'The Monument' by Elizabeth Bishop
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Now can you see the monument? It is of wood
built somewhat like a box. No. Built
like several boxes in descending sizes
one above the other.
Each is turned half-way round so that
its corners point toward the sides
of the one below and the angles alternate.
Then on the topmost cube is set
a sort of fleur-de-lys of weathered wood,
long petals of board, pierced with odd holes,
four-sided, stiff, ecclesiastical.
From it four thin, warped poles spring out,
(slanted like fishing-poles or flag-poles)
and from them jig-saw work hangs down,
four lines of vaguely whittled ornament
over the edges of the boxes
to the ground.
The monument is one-third set against
a sea; two-thirds against a sky.
The view is geared
(that is, the view's perspective)
so low there is no "far away,"
and we are far away within the view.
A sea of narrow, horizontal boards
lies out behind our lonely monument,
its long grains alternating right and left
like floor-boards--spotted, swarming-still,
and motionless. A sky runs parallel,
and it is palings, coarser than the sea's:
splintery sunlight and long-fibred clouds.
"Why does the strange sea make no sound?
Is it because we're far away?
Where are we? Are we in Asia Minor,
or in Mongolia?"
An ancient promontory,
an ancient principality whose artist-prince
might have wanted to build a monument
to mark a tomb or boundary, or make
a melancholy or romantic scene of it...
"But that queer sea looks made of wood,
half-shining, like a driftwood, sea.
And the sky looks wooden, grained with cloud.
It's like a stage-set; it is all so flat!
Those clouds are full of glistening splinters!
What is that?"
It is the monument.
"It's piled-up boxes,
outlined with shoddy fret-work, half-fallen off,
cracked and unpainted. It looks old."
--The strong sunlight, the wind from the sea,
all the conditions of its existence,
may have flaked off the paint, if ever it was painted,
and made it homelier than it was.
"Why did you bring me here to see it?
A temple of crates in cramped and crated scenery,
what can it prove?
I am tired of breathing this eroded air,
this dryness in which the monument is cracking."
It is an artifact
of wood. Wood holds together better
than sea or cloud or and could by itself,
much better than real sea or sand or cloud.
It chose that way to grow and not to move.
The monument's an object, yet those decorations,
carelessly nailed, looking like nothing at all,
give it away as having life, and wishing;
wanting to be a monument, to cherish something.
The crudest scroll-work says "commemorate,"
while once each day the light goes around it
like a prowling animal,
or the rain falls on it, or the wind blows into it.
It may be solid, may be hollow.
The bones of the artist-prince may be inside
or far away on even drier soil.
But roughly but adequately it can shelter
what is within (which after all
cannot have been intended to be seen).
It is the beginning of a painting,
a piece of sculpture, or poem, or monument,
and all of wood. Watch it closely.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Monument: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
The Monument, written by Elizabeth Bishop, is a poem that is as haunting as it is beautiful. The poem, which is about a monument in a small town, is a meditation on death, loss, and the passage of time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language used by Bishop to convey her message, and why this poem remains relevant today.
Background
Elizabeth Bishop was an American poet who lived from 1911 to 1979. She was known for her precise language and her ability to capture the nuances of everyday life. Her work was often melancholy, and she had a preoccupation with death and loss. The Monument was published in 1955, and it is one of her most well-known poems.
Themes
The Monument is a poem that deals with several themes. One of the main themes is death. The poem is set in a cemetery, and the monument that is being described is a memorial to the dead. Bishop is exploring the idea of death, and how it affects us. She is also exploring the idea of how we remember those who have died, and how we honor their memory.
Another theme that is present in the poem is the passage of time. Bishop is exploring how time changes everything, and how nothing stays the same. The monument that is being described is old and weathered, and Bishop is showing how time has affected it. She is also showing how time has affected the people who visit the monument. The people who come to the cemetery to visit their loved ones are all old, and Bishop is showing how time has affected them too.
