The Red Wheelbarrow Poem Summary And Analysis - LitCharts

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Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up The Red Wheelbarrow Summary & Analysis by William Carlos Williams Upgrade to A+ The Red Wheelbarrow Summary & Analysis by William Carlos Williams PDF

• Introduction
• Summary
• Themes
• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Symbols
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Speaker
• Setting
• Context
• Resources
• Download PDF
• Download Teacher Edition

• Intro
• Summary
• Themes
• Line-by-LineExplanations
• Symbols
• PoeticDevices
• Vocabulary &References
• Form, Meter, &Rhyme Scheme
• Speaker
• Setting
• Context
• Resources

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The Full Text of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

1so much depends

2upon

3a red wheel

4barrow

5glazed with rain

6water

7beside the white

8chickens

The Full Text of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

1so much depends

2upon

3a red wheel

4barrow

5glazed with rain

6water

7beside the white

8chickens

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Introduction

  • "The Red Wheelbarrow," first published in 1923, is one of American poet William Carlos Williams's most famous poems, despite being rather cryptic: it consists of a single sentence describing a red wheelbarrow, wet with rain, sitting beside some chickens. The only other information given is vague, and when speaker says that "so much depends upon" this wheelbarrow, the reader likely wonders, "What depends it, exactly?" An example of Imagist poetry, "The Red Wheelbarrow" focuses above all on conveying a precise depiction of, well, an image. However, this does not suggest that the poem lacks meaning. From the attention paid to the image of the wheelbarrow, it is possible that the speaker is observing and appreciating the everyday necessity of manual labor—or even commenting on humankind's relationship with nature.

  • Read the full text of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Summary

  • It feels as though many things rely on the use of a red cart with a single wheel; the one I see now is sitting outside, still wet from rain, next to some white chickens.

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Themes

  • 

    Sentimentality and Everyday Objects

    "The Red Wheelbarrow" is an example of something called Imagist poetry, which focuses on using language to convey vivid, precise images to the reader. While this style might make Williams's poem seem pretty vague, the speaker's focus on the red wheelbarrow suggests that the poem could very well be a sentimental meditation on the use of common objects. There is a sense of wonder—and tenderness, even—as the speaker pauses to take stock of a common, simple item whose value people rarely notice or consider.

    Note how the speaker relays the scene with subtly increasing complexity: the wheelbarrow is not simply wet, but "glazed" with "rain / water." It is not just outside, but "beside the white / chickens." The continuous re-framing of the wheelbarrow suggests that the speaker is encouraging the reader to look closer at the image at hand, and that there is more than meets the eye even when regarding something as mundane as a wheelbarrow.

    Much of the imagery is also described using gentle language: again, the wheelbarrow is "glazed" with water, suggesting that the wheelbarrow is in the moment of quiet that so often follows a rainstorm; the wheelbarrow is wet, but not in a way that is overflowing with water. The chickens, too, are not noisy or flustered, as chickens are often depicted. Instead, they are simply "white," with their color drawing the most attention and suggesting that the chickens, too, are quiet in this moment.

    Even the notion that "so much depends upon" the wheelbarrow is arguably a quieter assertion than it could be. If the speaker were to say something like, "my family depends upon" or "my life depends upon" a red wheelbarrow, rather than the vague "so much," the poem might get tense—suddenly, the identity of the speaker would infuse the poem with the sense of urgent individual needs, which would, essentially, decrease the value of the wheelbarrow in and of itself. Though the wheelbarrow and what depends upon it could be as vast as the whole of civilization (given that these tools have aided in farming and construction for a millennia), the language as it stands only ever softly suggests these things, rather than staunchly declares them.

    The poem's form—stretching a single sentence over several lines—reinforces its calm, meditative tone. It pushes the reader to slow down, to linger over the wheelbarrow in the same way the speaker does. The fact that the poem lacks punctuation and capitalization further suggests that the speaker is in a thoughtful and reflective state. If the speaker were to say, "So much depends upon the red wheelbarrow!" the poem would feel much more urgent. Yet, the speaker is not necessarily evaluating the wheelbarrow's necessity so much as simply observing it. This observation, in turn, can be seen as a sentimental act in which the speaker regards an everyday object with a sort of reverence.

