Mirror by sylvia plath question and answers short answer type questions. Copas url to download pdf format b00qbod59wthisthingcalledloveamirrorlakenovelbook1. You died before i had time marbleheavy, a bag full of god, ghastly statue with one gray toe big as a frisco seal. She changes the narrator from the rectangular mirror, meditating on the opposite wall, to a lake. Her poetry, dreams and journal writings reveal the. Spiderlike, i spin mirrors, loyal to my image plath, 259 the image is synonymous to death, she can only remember but deadly single word of what is left. I agree with denvor fernandez because people really do hate the truth and they turn to other things to tell them what they want to hear like the woman turns to the candles and the moon to make her prettier. Born in boston, massachusetts, sylvia plath grew up in winthrop. The mirror by sylvia plath full explanation youtube. A sensitive person who tended to be a bit of a perfectionist she was what many would consider a model daughter and student popular, a straight a student, always winning the best prizes. Sylvia plath s poem, mirror, symbolizes the troubled self of the woman, especially the woman artist who has to reject the given masks imposed on her by the patriarchal society and see herself as an artist and an individual. Sylvia plath chooses a simple everyday object, a mirror in her mirror by sylvia plath. In the poem mirror by sylvia plath, there is a continuing theme of change. Sylvia plath literature bibliographies cite this for me.
I am silver and exact, i see her back, and reflect it faithfully, these descriptions follow the definition of a mirror. Analysis of the poem mirror analyzing the works of sylvia. Mirror is a free verse written by the american poet sylvia plath. In the last post, i wrote about mirror summary in hindi. On april 20, 2015 april 15, 2015 by jennie in poetry. Sometimes we can only rely on what we see in ourselves as the truth. Though sylvia plath never realized her youthful wish to walk into the mirror like alice plath 1982.
The bell jar is a novel about the events of sylvia plath s twentieth year. The poem mirror is strongly related to the theme of. Mirrorsof entrapment and emancipation forugh farrokhzad and sylvia plath leilarahimibahmany a io mirrors of entrapment and. Pdf plaths mirror is an allseeing eye researchgate. We know mirrors dont talk but that just makes us more curious about what this mirror is going to say. Morning song by sylvia plath poems academy of american. Together with unusual syntax, no obvious rhyme or meter and an astute use of enjambment, mirror is a personification poem of great depth. Plaths mirror that for sylvia plath, mirror holds great significance because the search. Mirror displays tremendous insight and objectivity into the natural human behavior of growing older.
One year in every ten i manage it1 a sort of walking miracle, my skin bright as a nazi lampshade, my right foot a paperweight, my face a featureless, fine jew linen. These stories were printed in the expanded, first paperback edition of fabers johnny panic and the bible of dreams 1979, but were excluded from the american publication and thus have. Two years after her death, ariel, a collection of some her last poems was published, that was followed by crossing the water and winter trees in 1971 and in 1981 the collected poems was published, edited by none other than ted hughes. Sylvia plath questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on sylvia plath. The duality that sylvia plath wrote about in her thesis provides the basis for the personality of esther, the protagonist of plath s the bell jar. Plath an american poet, novelist and short story writer.
Jul 31, 2016 line by line summary of mirror by sylvia plath mirror is written in blank verse and is divided into two stanzas. The poem is written from the perspectives of two entities. Daddy by sylvia plath about this poet sylvia plath was one of the most dynamic and admired poets of the 20th century. Jul 31, 2016 in the second stanza, sylvia plath introduces a new element to the poem. Though sylvia plath never realized her youthful wish to walk into the mirror like alice plath. This includes a discussion of the poems general meaning, a linebyline analysis, and finishing on a note about the structure and historical context of the poem.
Her style of existential description in the poem was among the pioneering styles, which opened the new era of existential literature. We know mirrors dont talk but that just makes us more curious about what this mirror is. In lines 1718, the image of the aging woman is compared to a terrible fish. Moral judgements have alredy been made about sylvia plath s work, judgements i believe. By the time she took her life at the age of 30, plath. In mirror, sylvia plath gives us the point of view of the mirror actually a mirror in the 1960s, a time when the meaning of plath s reflection, and womens reflections in general, were rapidly changing. Mirror sylvia plath 19321963 i am silver and exact. Many of plath s poems deal with the complexities of defining womanhood and existing in a female space. I dont have any preconceived notions and i absorb everything that comes my way. Its on microfilm at the smith college library and there should be a copy in smiths plath collection. Her two poems mirror and tulips deserve the closet attention because they reflect some autobiographical features and provide a. Sylvia plaths writing depicts the anguish of an unresolved and ambivalent attachment with her father. Her first volume of poetry, the colossus 1960, is at once highly disciplined, well crafted, and intensely personal. Brainstormfivethingsyouknowaboutmirrors,associatewith.
