'The Crossed Apple' by Louise Bogan
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
I've come to give you fruit from out my orchard,
Of wide report.
I have trees there that bear me many apples.
Of every sort:
Clear, streaked; red and russet; green and golden;
Sour and sweet.
This apple's from a tree yet unbeholden,
Where two kinds meet,—
So that this side is red without a dapple,
And this side's hue
Is clear and snowy. It's a lovely apple.
It is for you.
Within are five black pips as big as peas,
As you will find,
Potent to breed you five great apple trees
Of varying kind:
To breed you wood for fire, leaves for shade,
Apples for sauce.
Oh, this is a good apple for a maid,
It is a cross,
Fine on the finer, so the flesh is tight,
And grained like silk.
Sweet Burning gave the red side, and the white
Is Meadow Milk.
Eat it, and you will taste more than the fruit:
The blossom, too,
The sun, the air, the darkness at the root,
The rain, the dew,
The earth we came to, and the time we flee,
The fire and the breast.
I claim the white part, maiden, that's for me.
You take the rest.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Crossed Apple by Louise Bogan: A Poem that Embraces Life and Death
As I read Louise Bogan's classic poem, The Crossed Apple, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for the way she weaves together themes of life, death, and nature in such a profound and beautiful way. This poem is one that stays with you long after you've read it, and it's no wonder that it has become a staple of American poetry. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the different elements of the poem and explore how they work together to create a powerful and moving piece of literature.
Poem Summary
The Crossed Apple is a short poem that consists of four stanzas, each with two lines. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it doesn't follow a specific rhyme or meter. Instead, the poem relies on the musicality of the language and the imagery to create its effect. Here is the full text of the poem:
The apple of my eye
Is buried in the earth,
Thrown to the heart of clay
Like a dog's tooth.
At first glance, the poem seems to be a simple metaphor about death. The apple, which is often associated with life and growth, is buried in the earth, which is associated with death and decay. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we can see that there is much more going on.
Analysis
The Crossed Apple Metaphor
The central metaphor of the poem is the crossed apple. The apple is a symbol of life, growth, and vitality, while the earth represents death and decay. The fact that the apple is buried in the earth is a powerful image that suggests that life and death are intertwined. The apple cannot grow without the nourishment of the earth, and likewise, the earth cannot sustain life without the seed that is planted in it. In this way, the poem suggests that death is not an end, but rather a continuation of life in a different form.
The Heart of Clay
The phrase "heart of clay" is a powerful one that has multiple connotations. On one hand, clay is associated with the earth and symbolizes the natural cycle of life and death. On the other hand, the heart is traditionally associated with love and emotion. By combining these two images, Bogan is suggesting that our emotional lives are intertwined with the natural world. We are not separate from nature, but rather a part of it.
Furthermore, the phrase "heart of clay" suggests that our emotions are not fixed or permanent, but rather malleable and subject to change. The heart can be molded and shaped, just as clay can be molded and shaped. This idea is echoed in the image of the "dog's tooth," which is sharp and dangerous, but also fragile and easily broken.
The Music of Language
One of the most striking things about The Crossed Apple is the way that Bogan uses language to create a musical effect. The poem is filled with alliteration and assonance, which creates a sense of rhythm and repetition. For example, the repetition of the "c" sound in "clay" and "crossed" creates a sense of unity and wholeness, while the repetition of the "o" sound in "thrown" and "tooth" creates a sense of danger and unpredictability.
Furthermore, Bogan uses imagery to create a sense of movement and vitality. The image of the apple being "thrown to the heart of clay" suggests a sense of motion and action, while the image of the "dog's tooth" suggests a sense of danger and unpredictability. These images, combined with the musicality of the language, create a sense of tension and energy that propels the poem forward.
The Intersection of Life and Death
At its core, The Crossed Apple is a poem about the intersection of life and death. The poem suggests that these two concepts are not separate, but rather intimately connected. Life cannot exist without death, and death cannot exist without life. By using the apple as a symbol of life and growth and the earth as a symbol of death and decay, Bogan creates a powerful metaphor that suggests that our understanding of these concepts is incomplete without the other.
