English E-learning assignment 2

Steps in Analysis
	Point	Evidence	Elaboration
1. Point of View	Soldier of Vietnam who most probable had experienced the Vietnam War (ref: Poet’s background)	“America did not foresee” “ Nefariously America was led astray -” “Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.” “All the deceit continues to spread!”	This poem shows the point of view of a Vietnamese soldier who most probably experienced the Vietnam War. He understands the suffering of which the people suffered, “all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead”, and the “Execrable effects of agent orange spray”. He also knows that the Americans were the ones who caused all these suffering by utilizing those harmful herbicides during the war, that “America did not foresee” the consequences of their actions and that they were “Nefariously” led astray. The fact that he knows all these information and is not affected by “All the deceits” that “continues to spread”, shows that he is indeed very experienced and has a deep understanding of situation. Thus the point of view is most probably a Vietnamese soldier with war experience.
2. Situation and Setting	Social setting – People are suffering in the midst of all those colorful herbicides. (“Rainbow Death”)	“Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!” “ Toll on the innocent and unborn.” “ Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.”	The setting of this poem is a social setting which shows the people suffering in the midst of the colourful herbicides, “Green, pink purple and other colors death potpourri!” As all these colourful herbicides are released, it is taking its toll on the innocent and unborn”, causing harm to their health and even death. The herbicides are “Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn”, depicting a scene where innocent people are crying and moaning as the herbicides ruthlessly cause them to suffer greatly.
3.Language/ Diction	Imagery of death and suffering. Irony in the title as well as the way the herbicides are described. Metaphor to describe the colourful herbicides. Emphasis to show the inevitability of the suffering future generations will have to suffer from the herbicides. Language used reveals the truth of the issue at hand.	“Rainbow Death” “Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!” “ Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.” “ Generations untold WILL pay –“ “America did not foresee “ “All the deceit continues to spread!”	Firstly, this poem makes use imagery to show the death and suffering of the people. The title “Rainbow Death”gives an imagery of the innocent people dying in the midst of the harmful, colour-coded herbicides. There is also irony in this title as rainbows are normal used to describe happiness, however in this case, the rainbow is the presence of the herbicides which are causing many deaths. Irony is also used in the statement “Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!”Once again, potpourri is usually something sweet and peaceful, dried roses as well as other spices giving out a beautiful scent. However in the poem, the metaphorical potpourri (Herbicides) is used to show the death of the people. “Generations untold WILL pay –’’There is a clear use of emphasis in this statement in the word “WILL”, thus showing the inevitability of the suffering future generations will have to suffer as a result of these herbicides. In general, the language used reveals the truth of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam war, that is was indeed the fault of the Americans, “America did not foresee.” They poet does not believe “All the deceit” that “continues to spread!”, clearly and straight forwardly expressing that it was America who caused all these suffering and not any other reasons.
4 Personal Response	I find this text very disturbing	“ Generations untold WILL pay –“ “Rainbow Death”	I find this text very disturbing as the scene of innocent people dying and suffering in these colourful herbicides is indeed very ruthless. These innocent victims die a “Rainbow Death” from the ignorance of the American troops, not only causing suffering to the people during the Vietnam war period, but also to the future generations, “Generations untold WILL pay.” The ruthlessness and cruelty of war shown in this poem is indeed very disturbing to me as it clearly displays how self-interest can neglect the lives of the people. Think about “all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead” caused by the herbicides discharged by the US troops. All this would not have happened if not for the war.