    While "The Red Wheelbarrow" is ultimately representative of the Imagist ideals in its focus on a specific image rather than narrative or lyricism, it can also be seen as a celebration or even simple acknowledgment of sentimentality. Perhaps there are more objects like the red wheelbarrow, it might suggest, that are also worthy of such tender regard.

    • See where this theme is active in the poem.
  • 

    Nature, Civilization, and Agriculture

    The wheelbarrow is an enduring and universal tool, used by people for thousands of years. It is most commonly associated with farming and construction—arguably, the foundation upon which civilization is built. In the poem, the wheelbarrow and its surrounding environment could also nod specifically towards agricultural workers and rural communities. As such, the poem's contemplation of the wheelbarrow can be read as a meditation on the link between humanity and the natural world—as well as an assertion of the importance of respecting the latter.

    While civilizations are often defined by their more complex features (such as a written language or social structure), farming and construction are the means that provide the survival of any society (i.e., through food). Thus, the wheelbarrow and its association with this kind of labor could represent the basic means upon which society is built.

    By extension, the wheelbarrow here might be taken to represent the value of the working class. This class—the people actually performing said manual labor, such as farmers, miners, construction workers, etc.—is often stereotyped as being unskilled and unintelligent. Physical work, in general, is often misclassified as "lowly" or "simple," which ignores the complexity that goes into planting, pollinating, etc. Seeing as this work is often undervalued despite its importance to human survival, the attention given to the wheelbarrow (and, through it, the people who use wheelbarrows) could act as a subtle acknowledgement and celebration of the working class.

    The wheelbarrow and its immediate surroundings (it's outside, next to some chickens) could also allude specifically to agricultural workers and serve as an important reminder of the significance of farmers to society. Finally, the poem's outdoor setting could also speak to the value of society working in harmony with nature, rather than against it.

    What's more, the fact that the wheelbarrow isn't actually being used in the poem could represent the consequence of failing to appreciate the wheelbarrow (and everything it represents). Note that the wheelbarrow is "glazed with rain / water," which indicates that it is at rest. Perhaps this is because it is has recently rained, preventing the owner of the wheelbarrow from using it momentarily, or it could suggest that the wheelbarrow has been neglected for some time.

    Taken on a broad, symbolic level, the inactive wheelbarrow might represent the ways in which society takes laborers for granted and will only recognize their importance for the day-to-day functioning of society when they are not working—much like when trash collectors go on strike and garbage begins to pile up because no one is taking it away. The state of the wheelbarrow might also suggest a rupture in humankind's relationship with nature itself, letting the tools that work the earth sit gathering water and rust.

    • See where this theme is active in the poem.
  • 

    Perception and Reality

    Throughout "The Red Wheelbarrow," the speaker insists that the reader pay closer and closer attention to a simple image. The speaker begins by announcing the importance of the image before even describing it, stating that "so much depends / upon"—and leaving the reader to briefly wonder what could be so important. The speaker continues the thought in the next stanza, answering the question: "a red wheel / barrow," and then spends the last two stanzas of the poem describing the wheelbarrow's state and its surroundings in increasing detail.

    Beyond suggesting the importance of this specific image, the poem can also be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of perception in general—that is, the poem doesn't just seek to emphasize the value of this particular object, but also to reveal how quickly one's vision and understanding of the world can shift. Perception itself is thus presented as subjective and fallible, rather than an objective reflection of reality.

    The speaker purposefully and carefully breaks apart a single image, demonstrating its complexity by adding more detail in small bites. The scene itself is not remarkable at first glance: a wheelbarrow sitting outside is something many people have likely passed without a second thought.

    However, the speaker, in arguing that "so much depends upon" the red wheelbarrow, encourages the reader to look closer. And although the poem is only one sentence long, the speaker breaks the image of the wheelbarrow down into six different lines, forcing the image of the wheelbarrow to stay with the reader for longer than anticipated. It could be argued that, because of the speaker's insistence on the importance of the red wheelbarrow and the way the speaker continues to provide more and more details about the image, that perhaps the speaker intends to show the reader how to change and question their own perceptions.

