The document provides an analysis of the poem "The Cool Web" by Robert Graves. It discusses how the poem emphasizes the importance of language and proper speech. The analysis examines how Graves uses imagery and word choice in the poem to convey its message. Specifically, it argues the poem warns about the dangers of misusing language, as it can trap people and lead to problems if not used effectively to address issues. Overall, the document analyzes the themes of language, speech, and their power to both help problems and harm if misused as depicted in Graves's poem.

1. The cool web is poem written by Robert graves. The poem is about the importance of
language and speech. In this essay I am going to analyse the poem and develop an argument
about the content and the message of the poem by looking at how graves uses
wordsthroughout the poem to create imagery as a way of creating meaning of the poem. In
my argument I will focus more on what the speaker is trying to reveal by writing this poem,
to support my argument I am going to quote words, sentences, phrases and paragraphs to
bring my argument to life.
The title of the poem is “The cool web” this title creates a mixed vision of imagery to the
reader because it does not give much information about what the poem will be arguing. The
“web” is something used by spiders to trap inserts like butterflies, according the oxford
dictionary “cool” is described as a “ fairly low temperature” while the same word also
represent emotions in English slang, for example “cool down” when people express the of
calm. Therefore the title of the poem does not give much helpful information about the poem
because it creates a mixed impression of imagery. The first paragraph of the poem that begins
with the line “children are dumb to say how hot the day is” this line and the three following
lines of the first stanza prove that graves is emphasising the importance of language in human
speech. He shows how improper it is for adult to use language like children, just to express
something obvious. According to oxford dictionary “dumb” is described as being “unable to
speak”. Graves thinks it is childish for adults to use language just to state something that is
clear to anyone; he thinks adults should use language to reveal deeper feelings and new
innovations. He believes in language and speech as most powerful tools to change the world
if only we could correctly use these things more effectively.
The second stanza of the poem is arguing the fact that “we” adults have the power to change
the world with language, this is proven mostly by the first line of stanza two where he says
“but we have speech to chill the angry day” this line and the three other following lines
shows that correct use of speech can change the world unlike children who cannot produce
effective speech as a results of their inability to produce speech children cannot “chill the
angry day” but they fear what they hear because of their dumbness they cannot ask question
so as to gain knowledge that will then help the produce effective speech. The third stanza of
the poem gives us the needed information about the title of the poem, from the first line of
stanza three we get the intended meaning of the title, this line confirms the correspondence of
the title with the poem. When graves says “there is a cool web of language, wind us in” now
he refers to language as something very important that if we use it correctly and produce

2. effective speeches it could help us “chill the angry day” which means language and speech
can help us in solving the problems we have, on the other hand language and speech could
“wind us in” which definitely mean we are in danger of our own deeds, the poor use of
language is more dangerous and could lead to big uncontrollable problems. In stanza three
and four graves is emphasising that the poor use of language and speech could trap us, which
relate more to the title of the poem, the “cool web” can be seen as a warning from Robert
graves because he refers to language and speech as most important factors in human being
because he says if we do not use language properly we could be trapped in “the cool web of
language” as he says “ if we let our tongues lose self-position… no doubt, and die that way”
he warns human being about the importance of language and speech in solving problems and
he thinks we should be proud of our own language and not utter ineffective speeches that will
not help in anything as this could turn to kill us. Graves view language as a weapon that
could change the world if we could all take initiative of effective use of language.
Bibliography
Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.6thedition (September 20, 2007 Oxford: Oxford University Press,
USA
;