Author
Gary Soto’s poetry “Behind Grandma’s House” is a poem of rebellion told through the perspective of a youngster who is greedy for attention, lacks respect, and, paradoxically, receives a lesson from his grandma as a result of his behavior. The poetry is all about ordinary occurrences, frequently mirroring his existence as a Chicano. The poem “Behind Grandma’s House” is also a representation of a person’s everyday troubles. This poem depicts how one grows up and how children imagine maturing.
Theme
The theme of Soto’s poetry “Behind Grandma’s House” is a turning moment in a boy’s development. The author highlights the improper behavior of a youngster who urgently wants to seem “grown up” and “cool.” The poem has symbolism: “a comb and two Coca-Cola bottles, a tube of Bryl cream” (Soto, 1952, p. 1, lines 1-2). These goods represent the time period in which the events of the poem occurred, and their mention implies that the boy was attempting to look grown.
Analogy
The poem is also full of analogies, such as “I heard the light bulbs like grenades” (Soto, 1952, p. 1, line 8). At the end of the poem, the author uses situational irony, which the reader could not have expected: “Her hair mussed and said ‘let me help you’; And punched me between the eyes” (Soto, 1952, p. 1, lines 20-21). The reader expects the grandma to respond graciously after the words of assistance, but instead, she punches her grandson. Her acts were intended to enlighten the youngster and make him reflect on his conduct.
Literary Devices
The poem’s premise is how youngsters see themselves growing up and attempting to be grownups. This can be a tough process since a teenager’s rebelliousness might trump common sense. Literary methods such as symbolism and simile help to establish the concept of growing up as a multifaceted experience, which enriches the reader’s experience. An aspect like situational irony might hypnotize the audience, but once they think about it, it helps them realize what the author is trying to say.
Reference
Soto, G. (1952). Behind grandma’s house. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.