The poem
He is quick, thinking in clear images; I am slow, thinking in broken images.
He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images; I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images.
Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance; Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.
Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact; Questioning their relevance, I question their fact.
When the fact fails him, he questions his senses; when the fact fails me, I approve my senses.
He continues quick and dull in his clear images; I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.
He in a new confusion of his understanding; I in a new understanding of my confusion.
In Broken Images
This poem by Robert Graves may well be interpreted in many ways but the point that strikes my mind most is based upon a comparison with other ideas presented in modern poetry. The most lamented upon point about modern people is that they have “broken images”, they hold a “broken mirror” to their personality, and so they are without any moorings and are just wallowing in chaos. But here is Robert graves celebrating the broken images of modern man as these broken images are pushing him forward on the road to development. He believes that curiosity and inquisitiveness are necessary to move on. Trusting old images may hamper the process of learning.
analysis
I think the poem is about a strong individual women who refuses to yield to the male dominate society and questions the role that is given to her .Also the speaker deconstructs the inferior role of women and instead gives them superiority.
Yewwww
Top Job Graves!!! couldnt have done better me self!
great poem
The alternating lines of In Broken Images by Robert Graves compare two personalities--one who thinks he has learned enough versus one who still learns. Graves emphasizes the value of someone who can constantly refine his ideas, whereas some people are unable to adapt or work with change. The poem juxtaposes arrogance with pessimism, and shows how the pessimist becomes wise where the arrogant cannot: the ability to grow from mistakes is the trait that quickly separates one person from another.