Discuss the poem by William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheelbarrow." Which strategy allows you to come up with what seems the most plausible?...

Of the strategies mentioned, I believe "The Red
Wheelbarrow" is described best when referring to Formalist
Strategies.

Research states
that

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"Formalist critics focus on the formal elements
of a work: language, structure and tone, and the keys to understanding a text exist
within the text itself."

With
this in mind, this poem's value comes from within the smallest  of its elements. The
beauty of the verses is that it is brief, yet concise. Its message arrives in this
"small package," but Williams is able to make every word count without having to
describe what he is trying to say. He writes, but does so in such a clear way that the
words speak and the reader comprehends without extensive analysis. There is almost a
scientific approach to this kind of strategy: to analyze what is presented by the
author. A poem that is well done will need little explanation, but the author depends on
the reader to draw conclusions that are written and
implied.

This strategy is directly related to the
"relationship between form and meaning," which promotes a literal interpretation to
understand the writing. Also referred to as a "close reading," this strategy examines
various literary elements in the writing.

"The Red Wheel
Barrow" is short, however the images are direct (such clarity is essential), but, as
such, reflect the poem's intricacies in the physical structure of
William's poem. The size of the poem correlates to the size of the wheel barrow: both
seem easily dismissed, but each is really important despite physically
size.

For example, the poem consists of sixteen words. If
Williams did not have such talent and command of the language, he would never have been
able to express himself so succinctly and
successfully.

Colors stand out: red and white. Other images
are important: depends, wheel  barrow, glazed with rain,
chickens.

Alone, these words are meaningless, with
seemingly no connection.

The central idea is "so much
depends on a red wheel barrow." I would argue that the color is irrelevant to the
value of the work done by the wheel barrow, but the color  and
"glaze" draw our mind's eye to the "piece of
equipment."

Its setting is also important. The wheel barrow
does not command a great deal of notice at first glance, and it is left in the rain and
kept next to the chickens—further extending its casual appearance in a corner of the
garden or in the midst of farm tools, and perhaps giving an initial sense of
unimportance.

Narrative technique is important: the "tool"
is clearly presented—a common farmyard sight—but with great
value. As mentioned in the research, this poem fits into the category of verse where
each word is meaningful beyond one's initial impression that there
is little here to be said: it communicates a great deal to the
discerning eye.

A trope ("turn") may occur if we accept
that the poem may be a metaphor: it is possible that important
tasks depend on the red wheelbarrow, despite its innocuous appearance. The initial sense
may be that some things in this world seem unimportant, but upon
second glance, are items of the greatest value, beyond the simple
setting in which they have been placed.

Is there not also
irony in that this little red (how serious a color is that?) tool, inconsequentially set
among chickens and in the rain, can do so many wonderful things: moving materials,
creating a garden, cleaning property, etc. It is small, and a childish red, but it is
"mighty."

These are the reasons that I see a formalist
strategy used here.