The poem Jilted, written by Sylvia Plath, has its subject based on the disappointment of love which resulted from a female being neglected by her male lover,

Jilted-Sylvia Plath: Analysis on Craftsmanship The poem "Jilted", written by Sylvia Plath, has its subject based on the disappointment of love which resulted from a female being neglected by her male lover, who probably must have gone off in pursuit of another female. This poem has a simple abab rhyme scheme. The words of this poem were expertly chosen to describe the sour and acidic feelings that accompany betrayal and abandonment. Overall, it is obvious that the tone of this poem is sour and caustic. The title "jilted" is a word that has harsh sound which already hints to readers that the poem is not about any pleasant or happy experiences. In the first stanza, Plath compares her tears to vinegar, which is a substance that is corrosive, pungent, and stinging. The word vinegar shows on a surface level that her relationship was over, emphasizing the fact that she is extremely depressed. Later, she refers to an acetic star and a caustic wind. All of these rich imageries imply a tone that is harsh and corrosive. By comparing her tears to "vinegar", Plath successfully expressed the idea that not only the crying was sad, but the tear in itself was sad. This creates a realistic image of her sadness after being abandoned by her lover. In the second stanza, Plath uses the imagery of a sour expression that ensues after tasting a lemon to describe her inner feelings. "Wry-face"

  • Word count: 411
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Poetry is often written as a result of reflecting on an intense emotional experience or a significant event.

Q: Poetry is often written as a result of reflecting on an intense emotional experience or a significant event. Examine the techniques used by one poet to convey the significance of an experience or event which gave rise to a poem or a sequence of poems. "Daddy"is a very emotional poem by Sylvia Plath. She wrote it just before she committed suicide in the early 1960's. It is a very angry poem which is centred around Plath's relationship with her father, who died when she was much younger. Much of her anger and emotion arises from this event. Despite the fact that he has been dead for some time, it is still certain that she feels affected by it. The first verse of the poem creates the tone followed throughout, and helps to set the rest of the poem in context: "You do not do not do, you do not do Anymore, black shoe In which I have lived like a foot For thirty years, poor and white, Barely daring to breathe or Achoo." Here, the poet is stating that they have "...lived like a foot for thirty years...", a simile that is giving the sense that she has felt oppressed for her whole life, as living "like a foot" is a claustrophobic image, showing how she cannot break free of the "black shoe" which it is made apparent is representing her "daddy" figure. The opening line, "You do not do..." is similar to how a parent would tell a child off, but the poet is reversing the role

  • Word count: 1485
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Commentary on Plath's A Commentary on Plaths The Surgeon at 2am

A Commentary on Plath's The Surgeon at 2am Fraught with the stress of depression combined with the pain of a recent miscarriage, Plath was preoccupied with the concept of hospitalisation when writing 'The Surgeon at 2am'. Taking on the persona of a male surgeon, the controlling role to her more passive role as patient, she explores the concept as the surgeon as master and alludes to a higher power in explaining the apparent magic and complexity of the human body. The title of this poem introduces us to its major subject matter, as is typical of Plath's poetry. The first two lines of the first stanza appear subjective and clinical, introducing us to the idea of the surgeon being a man of science. The line 'hygienic as heaven' also alludes to death, a commonplace occurrence in any hospital. This is followed through by the reference to the death of the microbes. This also gives an air of control to the poem and allows the reader to understand the controlling role of the surgeon as he performs his work. This stanza also introduces the idea of the surgeon operating as a higher power behind the scenes; 'a snowfield, frozen and peaceful' explains that he is all alone in his work and that, with the patient being under anaesthetic, he has total control. The metaphor 'a lump of Chinese white' for the mask of the patient dehumanises him somewhat; the surgeon is left with a body to play

  • Word count: 1359
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Re-read 'A Birthday Present'. By means of close analysis of the language of this poem, demonstrate how Plath achieves her effects in this poem, and by means of BRIEF reference to one or two other poems, say how typical of her writing you find it.

