Analysis of Social Aspect in "Since Lockdown" by Ryan O'Leary

 

Analysis of Social Aspect in "Since Lockdown" by Ryan O'Leary

 

Muhammad Faruq Bukhori

English Department

 Diponegoro University

 muhammadfaruqbukhori@students.undip.ac.id

 

Abstract

In this paper, I would like to analyze the extrinsic element in Since Lockdown by Ryan O’Leary. The aim of this paper is to analyze the social aspect contained in the poem Since Lockdown by Ryan O’Leary. In the analysis I use the close reading method with Pierre L. Van Den Bergh’s sociology theory, this theory uses to analyze, consider, and explain the social phenomenon from a sociological perspective. This poem contains a social phenomenon that is happening right now. The social phenomena contained in the poem are also reflected in the life that is happening now when Covid-19, this can be noted from the content of each stanza in the poem.

Keywords: Analyze, Close Reading, Ryan O’Leary, Since Lockdown, Social Aspect

1. Introduction

Poetry is a form of literary work consisting of a series of neatly arranged words. Poetry is the oldest literary work and is a universal language full of meaning (Perinne 1956:1).

Social is a system that exists in the community consisting of individuals, groups, and society. This system can also be a form of behavior or habits that exist in the community. Generally, Social can be called human interaction with the environment.

Lockdown is the application of territorial isolation carried out in order to regulate the area to be safe. Lockdown is also a social phenomenon by the government to limit people's movements such as preventing the transmission of a certain dangerous epidemic.

Through this paper, I will discuss and analyze the extrinsic element contained in the poem “Since Lockdown” by Ryan O’Leary. The focus of this paper is to analyze the social aspect contained in this poem by Ryan O’Leary.

2. Theory and Methods

2.1 Theory.

In order to find out the social aspects in this story, I use a sociology approach to structural-functionalism. The functional structural theory is a sociological view that views that society is a complex system that works together for solidarity and stability to be able to create relatively stable social behavior.

2.2 Method

In this report, I use the close reading method. The method of close reading is the method of reading carefully to a literary work that is centered on important elements in a literary text in order to create the right understanding in analyzing literary texts.

3. Findings

3.1 Social Aspect

To understand a literary work, analysis of literary works cannot be separated from social and cultural conditions because the literary work itself is a reflection of the community itself. To understand and comprehend the content of poetry, one must read the contents of the entire poem and then understand its meaning.

The writer has read carefully and understood the meaning of the poem Since Lockdown by Ryan O'Leary. As for what the writer sees from the content of the poem, it contains the social conditions of the community which are reflected in the lockdown events that have existed throughout the world since the outbreak of Covid-19. This can also be proven from the title of the poem, and its contents regarding the present situation.

4. Discussion

Since Lockdown is a poem written by Ryan O'Leary this poem consists of 6 stanzas with ABCD rhymes.  The poem tells the condition of what happened during the lockdown in the city. The beginning of each verse begins with the sentence, "Since lockdown, there is” and every second line in each verse always appears the word, "Virtually no ...". To see the social conditions of the community in this poem can be seen in the explanation below.

In the second stanza and third stanza the description of the social environment that has occurred from the lockdown event. The second Stanza explained how the road was originally full of human waste. This is reinforced from the line, "no Kentucky or McDonald wrapper on the wayside". Then in the third stanza as well it is explained that there are positive impacts arising from this lockdown event, namely the absence of air pollution, this is illustrated in the second row in the third stanza. Then the positive impact that arises is that there is no disturbing noise on the streets anymore because there are no passing vehicles. So in stanzas 2 and 3 it is clear that the social conditions that exist in society today are quiet and lonely but the presence of these two things certainly produces good benefits as well as the absence of air pollution and noise pollution. The next explanation here I will explain how human behavior in their environment to face this lockdown. Consider the fourth stanza in the poem "Since Lockdown" by Ryan O'Leary.

In the fourth stanza, it is depicted that the social conditions facing the lockdown that is they remain at home because many people if the conditions are normal then many of them gossiping on the side of the road but different from the lockdown condition causes them to be busy with their affairs at home just to look after health. This is reinforced from the line, "virtually no people, no idle gossip or slandering in groups on the wayside". Now look at the sixth stanza below:

In the sixth stanza can be interpreted in a nutshell that many people have no other choice but to not open their businesses or shopping centers or entertainment again. It is seen that the social system in poetry above is very total in order to prevent the spread of the virus this is based on human behavior that is based on and obeying local government regulations. Because basically social life is very dependent on unity and unity if they continue to demand to open their businesses, shopping centers, and entertainment centers, of course, it will cause

social conditions that are getting worse with the number of infected with the virus.

At the end of In the poem the author (Ryan O'Leary) makes a postscript by saying, "I Love Lockdown". It can also be understood that there are lockdown conditions that make people like and those that make people hate it.

5. Conclusion

From what I have explained above, I can conclude that this poem entitled Since Lockdown by Ryan O'Leary is the result of his personal work from what he saw and experienced which he then poured into poetry form. The social conditions in the poem are described quietly and quietly without the hustle and bustle of people who are crowded as in the city. The social conditions of the community at that time were also very chaotic because of the economic impact caused by the plague, many people wanted no closure of places and they wanted them to be opened immediately.

References

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Alexander, Jeffrey. 2003. The Meaning of Social Life. A Cultural Sociology. Oxford University Press.

Eppley, Karen. (2019). Close reading: What is reading for?. Curriculum Inquiry. 49. 1-18. 10.1080/03626784.2019.1631701.

Hudson, Joe. 1978. Structural Functional Thoery, Social Work Practice and Education. The Journal of Sociology & Social Warfare.

LOCKDOWN, Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. (Accessed on 10 June 2020).

O’leary, Ryan. 2020. Since Lockdown. H’llo Poetry.

Perrine, Laurence. 1956. Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense An Intoduction of Poetry Second Edition. Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publisher.