2. • Sylvia Plath was born on October 27Sylvia Plath was born on October 27thth
, 1932 in Boston,, 1932 in Boston,
Massachusetts to German- immigrant collegeMassachusetts to German- immigrant college
professor, Otto Plath and his student, Aurelia Schober.professor, Otto Plath and his student, Aurelia Schober.
Her father died in 1940. From the age of 11, Sylvia hadHer father died in 1940. From the age of 11, Sylvia had
a journal of poetry and published her poems ina journal of poetry and published her poems in
magazines and newspapers. Plath lived a life ofmagazines and newspapers. Plath lived a life of
depression, there were few times that she attempted todepression, there were few times that she attempted to
kill herself.kill herself.
• She moved to Cambridge, England and married poet,She moved to Cambridge, England and married poet,
Ted Hughes in 1956. They had two children together.Ted Hughes in 1956. They had two children together.
Hughes then left her for another woman, leaving SylviaHughes then left her for another woman, leaving Sylvia
with the two kids as a single parent.with the two kids as a single parent.
• In 1963, Plath left a note for her neighbor instructingIn 1963, Plath left a note for her neighbor instructing
him to call a doctor. She then committed suicide withhim to call a doctor. She then committed suicide with
her gas oven……her gas oven……
BiographyBiography
3. ApprehensionsApprehensions
Poem Response:
I liked this poem because I could
actually connect with the different
walls of the room, which represented
the different emotions and states of
mind that we, as humans go through. I
think this poem was written to give the
audience an insight of her state of
mind. I feel that this is was one of her
“cries for help”, to attempt to let
someone know that she is depressed
and or has medical issues.
4. DaddyDaddy
Plath is addressing her father, who is dead. I
feel that the purpose of this poem was to
pour all of the feelings and emotions that she
kept bottled inside of her out. She says that
her father broke her heart; she had so much
fear of her father and his German culture, she
could barely could talk around him. I liked this
poem because I feel her resentment for her
“daddy”.
Daddy
5. Mirror
Response:
I really liked this poem. It made
me think about how we as
people see ourselves different
than we actually are. But when
we actually look in the mirror,
we see who we truly are
beneath all the pain, the
makeup, and the pretending.
6. ArielAriel
Response:
I didn’t really like this poem because it
wasn’t clear that Ariel was Plath’s horse. I
really liked the metaphor of “Peeling away
the dead hands and dead stringencies.”
because it feels like Plath was peeling
away all of the problems in her life.
7. Barren WomanBarren Woman
Response:
This poem made me think
about how it feels to be a
barren woman. I don’t know
what its like, but I’m sure it
makes women feel like
museums without statues
and long to be mothers of a
young Nike and Apollo. I think
this poem is about Plath, but I
believe it is before she had
children because she could
not be barren and have
children.
8. BalloonsBalloonsSince Christmas they have lived with us,Since Christmas they have lived with us,
Guileless and clear,Guileless and clear,
Oval soul-animals,Oval soul-animals,
Taking up half the space,Taking up half the space,
Moving and rubbing on the silkMoving and rubbing on the silk
Invisible air drifts,Invisible air drifts,
Giving a shriek and popGiving a shriek and pop
When attacked, then scooting to rest, barelyWhen attacked, then scooting to rest, barely
trembling.trembling.
Yellow cathead, blue fish---Yellow cathead, blue fish---
Such queer moons we live withSuch queer moons we live with
Instead of dead furniture!Instead of dead furniture!
Straw mats, white wallsStraw mats, white walls
And these travelingAnd these traveling
Globes of thin air, red, green,Globes of thin air, red, green,
DelightingDelighting
The heart like wishes or freeThe heart like wishes or free
Peacocks blessingPeacocks blessing
Old ground with a featherOld ground with a feather
Beaten in starry metals.Beaten in starry metals.
Your smallYour small
Brother is makingBrother is making
His balloon squeak like a cat.His balloon squeak like a cat.
Seeming to seeSeeming to see
A funny pink world he might eat on the otherA funny pink world he might eat on the other
side of it,side of it,
He bites,He bites,
Then sitsThen sits
Back, fat jugBack, fat jug
Contemplating a world clear as water.Contemplating a world clear as water.
A redA red
Shred in his little fist.Shred in his little fist.
Response:
I like this poem because it gave me a sense of liberation. I loved the imagery of this poem,
I could see the balloons rubbing together in the air. At the end, I believe that the
narrator’s brother popped the balloon. This made me feel “deflated”; I didn’t have that
feeling of liberation anymore.
10. Dark HouseDark HouseThis is a dark house, very big.This is a dark house, very big.
I made it myself,I made it myself,
Cell by cell from a quiet corner,Cell by cell from a quiet corner,
Chewing at the grey paper,Chewing at the grey paper,
Oozing the glue drops,Oozing the glue drops,
Whistling, wiggling my ears,Whistling, wiggling my ears,
Thinking of something else.Thinking of something else.
It has so many cellars,It has so many cellars,
Such relish delving's!Such relish delving's!
U an round as an owl,U an round as an owl,
I see by my own light.I see by my own light.
Any day I may litter puppiesAny day I may litter puppies
Or mother a horse. My belly moves.Or mother a horse. My belly moves.
I must make more maps.I must make more maps.
These marrowy tunnels!These marrowy tunnels!
Moley-handed, I eat my way.Moley-handed, I eat my way.