Re-read 'A Birthday Present'. By means of close analysis of the language of this poem, demonstrate how Plath achieves her effects in this poem, and by means of BRIEF reference to one or two other poems, say how typical of her writing you find it. Plath's poem 'A Birthday Present' creates binary oppositions of images by using antithesis. An example of antithesis in this poem is when the narrator asks, "is it ugly, is it beautiful?" The adjectives 'ugly' and 'beautiful' are opposing images. The structure of this phrase is mirrored in the line below when the narrator asks, "has it breasts, has it edges?" These two images are opposite as when we imagine 'breasts' they are round and smooth and not sharp like an 'edge'. By using this linguistic device Plath creates a 'seesaw' effect between positive ('beautiful') and negative ('ugly') lexis. Plath uses this device of conflicting lexis throughout the poem creating a tension. Furthermore, it can also be said that Plath uses these binary oppositions on a more subtle level to create the theme of good vs. evil. This theme can be seen in some of Plath's other poems. Take 'Face Lift' or 'Morning Song' for example, the theme of good and evil is represented by the images of babies she juxtaposes with those of death. The same binary opposition of images is used in 'A Birthday Present' when the narrator says, "White as babies' bedding and

  • Word count: 729
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How do poets use ‘voice’ to instil their poems with personality? Consider with reference to three poets.

How do poets use 'voice' to instil their poems with personality? Consider with reference to three poets. For poetry to be truly personal, a voice is needed. It is through the voice of a poet that the reader can glean some sense of that poet's identity and nature. Who are they? What are they trying to say? Why? One could even go so far as to say that the voice of a poem or poet is fundamental to its aesthetic value and 'readability' - without a distinct and clear voice, how can we distinguish a poem from the surrounding, ambient babble? It is the voice which endears a poet to the reader - without a voice, how can we identify with a poet? All these questions must be considered carefully. The voice of a poet can be a vehicle for political, personal, and social expression, as well as instilling a poem with a sense of personality - one might say the function of a poet's 'voice' is to stamp their poem with their identity. It is the idea of an author's voice, rather than the voice itself which draws us towards the author as an entity - someone with whom we can identify, converse and understand. The actual process of reading may be, on one level, entirely one-sided, but in reading a poem (or any piece of literature for that matter) we bring as much to the work as we take from it. In this way, reading a poem is not one-sided at all, and is instead a rich progression towards a higher

  • Word count: 4617
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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An evaluation of Sylvia Plath`s poetry concerning pregnancy and motherhood

In evaluating Sylvia Plath`s poetry concerning pregnancy and motherhood to what extent do you believe the attitudes and feelings expressed in her imagery are representative of mothers generally. Plath`s poems regarding pregnancy and motherhood vary hugely in terms of the sentiment expressed, ranging from maternal love to resentment. This could be explained as a symptom of her bipolar disorder, but equally could also be a natural reaction to a daunting process. In Morning Song Plath appears to show mixed emotions regarding her child, with the ambiguous title being a homonym as well as a metaphor, possibly referring to the morning as the bright beginning of her child`s life or to the process Plath is undergoing, mourning the loss of her freedom. The first stanza appears to show Plath`s love for the child, 'Love set you going,' and also how she views the child as something precious and her giving birth as a natural and inevitable process, 'fat gold watch...took its place among the elements.' She may be unsure of this love however, as the poetic synaesthesia of, 'your bald cry' shows the confusion of audible and visual senses, and this could represent Plath`s sense of love for the child interacting with the fear she showed before the birth in The Manor Garden, 'a difficult borning.' This confusion is probably rather typical of a new mother, as the birth of a child would signify

  • Word count: 935
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The poem Two Sisters of Persephone by Sylvia Plath is a truly remarkable piece that I greatly enjoyed reading. This piece is filled with numerous symbols, allegories, and images that stand out

Commentary on 'Two Sisters of Persephone' The poem 'Two Sisters of Persephone' by Sylvia Plath is a truly remarkable piece that I greatly enjoyed reading. This piece is filled with numerous symbols, allegories, and images that stand out to the reader and they become more vivid each time you look deeper and deeper into the piece. In literal terms, the poem is about two girls that lead complete opposite lives and have different duties to fulfill. The poem goes on describing what they do and the settings of where they perform their rightful tasks. What is rather interesting about the poem is that we are tricked into believing the first sister leads the cold, bitter life. Plath uses words with negative connotation to give the character a stressed out and hopeless feel. She ties in the thoughts of problems, darkness, and un-fruitful work to the character of the first sister. The poem then suddenly twists into a brighter and warmer mood when Plath starts talking about the second sister. At first sight, the words trick us into believing she is truly happy and peaceful. Words like 'lulled', and 'bright air', bring a positive connotation to the second sister. When we look at the words carefully, we see that she truly isn't really that happy. When Plath says she was lulled near a bed of poppies, we get the thought that she may be drugged, since poppies are an opiate. This

