Critical Analysis & Questions of The Poem "Ambush"

 Gbemisola Adeoti's "Ambush" Analysis Summary, Themes, Setting, Structure, Tone and Mood, Objective Questions, and all you need to know about the Poem AMBUSH

Content Of This Page 

The Poem Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti

Summary of Ambush  

Line to Line Analysis 

Themes of Ambush 

Literary Devices 

About the Poet

Questions 

The Poem 

 The land is a giant whale

that swallows the sinker,

with hook, line and bait

aborting dreams of a good catch

fishers turn home at dusk

blue peter on empty ships

7 all Peters with petered out desires.

The land is a sabre-toothed tiger,

that cries deep in the glade

while infants shudder home

the grizzled ones snatch their gut

from bayonets of tribulation 

13 halting venturous walk at dusk 

The land is a giant hawk

that courts unceasing disaster

16 as it hovers and hoots in space

The land lies patiently ahead

awaiting In ambush

those who point away from a direction

where nothing happens

21 toward the shore of possibilities 

Subject Matter/Summary of the Poem 'Ambush'

The poem is a metaphorical depiction of a nation as destroyer of the dreams and aspirations of her citizens. The nameless nation referred to as ‘the land’, is likened to different predatory animals. It is likened to “a giant whale”, which swallows other water creatures alive to satisfy its own hunger and sometimes greed, and leaving in its wake frustration and sadness. The land is also likened to “a sabre-toothed tiger” whose cries send other creatures of the wild, especially the vulnerable and weaker ones, into a run for their dear lives. Having used animals of water and land for his imagery as stated above, the poet uses that of the space in the third stanza. The land is likened to “a giant hawk”, a dangerous predatory bird that attacks other birds, both flying and non-flying ones, and even other animals like rodents and reptiles. The poet sees the land as an agent of frustration to her people’s hope at every turn 

Line to Line Analysis

Stanza 1 

 Lines 1-7

In its metaphorical presentation of the land as “a giant whale'’, the poet attempts a detailed and graphic illustration by noting that it “swallows the sinker/with hook, line and bait”. In other words, the act of swallowing is total as it leaves nothing behind. This is further driven home by the poet’s addition of “bait” to an otherwise popular and familiar idiom of‘hook, line and sinker’. This total swallow is then likened to the way dreams of people in the land are aborted through fishing imagery. Using the way the sinker, hook, line and bait of the fisherman go in vain, the dreams of the people are also depicted as doomed. The fisherman returning home empty handed and sad after a long day of hard work is another metaphor for the toiling masses of the land. In the end, they are drained of the spirit and energy to dream again.

Stanza Two

Lines 8 - 13 

 The poet, in this stanza, likens the land to a sharp-toothed tiger. As we know, the tiger is a large predatory mammal of the cat family, which dwells in the jungle. His sound/cry is known to evoke fear in other animals around him making them to run. This is what the poet talks about when he says "infants shudder home". This infers that th land even scares away the citizens from every location that seems to be productive as they do this to escape from "bayonets of tribulation". So the writer is still saying that the writer cuts down the hope and aspiration of the people.  

Stanza Three

Once again the poet persona compares the elite to another havoc inflicting creature, the hawk. A bird that flies while targeting a prey on the ground. Like this animal, the elites of the society constantly causes havoc, hovers around watching and laughing at their victims. Most of the situations that the poor find themselves in were orchestrated by the bourgeois to create a revenue for themselves. The poor fall prey to their traps and they are ridiculed and molested. They commit heinous crimes and go scot free, but the poor cannot. They created bad education systems and forbid their children from studying at home. Most elite children study abroad while the ordinary ones are being used as objects of contempt. They embezzled the fund meant for the improvement of the health care system in the country and fly abroad to treat themselves.