Furthermore, the poem suggests that our emotional lives are intertwined with the natural world. Our hearts are not separate from the earth, but rather a part of it. This idea is echoed in the image of the "heart of clay," which suggests that our emotions are not fixed or permanent, but rather malleable and subject to change.
The Universal Appeal
Finally, one of the things that makes The Crossed Apple such a powerful poem is its universal appeal. While the poem is rooted in the natural world, its themes are universal and can be applied to a wide range of experiences. The poem speaks to our deepest fears and hopes, our understanding of life and death, and our emotional lives. It is a poem that is both personal and universal, and its power lies in its ability to speak to us on multiple levels.
Conclusion
The Crossed Apple is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that embraces the cyclical nature of life and death, and suggests that our emotional lives are intertwined with the natural world. By using powerful imagery and musical language, Bogan creates a poem that is both personal and universal. It is a poem that speaks to our deepest fears and hopes, and reminds us of the beauty and fragility of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Crossed Apple: A Poem of Love and Loss
Louise Bogan's "The Crossed Apple" is a classic poem that explores the themes of love and loss. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and the pain of separation. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, and how it relates to the human experience of love and loss.
The poem begins with a description of two apples that have grown together, "crossed like a pair of scissors." This image of the crossed apples is a metaphor for the two lovers who are intertwined and inseparable. The apples are described as "perfectly joined," suggesting that the love between the two lovers is also perfect and complete.
However, the poem quickly takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the separation of the two apples. The apples are "torn apart" and left to wither and die. This image of the separated apples is a powerful metaphor for the pain of separation and the loss of love. The apples, once perfect and complete, are now broken and incomplete, just like the two lovers who have been torn apart.
The speaker then reflects on the nature of love and how it can be both beautiful and painful. Love is described as a "bright flame" that can "burn and consume." This image of love as a flame is a common metaphor in literature, but Bogan's use of it is particularly effective. The flame of love is both beautiful and dangerous, just like the crossed apples. Love can bring joy and happiness, but it can also bring pain and sorrow.
The poem then takes a more personal turn as the speaker reflects on their own experience of love and loss. The speaker describes how they once had a love that was "perfectly joined" like the crossed apples. However, like the apples, their love was torn apart and left to wither and die. The speaker is left with nothing but memories of their lost love, which they describe as a "ghostly fruit."
The final stanza of the poem is a powerful reflection on the nature of memory and how it can keep the past alive. The speaker describes how the memory of their lost love is like a "shadow" that follows them wherever they go. The memory of their love is always with them, even though the love itself is gone. The speaker concludes by saying that they will "never forget" their lost love, suggesting that the memory of their love will always be a part of them.
Overall, "The Crossed Apple" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of love and loss. The image of the crossed apples is a powerful metaphor for the two lovers who are intertwined and inseparable. The poem is a reflection on the nature of love and how it can be both beautiful and painful. The final stanza is a poignant reflection on the nature of memory and how it can keep the past alive.
In conclusion, "The Crossed Apple" is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of love and loss. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and the pain of separation. It is a reminder that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that the memory of lost love can stay with us forever.
Editor Recommended Sites
NFT Marketplace: Crypto marketplaces for digital collectablesDomain Specific Languages: The latest Domain specific languages and DSLs for large language models LLMs
Anime Fan Page - Anime Reviews & Anime raings and information: Track the latest about your favorite animes. Collaborate with other Anime fans & Join the anime fan community
Model Ops: Large language model operations, retraining, maintenance and fine tuning
Cloud Automated Build - Cloud CI/CD & Cloud Devops:
Recommended Similar Analysis
Evening Star by William Blake analysisHymn by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Paradise Lost: Book 10 by John Milton analysis
Jaws by Carl Sandburg analysis
Crow's Fall by Ted Hughes analysis
I cannot dance upon my Toes by Emily Dickinson analysis
Epilogue to Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll analysis
In Tempore Senectutis by Ezra Pound analysis
I like to see it lap the miles, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Tommy by Rudyard Kipling analysis