While sylvia might sound a little bit like silver, were pretty sure from this firstperson declaration that plath isnt the speaker in this poem. Plath was educated at smith college and at newnham college of cambridge university. Essay on analysis of sylvia plaths mirror 1289 words cram. The poem is written from the mirror s perspective and details what it. The monster in plaths mirror, essay date october 1993 in the following essay, freedman discusses plaths use of the mirror as a symbol of female passivity, subjugation, and plaths own conflicted selfidentity caused by social pressure to reconcile the competing obligations of artistic and domestic life. I have looked at it so long i think it is part of my. The mirror imagery in plath s poetry, therefore, signifies the.
Sylvia plath was one of the most dynamic and admired poets of the 20th century. Sylvia plaths mirror stands as an icon of seeing all objects true to its existence. Apr 23, 2016 many thanks to mrs donnelly for sharing this very helpful revision presentation for pupils revising sylvia plath for the leaving certificate click on the full screen icon to read it easily. The first stanza talks from the viewpoint of a personified mirror. Mirror by sylvia plath question and answers important. Analysis of sylvia plaths mirror sylvia plath is known as the poet of confession. Mirror by sylvia plath was composed in 1961, just before plaths twentyninth birthday, two years before her suicide. Steinberg sylvia plath 19321963 biographical and critical excerpts, exhibit, links.
Her novel, the bell jar, is strongly autobiographical, and her later poems, such as daddy and lady lazarus. Jul 09, 20 this poem by sylvia plath symbolizes the troubled self of the woman, who has had to reject the given masks imposed on her by the patriarchal society and see herself as an individual. By the time she took her life at the age of 30, plath already had a following in the literary community. Sylvia plath national portrait gallery, washington, d. Have a class discussion on the comparison in terms of the theme, the tone and the language used. Sylvia plath follow born in 1932 to middle class parents in jamaica plain, massachusetts, sylvia plath published her first poem at the age of eight. Reflections of self and other in sylvia plaths mirror. The overall meaning of the poem mirror pen and the pad. It uses the titular mirror as its central symbolic device. The bell jar by sylvia plath biographical note by lois ames drawings by sylvia plath eversion 3. This is a step by step line by line analysis of the poem mirror by sylvia plath.
Welcome to the mirror by sylvia plath question and answers. Sylvia plath was an american poet best known for her novel the bell jar, and for her poetry collections the colossus and ariel. Mirror questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on mirror. Educated at smith college and cambridge, plath published poems even as a child and won many academic and literary awards. A jungian alchemical reading nephie christodoulides, university of cyprus in this paper i propose a new reading of sylvia plath s honor thesis the magic mirror, a reading which, like the idol in a magic mirror demonstrating a disturbance. The mirror by sylvia plath full explanation mytutor. In mirror, sylvia plath gives us the point of view of the mirror actually a mirror in the 1960s, a time when the meaning of plaths reflection, and womens reflections in general, were rapidly changing. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq.
In addition to plath s the magic mirror, embers has published two limited editions of short stories by plath. I am not cruel, only truthful in the poem, mirror, by sylvia plath, which can be read in full here, the mirror gives its own description and says that i am silver coloured and i am very accurate while reflecting the images of. May 19, 2000 the journals of sylvia plath 19501962 the journals of sylvia plath 19501962 faber and faber. How is this poem different from the poem by sylvia plath.
Through the use of metaphor and personification in the poem, plath creates images of water, reflections, and colors as having human characteristics to emphasize the strong. Her first volume of poetry, the colossus, was released in 1960 but shes best known for the publication of ariel in 1965. Sylvia plath s mirror is a poem which deals intimately with the idea of women searching for distinctions between the real self and the false. Berckplage 4849 william freedman demonstrates in his article entitled the monster in plaths mirror that for sylvia plath, mirror holds great significance.
The relationship between the mirror and the woman is uneasy and almost abusive in sylvia plath s poem mirror by sylvia plath. Mirror by sylvia plath by lovelynne magalued on prezi. Pdf sylvia plaths mirror stands as an icon of seeing all objects true to its existence. Mirror was written in 1961 by sylvia plath and published posthumously by ted hughes in 1971. Mirror is an exploration of this uncertain self and was probably influenced by an earlier poem by the poet james merrill with the same title. Ever caught yourself looking in the mirror a little too long, just staring at your own reflection. About edge because this is plath s last written poem, it is easy to describe it as a poem that is only about suicide. These are the sources and citations used to research sylvia plath. She was raised by her mother after her father died of complications from diabetes when she was eight. It appeared in plaths posthumously published collection crossing the water. A split in the mirror i sit composed in grecian tunic.
Feb 10, 2015 i selected the poem edge by sylvia plath, mostly because it is ambiguous and hard to describe, and therefore has always been a bit of an enigma to me, so i thought it would be a good poem to deconstruct and look at it on a very basic level and see if this can help. This is an editable assignment based on sylvia plath s mirror that asks students to colormark for imagery, annotate for personification, metaphor, and simile, and answer 5 short answer questions. This is an interesting poem and what makes it even better is that she talks as if she is the mirror. In the second stanza, sylvia plath introduces a new element to the poem. It appeared in plath s posthumously published collection crossing the water. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, must i look so bloody grim. A sensitive person who tended to be a bit of a perfectionist she was what many would consider a model daughter and student popular, a. Mirror was written two years before plath committed suicide in 1963. Perception and relevance of mirror imagery rajani sharma one mirrory eye a facet of knowledge. Sylvia plath graduated smith college with honors in june 1955. Paraphrase line by line the poem mirror by sylvia plath.
