Ernest Hilbert's 1970 poem "Domestic Situation" explores the complex nature of love from the perspective of a woman in an abusive relationship. The poem uses minimal details and personal pronouns rather than names to allow readers to interpret the characters differently. It describes how the woman has endured broken bones, financial struggles, and the death of her cat, yet she remains in love with the man. Hilbert suggests that only those within a relationship can truly understand the nature of their love, as others will never fully comprehend it. The poem highlights how people often question why abuse victims maintain their love, but love is a deeply personal experience that outsiders cannot define.

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Writer's Name : Ashleigh Jacobs
Subject : Essay Center
Institution : Broward College
Course
Level/Title
: ENC 1102
Professor's
Name
: Bianchi
Due Date : 2015-04-01 00:00:00
Draft Number : 1
Submission
Number
: 1
Writing Title : Essay 2
Description of
the assignment
: 1. Please choose a poem from our reading list that strikes you on some level and that you are
interested in researching. The poem itself is considered the primary source. Other texts are secondary
sources, such as texts that discuss or analyze the poem. Do a preliminary check to see what
secondary sources are available. 2. After reading your poem two or three times, begin to formulate a
statement of meaning/working thesis. Once you have managed to create this statement, begin to
formulate supporting ideas. Use the Developing Ideas worksheet provided. 3. Complete a close
reading of the poem and create a list of the poetic devices you discover (symbolism, theme,
metaphor, imagery, rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, etc.). Next, explain how (some of) these devices work
together to develop meaning and theme. This was done as part of your journal work. If you want to
choose a different poem than one you used for a journal entry, that is fine. Just be sure to do a close
reading and note the devices. 4. Take note of the poem’s form. Do you notice a particular rhyme
scheme? A rhythm or set structure to the lines and/or stanzas? Is the poem a particular type or style?
You may discover the poem is a sonnet or another closed form. This discovery may happen as you
research, as well. Be sure to note the form in your essay. 5. Conduct research and look for secondary
sources that support your interpretation of the poem. You should consult electronic databases, print
books, and journal articles online. We have scheduled a class meeting in the library to review
research skills and databases. You will have time to do some research on your particular poem. Make
sure you already have a poem in mind that you want to use for the essay. It is very important that you
attend this meeting as you will need to incorporate credible sources in your essay. 4-6 pages 1000-
1500 words MLA format
Help
Requested
: Organization Transitions Word Choice Sentence Structure Grammar and Mechanics
Areas of
Interest
: Main Idea/Thesis,Organization

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HOW THIS WORKS: Your e-structor has written overview comments about your essay in the
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*Strengths of the essay:
Hi Ashleigh! I'm Monique D., your online tutor for today. I'll help you with your literary analysis essay
on Ernest Hilbert’s “Domestic Situation.” Before we go over your work, let's talk about your strengths.
You used “furthermore” as a transition:
Furthermore into this poem you start to see the more emotional aspect of what message the
poem is conveying.
Using transitions helps readers follow one idea to the next in your sentences. Keep that up!
*Ashleigh 6782695 has requested that you respond to the Main Idea/Thesis:
Ashleigh, you could improve your thesis by identifying the poetic devices that are used in the poem to
develop the theme so that readers can see how you will analyze the poem. Let’s review your thesis:
Ernest Hilbert’s 1970 poem “Domestic Situation” demonstrates how this poet uses a case of
domestic violence to showcase the definition of love from the abusee’s perspective for the
abuser.
So far, you said that the poem shows how the poet uses a case of domestic violence to showcase the
definition of love. But what poetic devices are used in the poem? Are symbols used? If so, what are
the symbols? What does each symbol mean? What is the theme of the poem? What does Hilbert
suggest about love? How is this theme developed by other devices? Here’s an example:
In the poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” Robert Herrick uses sun to symbolize
youth and rose to represent the passage of time and conjures the image of maidens and
conveys the message that an individual should seize the day to live life to the fullest.
Here in my thesis, I identified the poetic devices that Herrick uses in his poem: symbolism, imagery
and theme. I identified the symbols and what they mean. The symbols in “To the Virgins, to Make
Much of Time” are the sun and rose which represent youth and passage of time. I also identified the
image conjured in the poem: maidens. Lastly, I identified the theme specifically: it suggests that an
individual should seize the day to live life to the fullest. So what poetic devices does Hilbert use in his
poem? What is the theme or message of his poem? If you need more help with your thesis, you can
visit this link about how to make a good thesis: Chapter 3: Process, Lesson 6: Thesis Development:
http://http://services.smarthinking.com/static/document_library/docs/writeman/3_06.cfm/static/Docu
ment_Library/docs/writeman/3_06.cfm
Content Development:
Next, you need to focus on explaining what devices are used in the poem and how they develop the
theme, since this is required in your assignment description, Ashleigh. Let’s review this:
In this poem this girl has been through hell and back with a broken pinky, murdered cat, and
financial struggles. In the ninth and tenth line it states “but she stood by him…through it all,
because she loved him. She loved him, you see.”(9-10).Someone can do something to make
you question your love for them, but you do not stop loving them immediately.

