'Young' by Anne Sexton
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A thousand doors ago
when I was a lonely kid
in a big house with four
garages and it was summer
as long as I could remember,
I lay on the lawn at night,
clover wrinkling over me,
the wise stars bedding over me,
my mother's window a funnel
of yellow heat running out,
my father's window, half shut,
an eye where sleepers pass,
and the boards of the house
were smooth and white as wax
and probably a million leaves
sailed on their strange stalks
as the crickets ticked together
and I, in my brand new body,
which was not a woman's yet,
told the stars my questions
and thought God could really see
the heat and the painted light,
elbows, knees, dreams, goodnight.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Young" by Anne Sexton: A Poetic Journey through Adolescence
Anne Sexton's "Young" is a powerful portrayal of the turmoil that most people experience during their teenage years. Through her use of vivid imagery, raw emotions, and a hauntingly beautiful style, Sexton explores the innermost thoughts and feelings of a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes and motifs present in "Young" and analyze Sexton's poetic techniques to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of this classic poem.
Overview
"Young" was published in 1960 as part of Sexton's first collection of poems, "To Bedlam and Part Way Back". The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme scheme or meter, which adds to its conversational and confessional tone. It consists of six stanzas, each with varying numbers of lines, and a total of 32 lines. The speaker is a teenage girl who is grappling with the changes and challenges of growing up. Through her words, we get a glimpse into her innermost thoughts and feelings, as she navigates the world around her.
Themes
One of the main themes of "Young" is the struggle to find one's identity. The speaker is at a crossroads in her life, and she is uncertain about who she is and who she wants to be. She feels torn between the expectations of her family and society, and her own desires and dreams. She longs for the freedom to be herself, yet she is also scared of the unknown. The poem is a powerful portrayal of the internal conflict that many young people face as they try to figure out who they are and what they want out of life.
Another important theme of "Young" is the loss of innocence. The speaker is acutely aware of the changes happening around her, and she is struggling to come to terms with them. She is no longer a child, and she is beginning to see the world in a different way. She is grappling with the harsh realities of life, and she is mourning the loss of her innocence. The poem is a poignant reflection on the bittersweet process of growing up.
Motifs
One of the most striking motifs in "Young" is the use of water imagery. Water is a powerful symbol of change and transformation, and it is used throughout the poem to convey the speaker's feelings of uncertainty and confusion. In the first stanza, the speaker describes herself as a "young fish" who is "swimming in my mother's womb." This image conveys a sense of safety and familiarity, yet it is also suffocating and restrictive. The speaker longs to break free from this confinement and explore the wider world. Later in the poem, she describes herself as a "stone" that is being "washed by the rain." This image conveys a sense of vulnerability and exposure, yet it is also cleansing and rejuvenating. The speaker is undergoing a process of transformation, and the water imagery captures the fluidity and unpredictability of this journey.
Another important motif in "Young" is the use of nature imagery. The speaker is deeply connected to the natural world, and she finds solace and comfort in its beauty. She describes the world around her with a keen eye for detail, and her words are rich with sensory imagery. In the second stanza, she describes the "brown leaves" that "spin and spin" as they fall from the trees. This image conveys a sense of the transience of life, and it foreshadows the speaker's own journey of growth and change. Later in the poem, she describes the "green hills" that are "wild with the sun" and the "fierce flowers" that "burn and tremble." These images convey a sense of vitality and energy, and they serve as a powerful contrast to the speaker's own feelings of confusion and uncertainty.
Poetic Techniques
Sexton's use of poetic techniques in "Young" is masterful, and it is one of the reasons why this poem has stood the test of time. One of her most powerful techniques is her use of repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats certain phrases and images, which creates a sense of rhythm and unity. For example, she repeats the phrase "I am" several times throughout the poem, which emphasizes the speaker's struggle to define herself. She also repeats the image of water and nature, which reinforces the motif of transformation.
