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Vulture
By: Chinua Achebe
 Chinua Achebe was born in
1931 in Nigeria.
 His writings deal with the
discrimination & social injustice
faced by Africans in the 20th
century.
He addresses the evil in
humans that creates a lack of
respect & consideration for one
another.
 Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian writer who
would probably be familiar with the sight of
vultures.
 Vultures are scavenging birds, feeding on
the remains of a dead animal.
 This is the image that he explores in the first
section of his poem entitled 'Vultures'
In the greyness
and drizzle of one despondent
dawn unstirred by harbinger
Of sunbreak a vulture
perching high on broken
bone of a dead tree
nestled close to his
mate his smooth
bashed-in head, a pebble
on a stem rooted in
a dump of gross
feathers, inclined affectionately
to hers. Yesterday they picked
the eyes of a swollen
corpse in a water-logged
trench and ate the
things in its bowel. Full
gorged they chose their roost
keeping the hollowed remnant
in easy range of cold
telescopic eyes…
Light rain
cloudiness
Unhappy and gloomy
messengers
rest
Left over
satisfied
Dead body
Alliteration highlights
how unwelcoming and
isolated the morning is.
A striking
Metaphor, making the
animal sound
unattractive.
Lots of
negative
adjectives
creates
images lacking
of life and
warmth.
Strange
indeed how love in other
ways so particular
will pick a corner
in that charnel-house
tidy it and coil up there, perhaps
even fall asleep – her face
turned to the wall!
Where dead
bodies and bones
are placed.
Praises that these horrid
beings can actually
show love.
This poem is primarily about how
Love can foster evil. Because no
one can truly be evil if they are
loved, then love keeps them alive.
Extended metaphor
throughout stanza
suggests love as
changeable and able to
perpetuate evil.
Personification of
love as a woman and
conjures up images of
a snake.
…Thus the Commandment at Belsen
Camp going home for
the day with fumes of
human roast clinging
rebelliously to his hairy
nostrils will stop
at the wayside sweet-shop
and pick up a chocolate
for his tender offspring
waiting at home for Daddy’s
return…
Praise bounteous
providence if you will
that grants even an ogre
a tiny glow-worm
tenderness encapsulated
in icy caverns of a cruel
heart or else despair
for in the very germ
of that kindred love is
lodged the perpetuity
of evil.
WWII Nazi
concentration camp
Similar description to
vultures feathers
The goodness of God
Monster
Does the poem leave you hopeful that every
person has some good in them, or depressed that
love can ‘allow’ such evil to continue?
This poem questions a culture which can produce a truly evil man who sill feels love and
affection for his family, and ultimately asks does love perpetuate evil?
This evil man is loved by and feels love for his son.
His evil actions elsewhere are justified to him.
hopeless
Poem "Vulture"  by Chinua Achebe

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Poem "Vulture" by Chinua Achebe

  • 2.  Chinua Achebe was born in 1931 in Nigeria.  His writings deal with the discrimination & social injustice faced by Africans in the 20th century. He addresses the evil in humans that creates a lack of respect & consideration for one another.
  • 3.  Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian writer who would probably be familiar with the sight of vultures.  Vultures are scavenging birds, feeding on the remains of a dead animal.  This is the image that he explores in the first section of his poem entitled 'Vultures'
  • 4. In the greyness and drizzle of one despondent dawn unstirred by harbinger Of sunbreak a vulture perching high on broken bone of a dead tree nestled close to his mate his smooth bashed-in head, a pebble on a stem rooted in a dump of gross feathers, inclined affectionately to hers. Yesterday they picked the eyes of a swollen corpse in a water-logged trench and ate the things in its bowel. Full gorged they chose their roost keeping the hollowed remnant in easy range of cold telescopic eyes… Light rain cloudiness Unhappy and gloomy messengers rest Left over satisfied Dead body Alliteration highlights how unwelcoming and isolated the morning is. A striking Metaphor, making the animal sound unattractive. Lots of negative adjectives creates images lacking of life and warmth.
  • 5. Strange indeed how love in other ways so particular will pick a corner in that charnel-house tidy it and coil up there, perhaps even fall asleep – her face turned to the wall! Where dead bodies and bones are placed. Praises that these horrid beings can actually show love. This poem is primarily about how Love can foster evil. Because no one can truly be evil if they are loved, then love keeps them alive. Extended metaphor throughout stanza suggests love as changeable and able to perpetuate evil. Personification of love as a woman and conjures up images of a snake.
  • 6. …Thus the Commandment at Belsen Camp going home for the day with fumes of human roast clinging rebelliously to his hairy nostrils will stop at the wayside sweet-shop and pick up a chocolate for his tender offspring waiting at home for Daddy’s return… Praise bounteous providence if you will that grants even an ogre a tiny glow-worm tenderness encapsulated in icy caverns of a cruel heart or else despair for in the very germ of that kindred love is lodged the perpetuity of evil. WWII Nazi concentration camp Similar description to vultures feathers The goodness of God Monster Does the poem leave you hopeful that every person has some good in them, or depressed that love can ‘allow’ such evil to continue? This poem questions a culture which can produce a truly evil man who sill feels love and affection for his family, and ultimately asks does love perpetuate evil? This evil man is loved by and feels love for his son. His evil actions elsewhere are justified to him. hopeless