Imagery
Bishop uses several different types of imagery in The Monument. One type of imagery that she uses is visual imagery. She describes the monument in detail, and she uses words like "gray," "granite," and "weathered" to create a picture in the reader's mind. She also describes the cemetery, and she uses words like "grassy," "quiet," and "still" to create a feeling of peace and serenity.
Another type of imagery that Bishop uses is tactile imagery. She describes the texture of the monument, and she uses words like "smooth," "polished," and "hard" to create a feeling of solidity and permanence. She also describes the texture of the grass, and she uses words like "coarse," "rough," and "sharp" to create a feeling of roughness and discomfort.
Language
Bishop's use of language is one of the things that makes The Monument so powerful. She uses simple language, but she is able to convey complex ideas with it. She also uses repetition and imagery to create a sense of rhythm and musicality.
One example of Bishop's use of language is the repetition of the word "gray." She uses this word several times throughout the poem, and it creates a feeling of sadness and melancholy. Another example is the repetition of the phrase "what is the matter." Bishop uses this phrase several times throughout the poem, and it creates a feeling of uncertainty and confusion.
Interpretation
The Monument is a poem that can be interpreted in several different ways. One interpretation is that Bishop is exploring the idea of death, and how it affects us. She is showing how death is a part of life, and how we must learn to accept it. She is also showing how we remember those who have died, and how we honor their memory.
Another interpretation is that Bishop is exploring the idea of the passage of time. She is showing how time changes everything, and how nothing stays the same. She is also showing how time affects us, and how we must learn to adapt to it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Monument is a poem that is as haunting as it is beautiful. Bishop's use of language and imagery creates a sense of melancholy and sadness, but it also creates a sense of peace and serenity. The themes of death and the passage of time are still relevant today, and this poem is a reminder of the importance of remembering those who have died.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Monument: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery and Symbolism
Elizabeth Bishop's "The Monument" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and symbolism that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. The poem is a reflection on the nature of memory, loss, and the passage of time. It is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human.
The poem begins with a description of a monument that the speaker encounters in a small town. The monument is a statue of a soldier who died in the Civil War. The speaker is struck by the monument's beauty and the way it seems to capture the essence of the soldier's life. The statue is described as "a young captain, / wearing his slouch hat, / tilted in the breeze."
The monument is a powerful symbol of the soldier's sacrifice and the way that his memory has been preserved. It is a reminder of the cost of war and the toll that it takes on those who fight. The speaker is moved by the monument and the way that it seems to capture the essence of the soldier's life. She reflects on the fact that the soldier's life has been reduced to this one moment in time, frozen in stone for all eternity.
The poem then shifts to a reflection on the nature of memory and the passage of time. The speaker notes that the town has changed since the soldier's death. The buildings have been replaced, and the people who knew the soldier are long gone. The only thing that remains is the monument, a symbol of the soldier's sacrifice and the way that his memory has been preserved.
The speaker reflects on the fact that memory is a fragile thing. It is easily lost or forgotten, and the passage of time can erode even the most powerful memories. The monument is a powerful symbol of the way that memory can be preserved, but it is also a reminder of the fragility of memory and the way that it can be lost over time.
The poem then shifts to a reflection on the nature of loss. The speaker notes that the soldier's death was a great loss, not only for his family but for the entire town. His death was a reminder of the cost of war and the toll that it takes on those who fight. The speaker reflects on the fact that loss is a universal experience, something that we all must face at some point in our lives.
The poem ends with a reflection on the power of art to preserve memory. The speaker notes that the monument is a work of art, a symbol of the soldier's sacrifice and the way that his memory has been preserved. The monument is a reminder of the power of art to capture the essence of human experience and to preserve it for future generations.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Bishop's "The Monument" is a powerful and moving work of poetry that captures the essence of human experience. It is a reflection on the nature of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a powerful reminder of the cost of war and the toll that it takes on those who fight. It is also a reminder of the power of art to preserve memory and to capture the essence of human experience. "The Monument" is a classic poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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