'Faun' by Sylvia Plath
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Haunched like a faun, he hooed
From grove of moon-glint and fen-frost
Until all owls in the twigged forest
Flapped black to look and brood
On the call this man made.
No sound but a drunken coot
Lurching home along river bank.
Stars hung water-sunk, so a rank
Of double star-eyes lit
Boughs where those owls sat.
An arena of yellow eyes
Watched the changing shape he cut,
Saw hoof harden from foot, saw sprout
Goat-horns. Marked how god rose
And galloped woodward in that guise.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Faun by Sylvia Plath: A Deep Dive into the Poem
Sylvia Plath, one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century, was known for her intense and powerful poetry that explored themes of mental illness, feminism, and the human condition. Her poem "Faun" is no exception, as it delves into the complexities of human desire, the unconscious mind, and the struggle between the natural and the civilized world.
As a writer, I have always been captivated by Plath's ability to express the inexpressible. Her words are like thunderbolts that strike at the core of our being, revealing truths that we are often too afraid to confront. In "Faun," she takes us on a journey through the wilderness of the mind, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, and the primal urges of the human psyche are unleashed.
The Poem
Faun is a short poem consisting of twelve lines, divided into three stanzas of four lines each. The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme scheme or traditional meter. The language is simple and direct, yet it is infused with a rich and evocative imagery that transports us to a world of fantasy and desire.
Haunched like a faun, he hooed
From grove of moon-glint and fen-frost
Until all owls in the twigged forest
Flapped black to look and brood
On the call this man made.
No sound but a drunken coot
Lurching home along river bank.
Stars hung water-sunk, so a rank
Of double star-eyes lit
Boughs where those owls sat.
An arena of yellow eyes
Watched the changing shape he cut,
Saw hoof harden from foot, saw sprout
Goat-horns. Marked how god rose,
And galloped azure in a shirt of flames.
Moon-silvered, the shaggy buck
Half-stag, half-boy,
Prayed aloud with a pure heart
And then fell back
Gently among bracken fern to wait.
While the prowling fox went by
Ignoring him, and the squelching
Water-rat slipped closer
On his shy business.
__
*Source: [Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48991/faun)*
The Interpretation
At first glance, Faun appears to be a simple description of a man who transforms into a faun, a mythical creature of Greek mythology that is half-human and half-goat. However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals a much deeper meaning.
The faun, in Greek mythology, is associated with nature, wilderness, and fertility. He is a symbol of the untamed and instinctual aspect of human nature, the part of us that is in touch with our primal desires and needs. By depicting the man as a faun, Plath is suggesting that he has tapped into this primal aspect of himself, and that he has become one with the natural world.
The grove of moon-glint and fen-frost is a metaphor for the unconscious mind, the realm of the psyche that is often hidden from us. The owls, with their keen vision and ability to see in the dark, represent the parts of our psyche that are aware of our deepest desires and fears. The man's call, which is so powerful that it causes the owls to "flap black to look and brood," is a symbol of the primal urge that lies within all of us, the urge to connect with the natural world and with our own inner selves.
The drunken coot, lurching home along the river bank, represents the civilized world, with its rules and restrictions. The stars that are "water-sunk" and the "double star-eyes" that light the boughs where the owls sit are symbols of the duality of human nature, the struggle between the natural and the civilized, the conscious and the unconscious.
As the man transforms into a faun, the arena of yellow eyes watches him, marking how he has become one with nature. The "shirt of flames" that he wears is a symbol of the passion and intensity of his desire, while the "moon-silvered, shaggy buck" is a symbol of his wild and untamed nature. The fact that he "prays aloud with a pure heart" suggests that his transformation is not only physical, but also spiritual. He has found a purity and a clarity in his connection with nature that he has never known before.
Ultimately, the man falls back gently among the bracken fern to wait, while the prowling fox and the water-rat go about their business. This final image is a reminder that our connection with nature is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. We must always be mindful of our primal urges and desires, and learn to navigate the delicate balance between the natural and the civilized.
