“Disappointment is an inevitable consequence of discovery”
To what extent is this true in Jean Spracklands poem International Year of the Oceans?

Discovery is something that can be good or bad. The concept of disappointment being an inevitable consequence of discovery refers to discovery in a light that seems to ruin or denote something. This idea can be explored in Jean Spracklands poem International Year of the Oceans in which many this significant concept can be viewed.

Discovery is able to disrupt the natural ways of the universe. The beauty of undisturbed nature is something that is able to provoke an emotional response from someone, especially if little is known about it. Immediately in the poem the audience is invited to imagine what it was like for the author’s grandparents. That is, “Our grandparents lived with a romantic moon.” Similarly, later the audience imagines where “a warm ocean sleeps.” Sprackland’s use of soft sounds in these two phrases reflects a peaceful and fully undisrupted moon and ocean, inviting the audience to imagine what it would be like. This is contrasted in the last stanza when Sprackland mentions “nuclear submarines”, suggesting abandonment, war and the eventual destruction of this sleeping ocean for our needs.

The idea of disappointment being an inevitable consequence of discovery is supported throughout the poem. This disappointment is evident throughout the poem, thus being through harsh imagery (“Nuclear Submarines”) and intruding language. Sprackland’s use of alliteration – “Sniffs out atoms of ice” – introduces to the audience the harsh reality. Thus being the way that previously undiscovered bodies have been harassed and uncovered and in a sense ruined. This is further developed in the way the moon is described as “a scrap yard littered with burnt-out metal.” These harsh sounds represent the exhausted moon, highlighting the contrasting view from the previous stanza as “a romantic moon.” These juxtaposing views from Sprackland show how ones perception of such a far away object can be changed because of the discovery of new knowledge.

When exploring the disappointment of discovery, International Year of the Oceans opens up a perspective highlighting key issues around this topic. The sense of emotional attachment one feels to something they can only imagine is much deeper than what they can read out of a textbook. The statement is true and supported by the poem in the views they both share and offer.