'Anecdote Of The Jar' by Wallace Stevens

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I placed a jar in Tennessee,
And round it was, upon a hill.
It made the slovenly wilderness
Surround that hill.The wilderness rose up to it,
And sprawled around, no longer wild.
The jar was round upon the ground
And tall and of a port in air.It took dominion everywhere.
The jar was gray and bare.
It did not give of bird or bush,
Like nothing else in Tennessee.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Anecdote Of The Jar: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry

Wallace Stevens’ “Anecdote of the Jar” is one of the most celebrated poems in modernist literature, and for good reason. The poem is a masterful example of the way in which language can be used to create meaning, and how poetry can capture the essence of the human experience. In this detailed literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem, as well as its place in modernist literature.

The Themes of "Anecdote of the Jar"

At its core, “Anecdote of the Jar” is a poem about the relationship between human beings and the natural world. The jar in the poem represents human civilization, and the wilderness that surrounds it represents the natural world. Throughout the poem, Stevens explores the tension that exists between these two worlds, and the desire that human beings have to control and dominate nature.

This theme is most evident in the first stanza of the poem, where Stevens describes the jar as “gray and bare” and the wilderness as “spontaneous.” The jar is a symbol of human civilization, with its straight lines and rigid structure, while the wilderness is described as “wild” and “spontaneous,” with no clear pattern or structure. This contrast highlights the difference between the human world and the natural world, and the ways in which they are fundamentally incompatible.

The Imagery of "Anecdote of the Jar"

Stevens is a master of imagery, and “Anecdote of the Jar” is no exception. Throughout the poem, he uses vivid and evocative imagery to create a sense of the natural world and its relationship to human civilization.

One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the jar as “placed it at my feet / And stared at it.” This image is particularly powerful because it captures the way in which human beings view the natural world as something to be dominated and controlled. The jar is placed at the center of the wilderness, as if to say that human beings have taken control of nature and placed their own creations at its center.

Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the wilderness as “round it and squat” and the jar as “of gray, / Sprinkled with gray.” This contrast between the rounded, organic shapes of the wilderness and the straight, angular lines of the jar highlights the difference between the natural world and human civilization. The jar is a symbol of human civilization’s attempt to impose order and structure on the natural world, while the wilderness is free and uncontrolled.

The Language of "Anecdote of the Jar"

Stevens’ use of language in “Anecdote of the Jar” is both precise and evocative. He uses a number of literary devices, including alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem.

One of the most striking examples of this is in the second stanza of the poem, where Stevens writes:

“It made the slovenly wilderness Surround that hill.”

In these lines, he uses alliteration to create a sense of movement and energy in the poem. The repeated “s” sound in “slovenly” and “surround” creates a sense of movement and momentum, as if the wilderness is pushing in on the jar and attempting to reclaim its territory.

The Place of "Anecdote of the Jar" in Modernist Literature

“Anecdote of the Jar” is a masterpiece of modernist literature that captures the essence of the human experience in a way that few other works of literature can. Its themes, imagery, and language are all part of a larger movement in modernist literature that sought to capture the complexities of the modern world and its relationship to the natural world.

In particular, the poem is an example of the ways in which modernist writers sought to break free from traditional forms and structures in order to create something new and innovative. Stevens’ use of language, imagery, and form in “Anecdote of the Jar” is a prime example of this, as he creates a work of literature that is both beautiful and challenging.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Anecdote of the Jar” is a masterpiece of modernist literature that explores the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Its themes of control and domination, its vivid and evocative imagery, and its precise and musical language all work together to create a work of literature that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and a reminder of the importance of our relationship to the natural world.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wallace Stevens' "Anecdote of the Jar" is a classic poem that has been widely analyzed and discussed by literary scholars and enthusiasts alike. The poem is a perfect example of Stevens' unique style, which is characterized by his use of complex imagery and metaphors to explore philosophical themes. In this article, we will take a closer look at "Anecdote of the Jar" and analyze its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a gray, round jar that he has placed on a hill in Tennessee. The jar is described as being "round upon the ground" and "slovenly" in its placement. The speaker then goes on to describe how the jar has had a profound impact on the landscape around it. He says that the jar has "dominated the landscape" and has made the wilderness around it seem "out of place."

At first glance, the poem may seem like a simple description of a jar on a hill. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we begin to see that there is much more going on beneath the surface. The jar is not just a physical object, but a symbol for something much larger.

One interpretation of the poem is that the jar represents human civilization and its impact on the natural world. The jar is described as being "dominant" and "slovenly," which suggests that it has been placed on the hill without regard for the natural environment around it. The fact that the jar is "round upon the ground" also suggests that it is out of place in the natural world, which is full of irregular shapes and forms.

The jar's impact on the landscape around it is also significant. The speaker describes how the jar has "made the slovenly wilderness / Surround that hill." This suggests that the jar has imposed order on the chaotic natural world, and has made it conform to human standards of beauty and order. The fact that the jar is described as being "gray" also suggests that it represents the dullness and monotony of human civilization.

Another interpretation of the poem is that the jar represents the human desire for control and domination. The jar is described as being "dominant" and "slovenly," which suggests that it has been placed on the hill without regard for the natural environment around it. This could be seen as a metaphor for the way that humans often impose their will on the natural world without regard for the consequences.

The fact that the jar is "round upon the ground" also suggests that it represents the human desire for order and control. The natural world is full of irregular shapes and forms, but the jar is perfectly round and symmetrical. This suggests that humans have a desire to impose order and symmetry on the chaotic natural world.

The poem's final lines are perhaps the most enigmatic and open to interpretation. The speaker says that he has "nothing to say" about the jar, but that it has "set the wilderness free." This suggests that the jar has had a paradoxical effect on the natural world. On the one hand, it has imposed order and control on the landscape around it. But on the other hand, it has also liberated the wilderness by drawing attention to it and making it stand out.

The fact that the speaker has "nothing to say" about the jar also suggests that the poem is not meant to be a straightforward commentary on human civilization and its impact on the natural world. Instead, it is a complex meditation on the relationship between humans and nature, and the ways in which we impose our will on the world around us.

In conclusion, Wallace Stevens' "Anecdote of the Jar" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores the relationship between humans and nature. The jar is not just a physical object, but a symbol for something much larger. It represents human civilization and its impact on the natural world, as well as our desire for control and domination. The poem's final lines are enigmatic and open to interpretation, suggesting that the poem is not meant to be a straightforward commentary on human civilization and its impact on the natural world. Instead, it is a complex meditation on the relationship between humans and nature, and the ways in which we impose our will on the world around us.

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