“The Vowels Rise”: Sylvia Plath with Music Imagery
Sylvia Plath was a celebrated confessional poet of her time. Her poetry used both internal and external elements in order to convey a theme. One common image in Plath’s poetry was that of music and sound. In “Two Sisters of Persephone” images of sound are used indirectly to show contrast while in “Morning Song” and “The Swarm” sound images provide for both positive and negative connotations.
First, in the poem “Two Sisters of Persephone” Plath uses sound images to show contrast between the two sisters. For example, “daylong a duet of shade and light” (Persephone 3). The word “duet” alone implies the musical nature, one of two different elements playing off each other to create a whole. In this sentence it shows the stark differences between the two sisters, but also how one cannot exist without the other. The next reference to sound in “Two Sisters of Persephone” is “dry ticks mark time” (Persephone 8) then “hearing ticks blown gold” (Persephone 14). In each line the word “tick” is used as a sound image. When the two tines are compared they each symbolize strictly different concepts of light and dark while they share a common bond of sound. This directly relates to the theme of the poem that no matter what choice a woman makes on sex, she’ll end up in the same place.
Another way Sylvia Plath uses music is to convey both positive and negative messages. An example of how music and sound is used positively is in the poem “Morning Song”; “Your handful of notes/ The clear vowels rise like balloons” (Morning 17-18). Plath wrote this poem to convey her feelings on motherhood and her love and wonder for her child. This was clearly shown through the image of sound. Relating the baby’s cry to vowels and balloons gave the poem a light loving tone. Sylvia Plath then uses sound images negatively in her poem “The Swarm”; “the bees argue, in their black ball,” (Swarm 31). By choosing the word argue to describe the sound of the bees, as well as the sound of gunshot throughout the poem, Plath is able to convey a tone of frustration. These sounds also influence the reader to feel negatively about the subject of the poem. That in turn gives way to the theme of “The Swarm” being about war, and the people caught up in it.
In conclusion, Sylvia Plath’s images of sound and music provide for contrast, negative images, and positive images in her poetry. These all helped to enhance the tone and theme of the poems, and more accurately portray them to the reader.
Sylvia Plath was a celebrated confessional poet of her time. Her poetry used both internal and external elements in order to convey a theme. One common image in Plath’s poetry was that of music and sound. In “Two Sisters of Persephone” images of sound are used indirectly to show contrast while in “Morning Song” and “The Swarm” sound images provide for both positive and negative connotations.
First, in the poem “Two Sisters of Persephone” Plath uses sound images to show contrast between the two sisters. For example, “daylong a duet of shade and light” (Persephone 3). The word “duet” alone implies the musical nature, one of two different elements playing off each other to create a whole. In this sentence it shows the stark differences between the two sisters, but also how one cannot exist without the other. The next reference to sound in “Two Sisters of Persephone” is “dry ticks mark time” (Persephone 8) then “hearing ticks blown gold” (Persephone 14). In each line the word “tick” is used as a sound image. When the two tines are compared they each symbolize strictly different concepts of light and dark while they share a common bond of sound. This directly relates to the theme of the poem that no matter what choice a woman makes on sex, she’ll end up in the same place.
Another way Sylvia Plath uses music is to convey both positive and negative messages. An example of how music and sound is used positively is in the poem “Morning Song”; “Your handful of notes/ The clear vowels rise like balloons” (Morning 17-18). Plath wrote this poem to convey her feelings on motherhood and her love and wonder for her child. This was clearly shown through the image of sound. Relating the baby’s cry to vowels and balloons gave the poem a light loving tone. Sylvia Plath then uses sound images negatively in her poem “The Swarm”; “the bees argue, in their black ball,” (Swarm 31). By choosing the word argue to describe the sound of the bees, as well as the sound of gunshot throughout the poem, Plath is able to convey a tone of frustration. These sounds also influence the reader to feel negatively about the subject of the poem. That in turn gives way to the theme of “The Swarm” being about war, and the people caught up in it.
In conclusion, Sylvia Plath’s images of sound and music provide for contrast, negative images, and positive images in her poetry. These all helped to enhance the tone and theme of the poems, and more accurately portray them to the reader.
2 comments:
1. convincing interpretation of the thought and feeling expressed in the works with a critical response; i thought your analysis was insightful and interesting. Good job!
2. (a) I feel that your thesis statement "In 'Two Sisters of Persephone' images of sound are used indirectly to show contrast while in 'Morning Song' and 'The Swarm' sound images provide for both positive and negative connotations." is not specific enough and before I read the essay I wasn't exactly sure what you were arguing. If you simply clarify what you are 'contrasting' and what 'connotations' you are talking about then it would be improved greatly. Like... "In "Two Sisters of Persephone" images of sound are used indirectly to show the contrast of two different lifestyles while in "Morning Song" and "The Swarm" sound images add both a negative and a positive tone to their respective poems' theme."
(b) Your wording could be clearer and less awkward, such as in paragraph 2, "In this sentence it shows the stark differences between the two sisters, but also how one cannot exist without the other." Great idea, but it is worded kind of strangely. Something like: "This line shows the stark differences between the two sisters, and also how one cannot exist without the other." I would also suggest finding a synonym for 'different' because you use it twice in the same general area to each other, watch out for word repetition.
(c) Your conclusion could be longer and more detailed, don't start out with 'In conclusion', you could start it with something like "Sylvia Plath's use of sound and music imagery provide for contrasting, negative, and positive images that enhance the overall themes of her poetry." You could continue with the 'So what?' idea, tie it into what the themes actually are, how do these poems affect the reader, what effects do they have on society, etc.
1. i thought the essay was pretty interesting, and that it was nice and concise with not alot of fluff.
2. a) i think that there is some room to improve in your choices of imagery and to strengthen up some of the analysis.
b) i also thought that there should be more of a transition than just "First" and "Another", i guess you could lead into the first topic sentence of your paragraphs with an ending sentence that your topic sentence could complete (sorry if its kind of confusing).
c) Last thing i though was kind of goofed was some of the wordings and stuff. "By choosing the word argue to describe the sound of the bees, as well as the sound of gunshot throughout the poem, Plath is able to convey a tone of frustration." I think you could maybe de-fluff a litte here, and all should be gravy.
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