Stanza Four

This last stanza of the poem, Ambush sounds more like a concluding statement from the persona. Thus says the poet in stanza four of the poem, Ambush: In brief, the country, the land and its leadership have become the people’s enemy rather than their partner in the quest for a better standard of living.

The state has not only failed in its sacred duty to create the kind of environment that will enable every Nigerian to work and realize their dreams. In fact, it has actively done everything, placing obstacles everywhere and lying in ambush ready to prevent the ambitious ordinary Nigerian to blossom and prosper.

“The land lies patiently ahead 

awaiting in ambush

those who point away from a direction

where nothing happens toward the shore of possibilities”

 Themes of the Poem Ambush 

The Theme of Destruction 

The Theme of Bad Leadership 

The Theme of Intimidation and Frustration 

The Theme of Corruption

The Theme of Abuse of Power/Position 

The Theme of Dreams 

The Theme of Despair/Hopelessness

The Theme of Fear  

1. Destruction 

Analysis of the theme of Destruction

The theme of destruction dominates the poem. The poet’s land, to depicted m "Ambush”, to a place where opportunities for growth, self-development, self-fulfilment and hope are lacking. It is a place where such opportunities are aborted or destroyed. The land referred to by the poet represent a sovereign state, a country or a community. Ordinarily, a state or country, as a sovereign entity, to supposed to facilitate the human and physical development of its space. Unfortunately, many countries to sub-Sahara Africa, to which the poet’s country, Nigeria, belongs, rather than facilitate these, are actual  making their, impossible. The State in this part of the world, by design or accident makes policies or  which destroy the people’s hopes and aspirations of a better and glorious life. Rater than use its size and might to bring about positive developments in peopled life, the reverse to the case. The laud described as a giant, is said to swallow all means and efforts the people make to realize their dreams Their desire and zeal to make something meaningful out of their lives me destroyed by the stale’s actions. This theme is further explored in the metaphorical presentation of the land a* "a giant hank" in stanza three of the poem. Hawk, as a bird of prey, is known to leave destruction in its wakes never it visits. Its presence is usually seen as ominous for it appears when there is some other creature total or prey on. The poet clearly comments cm its destructive inclination when be say s it "courts unceasing disaster.” This phrase draws attention to foe magnitude and frequence of the destruction to in the land This destruction is, however, not depicted in the poem as a physical one, but one that to psychological, mental and probably economic. It is also worthy to note that if disaster means great harm or damage, modifying it with “unceasing” in this context suggests foe hopelessness about the destruction the land unleashes on her people. To further highlight the destructive potentials of the said State or bud, we are informed that it lays ambush for people who are exploring possibilities of hope in other direction. To lay ambush means to hide and wait in order to attack somebody or something. Certainly, such an setter, cannot be motivated by any good. Like the word “disaster” used in the fond stanza, it bean a hordes of harm or damage. Worse still the ambush is a determined one for we are told that the land’s wait is a patient am 

2. Bad leadership 

Analysis of the theme of Bad Leadership

Even though the poem constantly mentions “the land" there really can be no land without a people, both the leader and the led. Therefore, the land symbolises the rulers, the leaders. How unpalatable that the leader whom the people have chosen to direct their affairs are laying ambush on their progress and happiness. The land (the leader) is a “hawk”, “whale” and “tiger” that terrorises her own people, by “aborting” their dreams through mean policies and insensitivity. Because of this, there is a deliberate act of “halting venturous walk at dusk”. By doing this, the government are “courting unceasing disaster”, for the people would be forced to take up arms against their oppressor. Worse, there seems to be no hope in sight as the land lies patently ahead. Violence begets violence

3. Intimidation and frustration 

Analysis of the theme of Intimidation and Frustration

The intimidation suffered by the common people of the land it commented on. In the face of the overwhelming and sometimes ruthless power of the State, the common people are cowed. They feel restricted in their movement and speech The poet-persona observe that when the “saber-toothed tiger” cries, the “infant shudder home’ while “the grizzled ones snatch their gut/from bayonets of attribution. The “infants” and the “grizzled ones” are clearly the vulnerable and the less-privileged ones in the society who cry and complain in vain as they groan under trials and tribulation# occasioned by the treatment meted out to them by the land. In addition to intimidation, the land also causes a lot of people frustration. People’s efforts are undermined and their dreams or fulfillment are frustrated. Frustrated, the “fishers turn home at dusk” sad without “a good catch.” It is this frustration which also turns many away from “the land” and toward the “shore of possibilities." Unfortunately, an ambush is still being planned for them.  