Mirror mirror, mirror, on the wall, cant you show me tall and slim. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. Reflections of self and other in sylvia plaths mirror imagery. List of books and articles about sylvia plath online. Sylvia plath was a twentieth century american writer and poet, born in 1932. Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow effacement at the winds hand. Sylvia plath brief bio sylvia plath homepage introduction, biography, online essays, poems, pictures, links, and a wealth of other information biography more detailed bio with photos from peter k.
Whatever i see i swallow immediately just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike. Without yet any official biography or even any memoir longer than fifty pages, it is possible to construct a fairy detailed account of her life, and of her relationships to her. Sylvia plath wrote the poem in 1961, just two years before her actual. The narrator, that is the mirror, begins by saying that it is silver and exact. She is the editor of the journals of sylvia plath 2000 and coeditor of the letters of sylvia plath 2017. In line 12, the mirror calls the moon and candles liars. A study of the double in two of dostoevskys novels. A jungian alchemical reading nephie christodoulides, university of cyprus in this paper i propose a new reading of sylvia plaths honor thesis the magic mirror, a reading which, like the idol in a magic mirror demonstrating a disturbance. The author of several collections of poetry and the novel the bell jar, sylvia plath is often singled out for the intense coupling. In the poem, mirror, by sylvia plath, which can be read in full here, the mirror gives its own description and says that i am silver coloured and i am very accurate while reflecting the images of the objects that fall on my surface. A short analysis of sylvia plaths mirror interesting. Biographical information born in massachusetts to european immigrant parents suffered from depression and made several suicide attempts, finally succeeding failing. Something whether it is in the form of its any state. Get an answer for paraphrase line by line the poem mirror by sylvia plath.
Jan 09, 2020 sylvia plath s poem has her hallmark stamp of powerful language, sharp imagery and dark undertones. Sylvia plath s mirror sylvia plath s mirror offers a unique perspective on the attitudes of aging. Sylvia plath, who killed herself early in 1963 at age thirty, is widely regarded as a major poet, particularly in her posthumously pub lished volume ariel 1965. The poem metaphors by sylvia plath has been examined and analysed in this article. Read the questions thoroughly and comment if you liked. The freeverse poem tells the story of a woman who continuously looks at her reflection first in a mirror and then in a lake. I am not cruel, only truthful the eye of a little god, fourcornered. This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that. The feminist movement was becoming more prominent just as plath herself was beginning to experience motherhood and to enter middle age. Top 10 tips for getting started with prezi video in your online classroom. If youre not near northhampton massachusetts, or unable to get permission to see it, there were copies printed in book form in the 1980s, but t. These two poets astutely employed mirror images for the realization as well as. Plath is able to emphasize the loneliness, hope, despair, and insecurity that awaits us through. Return to article details sylvia plaths mirror translated into hindi download download pdf.
Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow. Words such as swallow, meditate, and phrases such as part of my. Hence, although the narrators form has changed, its function hasnt. Sylvia plath 193263 was an american poet and novelist whose bestknown works explore the themes of alienation, death, and selfdestruction. What is the theme of the poem mirror by sylvia plath. Sylvia plath was an american poet, novelist, and shortstory writer. Born in 1932 to middle class parents in jamaica plain, massachusetts, sylvia plath published her first poem at the age of eight. Line by line summary of mirror by sylvia plath mirror is written in blank verse and is divided into two stanzas. The female protagonist in plaths mirror identifies herself with. The mirror was written by sylvia plath in 1961 but wasnt published until 1971, eight years after her death by suicide. While living in winthrop, eightyearold plath published her first poem in the boston heralds childrens section. She uses poetry as a way to confess her feelings, to express and release her pain in life. Sylvia plath s poem has her hallmark stamp of powerful language, sharp imagery and dark undertones.
I am not cruel, only truthful 5 the eye of a little god, fourcornered. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on sunday, april 10, 2016. Sylvia plath is an acknowledged poetess whose literary work was distinguished by the existential deliberations. Sylvia plath, ted hughes, and the blood jet of poetry grolier club, 2005 and one life. The poem was written during a period of change in plath s life. In this post, you can find some important questions from the chapter mirror. She had spent her senior year working on a special honors thesis which she titled. Brainstorm five things you know about mirrors, associate with mirrors, or use mirrors for. By sylvia plath you do not do, you do not do any more, black shoe in which i have lived like a foot for thirty years, poor and white, barely daring to breathe or achoo. With its portrayal of a talented yet frustrated young american woman in the 1950s, sylvia plath s the bell jar 1963 depicts the experiences of a nineteenyearold girl before her mental breakdown. In the ensuing years her work attracted the attention.
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