The poem 'Swammerdam' is about the life of Jan Swammerdam, a 17th century Dutch biologist. In his final hours near death, Swammerdam reflects on his life's work studying insects and biology under microscopes, but feeling his discoveries were ignored. He compares himself to Galileo in making discoveries about God's creation, but ended up poor and rejected. The poem uses stylistic elements like hyphens and capitalization to represent Swammerdam's deterioration and view of himself as controlled by God's plan until his death.

1. Chapter 11
-Presentation of Possession
-Chapter summary

2. Chapter 11 Summary
• A section of the poem Swammerdam, by Randolph Henry
Ash, is displayed in this chapter. It is set in Germany in
1680. Swammerdam is 43 years old and near death. He
goes back over his disappointing life in his final hours. He
has tried to learn the origins of life and used microscopes
to look at a whole new world of insects and
microorganisms. His discoveries on the law of
metamorphosis have landed on deaf ears. Everyone thinks
he is insane. His father kicked him out on the street. None
of his peers want anything to do with his findings. He has
ended up a beggar. Swammerdam compares himself to
Galileo. Galileo discovered the heavens, and Swammerdam
discovered a universe in the reverse direction. He wonders
if Galileo was equally in awe and fearful of God's creation.

3. Chapter 11 Summary
• The poem ‘Swammerdam’ is a pastiche. It is a poem that Byatt has created
to resemble the works of R.H.A.
• In the poem, hyphens are often use, “Write-if you please-I leave”. Seeing
as Swammerdam is nearing death, hyphens suggest his pain and
deterioration that is becoming of him due to his occurring death.
• In the poem, capitals are used for “Boy” and “Him”. “Boy” could be
implying Swammerdam himself because in the poem it seems that he
doesn’t think he is alive until he is dead. He is just living in the “Shelly
membrane”. “Him” is Swammerdam referring to God. He talks about how
God sees him, “He sees”. and why god has made him like this.
• In all of the stanzas, enjambment is used. This suggests that he is on a rant
and the pace is quickened. This could also imply that he is trying to bring
on his death more quickly; he doesn’t want to suffer anymore. This could
also represent his free flow of thought and the lack of structure he feels
his life has as it’s coming to a close

4. Presentation of Possession
• “I leave my manuscripts and pens to my soul friend” This could be evident for
Christabel’s influence on Ash being reflected in the poem as he fully opens to
her through their letters.
• “My father had an apothecary shop” Apothecary, the early term for a
pharmacist could imply the Boy’s father was a man of healing but was still
unable to save him, implying he was different from other people or God had
meant for him to not be saved.
• “ My soul was possessed” Throughout the poem, there are references to God
and how he owns Swammerdam. By saying this his soul was “possessed”
suggests that he was never his own person. God had always pathed the way
for him and he says “ For my poor soul, my small soul, briefly housed in this
shrunk Shelly membrane that he sees”. This quote implies that he believes
God never should have chose him because he has a “small soul” and he
doesn’t like the way that he is seen by God in is new ;life. Swammerdam is
looking forward to being “hatched tonight” and this implies that he hasn’t
been alive until he is dead. His life will be fulfilled once he dies. Describing his
soul as “possessed”, could imply he is being controlled by God like the insects
examined under the microscopes by Jan Swammerdam.