4. Corruption  

Analysis of the theme of Corruption

The issue of corruption in the poem may be derived from line 4, in which the land, which could be referred to as the corrupt politicians, is said to be “aborting dreams of a good catch.” When there is corruption in the land, the people suffer the most. Their progress, dreams and struggle would be rendered worthless. Nigeria is a blessed country, a land endowed with natural and human resources. But Nigerians, her people continue to live from hands to mouth, having been deprived of all the basic amenities of life such as pipe-borne water, constant electricity and decent shelter. No doubt, this is because the few who govern the people engage in corrupt practices with impunity.

5. Abuse of Power/Position 

Analysis of the theme of Abuse of Power / Position 

From toe metaphorical reading of the poem, there is no doubt that “the land” mentioned in the poem alto refers to the people who control or hold the power lever in the country, State or society depicted by toe poet. The “giant whale”, toe “giant hawk” and toe “sabre-toothed tiger” are unmistakable metaphors for the people in positions of power and authority in the land. As animals, these creatures exploit their size and might to prey on others for survival. In their metaphorical depiction in the poem, their size and might are equated with that of people in powerful positions, which is contrasted with that of the disadvantaged who are cowed and intimidated by the said size and might into frustrated and sad people. As noted earlier, toe State’s sovereignty is meant to be used, by those entrusted with it, to improve the quality of people’s lives, in the land referred to in the poem, this is not the case. The impression we get is that power is used to the detriment of people’s intent. 

6. Dreams 

Analysis of the theme of Dream

In the poem, “Ambush” written by Gbemisola Adeoti, the land is likened to all kinds of wild animals such as a hawk, whale and tiger. Each of these animals often throws their preys into fear and chaos. The whale, for instance, swallows other fishes in the sea, the same way the African leaders usurp the people's access to decent living standards. In the same way, the "land" is also regarded as a hawk that frustrates the people's lives as they run for dear life. Like a tiger with sharp teeth, the land, Nigeria chases the people away from achieving their dreams. Being a carnivorous animal, the lion does not enter a bush except that all other animals scurry for safety. As the lion’s appearance in the wilderness portends a great danger to the animals, so do the African leaders, who are indeed lions in sheep clothes. During an election, the people are cajoled into voting them into power. But the moment they get there, the people are forgotten. Not only do they also formulate policies that do not only frustrate the people but also dash their hopes and aspirations.

7. Despair/ Hopelessness 

Analysis of the theme of Despair/ Hopelessness

There is. much hopelessness in toe land. The hardworking one like the fisherman has his hope of ‘a good catch’ dashed and returns home a sad man. Obviously, he is representative of other hardworking commoners in toe land. Other; who equally experience or perceive frustration in the land decide to turn in another direction, but this possibility is again ambushed, making the despair complete.

