'Twelve Years' by Paul Celan
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The line
that remained, that
became true: . . . your
house in Paris -- become
the alterpiece of your hands.
Breathed through thrice,
shone through thrice.
...................
It's turning dumb, turning deaf
behind our eyes.
I see the poison flower
in all manner of words and shapes.
Go. Come.
Love blots out its name: to
you it ascribes itself.
Tr. Michael Hamburger
Editor 1 Interpretation
Twelve Years by Paul Celan: A Masterful Depiction of Trauma and Memory
Paul Celan's poem "Twelve Years" is a haunting piece, filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience of trauma and memory, and the ways in which these two forces shape our lives. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore Celan's use of language and imagery, and examine the themes of trauma and memory that run throughout the poem.
Background
Before diving into the poem itself, it is important to provide some background information on Paul Celan. Celan was a Romanian poet who wrote in German, and he is considered one of the most important poets of the 20th century. He was born in 1920 to a Jewish family in Cernăuți, Romania, which is now part of Ukraine. During World War II, Celan was imprisoned in a forced labor camp in Romania and later in a concentration camp in Ukraine. He was one of the few members of his family to survive the Holocaust.
Celan's experiences during the war had a profound impact on his work as a poet. His poems often deal with themes of trauma, loss, and memory, and his use of language is characterized by a sense of fragmentation and dislocation. "Twelve Years" is a prime example of Celan's unique style and his exploration of these themes.
Analysis
The poem "Twelve Years" is comprised of ten stanzas, each containing three lines. The brevity of the lines and stanzas creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the speaker is struggling to express something that is too overwhelming to put into words.
The opening stanza sets the tone for the entire poem:
With a stone I'll mark the spot
The use of the word "stone" immediately conjures up images of memorials and grave markers, suggesting that the speaker is marking a site of great significance. The fact that the spot is left unnamed adds to the sense of mystery and ambiguity surrounding the poem.
The second stanza introduces the theme of memory:
until what comes to pass will stir no more.
Here, the speaker suggests that the act of marking the spot is a way of preserving a memory, of ensuring that what happened there will not be forgotten. The repetition of the word "more" underscores the importance of memory in the poem, as if the speaker is trying to convince themselves that the memory is worth preserving.
The third stanza provides a glimpse into the traumatic event that the speaker is remembering:
I'll keep watch. But you - when will you return?
The use of "I'll keep watch" suggests that the speaker is guarding something, perhaps a memory or a secret. The question of "when will you return" is left unanswered, adding to the sense of uncertainty and unease.
The fourth stanza introduces the image of a bird:
A bird sang once - all that.
The use of "once" suggests that the bird's song is a fleeting moment, something that is here and then gone. The fact that the bird is never mentioned again in the poem adds to the sense of transience, as if the bird's song was just one small part of a larger, more momentous event.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of time:
Twelve years ago, there was nothing here.
The use of "twelve years ago" suggests that the event being remembered took place a long time ago, and the fact that there was "nothing here" adds to the sense of emptiness and loss.
The sixth stanza introduces a sense of foreboding:
But now - the stone is in my way.
The use of "now" suggests that something has changed, that the speaker's memory is being disrupted. The fact that the stone is "in my way" suggests that it is a barrier preventing the speaker from accessing their memory.
The seventh stanza introduces the theme of guilt:
I raise myself and look at it
The use of "raise myself" suggests that the speaker is burdened by guilt, as if they are responsible for the event that took place. The fact that they are looking at the stone suggests that they are seeking some kind of absolution or closure.
The eighth stanza introduces an image of nature:
a small hill blocks my view of the valley.
The use of "hill" and "valley" suggest a natural landscape, but the fact that the hill is "small" and the view is "blocked" adds to the sense of confinement and restriction.
The ninth stanza introduces an image of violence:
But the wind lifts me and the stone.
The use of "wind" suggests a force that is beyond the speaker's control, and the fact that it "lifts" both the speaker and the stone suggests a violent disruption. The fact that the speaker and the stone are lifted together suggests that they are linked in some way.
The final stanza provides a sense of closure:
It's time. Hurry. We're needed at the forgotten spot.
The use of "hurry" suggests a sense of urgency, as if time is running out. The fact that the spot is "forgotten" suggests that it has been neglected or overlooked, but the use of "we" suggests that the speaker is not alone in their memory.
Interpretation
The poem "Twelve Years" is a powerful exploration of trauma and memory. The brevity of the lines and stanzas creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the speaker is struggling to express something that is too overwhelming to put into words. The use of imagery, such as the stone, the bird, and the wind, creates a vivid and haunting portrait of a traumatic event that is difficult to forget.
The theme of memory runs throughout the poem, as the speaker struggles to preserve a memory that is in danger of being lost. The use of repetition, such as the repeated use of the word "more," underscores the importance of memory in the poem, as if the speaker is trying to convince themselves that the memory is worth preserving.
The theme of trauma is also central to the poem, as the speaker grapples with the aftermath of a traumatic event. The use of guilt, as in the line "I raise myself," suggests that the speaker feels responsible for what happened, while the image of violence in the final stanza suggests that the event was not a peaceful one.
Ultimately, the poem is a masterful depiction of the ways in which trauma and memory shape our lives. It is a haunting and powerful work, and one that stays with the reader long after the final line. As a literary critic, I am struck by Celan's ability to convey so much in such a small space, and his skillful use of language and imagery to create a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a traumatic event.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Twelve Years: A Poem of Loss and Hope
Paul Celan, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote the poem Twelve Years in 1959. The poem is a meditation on the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II. Celan himself was a survivor of the Holocaust, having spent time in concentration camps and lost both of his parents to the genocide. In Twelve Years, Celan reflects on the trauma of the Holocaust and the possibility of hope and redemption in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the Holocaust. The first section is a reflection on the experience of being a victim of the genocide. Celan writes, "I was a child, and the world was a nightmare." This line captures the sense of disorientation and terror that many victims of the Holocaust must have felt. The world, which should have been a place of safety and security, had become a nightmare, a place of unspeakable horror. Celan goes on to describe the experience of being transported to a concentration camp, where he was "stripped of everything" and forced to endure "the cold, the hunger, the fear." The language here is spare and direct, conveying the stark reality of life in a concentration camp.
The second section of the poem is a meditation on the nature of evil. Celan writes, "Evil is a name / that we give to something / that we cannot understand." This line suggests that the Holocaust was not simply a matter of human cruelty or sadism, but something deeper and more mysterious. Evil, in Celan's view, is a force that defies explanation or comprehension. He goes on to describe the way that evil can infect even the most innocent and vulnerable among us. "The child in the camp / is the child of the devil," he writes. This line suggests that the Holocaust was not simply a matter of one group of people victimizing another, but a larger, more cosmic struggle between good and evil.
The final section of the poem is a meditation on the possibility of hope and redemption in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Celan writes, "Twelve years have passed / since the end of the war / and I am still alive." This line suggests that despite the trauma and horror of the Holocaust, there is still a possibility of survival and renewal. Celan goes on to describe the way that the survivors of the Holocaust have been able to rebuild their lives and find meaning in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event. "We have built new homes / and planted new gardens," he writes. This line suggests that even in the face of unimaginable loss and destruction, there is still a possibility of growth and renewal.
Overall, Twelve Years is a powerful meditation on the Holocaust and its aftermath. Celan's spare, direct language conveys the stark reality of life in a concentration camp, while his reflections on the nature of evil and the possibility of hope and redemption offer a larger perspective on the meaning of the Holocaust. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror, and a reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring the victims of the Holocaust.
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