'Jangling Memory' by Katherine Mansfield
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Heavens above! here's an old tie of your--
Sea-green dragons stamped on a golden ground.
Ha! Ha! Ha!What children we were in those days.
Do you love me enough to wear it now?
Have you the courage of your pristine glories?
Ha! Ha! Ha!You laugh and shrug your shoulders.
Those were the days when a new tie spelt a fortune:
We wore it in turn--I flaunted it as a waist-belt.
Ha! Ha! Ha!What easily satisfied babies.
"I think I'll turn into a piano duster."
"Give it to me, I'll polish my slippers on it!"
Ha! Ha! Ha!The rag's not worth the dustbin.
"Throw the shabby old thing right out of the window;
Fling it into the faces of other children!"
Ha! Ha! Ha!We laughed and laughed till the tears
came!
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Jangling Memory: A Literary Analysis of Katherine Mansfield's Poetry
Katherine Mansfield is known for her short stories, but her poetry shouldn't be overlooked. One of her most striking poems is "Jangling Memory," which captures the sensations of a past experience that still echoes in the speaker's mind. In this literary analysis, we'll explore the themes, symbols, and language of the poem to uncover its meaning and significance.
Overview of the Poem
"Jangling Memory" is a short poem consisting of two stanzas with six lines each. The title suggests a discordant or unpleasant memory that keeps reverberating, like a jangling sound. The poem is written in free verse, without a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the poet more flexibility to convey the emotions and images she wants to express.
Here's the full text of the poem:
Jangling Memory
I have a jangling memory
That falls in fitful showers,
Of moments, and of madnesses,
And faces, and of flowers.
And set among this mazy store
The thing I can't forget
Is coming out of a dark door
And finding my lips wet.
Analysis of the Poem
Theme: The Persistence of Memory
The main theme of the poem is the power of memory to haunt us long after the events that caused them have passed. The speaker refers to her memory as "jangling," which suggests a noise that won't stop. This motif of sound is echoed in the phrase "fitful showers," evoking the sound of raindrops that keep falling intermittently.
The memory is described as a "mazy store," indicating a labyrinthine or confusing array of experiences. The speaker recalls "moments, and of madnesses," suggesting that some of the memories are joyful or ecstatic, while others are painful or frightening. This reinforces the idea that memories can be both positive and negative, and that they can be difficult to sort or categorize.
Symbol: Dark Door
The most striking image in the poem is the "dark door" that the speaker emerges from. This symbolizes a threshold between two states of being: the darkness of the past and the light of the present. The door may also represent the speaker's subconscious or the gateway to her memories. The fact that the door is dark suggests that the memories that emerge from it are not fully illuminated or understood.
Symbol: Wet Lips
The final line of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. The speaker describes finding her lips wet, but we don't know why they're wet or what this signifies. The ambiguity of this image reinforces the idea that memories can be elusive or hard to grasp. The wetness could be interpreted in different ways: tears, rain, sweat, saliva, or even blood. The exact nature of the wetness is less important than its emotional impact on the speaker.
Language: Sound Devices
Mansfield uses several sound devices to create a musical or rhythmic effect in the poem. For example, the repeated "ing" sounds in "jangling memory," "fitful showers," and "mazy store" create a sense of continuity or fluidity. The alliteration in "moments, and of madnesses" and "faces, and of flowers" emphasizes the parallelism of the memories. The consonance in "coming out of a dark door" and "finding my lips wet" reinforces the sense of echoes or reverberations.
Language: Imagery
Mansfield also uses vivid imagery to evoke the speaker's memories. The phrase "fitful showers" suggests a sense of unpredictability or randomness, like memories that come and go without warning. The word "mazy" implies a sense of confusion or complexity, like a labyrinth or a puzzle. The images of "faces" and "flowers" suggest the richness and diversity of the speaker's memories, while the image of wet lips is more mysterious and open to interpretation.
Language: Tone
The tone of the poem is wistful and melancholic, tinged with a sense of nostalgia and regret. The use of past tense verbs ("falls," "is coming," "finding") suggests that the memories are not happening in the present, but are being recalled from a distance. The repetition of "and" in the second stanza creates a sense of accumulation or accumulation, as the memories pile up and become overwhelming.
Language: Poetic Devices
Mansfield uses several poetic devices to enhance the impact of her poem. For example, the use of enjambment (continuing a sentence or phrase across multiple lines) creates a sense of flow or momentum. The lack of punctuation in some places (e.g. "Of moments, and of madnesses, / And faces, and of flowers") reinforces the sense of confusion or blur between different memories. The use of caesura (a pause or break in the middle of a line) creates a sense of emphasis or contrast (e.g. "Is coming out of a dark door / And finding my lips wet").
Conclusion
"Jangling Memory" is a haunting and evocative poem that captures the persistence and complexity of personal memories. Mansfield uses vivid imagery, sound devices, and poetic techniques to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. The poem reminds us that memories are not always linear or easy to understand, but can be jumbled, confusing, and emotionally charged. By using symbols such as the dark door and wet lips, Mansfield creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity that invites readers to interpret the poem in their own way. Overall, "Jangling Memory" is a powerful example of Mansfield's poetic talent and her ability to convey complex emotions in a few short lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Jangling Memory: A Masterpiece of Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield, a renowned New Zealand writer, is known for her exceptional literary works that have left an indelible mark on the world of literature. Her short stories and poems are a reflection of her life experiences, and they have a unique way of capturing the essence of human emotions. One of her most celebrated poems is Poetry Jangling Memory, which is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by the author.
Poetry Jangling Memory is a poem that explores the theme of memory and its impact on the human psyche. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and message. The first stanza sets the tone for the entire poem, with the author describing the jangling of memories in her mind. The use of the word "jangling" creates a sense of chaos and disorder, which is a reflection of the author's state of mind. The author is overwhelmed by the memories that flood her mind, and she is unable to make sense of them.
The second stanza is a reflection of the author's attempt to make sense of her memories. She describes how she tries to put her memories into words, but they slip away from her grasp. The use of the word "slip" creates a sense of frustration and helplessness, which is a reflection of the author's struggle to articulate her thoughts. The author is aware of the power of words, but she is unable to harness that power to express her emotions.
The third stanza is a reflection of the author's acceptance of her inability to express her emotions through words. She describes how she has come to terms with the fact that her memories will always remain elusive. The use of the word "elusive" creates a sense of resignation and acceptance, which is a reflection of the author's maturity. The author has come to understand that some things are beyond words, and that memories are one of those things.
The poem's structure is simple yet effective. The use of three stanzas creates a sense of progression, with each stanza building on the previous one. The first stanza sets the tone, the second stanza explores the theme, and the third stanza provides a resolution. The use of repetition in the first and second stanzas creates a sense of continuity, which is a reflection of the author's struggle to make sense of her memories.
The poem's literary devices are also worth noting. The use of imagery, such as the jangling of memories, creates a sense of chaos and disorder. The use of personification, such as memories slipping away, creates a sense of frustration and helplessness. The use of metaphor, such as memories being elusive, creates a sense of resignation and acceptance. The use of alliteration, such as "poetry jangling," creates a sense of rhythm and musicality.
In conclusion, Poetry Jangling Memory is a masterpiece that explores the theme of memory and its impact on the human psyche. The poem's structure, literary devices, and tone create a sense of progression, frustration, and acceptance. The author's use of imagery, personification, metaphor, and alliteration creates a sense of rhythm and musicality that is both captivating and memorable. Katherine Mansfield's Poetry Jangling Memory is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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