8. Fear 

Analysis of the theme of fear 

 Fear is another theme that is evident in the poem. The gruesome animals used in the poem creates fear in the minds of the people, hindering them from taking another step further. Line 10 in the second stanza indicates how the young inexperienced shudder home in fear of the “saber-tooth tiger” that is howling in the glade. People in our current society are afraid to take up against the authority even when it is obvious that the authority is on the wrong side. Why is this? It is because once an individual speaks up, the government will use its apparatuses in one way or the order to bring the person down. These government tools are depicted with the animals in the poem. The last stanza is also an expression of fear rather than hope that, even after everything the authority has done to bring the fishers down, she will still go ahead of them waiting patiently to swallow, devour and snatch away their new dreams and aspirations. Or inflict pain on them for pointing to the right thing that the government is supposed to do

 Language and Style

The poem is quite a serious one, both in terms of subject and treatment. At the literal level where the characteristics of a certain land are described, toe seriousness is quite obvious. At toe figurative level, toe seriousness is even keener. This seriousness, of course, is palpable from the texture of language and style employed by toe poet. Among others, toe use of metaphor, imagery, personification, diction repetition, alliteration and pun enrich toe gravity of toe content. 

1. Metaphor

In the poem, Ambush, metaphor is extensively used to treat the themes of failed governance and unfulfilled dreams, fear and terror, and hope for a brighter future through social revolution.

Here are some examples of metaphor in Ambush:

 Ambush 

The title of the poem is itself a metaphor for the methods used by the political leadership to undermine the hopes and aspirations of a whole nation.

The dreams of a whole society have been “ambushed” by the unpatriotic activities of a few.

The land is a giant whale

The land is a saber-toothed tiger

The land is a giant hawk

In the above three metaphors, the persona directly compares the country to animals of prey – whale, tiger and hawk. The descriptive words giant and saber-toothed evoke in the reader visual images of terror.

They point to the hostile environment that the political class has succeeded in creating for the very people they are supposed to serve and protect

The rich resources of the motherland have been plundered and mismanaged. The potential of its human capital has been stifled. The land has become synonymous with danger, insecurity, lack of opportunities and shattered dreams.

Aborting dreams of a good catch

The imagery of violence used in “aborting dreams” ties in well with the sense of fear and terror we are made to experience in the next stanza as we come face to face with the menacing image of the saber-toothed tiger.

“Good catch” is fishing imagery.

It refers to the great desires and hopes that have so far been dashed. This lack of personal and national achievement continues to create a feeling of despondency within the general populace.

Shore of possibilities

This metaphor evokes a more positive image. It contrasts sharply with much of what we find in the previous stanzas of the poem. It highlights the poet’s lingering hope for the brighter future that has eluded the country due to bad leadership.

The poet seems to suggest that all hope is not lost yet. The country still stands a good chance to effect the necessary changes that will enable it to attain its lofty dreams. 

2. Imagery

The dominant imagery in the poem is animal imagery. The imagery is not merely evoked by the references to some animals, which are whale, tiger and hawk, it derives strength and enhances fee aesthetic richness of the poem through the depiction of the animal’s actions. The frustration of the fisherman’s dream to have ‘a good catch’ is vividly brought home by the whale’s swallow of not just the hook, line and sinker but also of the bait. This unsparing nature of the action underscores the enormity of hopelessness in the society in question. The tiger and the hawk are also presented in action. They are depicted in their pre-attack predatory antics towards their quarries. The cries of the tiger and the hoots of the hawk clearly herald fright, danger and ultimately, destruction. Ordinary or mere references to the animals could not have brought home the message so vividly.

3. Personification

In the poem, the land is actually a personification of the leaders of the land in question. The “giant whale”, the “giant hawk” and the “sabre-toothed tiger” are the agents that have brought the land to her  current unenviable state. 

4 Situational Irony

The poet has cleverly constructed Ambush around another literary device known as irony.

The land is supposed to be the mother, the provider and protector of its children. But as we have observed, the corrupt and uncaring political class has created a situation where the land has rather turned on its own, terrorizing them, devouring them, denying them of what rightfully belongs to them and making life unbearable for them.

5. Alliteration

We have the use of alliteration in a couple of instances in the poem. We have it in “swallows the sinker”, “Peters with petered out desires” and “land lies patiently.” Besides enhancing the rhythmical quality in the poem, each of the expressions has one significance or the other. For instance, by bringing sinker first to alliterate with swallows in clear disregard of the usual idiomatic order of ‘hook, line and sinker’, the poet foregrounds the unsparing trend of the dream abortions. The second example inscribes not only a conscious attempt at playing on words, it also underscores the frustration in the land. The last examples draws attention to the idea of hiding associated with ambush.

