'The Steeple-Jack' by Marianne Moore
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Dürer would have seen a reason for living
in a town like this, with eight stranded whales
to look at; with the sweet sea air coming into your house
on a fine day, from water etched
with waves as formal as the scales
on a fish.
One by one in two's and three's, the seagulls keep
flying back and forth over the town clock,
or sailing around the lighthouse without moving their wings --
rising steadily with a slight
quiver of the body -- or flock
mewing where
a sea the purple of the peacock's neck is
paled to greenish azure as Dürer changed
the pine green of the Tyrol to peacock blue and guinea
gray. You can see a twenty-five-
pound lobster; and fish nets arranged
to dry. The
whirlwind fife-and-drum of the storm bends the salt
marsh grass, disturbs stars in the sky and the
star on the steeple; it is a privilege to see so
much confusion. Disguised by what
might seem the opposite, the sea-
side flowers and
trees are favored by the fog so that you have
the tropics first hand: the trumpet-vine,
fox-glove, giant snap-dragon, a salpiglossis that has
spots and stripes; morning-glories, gourds,
or moon-vines trained on fishing-twine
at the back door;
cat-tails, flags, blueberries and spiderwort,
striped grass, lichens, sunflowers, asters, daisies --
yellow and crab-claw ragged sailors with green bracts -- toad-plant,
petunias, ferns; pink lilies, blue
ones, tigers; poppies; black sweet-peas.
The climate
is not right for the banyan, frangipani, or
jack-fruit trees; or for exotic serpent
life. Ring lizard and snake-skin for the foot, if you see fit;
but here they've cats, not cobras, to
keep down the rats. The diffident
little newt
with white pin-dots on black horizontal spaced-
out bands lives here; yet there is nothing that
ambition can buy or take away. The college student
named Ambrose sits on the hillside
with his not-native books and hat
and sees boats
at sea progress white and rigid as if in
a groove. Liking an elegance of which
the sourch is not bravado, he knows by heart the antique
sugar-bowl shaped summer-house of
interlacing slats, and the pitch
of the church
spire, not true, from which a man in scarlet lets
down a rope as a spider spins a thread;
he might be part of a novel, but on the sidewalk a
sign says C. J. Poole, Steeple Jack,
in black and white; and one in red
and white says
Danger. The church portico has four fluted
columns, each a single piece of stone, made
modester by white-wash. Theis would be a fit haven for
waifs, children, animals, prisoners,
and presidents who have repaid
sin-driven
senators by not thinking about them. The
place has a school-house, a post-office in a
store, fish-houses, hen-houses, a three-masted schooner on
the stocks. The hero, the student,
the steeple-jack, each in his way,
is at home.
It could not be dangerous to be living
in a town like this, of simple people,
who have a steeple-jack placing danger signs by the church
while he is gilding the solid-
pointed star, which on a steeple
stands for hope.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Steeple-Jack: A Marianne Moore Masterpiece
Introduction
Have you ever stopped to think about the art of climbing steeples? How about the person behind it? The Steeple-Jack, a poem by Marianne Moore, delves into the life of one such man. The poem was first published in 1921 and has since become a classic work of modernist poetry. Here, we will analyze and interpret the poem, examining its themes, literary devices, and overall significance in the literary world.
Themes
At its core, The Steeple-Jack explores the idea of risk and the pursuit of perfection. The steeple-jack, the protagonist of the poem, puts his life on the line every day as he scales tall buildings and completes dangerous tasks. However, despite the risks, he is driven by an unrelenting desire for perfection. Moore's poem also touches on the theme of power, as the steeple-jack's ability to climb and fix structures gives him a sense of control and dominance.
Literary Devices
Moore employs various literary devices to enhance the poem's meaning and impact. One such device is alliteration, where words with the same consonant sound are used in close proximity. For example, in the line "So, buckling himself with a rope to the steeple's side," the repetition of the "s" sound creates a sense of tension and urgency.
Another device used in The Steeple-Jack is imagery. Moore paints vivid pictures with her words, allowing the reader to visualize the steeple-jack's daring feats. For instance, the line "He is not afraid as the athlete is afraid / When he first essays his feat" creates a mental image of a fearless hero, ready to conquer any challenge.
