Analysis
The analysis of the poem “Lemonade” by Raymond Carver shows that the outer composition is rather complex, as it does not follow the traditional structure of a poem. The poem’s inner composition explores the pain of a father upon losing his only son.
The speaker of the poem is an unnamed man who talks about meeting Jim Sears and then his father, Howard Sears. The speaker learns about Jim Jr.’s death from Howard and further describes how the child’s death affected Jim.
The setting is the speaker’s house in an unnamed small town in the United States. The river where Jim’s son drowned is also an important location.
Carver plays with language in his poem. He relies on enjambed lines to encourage the reader to continue reading, particularly because his poem resembles a passage of prose.
Some of the poetic devices used in the poem are alliteration, repetition, and enjambment, which highlight Carver’s poetic technique.
You can read a more detailed analysis on the following pages.
Excerpt from the study guide:
