'The Bean-Stalk' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Ho, Giant! This is I!
I have built me a bean-stalk into your sky!
La,—but it's lovely, up so high!
This is how I came,—I put
Here my knee, there my foot,
Up and up, from shoot to shoot—
And the blessed bean-stalk thinning
Like the mischief all the time,
Till it took me rocking, spinning,
In a dizzy, sunny circle,
Making angles with the root,
Far and out above the cackle
Of the city I was born in,
Till the little dirty city
In the light so sheer and sunny
Shone as dazzling bright and pretty
As the money that you find
In a dream of finding money—
What a wind! What a morning!—
Till the tiny, shiny city,
When I shot a glance below,
Shaken with a giddy laughter,
Sick and blissfully afraid,
Was a dew-drop on a blade,
And a pair of moments after
Was the whirling guess I made,—
And the wind was like a whip
Cracking past my icy ears,
And my hair stood out behind,
And my eyes were full of tears,
Wide-open and cold,
More tears than they could hold,
The wind was blowing so,
And my teeth were in a row,
Dry and grinning,
And I felt my foot slip,
And I scratched the wind and whined,
And I clutched the stalk and jabbered,
With my eyes shut blind,—
What a wind! What a wind!
Your broad sky, Giant,
Is the shelf of a cupboard;
I make bean-stalks, I'm
A builder, like yourself,
But bean-stalks is my trade,
I couldn't make a shelf,
Don't know how they're made,
Now, a bean-stalk is more pliant—
La, what a climb!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Bean-Stalk: A Literary Analysis
Are you familiar with the classic children's tale, Jack and the Beanstalk? Well, Edna St. Vincent Millay puts her own twist on this familiar story in her poem, The Bean-Stalk. But instead of merely retelling the story, Millay delves deeper into the themes and emotions present in the original tale.
The Plot
At first glance, The Bean-Stalk appears to follow the same plot as Jack and the Beanstalk. The speaker of the poem is a young boy who trades his cow for some magic beans, which grow into a giant beanstalk that leads him to a castle in the sky. However, the similarities end there.
Millay's poem does not focus on the boy's adventures in the sky castle, but rather on his return to earth. He comes back to a world that has changed in his absence, and he struggles to readjust to his old life. The beanstalk, which was a symbol of magic and adventure, now seems like a burden, reminding him of what he has lost.
The Themes
One of the central themes of The Bean-Stalk is the allure of the unknown. The young boy in the poem is drawn to the magic beans because they promise something new and exciting. This desire to explore the unknown is a common theme in literature, from Odysseus' journey home to Alice's adventures in Wonderland. It is part of what makes us human: the desire to push beyond the boundaries of what we know and discover something new.
However, Millay also explores the danger of this desire. When the boy returns to earth, he finds that his old life is no longer satisfying. He is restless, unable to settle back into the routine of his old world. This suggests that the allure of the unknown can be destructive, leading us to abandon what is familiar and comfortable.
Another theme present in The Bean-Stalk is the idea of loss. When the young boy returns to earth, he finds that his old life has moved on without him. His mother has died, and his home is now occupied by strangers. This loss of his old world is further emphasized by the beanstalk, a symbol of his brief escape from reality, now looming over him like a reminder of what he has lost. This theme of loss is a reminder that every adventure comes at a cost, and that we can never truly return to the life we left behind.
The Language
One of the most striking aspects of The Bean-Stalk is Millay's use of language. Her words are simple and direct, yet they carry a powerful emotional weight. She uses repetition to emphasize the speaker's feelings of loss and disconnection. The phrase "I cannot find" appears several times in the poem, highlighting the speaker's sense of displacement.
Millay also uses sensory language to create a vivid image of the boy's return to earth. The house is described as "still and cold," and the boy's bed is "damp and old." These details paint a picture of a world that has moved on without him, and which is now unfamiliar and unwelcoming.
The Interpretation
The Bean-Stalk is a powerful exploration of the human desire for adventure and the cost of that desire. Millay's use of language creates a vivid picture of a world that is both alluring and dangerous. The poem is a warning against the temptation to abandon what is familiar in search of something new.
The young boy in the poem is a tragic figure, caught between two worlds. His desire for adventure has led him to a place of wonder and magic, but he cannot stay there forever. When he returns to earth, he finds that he has lost something irretrievable. The beanstalk, which was once a symbol of his freedom, now looms over him like a reminder of what he has lost.
In the end, The Bean-Stalk is a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing our desires without considering the cost. It is a reminder that every adventure comes with a price, and that we must be prepared to pay that price if we wish to explore the unknown.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Bean-Stalk: A Classic Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
The Bean-Stalk is a classic poem written by Edna St. Vincent Millay, an American poet and playwright who was known for her lyrical and emotional poetry. This poem, which was published in 1922, is a beautiful and evocative piece that explores the themes of growth, transformation, and the power of nature.
The poem begins with a description of a bean-stalk that is growing in a garden. The speaker of the poem marvels at the bean-stalk's size and strength, and notes that it seems to be reaching up towards the sky. The bean-stalk is described as "a thing of wonder," and the speaker is clearly in awe of its beauty and power.
As the poem continues, the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of growth and transformation. She notes that the bean-stalk was once just a small seed, but that it has now grown into something magnificent. She muses on the idea that all things have the potential to grow and change, and that even the smallest seed can become something great.
The speaker also reflects on the power of nature, and the way that it can transform even the most barren and desolate landscapes. She notes that the bean-stalk is growing in a garden that was once "a waste of sand and stone," but that now it is a place of beauty and life. This idea of transformation is a central theme of the poem, and it is one that is explored in depth throughout.
As the poem draws to a close, the speaker reflects on the idea that growth and transformation are not always easy. She notes that the bean-stalk had to struggle to grow, and that it faced many obstacles along the way. However, despite these challenges, it continued to reach towards the sky, and eventually became something magnificent.
The Bean-Stalk is a beautiful and evocative poem that explores the themes of growth, transformation, and the power of nature. It is a testament to the idea that even the smallest seed has the potential to become something great, and that with perseverance and determination, anything is possible.
One of the most striking things about this poem is its use of imagery. Millay's descriptions of the bean-stalk are vivid and evocative, and they help to bring the poem to life. For example, when she describes the bean-stalk as "a thing of wonder," the reader can almost feel the sense of awe and amazement that the speaker is experiencing.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "reaching up" is repeated several times throughout the poem, and this helps to reinforce the idea of growth and transformation. It also gives the poem a sense of rhythm and momentum, which helps to draw the reader in.
Overall, The Bean-Stalk is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the power of growth and transformation. It is a testament to the idea that even the smallest seed has the potential to become something great, and that with perseverance and determination, anything is possible.
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