Discuss the use of myths and imagery in the poems of Sylvia Plath. 

Answer

Discuss the use of myths and imagery in the poems of Sylvia Plath.  [NU: 2018, 22] ★★★

Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) is one of the most powerful poets of the twentieth century. Her poems often show personal feelings through strong images and myths. She uses images from daily life and nature to show emotions like love, fear, struggle, jealousy, and isolation.

Imagery and Myth: Imagery means descriptive language that creates pictures/images in the reader’s mind. Readers can see, hear, or touch these images. Myths are old traditional stories from different cultures. In Plath’s poems, we find ancient Greek myths, such as the Sirens and Medusa. We will look at her famous poems below to discuss her use of imagery and myths.

Morning Song: Plath wrote “Morning Song” in 1961, after the birth of her first child, Frieda. In this poem, she shows that a mother does not feel only happy and sweet. She also feels distant and confused as she tries to adjust to her baby. In the very first line, we find the image of a “fat gold watch.”

“Love set you going like a fat gold watch.”

She compares the baby to a beautiful object like a god watch. She also calls the baby a “new statue.” These images suggest the mother’s sense of detachment from the baby. She sees the baby as an object. It means she is still unable to connect with the baby emotionally.

Later, she slowly creates a strong connection with the baby. She wakes to listen to the baby’s breath. She compares the baby’s breath to the sound of “a far sea” in her ear, a calm and peaceful sound. As she says: 

“…I wake to listen:

A far sea moves in my ear.”  

This image shows the mother slowly beginning to connect with the baby.  

Crossing the Water: “Crossing the Water” is