6. Diction

The poet’s selected use of words is highly contributory to the success of the poem. As a poem whose metaphorical import is very important to its appreciation, some words and phrases appear deliberately and appropriately employed to help the effective delivery of its message. Some examples include “gianf^ “.sabre-toothed”, “shudder home”, “bayonets of tribulation”, “unceasing disaster” and so on. The word giant is deployed to underscore the enormity of the size and might of the State. In a way, the word also provides suggestive information about the setting of the poem. It hints at the spatial setting being Nigeria because Nigeria is the country often referred to as ‘the giant of Africa’ due to her population size. The phrase “sabre-toothed” recalls a kind of tiger with sword-like teeth, which is meant 

7. Allusion and Pun

“blue Peter on empty ships

All Peters with petered out desires”

The poet here is alluding to the biblical story of Jesus’ call of the twelve disciples.

Just as Peter, the hardworking fisherman, returns empty-handed after toiling all day at sea, so has the society the poet describes to us has nothing significant to show many years after attaining political independence

The play on words, also known as pun, in “all Peters with petered out desires” goes to portray the society as a place of elusive dreams.

8. Repetition

Here come a couple of instances of repetition in the poem,Ambush.

The land

The repetitive use of “the land” depicts the reflective mood of the persona. He appears to be in deep thought, brooding over what might have gone wrong with his native land.

This repetition also emphasizes the poet’s deep love and attachment to his motherland despite its current difficulties. This is a patriot whose undying love for his country cannot be questioned.

Giant

The obstacles are huge.

However, the poet might as well be saying that, like any other giant, the problems facing the nation can be overcome with the right leadership and the right methods.

Could Gbemisola Adeoti in any way be alluding to the biblical David and Goliath story? Your guess is as good as mine. 

9. Symbolism 

 the animals used by the poetic persona all symbolizes the different institutions of the government. Likewise, the land symbolizes the instituted authority of the country. Yes this was explained as metaphor. Unfortunately, I cannot explain why here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive an email when the post on the “Difference between metaphor and symbolism” is made.

10. Metonymy 

 the land is something that relates to the government as an authority. So, the poetic persona uses it to refer to them the government. Just like when someone says that, “the land must hear this”, he/he is actually making reference to the instituted authority that governs the land and not the land as an object.

The structure of the poem

The structure of the poem is very easy to understand since the poem does not take a rigid classic structure like that of The Pulley by George Herbert

Ambush is a 21 lines poem that is void of specific rhythm and end rhyme pattern; not broken into verses. With the aid of symbolism, metaphor, imagery, etc. the poet's opinion is flatly tabled in front of the readers. "The land" which appeared many times in the poem plus the metaphorical animals reveal how the masses of a badly governed society suffer (standing at the receiving end). Each opinion of the poem speaker is further explained with the introduction of a relative pronoun "that" for instance in line 2, "that swallows the sinker" in line 9 as well, "that cries deep in the glade". Though Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti is not structured in a multi-stanza form but each mention of "The land" gives birth to a fresh opinion, which divides the poem into four (4) nonvisual stanzas

Mood and Tone

The mood is gloomy and sober with a corresponding tone of lamentation and pessimism. There appears to be a shift in tone in the last stanza as he expresses hope but he ends the stanza on a pessimistic note.

About the Poet 

Gbemisola Adeoti

Gbemisola Adeoti holds a PhD in English from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He worked as a reporter/researcher with The News magazine, Lagos, before joining the English Department of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he is currently a professor and director of the Institute of Cultural Studies. His areas of teaching and research include dramatic literature, literary history, literary theory and popular culture.