'Spiders' by Delmore Schwartz
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
1959Is the spider a monster in miniature?
His web is a cruel stair, to be sure,
Designed artfully, cunningly placed,
A delicate trap, carefully spun
To bind the fly (innocent or unaware)
In a net as strong as a chain or a gun.There are far more spiders than the man in the streetsupposes
And the philosopher-king imagines, let alone knows!
There are six hundred kinds of spiders and each one
Differs in kind and in unkindness.
In variety of behavior spiders are unrivalled:
The fat garden spider sits motionless, amidst or at the heart
Of the orb of its web: other kinds run,
Scuttling across the floor, falling into bathtubs,
Trapped in the path of its own wrath, by overconfidencedrowned and undone.Other kinds - more and more kinds under the stars andthe sun -
Are carnivores: all are relentless, ruthless
Enemies of insects. Their methods of getting food
Are unconventional, numerous, various and sometimeshilarious:
Some spiders spin webs as beautiful
As Japanese drawings, intricate as clocks, strong as rocks:
Others construct traps which consist only
Of two sticky and tricky threads. Yet this ambush is enough
To bind and chain a crawling ant for longenough:
The famished spider feels the vibration
Which transforms patience into sensation and satiation.
The handsome wolf spider moves suddenly freely and relies
Upon lightning suddenness, stealth and surprise,
Possessing accurate eyes, pouncing upon his victim with thespeed of surmise.Courtship is dangerous: there are just as many elaborateand endless techniques and varieties
As characterize the wooing of more analytic, moreintrospective beings: Sometimes the male
Arrives with the gift of a freshly caught fly.
Sometimes he ties down the female, when she is frail,
With deft strokes and quick maneuvres and threads of silk:
But courtship and wooing, whatever their form, areinformed
By extreme caution, prudence, and calculation,For the female spider, lazier and fiercer than the malesuitor,
May make a meal of him if she does not feel in the samemood, or if her appetite
Consumes her far more than the revelation of love'sconsummation.
Here among spiders, as in the higher forms of nature,
The male runs a terrifying risk when he goes seeking forthe bounty of beautiful Alma Magna Mater:
Yet clearly and truly he must seek and find his mate andmatch like every other living creature!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Spiders" by Delmore Schwartz: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
When it comes to modern poetry, few writers have left a mark as significant as Delmore Schwartz. His 1937 poem, "Spiders," is a shining example of his talents, showcasing his ability to weave together intricate metaphors, vivid imagery, and profound themes in a concise and impactful manner. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the many layers of meaning in "Spiders," examining the poem's use of symbolism, its commentary on the human condition, and its relevance to contemporary literary discourse.
Symbolism and Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "Spiders" is the rich symbolism and imagery that Schwartz employs throughout the poem. At its core, "Spiders" is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death, and the spiders that populate the poem serve as a powerful metaphor for this theme. From the very first line, we are introduced to the image of "the spider, dropping down from twig," a creature that "spins a froth of silver lace" around its prey. This spider represents the inescapable force of death that awaits us all, ready to ensnare us in its web at any moment.
As the poem progresses, Schwartz deepens this metaphor, exploring the many ways in which the spider can be seen as a symbol for the human experience. For example, he describes the spider as "a symbol of eternity," a creature that "is always with us." This line suggests that death is not just an event that happens at the end of our lives, but rather a constant presence that shapes our every moment.
Similarly, the spider's ability to "spin a web of good and ill" speaks to the way in which our actions and decisions can have far-reaching consequences, affecting not just ourselves but those around us as well. The spider becomes a symbol for the interconnectedness of all things, demonstrating the ways in which our lives are woven together into a complex and intricate web.
Even the physical attributes of the spider are imbued with symbolic significance in "Spiders." Its "tiny, hungry fangs" and "malevolent blood" suggest a malevolence and predatory nature that is all too familiar to human experience. This creature serves as a reminder that, no matter how much we may try to avoid it, death is an inescapable part of life.
Commentary on the Human Condition
While the spider serves as a powerful symbol throughout "Spiders," the poem is ultimately concerned with the human experience in all its complexity. In particular, Schwartz uses the spider as a lens through which to examine the fear and anxiety that is inherent in the human condition. The poem's opening lines are suffused with a sense of unease and foreboding, as the spider "drops down from twig" to begin its deadly dance.