    While the details are slight and may not seem important, they are significant enough to the speaker that, not only are they worth mentioning, but they are worthy enough to be the only thing mentioned. For what reason, the reader can't be sure: perhaps it is because the wheelbarrow represents something much grander, like an entire community of overworked and undervalued farmworkers, or it is because the wheelbarrow perhaps reminds the speaker of the value of simplicity. Either way, the speaker intends for the reader to challenge their initial perception of the wheelbarrow and the scene at hand—and thus to challenge the nature of perception itself.

    • See where this theme is active in the poem.

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

  • Lines 1-2

    so much depends upon

    The first two lines of the poem are its most vague, and in turn, the most suggestive. The lines are a mysterious cliffhanger: so much depends upon... what exactly? In this moment, it could be anything; four short words open up endless possibilities.

    The poem's form reflects this mystery—with the enjambment creating a sense of anticipation as the poem begins to spill down the page, each line depending on the following in order for its full meaning to become clear.

    The language, meanwhile, creates a casual, calm tone. For one thing, there is no capitalization or punctuation whatsoever. The speaker is not concerned with following strict grammatical rules, and keeps the initial "s" lowercase despite the fact that this is the start of the poem's single sentence. The poem's lack of capitalization contributes to the speaker's tone, creating an atmosphere of detached observation rather than urgent judgment.

    The language in this first stanza also demonstrates the gentleness that pervades "The Red Wheelbarrow." The first line does indeed make a declaration, asserting that "so much depends / upon" something (soon revealed, of course, to be a red wheelbarrow), but this declaration is far softer than it could be. Think of it this way: if the speaker instead announced, "My life depends on my red wheelbarrow," the poem would then be decidedly more urgent! It could very well be that the speaker's life depends on this wheelbarrow, but the phrasing and grammar soften the line's impact. This is a poem concerned with reflection, not drama; with creating an image, not relaying a plot.

    The first two lines also contain both assonance and consonance: with the short /u/ sound (which sounds like, "uh") in the words "much" and "upon," as well as the /n/ and /p/ sounds in the words "depends" and "upon," respectively. The /u/ sound is also somewhat similar to the short /e/ sound ("eh") in the word "depends." This creates a sense of internal cohesion, the first line sonically connected to the second—even if the reader is not yet sure why.

  • Lines 3-4

    a red wheel barrow

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Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. Ipsa et occaecati. Ducimus qui id. Aspernatur non omnis. Atque maiores reiciendis. Ratione expedita deserunt. Rerum non quidem. Occaecati blanditiis impedit. Laudantium aut eveniet. Dignissimos sed temporibus. Mollitia quia dicta. Facere quaerat autem. Consequatur nisi dolor. Nisi natus in. Nostrum consequatur voluptatem. Culpa error animi. Delectus tempore sed. Animi perferendis aliquam. Omnis explicabo voluptate. Necessitatibus ipsa itaque. Placeat harum explicabo. Amet deleniti impedit. Qui totam voluptatum. Harum vel consectetur. Ut aut nihil. Et dolor voluptatem. Fuga ut dolore. Dolorem fuga harum. Eaque possimus nam. Fugit qui voluptate. Exercitationem sit necessitatibus. Quisquam inventore cupiditate. Ipsam voluptas eius. Sed voluptates optio. Officiis nulla commodi. Nisi ducimus nulla. Aut distinctio quidem. Velit consequatur sit. Consequuntur quia ut. Quia quos sunt. Quidem laudantium sapiente. Aut voluptate maiores. Totam magnam eveniet. Esse optio dolore. Sunt architecto quae. Officia Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. Ipsa et occaecati. Ducimus qui id. Aspernatur non omnis. Atque maiores reiciendis. Ratione expedita deserunt. Rerum non quidem. Occaecati blanditiis impedit. Laudantium aut eveniet. Dignissimos sed temporibus. Mollitia quia dicta. Facere quaerat autem. Consequatur nisi dolor. Nisi natus in. Nostrum consequatur voluptatem. Culpa error animi. Delectus tempore sed. Animi perferendis aliquam. Omnis explicabo voluptate. Necessitatibus ipsa itaque. Placeat harum explicabo. Amet deleniti impedit. Qui totam voluptatum. Harum vel consectetur. Ut aut nihil. Et dolor voluptatem. Fuga ut dolore. Dolorem fuga harum. 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  • Lines 5-6

