It's not all sour grapes in "Petit, the Poet." Dude actually has love for a few things, now that he looks back on the life he lived. Mainly, he admires those poets who were able to do what he couldn't with their art (how 'bout ya, Homer and Walt?). At the same time, he also realizes that admiration was a key component of their success. Those guys were dialed into their surroundings, reflecting their enthusiasm for life—the good, the bad, all of it. It's just too bad that Petit couldn’t muster up that same attitude in life. He's actually much more appreciative as a dead guy.
Questions About Admiration
- What is it about the natural world that stokes Petit's admiration?
- This may take a bit of outside reading, but what is it about Homer and Walt Whitman that you think Petite admires most?
- How about you, Shmoopers? Do you admire Petit for what he pulls off with this poem? Or do his shortcomings in life negate that admiration? What parts of the poem give you your ideas?
Chew on This
Only in death can Petit truly appreciate life. Unfortunately, at the time he was alive, he was too busy living to enjoy it.
The realizations set forth in this poem show us that Petit is worthy of our admiration in turn. Contrary to his name, it takes a big man to admit that you missed the mark.