe this idea. They are the use of negative language and contrast.

The important idea in Tangi is how different cultures deal with grief and death and the poet uses negative language to show this. The poet describes when he attends a European funeral by using negative language with the word “I did not “and “nor detect “. This shows negative language with the key word “not” and “nor”. At the European funeral Tuwhare uses this kinds of language which sets a tone of not belonging and out of place.

The important idea in Tangi is how different races deal with grief and death and the poet uses contrast and metaphors to show this. The poet describes when he is at a European funeral and a Maori Tangi and uses different language to show how he feels at each funeral. At the Maori Tangi Tuwhare uses metaphors like “green leaved anguish” which is a metaphor describing the green wreaths worn at Tangis. At the European funeral Tuwhare write about “Carnations” which are a traditional European flower. Another way Tuwhare contrasts the two funerals and how he feels is through the use of verbs. For example when he writes “And caught her beauty” the mood changes at the Tangi too a more natural welcoming mood. Where as at the European funeral Tuwhare uses negative language to describe how he feels.

In this essay I have discussed what the main in the poem Tangi is and how the poet has used different language techniques to describe the main idea. I have discussed the main idea which is how different cultures deal with grief and death. I have also discussed the two techniques used in the poem which are negative language and contrast through metaphors. These techniques helped me understand the poem better and how the tone changed throughout the poem.