    glazed with rain water

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. Ipsa et occaecati. Ducimus qui id. Aspernatur non omnis. Atque maiores reiciendis. Ratione expedita deserunt. Rerum non quidem. Occaecati blanditiis impedit. Laudantium aut eveniet. Dignissimos sed temporibus. Mollitia quia dicta. Facere quaerat autem. Consequatur nisi dolor. Nisi natus in. Nostrum consequatur voluptatem. Culpa error animi. Delectus tempore sed. Animi perferendis aliquam. Omnis explicabo voluptate. Necessitatibus ipsa itaque. Placeat harum explicabo. Amet deleniti impedit. Qui totam voluptatum. Harum vel consectetur. Ut aut nihil. Et dolor voluptatem. Fuga ut dolore. Dolorem fuga harum. Eaque possimus nam. Fugit qui voluptate. Exercitationem sit necessitatibus. Quisquam inventore cupiditate. Ipsam voluptas eius. Sed voluptates optio. Officiis nulla commodi. Nisi ducimus nulla. Aut distinctio quidem. Velit consequatur sit. Consequuntur quia ut. Quia quos sunt. Quidem laudantium sapiente. Aut voluptate maiores. Totam magnam eveniet. Esse optio dolore. Sunt architecto quae. Officia ut ad. Commodi dolorem nulla. Modi debitis sed. Rerum ea quo. Consequuntur no Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. Ipsa et occaecati. Ducimus qui id. Aspernatur non omnis. Atque maiores reiciendis. Ratione expedita deserunt. Rerum non quidem. Occaecati blanditiis impedit. Laudantium aut eveniet. Dignissimos sed temporibus. Mollitia quia dicta. Facere quaerat autem. Consequatur nisi dolor. Nisi natus in. Nostrum consequatur voluptatem. Culpa error animi. Delectus tempore sed. Animi perferendis aliquam. Omnis explicabo voluptate. Necessitatibus ipsa itaque. Placeat harum explicabo. Amet deleniti impedit. Qui totam voluptatum. Harum vel consectetur. Ut aut nihil. Et dolor voluptatem. Fuga ut dolore. Dolorem fuga harum. Eaque possimus nam. Fugit qui voluptate. Exercitationem sit necessitatibus. Quisquam inventore cupiditate. Ipsam voluptas eius. Sed voluptates optio. Officiis nulla commodi. Nisi ducimus nulla. Aut distinctio quidem. Velit consequatur sit. Consequuntur quia ut. Quia quos sunt. Quidem laudantium sapiente. Aut voluptate maiores. Totam magnam eveniet. Esse optio dolore. Sunt architecto quae. Officia ut ad. Commodi dolorem nulla. Modi debitis sed. Rerum ea quo. Consequuntur no Unlock with LitCharts A+

  • Lines 7-8

    beside the white chickens

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. I Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel voluptatem ut. I Unlock with LitCharts A+

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Symbols

  • 

    The Red Wheelbarrow

    The wheelbarrow symbolizes several different things in the poem. On the one hand, the wheelbarrow can be taken as a representation of farm life in general, especially when placed in an environment with "chickens." The fact that the wheelbarrow is also a tool might also indicate to the reader that the wheelbarrow is representing farm workers more specifically. By declaring that "so much depends upon" the wheelbarrow, then, the poem implies the importance of agriculture and farm laborers.

    More broadly, the wheelbarrow can also act as a representation for any and all everyday objects that the speaker believes are deserving of appreciation. The wheelbarrow is a rather mundane item that people may overlook, and by focusing so intently on it, the poem might be suggesting the value of appreciating these simple items that make life easier.

    To that end, the red wheelbarrow can also be seen as a symbol for perception. The speaker spends the poem altering the reader's perception of the wheelbarrow, which could suggest that the wheelbarrow is meant to demonstrate how one can—and perhaps, should— take a closer look at their surroundings and challenge their own perspective.

