Pain In Poetry: Sappho Essay

One way in which the poets present their ideas about the pain of love is through their use of imagery with their poems. For example, they both use metaphors about being ‘wounded’. Fenton’s line ‘I’m one of your talking wounded’ adopts a pun which relates to the expression ‘walking wounded’, used by soldiers to imply

Frost further points out that the stretch of woods being viewed is very rural. This is made possible by the reference to the location between the woods and frozen lake. In closing the final sentence of the second stanza Frost reiterates the fact that this occurs on “the darkest evening of the year” stating the darkness of the mood.

She cascades the words to show feeling, compassion and how much she wanted her to speak up, using words to make a meaning.

The Narrator feels suffering is something we cannot control and is ridiculous to cry over as she

The study of any poem often begins with its imagery. Being the centralized idea behind the power of poetry, imagery isn’t always there to just give a mental picture when reading the poem, but has other purposes. Imagery can speak to the five senses using figurative language as well as help create a specific emotion that the author is trying to infuse within the poem. It helps convey a complete human experience a very minimal amount of words. In this group of poems the author uses imagery to show that humanity is characterized as lost, sorrowful and regretful, but nature is untainted by being free of mistakes and flaws and by taking time to take in its attributes it can help humans have a sense of peace, purity, and joy, as well as a sense of

The use of symbolism and imagery is beautifully orchestrated in a magnificent dance of emotion that is resonated throughout the poem. The two main ideas that are keen to resurface are that of personal growth and freedom. Furthermore, at first glimpse this can be seen as a simple poem about a women’s struggle with her counterpart. However, this meaning can be interpreted more profoundly than just the causality of a bad relationship.

Sappho’s poem, entitled Fragment 16, is of the lyrical style instead of the epic style we are used to in Homer’s Iliad. The lyrical style of poetry got its name because it was usually accompanied by a lyre while it was recited. It also was used to express more emotion rather than telling a story. This form of poetry seems to be more artistic rather than the story telling of epic poetry of the time. In this poem we are able to use the comparison of different imagery to understand a common theme within the poem itself. The reason for the interesting title of the poem is because most of Sappho’s poetry is now only found in fragmented forms. Most of Sappho’s writing is from 600 B.C.E.

She is talking to a group of young people, who she believes is making fun of her for wanting to praise her for her creativity. She asks them, “My skin with its aging, / My black hair gone white,” (line 107-108). Sappho realized that age cannot be escaped. Even Tithonus whom the gods granted eternal life cannot escape aging. His lover Eos, goddess of light, cannot reverse the effects of time. Knowing that not even a goddess cannot prevent age, Sappho accepts that she will lose her youth and beauty. That she will not be able to dance as swiftly as a fawn like she once could. Sappho, however, is not going to let age depress her. Since it cannot be escaped and it happens to everyone, she is not going to let it sadden her. Losing her youthful beauty will not stop her from seeing the beauty of

Reflections Within is a non-traditional stanzaic poem made up of five stanzas containing thirty-four lines that do not form a specific metrical pattern. Rather it is supported by its thematic structure. Each of the five stanzas vary in the amount of lines that each contain. The first stanza is a sestet containing six lines. The same can be observed of the second stanza. The third stanza contains eight lines or an octave. Stanzas four and five are oddly in that their number of lines which are five and nine.

Soto repeats multiple ideas throughout his piece. The repetition of the plumbing under the house three times to express the guilt he felt in God’s eyes. The plumbing was a connection to God and six-year-old Soto believed God spoke to him through it. Toward the end of the passage, Soto expresses, “I listened, ear pressed to a cold pipe, and heard a howl like the sea” (81-83). The “howl” represents Soto’s guilt. He believes God is angry with him for stealing. Soto also incorporates words to express the emotions of sadness and happiness. Multiple hyperboles of “wept” (12) to describe his desire for pie; “crying” (43) to describe his satisfaction; and “tears” (52) represent guilt. The repetition of the three emotional words show a strong feeling Soto possessed. The feelings contrasted but ultimately existed as representations of

Sappho is an ancient Greek poet who is known for her capability in the theorization and processing of love, though in The New Sappho her curiosity and amusement tends to turn its perspective to the idea of age. While we are used to the common concept of love and appearance of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, in Sappho’s poems, it seems that The New Sappho is both a play on her age, as well as a metaphor for her new subject. The poem’s title seems to suggest a rebirth or a renewal of being, yet in contradiction her physical form is aging.

The rest of this passage is Ovid reaching out trying to help Sappho. Wondering what is wrong and saying that it will all be better with his help. This relates to the passage above because it is about Sappho feeling as if he is being too nosey- just like how he is constantly asking her what is wrong. In both passages he just wants to help but is going about it the wrong way.

The language in this poem is quite harsh, emphasising the anger ‘Medusa’ feels for this man. There is a lexical field of destruction and disgust ‘shattered’ ‘filthy’ ‘stank’ that connotes the negative feelings of envy and fury that the poet is feeling. The poem as a whole is very figurative, mirroring

“That oppresses, like the Heft of Cathedral Tunes--.” It has a very heavy feeling derived from the word Heft as well as Cathedral Tunes. The Cathedral is considered sacred yet it is such as somber sound that it could easily affect a person’s mood. The use of paradoxes in the poem creates a sense of confusion about the true feelings about the revelation. “Heavenly Hurt” is both wonderful and horrible and suggests that the pain comes from the heavens. This suggestion is support in various situations throughout the poem. “Cathedral Tunes” and “Sent us of the Air” are the prime examples. It shows that this new realization may have been from a divine being therefore the reader is confused on it’s significance because it perhaps a type of gift. “Landscapes Listen Shadows—hold their breathe” is the personification used in the poem. This personification in the work shows that a divine being has arranged for this revelation to occur therefore, all of nature will halt to the being who has been selected to find this new piece of themselves. She also uses a bit of irony as well as parallel structure to set the scene in the poem. The revelation is brought out in the light of an wintery afternoon, this is the parallel yet it oppressive and dark which is ironic because the light brought with it such darkness.

In the same way, Sappho finishes by indicating love is forever. Through this poem, she wins over how deep her love is by turning this scary crazy love, into something that is going to last for a very long time. Additionally, the Sapphic poetry displayed in this poem creates a powerful emotion which simply intensifies as you read the poem. The poem starts out beautifully slowly, and then erupts to deep love affection.