Sylvia Plath - Overview
Biographical Relevance
Difficult upbringing and childhood
Father died when she was eight years old
Conservative Boston society where idea of ‘all American woman’ was prevalent
Mother discouraged her from writing poetry
Marriage to Ted Hughes was turbulent
His increasing fame placed her in his shadow
Miscarriage
Marriage broke up
Nervous breakdown and eventual suicide
Aspects of Style
Deep and personal poetry
Inspired by nature
Common topics are weather, children and motherhood
Fearful of loneliness and numbness, aging and death
Insecure voice: self doubt, vulnerable and fragile, personal anguish
Changing tone throughout her poems
Lots of colour used throughout
Images of entrapment and release
Constantly seeking answers regarding her self-identity
Dreamlike / surreal quality
Poetic devices are many – carefully structured
Explores extreme emotions and states of mind
Strong hints of depression and destruction
Difficult upbringing and childhood
Father died when she was eight years old
Conservative Boston society where idea of ‘all American woman’ was prevalent
Mother discouraged her from writing poetry
Marriage to Ted Hughes was turbulent
His increasing fame placed her in his shadow
Miscarriage
Marriage broke up
Nervous breakdown and eventual suicide
Aspects of Style
Deep and personal poetry
Inspired by nature
Common topics are weather, children and motherhood
Fearful of loneliness and numbness, aging and death
Insecure voice: self doubt, vulnerable and fragile, personal anguish
Changing tone throughout her poems
Lots of colour used throughout
Images of entrapment and release
Constantly seeking answers regarding her self-identity
Dreamlike / surreal quality
Poetic devices are many – carefully structured
Explores extreme emotions and states of mind
Strong hints of depression and destruction