  • Word count: 854
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Analysis of "The Applicant" by Sylvia Plath

Applicant analysis At first, a reader might think the title 'The Applicant' refers to a job applicant. Perhaps one will visualize a job interview scenario in which the applicant is sitting across the desk from someone who expects her to sell herself as a good candidate for the role. Upon further reading, it seems that the role being applied for is that of a wife-and that the applicant is not being offered any chance to speak for herself; it is more as if this role is being sold to her or told to her, as if she has little choice in the matter-or perhaps the speaker of the poem is meant to be a version of the applicant herself, in a snide attempt to talk herself into acquiescing to a role that does not suit her. Another way to read this poem is that the applicant is a man applying to receive a wife as if a wife is some kind of a product-and it almost seems as if the voice of the poem is trying to talk this man into accepting a defective product; trying to convince him that a defective wife/product is better than no wife/product, especially in the second to last line of the piece, in which it is flat out stated to be a 'last resort'. Substantial conflict related to how to respond to and fit into the domestic sphere is a recurring issue in Plath's writing, suggesting this was an issue she struggled with in her real life. A small part of her seemed to buy into and even desire a

  • Word count: 687
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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'The Power of Plath's Imagery comes from her surprising, often controversial imagery' How far do you agree with this statement?

‘The Power of Plath’s poetry comes from the surprising, often controversial imagery’ ‘Daddy’ and ‘Hawk Roosting’ with ‘The Bee Meeting’ and ‘The Tender Place’ * Daddy and Hawk Roosting both share the same sense of power and violence. * They are dominant and are to be feared and revered as ‘gods’ * The use of stark and blunt imagery shown through ‘the boot in the face’ speaks volumes about the brutality and cruelty shown by the father figure. Also in Hawk Roosting ‘My manners are tearing off heads’ shows through a different light the same strand of aggression and viciousness. Plath * Strength and power: 'A man in black with a Meinkampf look' * Violent image: 'There is a stake in your fat black heart' /disturbing and graphic Hughes * Control: 'I kill where I please because it is all mine' * Power: Hooked head and hooked feet' * Link: ' Now I hold Creation in my foot' / no longer feet, lost the plural, relates to amputation in Daddy and autobiographical. The power of Plath's poetry comes from her surprising, often controversial use of imagery.' Plath shows her surprising and often controversial imagery through the remarkable art of taking inanimate, lifeless objects and using them to describe emotion and personal suffering. Her choice of language elicits an effect which not only disturbs but forces the reader into a deep state of

  • Word count: 1238
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Explore The Way Plath Presents Nature and The Natural World In The Poem "Tulips".

Explore The Way Plath Presents Nature and The Natural World In The Poem Tulips: At the very start of the poem Sylvia tends to express the fact that nature is too overwhelming ‘the tulips are too excitable’ by using personification. The tulips are out of place and do not suit the atmosphere. She relates them with children because they, like children are often too excitable which is ironic because she just had a miscarriage. She also relates them too herself, because they, like her are too out of place. She sees them as a threat, the tulips are almost heart shaped, reminding her of life. In the second paragraph ‘impossible to tell how many there are’ she sees this as being positive because they are identity-less, just as she is. As we can see so far in the first and second paragraph she is trying to detach herself ‘I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses’ this shows us that she has given up, she has detached herself from her family and life. Plath makes out that she is meaningless and lifeless ‘my body is like a pebble to them’ she describes herself as an object, a cold stone which is worthless and means nothing to no one, something that isn’t alive.The contrast of personal pronouns in the third paragraph ‘they’ emphasises that she is passive as she is throughout the whole poem. In the 5th stanza Plath tells us ‘I didn’t want any

  • Word count: 670
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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