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In this section, you’re describing how the girl is portrayed in the poem. But what device is used in the
ninth and tenth line of the poem? How does this device effectively deliver the poem’s message? What
is Hilbert trying to say through the girl’s character?
For instance, in “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” Herrick says, “Then be not coy, but use your
time,/ And while ye may, go marry.” In this line, he’s addressing young maidens. This image of
maidens illustrates how one is not young forever. As time passes, one ages. So in order to make the
most of time, one must seize the day in order to live without regrets. So what devices does Hilbert use
in his poem to bring about his message?
*Ashleigh 6782695 has requested that you respond to the Organization:
It seems that your topic sentences focus on domestic violence rather than the poem you’re analyzing.
You need to have topic sentences that state the main point of each paragraph. Having better topic
sentences allows readers to follow a smooth flow of points about the poem. Let’s take a look at this:
When looking at many cases of domestic violence, people cannot seem to fathom why the
person being abused is still in love with the person that abuses them.
Based on this sentence here, it seems as though you will discuss the issue regarding domestic
violence. This isn’t an effective topic sentence because it makes readers think you will be talking about
domestic violence, not the meaning of the poem. So what main point about the poem should your
paragraph focus on? Here’s an example:
Topic sentence 2: Moreover, Herrick conjures the image of maidens.
My second body paragraph focuses on how imagery is used in the poem. So what main point about
the poem will your paragraph support, Ashleigh? I know you can make better topic sentences. You can
do it!
Summary of Next Steps:
Here’s what you need to do:
 Identify the poetic devices that are used in the poem to develop the theme.
 Next, focus on discussing the devices Hilbert uses in his poem.
 Lastly, make topic sentences.
I had the pleasure helping you with your literary analysis essay on Ernest Hilbert’s “Domestic
Situation.” I hope my comments and suggestions will help improve your paper. I'm sure you'll revise
your paper well, Ashleigh. Best wishes! - Monique D.
Find additional resources in Smarthinking's online library:
You can find more information about writing, grammar, and usage in Smarthinking's
student handbooks. You can visit the Smarthinking Writer's Handbook or the Smarthinking
ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) Writer's Handbook.
*************************************************************************
******
Please look for more comments in your essay below. Thank you for visiting Smarthinking.
We encourage you to submit future essays.

4. Jacobs 4
Ashleigh Jacobs
Professor Bianchi
ENC1102
29 March 2015
Domestic violence is a serious issue in the world today. Many victims refuse to
think of themselves as the actual “victims” in a situation. No matter how terrible it may seem to
us. This poet explains the idea that everyone should stop trying to understand what someone
else’s concept of love is, because they will never truly understand the meaning. Ernest Hilbert’s
1970 poem “Domestic Situation” demonstrates how this poet uses a case of domestic violence to
showcase the definition of love from the abusee’s perspective for the abuser.
Hilbert’s use of personal pronouns rather than proper nouns gives the poem a sense of
mystery. We have no idea what “she” looks like, or what this “man” sounds like. That is up to
the reader to picture whomever they want to fill the visual aspect of “him” and “her”. Hilbert
leaving the characters of this poem without names was a very well thought out move. With this
tactic every reader gains a different perspective about the characters of this piece. “But she stood
by him, stood strong, through it all” ( line 9); to one person could mean that “him” is a six-foot
seven man with tan skin, big muscles and hazel eyes while to others it may be a four-foot five
man who is black, skinny, wears glasses and has dreads. By the readers interpreting these
different images, it improves this poet’s credentials to appeal to all senses.