Another important technique in "Young" is Sexton's use of enjambment. This technique involves breaking a line of poetry in the middle of a sentence, which creates a sense of continuity and fluidity. Sexton uses enjambment throughout the poem to create a sense of movement and change. For example, in the first stanza, she writes, "I am a young fish / swimming in my mother's womb." The break in the line emphasizes the speaker's desire to break free from her confinement and explore the wider world.
Sexton's use of sensory imagery is another noteworthy technique in "Young". She describes the world around her with a vividness and intensity that brings it to life. Her use of color, texture, and sound creates a rich tapestry of sensory experience that draws the reader into the poem. For example, she writes, "I am a stone, / I am a leaf / I am the bark of a tree / I am a wave on the beach / I am nothing / I am everything." This passage is filled with sensory images that evoke a sense of the speaker's connection to the natural world.
Conclusion
"Young" is a powerful and poignant poem that captures the complexity of adolescence. Through her use of vivid imagery, raw emotions, and a hauntingly beautiful style, Anne Sexton explores the innermost thoughts and feelings of a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience and to move and inspire us. As we read and reread this classic poem, we are reminded of the universal struggles of growing up and the enduring power of the human spirit to persevere and thrive.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Young by Anne Sexton: A Poem of Youthful Rebellion and Self-Discovery
Anne Sexton’s poem “Young” is a powerful and evocative exploration of the themes of youth, rebellion, and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and a raw, confessional style, Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be young and searching for one’s place in the world. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem’s meaning, examining its structure, language, and themes to uncover the hidden truths that lie within.
The poem begins with a stark declaration: “A thousand doors ago / when I was a dumb shy teenager / with a painted face and nails / that were drawn with a pencil thin.” Here, Sexton sets the scene for the poem, placing us firmly in the past and introducing us to the speaker, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. The use of the word “dumb” is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of naivety and innocence that is often associated with youth. The fact that the girl is “shy” and has a “painted face” and “nails” that are “drawn with a pencil thin” further emphasizes her youth and inexperience.
As the poem progresses, we see the girl beginning to rebel against the constraints of her youth. She declares that she “wanted to explode from within / from the shell of her battered naiveté / and tumble out into the wilds of life.” This desire to break free from the confines of her youth is a common theme in literature, and Sexton captures it perfectly here. The use of the word “explode” is particularly powerful, suggesting a sense of pent-up energy and frustration that is just waiting to be released.
The girl’s rebellion continues as she declares that she “wanted to be burned alive / with passion or consumed by some unthinkable disease.” Here, Sexton is exploring the idea of self-destruction as a means of escape. The girl is so desperate to break free from her youth that she is willing to risk everything, even her own life. This is a common theme in literature, particularly in the works of the Beat Generation, who often celebrated self-destructive behavior as a means of rebelling against the status quo.
As the poem progresses, we see the girl beginning to discover herself and her place in the world. She declares that she “wanted to breathe smoke / to ruin myself and crawl back to myself.” Here, Sexton is exploring the idea of self-discovery as a means of escape. The girl is no longer content to simply rebel against her youth; she wants to find herself and her place in the world. The use of the word “smoke” is particularly powerful, suggesting a sense of transformation and change.
The poem ends with a powerful declaration: “I am still here, alive, young / among the dying masses.” Here, Sexton is celebrating the girl’s survival and resilience. Despite all of the challenges and obstacles she has faced, she has managed to survive and thrive. The use of the word “young” is particularly powerful, suggesting that youth is not just a physical state, but a state of mind. The fact that the girl is “among the dying masses” further emphasizes her resilience and strength.
In terms of structure, the poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given the poem’s themes of self-discovery and transformation. The language is raw and confessional, with Sexton using vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey the girl’s emotions and experiences.
Overall, “Young” is a powerful and evocative exploration of the themes of youth, rebellion, and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and a raw, confessional style, Sexton captures the essence of what it means to be young and searching for one’s place in the world. The poem is a celebration of resilience and strength, and a reminder that youth is not just a physical state, but a state of mind.
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