'Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom' by Louise Bogan


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Men loved wholly beyond wisdom
Have the staff without the banner.
Like a fire in a dry thicket
Rising within women's eyes
Is the love men must return.
Heart, so subtle now, and trembling,
What a marvel to be wise.,
To love never in this manner!
To be quiet in the fern
Like a thing gone dead and still,
Listening to the prisoned cricket
Shake its terrible dissembling
Music in the granite hill.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom

Introduction

As I sit down to write this literary criticism of Louise Bogan's poem "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom," I am struck by the sheer beauty and complexity of the poem. From the very first line, Bogan draws the reader in with her powerful use of language and imagery. In this 4000-word essay, I will delve deep into the poem, exploring its themes, symbols, and literary techniques. I will attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of the poem, while also offering my own interpretation and personal reflections.

Form and Structure

Before I dive into the content of the poem, it is important to first discuss its form and structure. "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom" is a sonnet, a traditional form of poetry that consists of 14 lines. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza containing eight lines and the second stanza containing six lines. The poem follows a strict rhyme scheme, with the first stanza using the pattern ABABCDCD and the second stanza using the pattern EFEFGG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line contains 10 syllables, with every other syllable stressed.

The strict form and structure of the poem are reflective of the themes that Bogan explores. The sonnet is a form that has been used by poets for centuries to express intense emotions, particularly love. By choosing this form, Bogan is signaling to the reader that the poem is about love, but it is not a simple or straightforward love. The strict rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter also add to the poem's sense of tension and conflict, as the rigid structure of the poem clashes with the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of love.

Themes

The primary theme of "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom" is the nature of love and its destructive power. Bogan explores the idea that love is not always rational or controllable, and that it can lead people to behave in irrational and destructive ways. The poem suggests that love is not something that can be easily understood or contained, and that it often leads people to act against their own self-interest.

Bogan also explores the theme of gender and power dynamics in relationships. The poem is written from the perspective of a woman who has been hurt by a man's love. The woman is portrayed as being vulnerable and powerless in the face of the man's intense emotions, and the poem suggests that men have the power to destroy women with their love. This theme is particularly relevant in today's society, where discussions of toxic masculinity and the #MeToo movement have brought issues of gender and power to the forefront.

Literary Techniques

Bogan employs a variety of literary techniques in "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom" to convey her message. One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Bogan uses vivid and often violent imagery to convey the destructive power of love. For example, she writes, "The world drops dead; / Twice I have whirled the / Pillar of the world, and / Twice I have come back" (lines 5-8). This image of the speaker whirling the "pillar of the world" suggests that love has the power to upset the natural order of things, and that it can lead to chaos and destruction.

Bogan also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The phrase "men loved wholly beyond wisdom" is repeated twice in the poem, first in the opening line and then again in the final line. This repetition serves to emphasize the poem's central message, that love can be all-consuming and destructive. The repetition also creates a sense of circularity, suggesting that the speaker is trapped in a cycle of destructive love that she cannot escape.

Interpretation

As I read and reread "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom," I found myself drawn to the poem's sense of ambiguity and ambiguity. On the one hand, the poem seems to be a condemnation of men and their destructive love. The speaker portrays men as being irrational and uncontrollable, and suggests that their love is more harmful than beneficial. However, on closer inspection, it becomes clear that the poem is not a simple condemnation of men or love. The speaker also acknowledges her own culpability in the relationship, suggesting that she too has been consumed by love and has acted against her own self-interest.

Ultimately, I believe that "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom" is a deeply personal and emotional poem that speaks to the universal experience of love and loss. The poem captures the intensity and complexity of love, and suggests that it is a force that can both create and destroy. Through its use of powerful imagery and repetition, the poem conveys a sense of desperation and emotional turmoil, while also capturing the beauty and wonder of love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom" is a powerful and complex poem that explores the destructive power of love. Bogan employs a variety of literary techniques, including vivid imagery and repetition, to convey her message. The poem is structured as a sonnet, which adds to its sense of tension and conflict. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the universal experience of love and loss, and captures the intensity and complexity of human emotion.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom: A Poem of Love and Loss

Louise Bogan’s poem “Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom” is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of the complexities of love and the pain of loss. Written in 1923, the poem speaks to the timeless nature of human emotion and the universal experience of love and heartbreak.

The poem begins with the line “Men loved wholly beyond wisdom” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word “wholly” suggests a complete and all-encompassing love, one that is all-consuming and all-encompassing. This is a love that is beyond reason and logic, a love that defies explanation.

Bogan goes on to describe this love as “a woman, not a goddess” which further emphasizes the human nature of this emotion. This is not a love for an idealized, perfect being, but rather a love for a flawed and imperfect human being. This is a love that is messy and complicated, one that is fraught with challenges and difficulties.

The poem then takes a darker turn as Bogan describes the pain of loss. She writes, “And the whole of love is mourning, / And the whole of mourning is love.” This line speaks to the interconnectedness of love and loss, how one cannot exist without the other. To love deeply is to risk the pain of loss, and yet we continue to love despite this knowledge.

Bogan then goes on to describe the physical and emotional pain of loss, writing, “And the pain of this you know / When they love you wholly and then go.” This line is particularly powerful as it captures the intense emotional and physical pain that comes with losing someone you love deeply. The use of the word “wholly” once again emphasizes the depth of the love that has been lost.

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn as Bogan explores the nature of love and its place in the world. She writes, “Love is the voice under all silences, / The hope which has no opposite in fear.” This line speaks to the power of love to transcend all boundaries and to exist even in the darkest of times. Love is a force that can bring light to even the darkest of places.

Bogan then concludes the poem with the line, “Love is not a wisdom, love is a madness.” This line speaks to the irrational nature of love, how it defies logic and reason. Love is not something that can be understood or explained, it is simply something that is felt deeply and passionately.

In conclusion, “Men Loved Wholly Beyond Wisdom” is a powerful and moving exploration of the complexities of love and the pain of loss. Bogan’s use of language and imagery is both beautiful and haunting, capturing the essence of this universal human experience. This poem speaks to the timeless nature of love and the enduring power of this emotion to shape our lives and our world.

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