    • See where this symbol appears in the poem.

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

  • Enjambment

    This short poem consists entirely of a single sentence, which is drawn out over the course of eight lines using enjambment. Each line spills over into the next, creating a casual, free-flowing sensation that contributes to the poem's calm, meditative tone. Note how quickly the image would rush by were the lines not enjambed:

    so much depends upon a red wheelbarrow glazed with rainwater beside the white chickens

    Doesn't feel quite as poetic, does it? The enjambment slows down the poem, ensuring the reader is surveying the scene with the same focus and intent as the speaker. The image described in "The Red Wheelbarrow" is not just a feature of the poem, but is the poem—if the reader were to skim through it, they would miss out on the poem entirely. And just as "so much depends upon a red wheel barrow," each line in the poem depends upon the line that follows for its meaning to become apparent, for the poem's image to clearly emerge.

    The enjambment also works to break down the image into its various parts. The compound word "wheelbarrow," for instance, is broken into its two parts, as is the word "rainwater." The same is basically true for "white chickens": although this phrase is comprised of two words, the word "white" is an adjective describing the color of the chickens, and thus "white" can also be understood as being part of the chickens. The lines continue to break down the image into smaller pieces, suggesting the value of closely observing and appreciating simple things.

    In a similar vein, the enjambment can also be thought of as complicating the image, demonstrating how even mundane objects can become complex upon further examination. The entirety of the poem describes a pretty simple, maybe even boring, scene: a wheelbarrow sitting outside. However, as the speaker continues to describe the scene, it gathers details that paint a more interesting portrait: the wheelbarrow is not simply wet but is "glazed with rain / water." The wheelbarrow is not just outside, but "beside" chickens that are "white." The scene becomes more detailed, and thus, more intimate as it goes along. The enjambment highlights these details, allotting them plenty of space on the page in order to demonstrate their importance.

    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

  • Assonance

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis
    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

  • Extended Metaphor

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque Unlock with LitCharts A+
    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

  • Juxtaposition

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt Unlock with LitCharts A+
    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

  • Imagery

    Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel vol Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapiente. Cum sunt quo. Accusamus veritatis voluptatum. Rerum est et. Aut autem sit. Soluta dolor fuga. Debitis ut est. Inventore qui voluptas. Velit corporis saepe. Distinctio veritatis enim. Natus inventore perspiciatis. Eaque labore vel. Libero sunt eum. Est libero quia. Dolor eum doloremque. Omnis enim iusto. Ipsa quia nesciunt. Doloremque et omnis. Aut sint debitis. Velit ut id. Id aut omnis. Adipisci id doloribus. Quis nihil perspiciatis. Deleniti qui aut. Ipsam quisquam illum. Qui et fugit. Et doloremque esse. Vel vol Unlock with LitCharts A+
    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

  • Consonance

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    • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

• "The Red Wheelbarrow" Vocabulary

  Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

  • Upon
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Glazed

  • Upon is a more formal version of the word "on."

    • See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

  • Form

    "The Red Wheelbarrow" consists of four stanzas of two lines apiece; each first line has three words, and each second line just one. Even as the poem feels very calm and casual, there is a sense of internal cohesiveness. Just as the poem uses sound (via assonance and consonance) to keep the image it is describing connected even as the lines stretch further down the page, the poem's form adds to its steady, thoughtful pace.

    Each stanza adds more detail to the image, while the also creating a lot of white space on the page—perhaps for the reader's imagination to run free. Notably, the poem is also written entirely in lowercase letters and lacks any punctuation. This contributes to the notion that the speaker is in a state of observation: the speaker is not judging the scene or applying grammatical norms to what is before them. All that is there is the image, unadorned, presented on its own, ready for contemplation.

    If the poem intends for the reader to re-evaluate and look closer at seemingly simple surroundings, the lack of punctuation also gives the sensation that the poem goes on beyond the last line; perhaps the speaker will continue to look at everyday objects in a new and enlightened way.

  • Meter

    "The Red Wheelbarrow" is written in free verse. It sounds thoughtful and conversational, and is not bound by trying to fit into metrical conventions. This reflects the point of the poem: the speaker is constructing a precise image for the reader, and images do not have any specific meter.

