'A Curse Against Elegies' by Anne Sexton
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Oh, love, why do we argue like this?
I am tired of all your pious talk.
Also, I am tired of all the dead.
They refuse to listen,
so leave them alone.
Take your foot out of the graveyard,
they are busy being dead.Everyone was always to blame:
the last empty fifth of booze,
the rusty nails and chicken feathers
that stuck in the mud on the back doorstep,
the worms that lived under the cat's ear
and the thin-lipped preacher
who refused to call
except once on a flea-ridden day
when he came scuffing in through the yard
looking for a scapegoat.
I hid in the kitchen under the ragbag.I refuse to remember the dead.
And the dead are bored with the whole thing.
But you -- you go ahead,
go on, go on back down
into the graveyard,
lie down where you think their faces are;
talk back to your old bad dreams.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Curse Against Elegies: A Critical Analysis
Introduction
Anne Sexton's "A Curse Against Elegies" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of mortality, grief, and the limitations of language in capturing the essence of human experience. Written in Sexton's characteristic confessional style, the poem is a lamentation for the loss of a loved one and a scathing indictment of the conventions of elegiac poetry.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, structure, and language. We will also examine the cultural and historical context in which the poem was written, and consider its significance as a work of art.
Background
Anne Sexton was a prominent American poet of the mid-twentieth century, known for her confessional style and her candid explorations of taboo subjects such as mental illness, addiction, and sexuality. She was a contemporary of fellow confessional poets such as Sylvia Plath and Robert Lowell, and like them, she struggled with mental health issues throughout her life.
Sexton wrote "A Curse Against Elegies" in 1967, during a period of intense personal turmoil. Her marriage was falling apart, and she was struggling with depression and addiction. The poem was published in her collection "Live or Die" the following year, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
Themes
At its core, "A Curse Against Elegies" is a poem about the limitations of language in capturing the essence of human experience. Sexton is acutely aware of the fact that words are inadequate to express the full range of human emotions, particularly those related to grief and loss.
The poem is also a meditation on mortality and the transience of life. Sexton is angry and frustrated that death has taken someone she loves, and she rails against the unfairness of it all. At the same time, she acknowledges that death is an inevitable part of the human condition, and that all of us will someday face our own mortality.
Finally, the poem is a critique of elegiac poetry and the conventions of mourning. Sexton is dismissive of the traditional tropes of mourning, such as tears, flowers, and elegiac verse. She sees these as empty gestures that do nothing to alleviate the pain of loss.
Imagery
One of the most striking features of "A Curse Against Elegies" is its vivid and evocative imagery. Sexton uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe the pain of grief, the emptiness of mourning, and the inevitability of death.
For example, she compares death to a "black airplane" that swoops down to take its victim away, and describes grief as a "red leaf" that falls from a tree and is swept away by the wind. These images are powerful and visceral, and they help to convey the intensity of Sexton's emotions.
Sexton also uses religious imagery to explore the themes of mortality and grief. She refers to death as a "black priest" and describes the afterlife as a "heaven of black air". These images are both beautiful and haunting, and they add an extra layer of depth to the poem.
Structure
The structure of "A Curse Against Elegies" is relatively straightforward. The poem consists of six stanzas, each containing four lines. The lines are roughly equal in length, and there is no consistent rhyme scheme or meter.
Despite its simplicity, however, the poem is highly effective in conveying its message. The short, sharp lines create a sense of urgency and immediacy, and the lack of formal structure gives the poem a raw, confessional feel.
Language
Perhaps the most striking aspect of "A Curse Against Elegies" is its use of language. Sexton is a master of the poetic form, and she uses language in innovative and unexpected ways to convey her message.
One of the most notable features of the poem is its use of repetition. Throughout the poem, Sexton repeats certain phrases and images, such as the "black airplane" and the "heaven of black air". This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, and it also emphasizes the central themes of the poem.
Sexton also uses a wide range of literary devices, such as metaphor, simile, personification, and allusion. These devices add depth and complexity to the poem, and they help to convey the intensity of Sexton's emotions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Curse Against Elegies" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of mortality, grief, and the limitations of language. Through vivid imagery, innovative language, and a raw, confessional style, Sexton creates a work of art that is both beautiful and haunting.
The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience, even in the face of death and loss. It is a work that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both universal and deeply personal, and it remains a landmark of American poetry to this day.
So next time you read poetry, ask yourself- how does the poet use language and imagery to convey their message? What themes are they exploring, and how do these themes relate to the human experience? By doing so, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the power of poetry to capture the complexities and nuances of human emotion and experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton’s “A Curse Against Elegies” is a powerful and provocative poem that challenges the traditional elegiac form. In this 24-line poem, Sexton uses a variety of literary devices to express her frustration with the conventions of elegies and the way they are used to romanticize death. Through her use of language, imagery, and tone, Sexton creates a poem that is both a curse against elegies and a celebration of life.
The poem begins with a direct address to the reader, as Sexton declares, “Oh, love, why do we celebrate / with elegies our dying?” This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Sexton questions the traditional practice of mourning the dead with elegies. She goes on to describe the way that elegies are used to “make death a beautiful thing” and to “romanticize the dying.” Sexton is clearly frustrated with this approach, and she uses her poem to challenge it.
One of the most striking features of “A Curse Against Elegies” is its use of vivid and sometimes shocking imagery. Sexton describes death as a “black bull” that “gores” the living, and she compares the practice of writing elegies to “dancing on our graves.” These images are powerful and visceral, and they help to convey the sense of anger and frustration that Sexton feels towards the traditional elegiac form.
At the same time, however, Sexton also uses her poem to celebrate life. She describes the beauty of the natural world, with its “green grass” and “blue sky,” and she urges the reader to “sing of the living.” This celebration of life is an important counterpoint to Sexton’s critique of elegies, and it helps to balance the poem and give it a sense of hope and optimism.
Throughout the poem, Sexton also uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. She employs alliteration, assonance, and repetition to create a sense of momentum and energy. For example, in the second stanza, she writes, “Let us praise the peace / of a life lived well.” The repetition of the “p” sound in this line creates a sense of emphasis and urgency, and it helps to drive the poem forward.
Sexton also uses rhyme to create a sense of unity and coherence in the poem. The poem is written in couplets, with each two-line stanza ending in a rhyme. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, and it helps to reinforce the poem’s message of balance and harmony.
Perhaps the most striking feature of “A Curse Against Elegies,” however, is its tone. Sexton’s voice is passionate and intense, and she uses her poem to express her frustration and anger with the traditional elegiac form. At the same time, however, she also expresses a sense of hope and optimism, as she celebrates the beauty of life and the natural world. This combination of anger and hope creates a powerful emotional impact, and it helps to make the poem both memorable and effective.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton’s “A Curse Against Elegies” is a powerful and provocative poem that challenges the traditional elegiac form. Through her use of language, imagery, and tone, Sexton creates a poem that is both a curse against elegies and a celebration of life. Her vivid and sometimes shocking imagery, her use of literary devices to create a sense of rhythm and musicality, and her passionate and intense tone all contribute to the poem’s impact and effectiveness. Ultimately, “A Curse Against Elegies” is a poem that demands to be heard, and it remains a powerful and relevant work of poetry today.
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