'Metaphors' by Sylvia Plath - critical review.

Line seven represents the third month of pregnancy. "I'm a means' a stage, a cow in a calf." At this stage she feels used and resents it. "Cow in a calf" suggests that she feels uncomfortable and embarrassed. She feels as though she is on a theatre stage where everyone is looking at her and knows about her 'bun in the oven'.

Line six, the forth month of pregnancy, "Money's new minted in this fat purse" suggests bright life inside the dull, fat exterior. 'Mint' is a place where money is produced under the government authority. She is relating this to her situation that a new baby is being produced in her womb, (fat purse).

Line five represents the fifth month of pregnancy. "This loaf's big with its yeasty rising". At this stage she feels that the baby is growing very fast, "yeasty rising". She describes the baby as being a loaf, in account of another metaphor 'a bun in the oven'. The loaf has grown big in the oven but not completed yet, just like the baby has grown big but not fully developed.

Line four represents the sixth month of pregnancy. "Oh, red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!" The words such as "red fruit" suggests that the baby is almost fully developed, as for when most fruits turn red, they are ready to be eaten. Red represents blood, which could imply that blood is circulating around, in the baby. Red also is the colour of danger. It's a warning that giving birth is also very risky. The word 'ivory' is used to represent bones, of the baby. Ivory is also very precious, just like a child is to its mother. Notice that there is a sudden exclamation mark. Perhaps it is there to express that it is definite that the baby is developing and she cannot wait till the process is over. Exclamation mark makes the poem sound exciting and a big issue. It is used to express the feelings. I think it also increases the pace of the poem, to represent that the baby is developing fast.

Line three represents the seventh month of pregnancy. "A melon strolling on two tendrils." The word "melon" implies that she must be very big now. "Strolling" suggests that she is probably at a very tiring stage. She has become so heavy that she finds it difficult to travel. She is also beginning to find it quite amusing.

Line two represents the eighth month of her pregnancy. "An elephant, a ponderous house," at this stage she feels huge and clumsy, 'elephants' are often associated with clumsy. She feels like a house protecting the baby inside. Notice that there is a comma at the end of the sentence. I think commas slow down the pace of the poem. Perhaps it is tying to imply that the pregnancy is dragging on. She is fed up of it and wants it to be over quickly.

Line one represents the last month of pregnancy, month nine. "I'm a riddle in nine syllables" she feels like a riddle, a puzzle, as she is confused about how the delivery is going to be carried out. She doesn't exactly know when the delivery will take place and whether it is going to be a boy or a girl. However she might be looking forward to it. Notice that there is no punctuation at the end of this sentence. This suggests that the person is confused. She has no definite answers to her questions, and that life will go on.

I think the poem is successful indeed. I am very impressed with the layout of the poem. I think it is very clever of Plath to have such brilliant ideas. The poem is authentic. It is written from first- hand experience, and therefore it is realistic. It is well detailed about ones feelings and emotions during the nine month of pregnancy. It also stirs our feelings. I especially like line six: "Money's new- minted in this fat purse". That's a very interesting way to describe this stage of the pregnancy.

I would say the poem is very dramatic, because the whole poem is a metaphor which makes it sound exciting. I think she is speaking directly to the reader because she talks to us about her feelings deep down. The first line captured my interest: "I'm a riddle in nine syllables." I was thinking to myself what the poem is about. I noticed that it had nine lines and nine syllables in each line. At first I was confused. I found it quite difficult to understand because the feelings and attitude change in each line. The poet was being very emotional. After understanding the poem, I had pleasure in re- reading the poem several times and approving it. I now know how one feels when they are going through the nine month pregnancy.