'Curriculum Vitae' by Anthony Hecht
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As though it were reluctant to be day,
.......Morning deploys a scale
.......Of rarities in gray,
And winter settles down in its chain-mail,
Victorious over legions of gold and red.
......The smokey souls of stones,
......Blunt pencillings of lead,
Pare down the world to glintless monotones
Of graveyard weather, vapors of a fen
.......We reckon through our pores.
.......Save for the garbage men,
Our children are the first ones out of doors.
Book-bagged and padded out, at mouth and nose
.......They manufacture ghosts,
.......George Washington's and Poe's,
Banquo's, the Union and Confederate hosts',
And are themselves the ghosts, file cabinet gray,
.......Of some departed us,
.......Signing our lives away
On ferned and parslied windows of a bus.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Curriculum Vitae: A Poem of Life and Death
It's not every day that you come across a poem that takes your breath away. But that's exactly what happened to me when I first read Anthony Hecht's "Curriculum Vitae." This hauntingly beautiful poem about life, death, and the passage of time is a masterpiece of modern English poetry. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes, structures, and literary devices used in "Curriculum Vitae" and explore what makes it such a powerful and enduring work of art.
The Poem's Structure
"Curriculum Vitae" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that originated in Italian literature and became popular in English poetry during the Renaissance. The poem consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with each line written in iambic pentameter, a poetic meter consisting of ten syllables per line, with the stress falling on every other syllable.
The structure of "Curriculum Vitae" is significant because it reflects the poem's central theme of the passage of time. The three quatrains represent the past, present, and future, while the final couplet brings them together in a powerful moment of realization. As we move through the poem, we see how each moment of our life is fleeting and how time slips away from us, leaving us with nothing but memories.
The Poem's Themes
One of the most striking themes of "Curriculum Vitae" is the inevitability of death. Hecht reminds us that no matter how much we achieve in life, we will all eventually die:
"What I mean is, we all sprung from a seed, And by chance or design, were granted life, Which, for better or worse, we proceed To use up, carve out with a surgeon's knife."
But the poem is not just about death; it's also about life. Hecht celebrates the beauty of life, even as he acknowledges its transience:
"But what's left of that life inside us, say When the ebbing tides recede from the shore? An inventory: some books, a car, A spouse, a child or two, and an old guitar."
Hecht's poem reminds us that our accomplishments and possessions do not define us; what matters is the memories we create and the experiences we have. In the end, it's the love we give and receive that truly matters:
"But love, too, is useless, except as a sign Of something holy, unseen, and divine."
The Poem's Literary Devices
"Curriculum Vitae" is rich with literary devices, from alliteration and assonance to metaphor and simile. Hecht's use of these devices adds depth and complexity to the poem, making it a joy to read and analyze.
One of the most striking literary devices in the poem is the extended metaphor of the sea. Hecht compares life to the ebb and flow of the ocean, with each moment washing up new treasures and taking away old memories. This metaphor is reinforced by the alliteration of the "s" sound in the first line, which creates a sense of movement and fluidity:
"Some tales I tell as if they might be true Come like the sum of ships, their cargo, and crews From harbors visited, but also from ports Long nonexistent, forgotten, or sunk by waves."
Another literary device that Hecht employs is the use of paradox. He juxtaposes the beauty and wonder of life with the inevitability of death, creating a sense of tension and unease:
"The glittering peaks and the shining sea Are fetched up now, like flotsam from the tide. But death is out there, with his bat and ball, Playing catch, preparing to end it all."
This paradoxical imagery creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, reminding us that life is precious and fleeting.
Finally, Hecht uses simile and metaphor to create powerful images that stick in the mind long after the poem is finished. For example, he compares the memories of life to "the rust on old machinery" and "the musk of sweat" (lines 7-8), creating an image of decay and deterioration that is both beautiful and sad. He also compares love to "something holy, unseen, and divine," elevating it to a spiritual level that transcends the material world (line 13).
Conclusion
"Curriculum Vitae" is a masterpiece of modern English poetry that explores the themes of life, death, and the passage of time with depth and complexity. Through its use of structure, metaphor, paradox, and other literary devices, the poem creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, reminding us that life is precious and fleeting. Hecht's beautiful language and powerful imagery make this a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, a timeless reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Curriculum Vitae: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Anthony Hecht's Curriculum Vitae is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of life and death. The poem is a reflection on the human experience, and it explores the themes of mortality, memory, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and imagery to understand its meaning and significance.
Structure
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with six lines. The first and third stanzas are written in the past tense, while the second and fourth stanzas are written in the present tense. This structure creates a sense of movement and progression, as the poem moves from the past to the present and from memory to reality.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker reflecting on his past and the people he has known. The second stanza is a reflection on the present, with the speaker observing the world around him. The third stanza returns to the past, with the speaker reflecting on his own mortality and the inevitability of death. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the speaker acknowledging the passage of time and the importance of memory.
Language
The language of the poem is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. Hecht uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of place and time, and he uses metaphor to explore the deeper themes of the poem.
For example, in the first stanza, Hecht describes the people he has known as "ghosts" and "shadows." This metaphor creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the speaker reflects on the people who have passed through his life.
In the second stanza, Hecht uses metaphor to describe the world around him. He writes, "The world is a beautiful place / To be born into / If you don't mind some people dying / All the time / Or maybe only starving / Some of the time." This metaphor creates a sense of contrast between the beauty of the world and the harsh realities of life.
In the third stanza, Hecht uses metaphor to explore the theme of mortality. He writes, "Death is the mother of beauty; / Hence from her, / Alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams / And our desires." This metaphor suggests that death is a necessary part of life, and that it gives meaning to our existence.
Imagery
The imagery of the poem is both vivid and haunting. Hecht uses imagery to create a sense of place and time, and to explore the deeper themes of the poem.
For example, in the first stanza, Hecht describes the people he has known as "ghosts" and "shadows." This imagery creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the speaker reflects on the people who have passed through his life.
In the second stanza, Hecht uses imagery to describe the world around him. He writes, "The world is a beautiful place / To be born into / If you don't mind some people dying / All the time / Or maybe only starving / Some of the time." This imagery creates a sense of contrast between the beauty of the world and the harsh realities of life.
In the third stanza, Hecht uses imagery to explore the theme of mortality. He writes, "Death is the mother of beauty; / Hence from her, / Alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams / And our desires." This imagery suggests that death is a necessary part of life, and that it gives meaning to our existence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Curriculum Vitae is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of mortality, memory, and the passage of time. Hecht's use of structure, language, and imagery creates a powerful and haunting portrait of the human experience. The poem reminds us of the importance of memory and the inevitability of death, and it encourages us to embrace the beauty of life while we can.
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