Interpretation
The Steeple-Jack can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the reader's perspective. Some may see it as a celebration of human perseverance and courage, while others may view it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and self-destructive behavior.
One possible interpretation is that the steeple-jack represents the human desire for mastery and control. His ability to climb and fix tall structures gives him a sense of power and dominance over his environment. However, this desire for control comes at a great cost, as the steeple-jack puts his life on the line every day. In this sense, Moore may be commenting on the human tendency to sacrifice safety and well-being in pursuit of personal goals.
Another interpretation is that the steeple-jack represents the artist or poet. Like the steeple-jack, the artist is driven by an unrelenting desire for perfection and mastery of their craft. However, this pursuit can be dangerous and isolating, as the artist may become consumed by their work and lose touch with reality.
Significance
The Steeple-Jack holds significant value in the literary world as a prime example of modernist poetry. Moore's use of experimental techniques, such as fragmentation and non-linear structure, challenged traditional poetic conventions and paved the way for a new generation of poets.
The poem also has cultural significance, as it sheds light on the dangerous and often overlooked profession of steeple-jacking. By elevating the steeple-jack to the level of hero, Moore humanizes a group of workers who are often seen as faceless and anonymous.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Steeple-Jack is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of risk, power, and the pursuit of perfection. Through the use of literary devices such as alliteration and imagery, Moore creates a vivid portrait of the steeple-jack and his dangerous profession. The poem's significance in the literary world and cultural landscape cannot be overstated, as it continues to inspire and challenge readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Steeple-Jack: A Masterpiece of Poetic Craftsmanship
Marianne Moore's The Steeple-Jack is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship that showcases the poet's unique style and her ability to create vivid imagery with her words. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, and language, and explain why it is considered one of the greatest poems of the 20th century.
The poem tells the story of a steeple-jack, a man who climbs steeples and towers to repair them. The steeple-jack is a metaphor for the poet herself, who, like the steeple-jack, is a master of her craft. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the steeple-jack's life and work.
The first part of the poem introduces the steeple-jack and his work. The poet describes the steeple-jack as a "daredevil" who "climbs the church spire" and "swings by his teeth from a beam." The steeple-jack's work is dangerous, but he is fearless and skilled. The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the steeple-jack's work, such as "he walks on the air against the glassed-in sky" and "he hangs like a star in the early morning."
The second part of the poem explores the steeple-jack's relationship with the people he works for. The steeple-jack is a solitary figure, but he is also a part of a community. The poet describes how the steeple-jack "knows the church from the cellar to the dome" and how he "knows the people are watching him from the ground." The steeple-jack is aware of his audience, and he performs his work with precision and grace. The poet also describes how the steeple-jack is paid for his work, and how he uses his earnings to support his family.
The third part of the poem is the most complex and abstract. The poet uses the steeple-jack as a metaphor for the poet herself, and she explores the nature of art and creativity. The poet describes how the steeple-jack "makes no claim to symmetry" and how he "does not think of himself as a spectacle." The steeple-jack's work is not about beauty or perfection; it is about function and purpose. The poet suggests that art should be the same way. Art should not be about impressing others or creating something beautiful for its own sake. Art should be about expressing ideas and emotions and serving a purpose.
The language of the poem is one of its most striking features. The poet uses a variety of techniques to create vivid imagery and convey complex ideas. She uses metaphors and similes to compare the steeple-jack to other things, such as a star or a bird. She also uses repetition and alliteration to create a musical quality to the poem. For example, the line "he hangs like a star in the early morning" uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and melody.
The structure of the poem is also noteworthy. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the steeple-jack's life and work. The first part is the most descriptive, as the poet introduces the steeple-jack and describes his work. The second part is more narrative, as the poet explores the steeple-jack's relationship with the people he works for. The third part is the most abstract, as the poet uses the steeple-jack as a metaphor for the nature of art and creativity.
In conclusion, The Steeple-Jack is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship that showcases Marianne Moore's unique style and her ability to create vivid imagery with her words. The poem explores the life and work of a steeple-jack, and uses him as a metaphor for the poet herself. The language and structure of the poem are both striking, and contribute to its overall impact. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey complex ideas and emotions, and it remains one of the greatest poems of the 20th century.
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