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'Sestina' by Elizabeth Bishop


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Questions of Travel1955September rain falls on the house.
In the failing light, the old grandmother
sits in the kitchen with the child
beside the Little Marvel Stove,
reading the jokes from the almanac,
laughing and talking to hide her tears.She thinks that her equinoctial tears
and the rain that beats on the roof of the housewere both foretold by the almanac,
but only known to a grandmother.
The iron kettle sings on the stove.
She cuts some bread and says to the child,

Editor 1 Interpretation

Exploring the Beauty of Elizabeth Bishop's Sestina

As a renowned poet, Elizabeth Bishop has left an indelible mark in the literary world. One of her most celebrated works is the Sestina, a poem that has captured the hearts of many poetry enthusiasts. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we shall explore the beauty of Bishop's Sestina and unravel the various themes and poetic elements that make this piece a masterpiece.

The Form and Structure of the Poem

The Sestina is a poem that follows a strict form and structure. It consists of six six-line stanzas and a final three-line stanza, also known as the envoy. The poem has a specific pattern of end-words that are repeated in a particular order throughout the stanzas. In Bishop's Sestina, the end-words are: house, grandmother, child, stove, almanac, and tears.

The structure of the poem is essential in creating the mood and tone of the piece. Bishop uses the Sestina form to create a sense of repetition and circularity, which helps to reinforce the themes of memory and nostalgia that are prevalent throughout the poem.

The Themes of Memory and Nostalgia

One of the central themes in Bishop's Sestina is memory and nostalgia. The poem is set in the speaker's childhood home, and the repeated end-words create a sense of circularity that suggests the speaker is trapped in her memories. The poem is full of vivid descriptions of the house, the grandmother, and the child, which helps to create a sense of nostalgia for a time gone by.

The poem's imagery is essential in creating the mood and tone of nostalgia. Bishop uses descriptive language to paint a picture of the grandmother's house, which is filled with memories of the past. For example, in the first stanza, she describes the "kitchen shelves" that are "crowded with canned goods" and "condensed milk" (lines 2-3). These lines create an image of a house that is full of memories and nostalgia, where every object has a story to tell.

The Importance of Objects in the Poem

Bishop's Sestina is full of objects that are imbued with meaning and significance. The objects in the poem serve to reinforce the themes of memory and nostalgia and create a sense of the speaker's attachment to her childhood home.

One of the most important objects in the poem is the stove. The stove is mentioned several times throughout the poem, and it serves as a symbol of warmth and comfort. In the second stanza, the speaker describes the stove as "a heavy stove that boiled the winter's water" (line 9). This description creates an image of a stove that is essential to the speaker's survival, and it reinforces the idea that the house is a place of warmth and comfort.

Another important object in the poem is the almanac. The almanac is mentioned several times throughout the poem, and it serves as a reminder of the passage of time. In the third stanza, the speaker describes the almanac as "a little book with letters and figures" (line 16). This description creates an image of an object that is full of information, but it also suggests that the almanac is a source of comfort and familiarity for the speaker.

The Role of the Grandmother in the Poem

The grandmother is an important character in Bishop's Sestina, and she serves to reinforce the themes of memory and nostalgia. The grandmother is described as a kind and nurturing figure who provides comfort and stability in the speaker's life.

In the first stanza, the speaker describes the grandmother as "a tall woman with a thin face" (line 1). This description creates an image of a woman who is strong and resilient, but also kind and nurturing. The grandmother's presence in the poem serves to reinforce the idea that the house is a place of warmth and comfort, and it creates a sense of nostalgia for a time when the speaker felt safe and secure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Elizabeth Bishop's Sestina is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of memory and nostalgia. The poem's strict form and structure create a sense of repetition and circularity, which reinforces the idea that the speaker is trapped in her memories. The imagery and objects in the poem serve to create a sense of nostalgia and reinforce the speaker's attachment to her childhood home. The grandmother is an important character in the poem, and her presence serves to provide comfort and stability in the speaker's life. Overall, Bishop's Sestina is a beautiful and poignant piece of poetry that continues to captivate and inspire readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Bishop's Poetry Sestina: A Masterpiece of Form and Content

Elizabeth Bishop's Poetry Sestina is a classic example of a poem that combines form and content in a way that is both beautiful and meaningful. The poem is a sestina, a form of poetry that uses six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a final three-line stanza called an envoy. The sestina is a challenging form to write in, as it requires the poet to use the same six end-words in each stanza, but in a different order each time. Bishop's poem is a masterful example of this form, but it is also much more than that. In this analysis, we will explore the form and content of Bishop's Poetry Sestina, and how they work together to create a powerful and moving poem.

Form

The sestina is a form of poetry that has been around since the 12th century. It was originally used for love poetry, but has since been used for a wide variety of subjects. The form is based on the repetition of six end-words, which are used in a specific pattern throughout the poem. The pattern is as follows:

Stanza 1: ABCDEF Stanza 2: FAEBDC Stanza 3: CFDABE Stanza 4: ECBFAD Stanza 5: DEACFB Stanza 6: BDFECA Envoi: BE / DC / FA

In Bishop's Poetry Sestina, the six end-words are: house, grandmother, child, stove, almanac, and tears. Bishop uses these words in a way that is both subtle and powerful. The repetition of these words creates a sense of unity and continuity throughout the poem, while also allowing Bishop to explore different aspects of her subject matter.

Content

The content of Bishop's Poetry Sestina is both personal and universal. The poem is about Bishop's childhood, and specifically about her relationship with her grandmother. The poem is set in Bishop's grandmother's house, and the six end-words are all related to that setting. However, the poem is also about memory, loss, and the passage of time. Bishop uses the specific details of her childhood to explore these larger themes.

The poem begins with the line "September rain falls on the house," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The rain is a metaphor for the passage of time, and the house is a symbol of Bishop's childhood. The repetition of the word "house" throughout the poem reinforces this idea. The house is a place of safety and comfort, but it is also a place of loss and sadness. Bishop's grandmother is no longer alive, and the house is now empty. The repetition of the word "tears" throughout the poem reflects this sense of loss.

The poem is also about memory, and how memories can be both comforting and painful. Bishop remembers her grandmother's "sour cream-colored house," and the "child's chair" that she used to sit in. These memories are comforting to Bishop, but they also remind her of the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. Bishop also remembers her grandmother's "almanac," which is a symbol of the passing of time. The repetition of the word "almanac" throughout the poem reinforces this idea.

The poem is also about the relationship between Bishop and her grandmother. Bishop remembers her grandmother's "child's chair," which suggests that Bishop was close to her grandmother as a child. Bishop also remembers her grandmother's "stove," which was a central part of the house. The repetition of the word "stove" throughout the poem suggests that the stove was a symbol of warmth and comfort for Bishop. However, the poem also suggests that there was a distance between Bishop and her grandmother. Bishop remembers her grandmother's "tears," which suggests that her grandmother was unhappy or unfulfilled in some way. The repetition of the word "tears" throughout the poem reinforces this idea.

Conclusion

Elizabeth Bishop's Poetry Sestina is a masterpiece of form and content. The poem is a sestina, a challenging form of poetry that requires the repetition of six end-words in a specific pattern. Bishop uses this form to explore the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is about Bishop's childhood, and specifically about her relationship with her grandmother. The repetition of the words "house," "grandmother," "child," "stove," "almanac," and "tears" creates a sense of unity and continuity throughout the poem, while also allowing Bishop to explore different aspects of her subject matter. The poem is both personal and universal, and it speaks to the human experience of memory, loss, and the passage of time.

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