The Analysis
Faun is a masterful poem that combines rich imagery and symbolism with a powerful message about the human condition. Plath's use of the faun as a symbol of our primal nature is particularly effective, as it allows her to explore the tension between our desire for freedom and our need for order and stability.
The poem is also notable for its use of language. Plath's descriptions are vivid and evocative, transporting us to a world of fantasy and desire. The image of the owls flapping black to look and brood, or the arena of yellow eyes watching the man transform into a faun, is both eerie and enchanting.
At the same time, Plath's use of language is also economical and effective. She is able to convey complex ideas with just a few carefully chosen words, and her ability to create a sense of atmosphere and mood with her descriptions is truly remarkable.
Finally, the poem is also notable for its message. Plath suggests that our connection with nature is essential to our well-being, and that we must learn to embrace our primal urges and desires if we are to find true happiness and fulfillment. At the same time, however, she also acknowledges the need for order and stability, and suggests that we must find a way to balance our natural instincts with the demands of the civilized world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Faun is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of human desire, the unconscious mind, and the struggle between the natural and the civilized world. Through her use of rich imagery and powerful symbolism, Plath is able to transport us to a world of fantasy and desire, while also conveying a powerful message about the human condition.
As a writer, I am in awe of Plath's ability to express the inexpressible, and her ability to use language to convey complex ideas and emotions. Her work remains as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first written, and Faun is a testament to her enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sylvia Plath's poem "Faun" is a haunting and evocative work that explores themes of desire, power, and the natural world. Written in 1956, the poem is a masterful example of Plath's ability to blend mythic and personal imagery to create a deeply resonant and complex work of art.
At its core, "Faun" is a poem about the relationship between a woman and a faun, a mythical creature that is part human and part goat. The poem begins with the woman encountering the faun in the woods, where he is playing his pipes and dancing. The woman is immediately drawn to the faun, and she begins to dance with him. As they dance, the woman becomes increasingly entranced by the faun's music and his wild, animalistic energy.
The poem's central image is that of the faun's pipes, which are described as "the reedy notes / Of flute and lyre, / The music of the wild." The pipes represent the faun's power and his ability to seduce and control the woman. As the woman dances with the faun, she becomes more and more under his spell, and she begins to feel a sense of both fear and desire.
Throughout the poem, Plath uses vivid and sensual imagery to convey the intensity of the woman's experience. She describes the faun's "hooves that drum / The beaten path," and the woman's own body as "a white flame / That flares and falls." These images create a sense of wildness and abandon, as if the woman is being consumed by the faun's energy and passion.
At the same time, however, the poem also contains darker undertones. The woman's desire for the faun is tinged with fear and uncertainty, as she realizes that she is being drawn into a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. She describes the faun as "a dark god," and she feels as if she is being consumed by his power.
Ultimately, the poem ends with the woman fleeing from the faun, as she realizes that she cannot control her own desire. She describes herself as "a hunted thing / Scuttling through the night," and she feels as if she is being pursued by the faun's music and his wildness.
In many ways, "Faun" can be seen as a metaphor for the human experience of desire and power. The faun represents the primal, animalistic side of human nature, while the woman represents the more civilized and controlled side. The poem suggests that these two sides are in constant tension with each other, and that the struggle between them can be both exhilarating and terrifying.
At the same time, however, the poem also suggests that there is a danger in giving in too fully to our desires. The woman's experience with the faun is ultimately a cautionary tale, as she realizes that she cannot control her own desire and that it has the power to consume her completely.
Overall, "Faun" is a powerful and evocative work that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience. Plath's use of mythic and personal imagery creates a work that is both universal and deeply personal, and her exploration of desire and power is both timeless and timely. For anyone interested in the complexities of human nature and the power of poetry to capture those complexities, "Faun" is a must-read.
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