And Then on The Ladder Christine, Elliott, Emily and Jessica Culture and Context This is the sixth poem of Nerudas compilation called, Heights of Macchu Picchu, inspired by his trip to Macchu Picchu in 1943 Went to Peru because he was exiled from Chile Published in 1947 He climbed the pyramids of this ancient Inca city and was inspired by the ruin dating back to pre-Columbian times He included Heights of Macchu Picchu in his collection of poetry called, Canto General, focused on the geography, flora and fauna of the Inca people About Canto General Left behind as an unpublished manuscript when Neruda died of cancer Divided into 15 sections with poems per section Combines a wide range of all of Nerudas interests and passions; from history and politics, to nature and his surrealist outlook Canto general is the flowering of Nerudas new political stance, Don Bogen asserted in the Nation. For Neruda food and other pleasures are our birthrightnot as gifts from the earth or heaven but as the products of human labor.Don Bogen Don Bogen is a writer and critic as well as professor at the University of Cincinnati. Macchu Picchu Inca People The Inca Empire stretched north to south approximately 2,500 miles along the high mountainous Andean range from Colombia to Chile Richest city in the new world, temples paved with gold and opulent wealth was everywhere Money existed in the form of workeach subject of the empire paid taxes by laboring on the myriad roads, crop terraces, irrigation canals, temples, or fortresses Started in 1200, ended in the 1530s with Spanish Conquistadors Inca Warriors Dominant Effect Neruda uses nature imagery to create a surreal mood in his poem And then on the ladder to portray the journey of man on his climb to the historical site of Macchu Picchu emphasizing the merging of the past and present. Uplifting/Appreciative Mood And then on the ladder of the earth I climbed (1) Poem starts by the speaker climbing up. The overall mood rises as the poem progresses. The speaker is appreciating all the aspects that is and surrounds Macchu Picchu. Past & Present 3 different stanza after the line 13 gives detailed explanation of the past. When Neruda talks about the past, he starts the stanza with the word Here Neruda structured the poem in such way that the number of lines per stanza increase. This is to create more opportunities for various descriptors to show the audience how the mans eyes have been opened to the past. Humanity I representing Neruda and all the rest of the people. Neruda transitions from his personal dreams to his dreams for all of humanity. Neruda - Poet of the People Natural Imagery The king...the warriors rested at night to the feet of the eagle, and at dawn tread with thunderous feet through the rarefied fog (18-22). Powerful images of warriors Regal picture of the king Nature influencing strength of the people Surrealism Mother of stone, spume of condors. / High reef of the human dawn. He praises the site, making the poem sound mythical and magical. Activity Previous Memory of something beautiful Nature Imagery Hint of Surrealism Works Cited "Canto General." Pablo Neruda, Canto General. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov Clark, Liesl. "The Lost Inca Empire." PBS. PBS, 01 Nov Web. 15 Nov