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[You could discuss how imagery is used in the poem. What images illustrate Hilber’s
message about love? What do they reveal about what love is? Discussing the imagery would
help readers understand the poem’s meaning, Ashleigh.]
It is evident that Ernest goes straight to the point that he is trying to make instead of
lollygagging like other writers and adding too many details. His style used in the piece is meant
to be very straight forward with no questions asked. “Hilbert establishes a variation on the sonnet
form, and nuance…Hilbert shifts between delicately sonic moments and humorous narrative
sequences” (Poetry 1). This is evident from the humor indicated in the first two sentences with
the cat and the wood chipper. Furthermore into this poem you start to see the more emotional
aspect of what message the poem is conveying.
When looking at many cases of domestic violence, people cannot seem to fathom why
the person being abused is still in love with the person that abuses them. Just like others don’t
understand how one man can love another man. There is only one person who can understand
their love, and that is the person themselves. Love is something that is a very different
experience for everyone who gets the chance. In this poem this girl has been through hell and
back with a broken pinky, murdered cat, and financial struggles. [You forgot to put a comma
after “in this poem,” which is an introductory phrase. Placing the comma that follows an
introductory word, phrase, or clause tells the readers that the sentence’s main idea is
coming up next, so be sure to add one to this sentence. Please check your other sentences to
make sure that you add a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause.]

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In the ninth and tenth line it states “but she stood by him…through it all, because she loved him.
She loved him, you see.”(9-10).Someone can do something to make you question your love for
them, but you do not stop loving them immediately. It does not take a couple of minutes to fall
out of love with someone, it could take a lifetime or it could never happen at all; which is the
case here in this poem.
Despite the fact that he abused her, stole her checks, spat at her father and got her sister
pregnant she still loved him. [What is Hilbert trying to say about love through the girl’s
character? Focus on this so that readers can see what the message of the poem is.] No one
knows how these two characters met or what their past consists of. What is known is that this
woman is still so in love with this man after all he has done. That is a love that no one but her
will be able to understand. Which is the entire theme of Hilbert’s poem.
The female lead of this piece eventually goes on to marry this man. Don’t ask why or
assume that she is stupid for marrying the man that has abused her. “She felt some unique call”
to go and marry the man, so she did. That man could have been her first love and first boyfriend;
he could have also been her fifth boyfriend whom she felt was different from the rest. The reader
has no clue what it could be. Why waste time trying to figure out what love means for another
person. That would take a lifetime and you still wouldn’t be able to understand. This is exactly
what Ernest Hilbert is saying in this poem. Don’t even bother wasting time trying to figure out
the impossible.
In situations of domestic violence, like the one described in this piece there is always the
same response that is given. “You should go talk to someone” and this is said because they
believe that by talking to someone about the situation they might understand them. The sad truth

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is that no matter how many psychologists or therapists you talk to they will never fully
understand you; they just try their best to. “The question of why many battered women stay with
their abusive husbands or boyfriends is a puzzling one…The problem is doubly puzzling from an
evolutionary psychological perspective, because it emphasizes the importance of life, survival,
and individual welfare.” (Kanazawa 1). This psychologist himself admits to the trouble of trying
to understand their idea of love. For the victim her boyfriend may be her “importance of life or
survival” he might be all she has and the only person in her life to ever love her back. That could
be the very reason why she is still in love with him.
Readers who enjoy a sad romance will enjoy this poem by Hilbert. You want to
sympathize for the woman, but then again you don’t understand why after all he has done why
she is still with him. Even though this poem was constructed in the nineteenth century it is still
relevant to today’s society. [You gave an example here in relation to the poem. This makes
readers reflect on the kind of love people have for each other. Good job! ] With
homosexuals for example, a lot of people believe it is repulsive for two people of the same sex to
love each other and pursue a relationship with one another. They do not understand it, which
means that they do not approve of it. But the ones in a relationship understand why and that’s all
that matters for them.
Ernest Hilbert uses a serious situation and brings the brutal truth out that many are afraid
to admit. With his choice of grammar, Hilbert is able to play on the emotions of the reader. The
reader is led to understand that trying to comprehend someone else’s reasoning for love is a
waste of time and they shouldn’t even attempt to do so. Ernest Hilbert bringing this realization to
the table makes “Domestic Situation” a very amazing, cultivating piece to read.

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Works Cited
"Poetry Out Loud." Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.
Kanazawa, Satoshi. "Why Do Some Battered Women Stay?" Psychology Today. The Scientific
Fundamentalist, 13 Apr. 2008. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.