    Yet while it does not follow a specific meter, it is still interesting to look at the various patterns of sound in the poem.

    Line 1 can be read as being either iambic dimeter or a spondee (stressed-stressed) followed by an iamb, depending on whether you emphasize "so." The line that follows consists of a clearly iambic foot:

    so much depends upon

    In either case, the poem begins with a fairly familiar sound: the English language is naturally iambic—many poems a reader encounters will have instances of iambic feet in them, whether they are written intentionally or not.

    Yet in lines 3-4, the speaker uses three stresses in a row when talking specifically about the image of the wheelbarrow, placing undeniable emphasis on the main image of the poem:

    a red wheel barrow

    Lines 5-6 then both begin with stressed syllables:

    glazed with rain water

    While the first two lines are iambic, the image of the wheelbarrow and its surroundings introduces a subtly more forceful pattern. This, in turn, demonstrates the importance of the image, with the speaker making certain that the wheelbarrow remains the most prominent feature of the poem by keeping the reader focused on it via sound.

    The stressed syllables also might demonstrate the shift in perspective—initially, the speaker's meter was more natural, matching with the general English language. However, upon observing the wheelbarrow, the perspective began to change.

    The reader then sees a return to iambic dimeter in line 7 as the focus shifts toward another part of the landscape:

    beside the white

    However, unlike the first couplet, the following line ends the poem with a trochee:

    chickens

    The double stress of "white chickens" adds a final dash of emphasis to the other object mentioned in the poem, helping the reader see the final image all the more clearly.

  • Rhyme Scheme

    "The Red Wheelbarrow" is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow any specific rhyme scheme. This is fitting, given that the poem also does not have a regular meter and eschews grammatical rules of capitalization and punctuation. Together, all these contribute to the poem's calm, meditative tone.

    However, the poem does include several instances of internal rhyme created through assonance. For example, in line 5, "glazed" and "rain" share a long /a/ vowel sound, which creates a relationship between the words (the "glazed" quality is caused by the "rain"). Later, in line 7, assonance occurs with the long /i/ vowel sound in "beside" and "white."

    There are in fact many reoccurring sounds throughout "The Red Wheelbarrow," which, while not always instances of true assonance or consonance, contribute to the poem's steady pacing and thematic relationships in the absence of a rhyme scheme. For example, the consonant sounds "with," "water," "white," "rain" all appear after the words "red" and wheelbarrow" Because the image of the red wheelbarrow is the focus of the poem, and the phrase "red wheelbarrow" itself contains several /r/ and /w/ sounds, it could be argued that the continued use of words that feature /r/ and /w/ sounds keep the reader's mind on the wheelbarrow, even when the speaker is discussing another image. Thus despite the poem's casual, free flowing quality, it still sounds cohesive and poetic.

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Speaker

  • This poem's speaker is anonymous and rather detached, never once referring to themselves in any capacity. There is really nothing once can be sure of regarding this speaker. The reader can't even tell if the red wheelbarrow belongs to the speaker or not, nor can the reader even be sure if the speaker is looking at the wheelbarrow in the moment of the poem, reminiscing on a scene from the past, or simply conjuring an image from the speaker's own imagination.

    What is clear, however, is that the speaker has a deep respect for the wheelbarrow and the work it does. The speaker slowly and deliberately explains the situation surrounding the wheelbarrow, making sure that the reader takes in every detail. The speaker begins the poem by telling the reader that "so much depends upon the red wheelbarrow," encouraging readers to examine the wheelbarrow closer so that they may see what the speaker sees.

    It is clearly important to the speaker for others to consider this wheelbarrow, and perhaps, by extension, to more thoughtfully consider other seemingly mundane objects around them. Through this reverence, the reader can perhaps assume that the speaker is fairly sentimental or old-fashioned, preferring more reliable and simple machines, and respecting of humanity's ties to the natural world.