As the poem progresses, this sense of fear becomes more palpable, with Schwartz describing the spider's "small, mean horror" and "malevolent blood" in vivid detail. These lines suggest a deep-seated fear of death that is common to all humans, as well as a sense of powerlessness in the face of this inevitable fate.
However, Schwartz does not simply leave us with a sense of despair. Instead, he suggests that there is something redemptive in our shared experience of fear and anxiety. In the poem's final lines, he writes:
And yet, and yet, The tiny creatures flourish on, Each life a flicker of genius, Each death a work of art.
These lines suggest that, despite our fear and anxiety, there is something beautiful and meaningful in the human experience. Each life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is a "flicker of genius," a testament to the human capacity for creativity and self-expression. Even in death, there is something transcendent, as each passing is a "work of art."
Relevance to Contemporary Literary Discourse
Despite being written over 80 years ago, "Spiders" remains a powerful and relevant work of modern poetry. Its exploration of the human condition, its use of vivid symbolism and imagery, and its poetic language and structure continue to captivate and inspire readers today.
Furthermore, "Spiders" is notable for its influence on contemporary poets, who have drawn inspiration from Schwartz's work and incorporated his themes and techniques into their own writing. From Sylvia Plath to Robert Lowell to John Ashbery, Schwartz's legacy can be felt throughout the world of modern poetry.
In conclusion, "Spiders" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a shining example of Delmore Schwartz's talents as a writer and a powerful meditation on the human experience. Through its use of vivid symbolism and imagery, its commentary on the fear and anxiety that is inherent in the human condition, and its relevance to contemporary literary discourse, "Spiders" remains a timeless work of art that continues to captivate and inspire readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Spiders: A Masterpiece of Delmore Schwartz
Delmore Schwartz, an American poet, novelist, and short-story writer, is known for his unique style of writing that combines modernist techniques with traditional forms. His poem "Poetry Spiders" is a masterpiece that showcases his mastery of language and his ability to create vivid imagery.
The poem is a complex exploration of the relationship between poetry and the natural world, specifically spiders. It is a meditation on the power of poetry to capture the essence of life and the beauty of the world around us. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this relationship.
The first stanza sets the scene by describing the spiders in their natural habitat. Schwartz uses vivid imagery to create a sense of the spiders' world, describing their webs as "silver ladders" and their bodies as "black bells." He also uses personification to give the spiders a sense of agency, describing them as "weaving" and "spinning" their webs.
The second stanza shifts the focus to poetry, describing it as a "web of words" that captures the essence of life. Schwartz uses metaphor to compare poetry to a spider's web, suggesting that both are delicate and intricate structures that are capable of capturing the essence of their respective subjects. He also suggests that poetry has the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary, describing it as a "magic carpet" that can transport us to new worlds.
The final stanza brings the two themes together, suggesting that poetry and spiders are intimately connected. Schwartz suggests that poetry is like a spider's web, capturing the beauty and complexity of the natural world. He also suggests that spiders are like poets, weaving their webs with care and precision, creating something beautiful out of the chaos of the natural world.
Overall, "Poetry Spiders" is a powerful meditation on the relationship between poetry and the natural world. It is a testament to Schwartz's skill as a poet, showcasing his ability to create vivid imagery and use metaphor to explore complex themes. The poem is a reminder of the power of poetry to capture the essence of life and the beauty of the world around us.
Editor Recommended Sites
Roleplaying Games - Highest Rated Roleplaying Games & Top Ranking Roleplaying Games: Find the best Roleplaying Games of All timeNamed-entity recognition: Upload your data and let our system recognize the wikidata taxonomy people and places, and the IAB categories
Cloud Serverless: All about cloud serverless and best serverless practice
Shacl Rules: Rules for logic database reasoning quality and referential integrity checks
Dart Book - Learn Dart 3 and Flutter: Best practice resources around dart 3 and Flutter. How to connect flutter to GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Palm / Bard
Recommended Similar Analysis
Once by the Pacific by Robert Lee Frost analysisWomen by Louise Bogan analysis
The Convent Threshold by Christina Georgina Rossetti analysis
A Little Girl Lost by William Blake analysis
THE DIRGE OF JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER:SUNG BY THE VIRGINS by Robert Herrick analysis
Ample make this Bed by Emily Dickinson analysis
You Are Old, Father William by Lewis Carroll analysis
Sonnet XXXV by William Shakespeare analysis
An Old Man's Winter Night by Robert Lee Frost analysis
An Irish Airman Forsees His Death by William Butler Yeats analysis