Comparison of Two Poppy Poems By Sylvia Plath.

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SHABNAM ABUBAKER              ENGLISH LITERATURE               2001

COMPARISON OF TWO POPPY POEMS BY SYLVIA PLATH

When looking at the titles of the two poems “Poppies….” I automatically think of the war. This is because poppies are a symbolism of the war and are sold every year at the time that the war occurred. It is a symbolism of all the people that died, sort of like sympathy for them. This could relate with, or it could be about the war. Also when I looked at the pomes again I thought of flowers and how beautiful they are. I have noticed that I had the same reaction with “Tulips”, as it meant two different things.

    The first poem “Poppies in October”, also was quiet surprising at the though of the poppies appearance so late in the year, like a surprise gift. This is presumably intentionally contrasted with the second poem “Poppies in July”, as this is the time for Poppies. The poppy could be represented as an unexpected gift because of the blistering red colour of them. I found out that the ‘July’ poem was written just when her marriage was about to break up, so the ‘October’ one could suggest that this break up was a surprise to her.

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    Both the poems are very short, which suggests not having much to say which could relate to pain and loneliness. The first poem is divided into five parts, each with unequal lines and breaks. The second one is also divided into eight parts with the same pattern. The sudden breaks could represent tension, an abrupt pain or surprise. I will begin by interpreting the “Poppies in July”, as July comes before October.

   

    This poem begins with a painful start, as she says “little poppies, little hell flames do you do no harm?” ...

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