'Spelling' by Margaret Atwood
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My daughter plays on the floor
with plastic letters,
red, blue & hard yellow,
learning how to spell,
spelling,
how to make spells.
*
I wonder how many women
denied themselves daughters,
closed themselves in rooms,
drew the curtains
so they could mainline words.
*
A child is not a poem,
a poem is not a child.
There is no either / or.
However.
*
I return to the story
of the woman caught in the war
& in labour, her thighs tied
together by the enemy
so she could not give birth.
Ancestress: the burning witch,
her mouth covered by leather
to strangle words.
A word after a word
after a word is power.
*
At the point where language falls away
from the hot bones, at the point
where the rock breaks open and darkness
flows out of it like blood, at
the melting point of granite
when the bones know
they are hollow & the word
splits & doubles & speaks
the truth & the body
itself becomes a mouth.
This is a metaphor.
*
How do you learn to spell?
Blood, sky & the sun,
your own name first,
your first naming, your first name,
your first word.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Spelling by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is one of the most prolific and celebrated poets of our time. Her poetry is known for its profound insights on love, gender, identity, and politics. One of her most famous poems is "Spelling," a powerful work that explores the nature of power and oppression. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into this iconic poem and uncover its many layers of meaning.
The Structure of the Poem
"Spelling" is a short poem, comprising only 14 lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no fixed rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of fluidity and freedom, reflecting the poem's themes of liberation and autonomy. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza consisting of ten lines and the second stanza consisting of four. The poem's brevity and simplicity belie its depth and complexity, making it a masterful example of minimalist poetry.
The Meaning of the Poem
"Spelling" is a poem that is rich in symbolism and metaphor. At its heart, the poem is a commentary on the nature of power and control. The poem uses the metaphor of spelling to explore the ways in which language can be used to control and oppress people.
The first stanza of the poem describes a group of women who are huddled together, whispering and spelling out a word. The word is not revealed to the reader, but it is clear that it is a word that has some significance or power. The women are described as being "afraid," suggesting that they are aware of the power that the word holds.
The second stanza of the poem describes the speaker of the poem, who is outside of the group of women. The speaker is described as being "too far away" to hear what the women are saying, but she can see their movements. The speaker is also described as being "afraid," suggesting that she is aware of the power dynamic that is at play.
The poem ends with the speaker saying that she knows the word that the women are spelling. This suggests that the word is something that is known and understood by many people, and that it is something that has the power to inspire fear and control.
Interpreting the Poem
"Spelling" is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. One interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the ways in which language can be used to control and oppress people. The women in the poem are spelling out a word that has power, but they are doing so quietly and secretly. This suggests that the power that the word holds is something that is not meant to be shared widely.
The speaker of the poem is also afraid, suggesting that she too is aware of the power dynamic that is at play. However, the fact that she knows the word suggests that she is not afraid to confront the power that the word holds. By revealing that she knows the word, the speaker is taking a stand against the forces of oppression and control.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the ways in which women are oppressed in society. The fact that the group of women are described as being afraid suggests that they are aware of the ways in which they are marginalized and oppressed. The fact that they are spelling out a word suggests that they are trying to assert their own power and autonomy, even in the face of patriarchal oppression.
The fact that the speaker of the poem is also a woman suggests that this is a poem about women's solidarity and the power of collective action. Even though the speaker is not part of the group of women who are spelling out the word, she is still connected to them in some way. By revealing that she knows the word, the speaker is showing her support for the women and their struggle for liberation.
Conclusion
"Spelling" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of power and oppression. Through its use of metaphor and symbolism, the poem shows how language can be used to control and oppress people, and how collective action can be a powerful tool for liberation. Atwood's use of free verse and minimalist poetry adds to the poem's sense of fluidity and freedom, making it a masterful example of contemporary poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Spelling by Margaret Atwood is a classic poem that has been widely studied and analyzed by literary enthusiasts. The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of language and the way it shapes our perceptions of the world around us. Atwood's use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language creates a haunting and thought-provoking piece that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "My daughter plays on the floor with plastic letters." This opening line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, as it introduces the central theme of language and its role in our lives. The image of the daughter playing with plastic letters is a powerful one, as it suggests that language is something that we learn and manipulate from a very young age.
As the poem progresses, Atwood delves deeper into the nature of language and its impact on our perceptions of reality. She writes, "Spelling is important, / but if you want to write poetry, / you have to throw the dictionary out the window." This line is a powerful statement about the limitations of language and the need to break free from its constraints in order to truly express oneself.
Atwood's use of metaphorical language is particularly effective in this poem. She writes, "Language is the liquid / that we're all dissolved in, / great for solving problems, / after it has hardened." This metaphorical language creates a vivid image of language as a fluid substance that can be molded and shaped to fit our needs. However, it also suggests that language can become rigid and inflexible over time, which can limit our ability to express ourselves.
One of the most striking aspects of Spelling is the way that Atwood uses language to create a sense of tension and unease. She writes, "The word that is not spoken / swims in the air / and is flicked / by the bright fins of the half-glimpsed fish." This image of an unspoken word swimming in the air is both eerie and captivating, as it suggests that there are things that we cannot express through language alone.
Atwood's use of repetition is also noteworthy in this poem. She repeats the phrase "spelling is important" several times throughout the poem, which creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the central theme of language. This repetition also serves to highlight the limitations of language, as it suggests that there are things that cannot be expressed through words alone.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. Atwood writes, "The letters crawl like snakes, / each one a black canal, / flowing, a vowel at the center / opening to swallow the world." This image of letters as snakes crawling and swallowing the world is both unsettling and mesmerizing. It suggests that language has the power to shape our perceptions of the world around us, and that we must be careful in how we use it.
In conclusion, Spelling by Margaret Atwood is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of language and its impact on our lives. Atwood's use of vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and repetition creates a haunting and unforgettable piece that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Through this poem, Atwood reminds us of the power of language and the need to use it wisely.
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