• “The Red Wheelbarrow” Setting

  • Though the speaker does not indicate whether or not the scene being described is literal, a memory, or perhaps all in the speaker's imagination, it can be assumed that the setting of the poem is the red wheelbarrow and its surroundings. The speaker tells the reader that the wheelbarrow is "glazed with rain / water // beside the white / chickens," which indicates that the wheelbarrow is outside. It could also be argued that, through the presence of the wheelbarrow and the chickens, the poem takes place on a farm, or is at least in a rural area.

• Literary and Historical Context of “The Red Wheelbarrow”

  • Literary Context

    William Carlos Williams published "The Red Wheelbarrow" in his 1923 poetry collection, Spring and All. In this collection, the poem does not have a title, but is merely marked "XXII" (the Roman numeral for the number 22). "The Red Wheelbarrow" is considered one of the most prominent poems of the Imagist movement, which was started by Ezra Pound in the early 1900s as a reaction against the more passionate and excessive Victorian Romanticism. Imagism, by contrast, focuses on the "hard, dry image." The movement also found inspiration in the short and exact haiku, as well as from ancient Greek lyricists.

    Williams, along with Pound, H.D. (Hilda Doolittle), and James Joyce, were considered major players in the Imagist movement. However, Williams eventually began to stray from the movement, which can be seen in his later writing. At the time, Williams felt he was overshadowed by T.S. Elliot's wildly popular The Wasteland, which was published the same year as Spring and All. Nevertheless, Williams is considered to have had a major influence on both Imagism and the later Beats poets, such as Allen Ginsburg.

    Williams was also a physician, and some scholars have argued that "The Red Wheelbarrow" is actually a reference to a toy that belonged to a dying patient of his. However, Williams later revealed that the wheelbarrow belonged to an African American neighbor of his, stating, "I suppose my affection for the old man somehow got into the writing."

    In any case, it is important to note that poems are often quite layered and can represent multiple ideas at once—their themes can even emerge subconsciously, as indicated by Williams demonstrating that perhaps he did not actively set out to write a poem about his neighbor. It is important to avoid basing too much literary analysis on the author's biography.

    Historical Context

    "The Red Wheelbarrow" was published in 1923, which, in the United States, was a period of economic and industrial growth. The 1920s, known as the "Roaring Twenties," saw an increase in more modern appliances, such as television sets, cars, telephones, etc. being introduced to the home. This upswing in production and consumption led to significant lifestyle changes as well. For example, women gained the right to vote in the United States and became more independent than the years before.

    In the context of this poem, the glitz and glamor of the 1920s hardly makes an appearance, instead focusing on a simple machine and its rural surroundings. It may seem as though the historical context did not have any impact on the poem, but it could be argued that this poem is a reaction to the economic boom of the 20s; if the reader interprets the wheelbarrow as being representative of manual laborers and farmworkers, the speaker of the poem is suggesting that the reader remember the common people who have played a significant role in the country's success. If the reader is to see the poem as a simple act of paying attention to one's surroundings, then perhaps the poem serves as a reminder to have respect for the simpler things in life, even when surrounding by flashy modern inventions.

• More “The Red Wheelbarrow” Resources

  • External Resources

    • The Poem Out Loud — A short clip in which William Carlos Williams reads "The Red Wheelbarrow."

    • William Carlos Williams's Life and Legacy — Biographical information about William Carlos Williams from the Poetry Foundation.

    • What Is Imagism? — A brief history and explanation of the Imagist movement, provided by Poets.org.

    • Poets on the Poem — An episode of "Poem Talk," a podcast hosted by Al Filreis, in which he and other poets (Charles Bernstein, Bob Grenier, and Bob Perelman) discuss "The Red Wheelbarrow" and other work by William Carlos Williams. 

    • Inspiration for "The Red Wheelbarrow" — A New York Times article discussing the quite literal red wheelbarrow (and its owner) that inspired the poem.

  • LitCharts on Other Poems by William Carlos Williams

    • Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

    • Raleigh Was Right

    • Spring and All (By the road to the contagious hospital)

    • The Widow's Lament in Springtime

    • This Is Just To Say

Cite This Page

Definition (read the full definition & explanation with examples) Close The Red Wheelbarrow Full Text

1so much depends

2upon

3a red wheel

4barrow

5glazed with rain

6water

7beside the white

8chickens

Close

Lines 3-4

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