All- mouth licks up the bushesAll- mouth licks up the bushes
And the pots of meat.And the pots of meat.
He lives in an old well,He lives in an old well,
A stoney hole. He’s to blame.A stoney hole. He’s to blame.
He’s a fat sort.He’s a fat sort.
Pebble smells, turnipy chambers.Pebble smells, turnipy chambers.
Small nostrils are breathing.Small nostrils are breathing.
Little humble loves!Little humble loves!
Footlings, boneless as noses,Footlings, boneless as noses,
It is warm and tolerabeIt is warm and tolerabe
In the bowel of the root. Here’s a cuddly mother.In the bowel of the root. Here’s a cuddly mother.
Response
This poem made me depressed. The lines, “This is a dark house, very big….
Thinking of something else”, actually made me think of my future, I had a ‘dream’
that when I became an adult, I was depressed. I liked it because it started out
“dark”, hence the title, then progressed to becoming “light”.
11. The BabysittersThe Babysitters
It is ten years, now, since we rowed to Children’s Island.It is ten years, now, since we rowed to Children’s Island.
The sun flamed straight down that noon on the water off Marblehead.The sun flamed straight down that noon on the water off Marblehead.
The summer we wore black glasses to hide our eyes.The summer we wore black glasses to hide our eyes.
We were always crying, in our spare rooms, litte put-upon sisters,We were always crying, in our spare rooms, litte put-upon sisters,
In the two, huge, white, handsome houses in Swampscott.In the two, huge, white, handsome houses in Swampscott.
When the sweetheart from England appeared, with her cream skin and YardleyWhen the sweetheart from England appeared, with her cream skin and Yardley
cosmetics,cosmetics,
I had to sleep in the same room with the baby on a too-short cot,I had to sleep in the same room with the baby on a too-short cot,
And the seven-year-old wouldn’t go out unless his jersey stripesAnd the seven-year-old wouldn’t go out unless his jersey stripes
Matched the stripes of his socks.Matched the stripes of his socks.
Or it was richness!--- eleven rooms and a yachtOr it was richness!--- eleven rooms and a yacht
With a polished mahogany stair to let into the water.With a polished mahogany stair to let into the water.
And a cabin boy who could decorate cakes in six-colored frosting.And a cabin boy who could decorate cakes in six-colored frosting.
But I didn’t know how to cook, and babies depressed me.But I didn’t know how to cook, and babies depressed me.
Nights, I wrote in my diary spitefully, my fingers redNights, I wrote in my diary spitefully, my fingers red
With triangular scorch marks from ironing tiny ruchings and puffed sleeves.With triangular scorch marks from ironing tiny ruchings and puffed sleeves.
When the sporty wife and her doctor husband went on one of their cruisesWhen the sporty wife and her doctor husband went on one of their cruises
They left me a borrowed maid named Ellen, “for protection,”They left me a borrowed maid named Ellen, “for protection,”
And a small Dalmatian.And a small Dalmatian.
In your house, the main house, you were better off.In your house, the main house, you were better off.
You had a rose garden and a guest cottage and a model apothecary shopYou had a rose garden and a guest cottage and a model apothecary shop
And a cook and a maid, and knew about the key to the bourbon.And a cook and a maid, and knew about the key to the bourbon.
I remember you playing “Ja-Da” in a pink piqué dressI remember you playing “Ja-Da” in a pink piqué dress
On the game-room piano, when the “big people” were out,On the game-room piano, when the “big people” were out,
And the maid smoked and shot pool under a green shaded lamp.And the maid smoked and shot pool under a green shaded lamp.
The cook had one walleye and couldn’t sleep, she was so nervous.The cook had one walleye and couldn’t sleep, she was so nervous.
On trial, from Ireland, she burned batch after batch of cookiesOn trial, from Ireland, she burned batch after batch of cookies
Till she was fired.Till she was fired.
O what has come over us, my sister!O what has come over us, my sister!
On the day-off the two of us cried so hard to getOn the day-off the two of us cried so hard to get
We lifted a sugared ham and a pineapple from the grownups’ iceboxWe lifted a sugared ham and a pineapple from the grownups’ icebox
And rented an old green boat. I rowed. You readAnd rented an old green boat. I rowed. You read
Aloud, cross legged on the stern seat, from the Generation of Vipers.Aloud, cross legged on the stern seat, from the Generation of Vipers.
So we bobbed out to the island. It was deserted ---So we bobbed out to the island. It was deserted ---
A gallery of creaking porches and still interiors,A gallery of creaking porches and still interiors,
Stopped and awful as a photograph of somebody laughingStopped and awful as a photograph of somebody laughing
But ten years dead.But ten years dead.
The bold gulls dove as if they owned it all.The bold gulls dove as if they owned it all.
We picked up sticks of driftwood and beat them off,We picked up sticks of driftwood and beat them off,
Then stepped down the steep beach shelf and into the water.Then stepped down the steep beach shelf and into the water.
We kicked and talked. The thick salt kept us up.We kicked and talked. The thick salt kept us up.
I see us floating there yet, inseparable—two cork dolls.I see us floating there yet, inseparable—two cork dolls.
What keyhole have we slipped through, what door has shut?What keyhole have we slipped through, what door has shut?
And from our opposite continents we wave and call.And from our opposite continents we wave and call.
Everything has happened.Everything has happened.
