African Beggar Essay

Question – Give an account of a poem you have read and show how the poet conveys his ideas.

‘African Beggar’ is a descriptive poem written successfully by Raymond Tong. It is a poem which paints a picture clearly in words of a poverty-stricken, native beggar.

Throughout the poem Tong uses many different techniques to portray images and to control the readers’ feelings towards the beggar. The first two lines of the poem cause the reader to feel sorry for the beggar. This emotion can be sensed greatly from the first word of the poem ‘sprawled’. The simple use of this word illustrates that the beggar is lying on the ground, his limbs stretched out awkwardly because he is unable to hold himself. Though, the word also suggests that the beggar is tired and frail as a result of the lack of water and food he is receiving. He has no energy or strength left, and has become lifeless.

The beggar is also described as a ‘target for small children, dogs and flies’. This cleverly used metaphor can either attack or defend the beggar, yet I believe there are more aspects of this quote which upholds him competently. The word ‘target’ gives the impression that he is helpless and he has no energy left to prevent the situation from occurring. He is so weak that even ‘small children’ are able to annoy and ridicule him. ‘Dogs’ are urinating on him which make him seem inanimate and unimportant and ‘flies’ are also attracted to him because he is unclean. As a result of this they are feeding on his rotting flesh.

He is also referred to as a ‘heap’ which implies that he is nothing more than a pile of skin and bones, and that he has no feelings. Again he is being considered as if non-living. This further adds to the readers’ understanding towards the beggar. For these reasons the reader empathises for the beggar as no individual should have to live such a life.


However, Tong then changes the direction of the poem by repelling the reader from the beggar. He does this skillfully by using more effective techniques and by the use of proficient words. The beggar is described to the reader as if insanitary and dangerous. He is looked upon as having ‘verminous rags and matted hair’. This efficient metaphor makes the reader assume that the beggar has a disease of some type, which he may spread. The word ‘rags’ suggests he is wearing clothes which are old and tattered, as he has no money to buy any new ones. His ‘matted hair’ simply indicates that the beggar has not been able to have a wash for a long period.

Tong also describes the beggar as having a ‘noseless smallpoxed face’. This quote portrays his ugliness, and confirms the readers’ assumption of him having a disease. So, the reader feels more aversion towards the beggar. Nevertheless, Tong doesn’t stop there. He continues to ward off the reader by describing his face as being ‘creased in a sneer’. The use of negative language in this extract, and the use of the word ‘sneer’ shows the beggar’s contempt towards other individuals. Though the beggar may only have this contempt to those who are not helping him, the reader interprets it as if he is ungrateful to all.

The image of the beggar’s ugliness continues into the second stanza: ‘yellow stumps of teeth’, which suggests his teeth are discoloured and rotting. Tong then smartly uses a complex metaphor to examine this image. He generalises his ideas by describing the beggar as a ‘grotesque mask of death’. This thick-skinned excerpt continues the presumption that the beggar is not attractive to look at and that he has not long to live because of his condition, so he is virtually dead.

Tong also uses a very intelligent method of imagery to effortlessly make a comparison of the beggar. This can be described as animal imagery. This allows the reader to easily visualize the beggar. His ‘cunning reptile eyes’ is a metaphorical example of this type of imagery. Again there is a use of negative language which drives the reader further away from the beggar. The word ‘cunning’ also shows the ingenious deceit that the beggar has towards the people who are disregarding him.

Another example of the animal imagery used is ‘whines’. This word is used to describe the pain the beggar is feeling. It realistically describes both his emotions and the true torture he is feeling because of the lack of water and food he is obtaining. It also expresses clearly the way in which the beggar is creating this sound.

‘Hands like claws’ is a further simile which is also used in this style of imagery. It represents that the beggar has narrow, skeletal fingers which may be a result of being undernourished. However, this particular example is not interoperated like this. When evaluating this quote the reader understands it to be a negative feature on the beggar’s behalf.

In the third stanza of the poem Tong changes the path of the poem yet again. For a second time he decides to change the reader’s perception of the beggar by the use of word selection and technique. The discouraged emotion begins to disappear within the first line of the third stanza, and is replaced with a sympathetic feeling. The reader starts to comprehend the true emotions of the beggar and the following quote ‘lying all alone’ confirms that the beggar is lonely and isolated from everyone else, as well as frail.

Another well written metaphor is ‘trackless jungle of his pain’. This creates a sense of confusion and emphasises the amount of pain the beggar is in. The word ‘lost’ is used just before this quotation and I feel that it shows that there is no escape for the beggar.

I believe that the word ‘shadow’ shows the darkness of the beggar’s existence, and proves the unimportance of him. This quote goes on by saying that he is in the shadow of a ‘crumbling wall’. This is a very witty metaphor as it does not only raise knowledge of the decaying of the area, but it also refers to the decaying of the beggar himself.

There is also a sense of desperation from the beggar as he is ‘clutching the pitiless red earth in vain’. The reader can feel the true despair of the beggar. There is also personification in this extract. It generalises the feelings of all the population in the way that the beggar feels they see him. He believes that no-one feels sorry for him or wants to help him. However, as unsuccessful as he is, he doesn’t give up begging as it is his last hope of survival.

The last line of the poem uses a simile to clearly conclude the feelings of the beggar. He is described as ‘whimpering like a stricken animal’, which continues the animal imagery used before in a more positive way. It seems as if the beggar has been afflicted by this experience. It has made him feel genuine pain and grief. This is because he feels unloved and insignificant in a world were he is looked upon as worthless. The last stanza of the poem creates an uneasy atmosphere, as the reader is exposed to the true horrors of being a beggar.