'The Fallen Angels' by Anne Sexton
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They come on to my clean
sheet of paper and leave a Rorschach blot.
They do not do this to be mean,
they do it to give me a sign
they want me, as Aubrey Beardsley once said,
to shove it around till something comes.
Clumsy as I am,
I do it.
For I am like them -
both saved and lost,
tumbling downward like Humpty Dumpty
off the alphabet.
Each morning I push them off my bed
and when they get in the salad
rolling in it like a dog,
I pick each one out
just the way my daughter
picks out the anchoives.
In May they dance on the jonquils,
wearing out their toes,
laughing like fish.
In November, the dread month,
they suck the childhood out of the berries
and turn them sour and inedible.
Yet they keep me company.
They wiggle up life.
They pass out their magic
like Assorted Lifesavers.
They go with me to the dentist
and protect me form the drill.
At the same time,
they go to class with me
and lie to my students.
O fallen angel,
the companion within me,
whisper something holy
before you pinch me
into the grave.
Submitted by Emily
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Fallen Angels by Anne Sexton: A Critical Interpretation
I am thrilled to be writing about one of my favorite poems, The Fallen Angels by Anne Sexton. This masterpiece of poetry is not only beautifully written but also contains rich symbolism and imagery that makes it a great work of art. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes and motifs in the poem, examine the poet's use of language, and explicate the poem's meaning and significance.
Introduction
The Fallen Angels is a poem that was published in Anne Sexton's collection of poems, The Awful Rowing Toward God, in 1975. The poem is about the angels who were cast out of heaven and their subsequent descent into the human world. Through the poem, Sexton explores themes such as loss, temptation, sin, and redemption.
Form and Structure
The poem consists of eight stanzas, each containing six lines. The lines are not of a uniform length, and the poem is written in free verse. The poem's structure, therefore, is loose, and the stanzas are not bound by a strict rhyme or meter. This loose structure allows the poem to be read more fluidly, and it also gives the poet freedom to experiment with language and imagery.
Themes and Motifs
One of the themes that run through the poem is loss. The fallen angels have lost their place in heaven, and they are now wandering in the human world, trying to find their way back. This theme is expressed in the first stanza, where the poet writes, "We are the fallen angels, / and our place is the gutter / where the holy water runs / from a hundred thousand spigots."
Another theme that is explored in the poem is temptation. The fallen angels are tempted by the pleasures of the human world, and they find it hard to resist. This theme is expressed in the second stanza, where the poet writes, "We have no stars tonight / and cannot dream of them / but we can dream of the dark / gutter that we inhabit."
Sin is another theme that runs through the poem. The fallen angels have sinned by rebelling against God, and they are now paying for their sins by being cast out of heaven. This theme is expressed in the fourth stanza, where the poet writes, "We have blasphemed the Holy Ghost, / that gentle spirit / that has fluttered above our heads / and given us a place in the choir."
Redemption is the final theme that is explored in the poem. The fallen angels are seeking redemption, and they hope to find it by returning to God. This theme is expressed in the final stanza, where the poet writes, "We have only to believe / that the angels will take us back / and our tongues will be loosed, / and our voices will rise up like birds."
Language and Imagery
The language and imagery in The Fallen Angels are rich and powerful. The poet uses a mix of concrete and abstract language to create vivid images that evoke emotions and ideas. For example, in the first stanza, the poet uses the image of a gutter to convey the fallen angels' loss of status and their descent into the human world. The image of the gutter is concrete and vivid, and it contrasts sharply with the abstract idea of the fallen angels being cast out of heaven.
The poet also uses religious imagery to convey the poem's themes. For example, in the fourth stanza, the poet uses the image of the Holy Ghost to represent the fallen angels' blasphemy. The Holy Ghost is an abstract concept, and its use in the poem serves to underscore the gravity of the fallen angels' sin.
Sexton's use of language is also notable for its musicality. The poem has a melancholic, almost mournful tone, which is accentuated by the poet's use of repetition and alliteration. For example, in the second stanza, the poet repeats the phrase "we have" three times, creating a rhythm that emphasizes the fallen angels' sense of loss and longing.
Meaning and Significance
The Fallen Angels is a poem that explores the human condition, and it does so through the lens of the fallen angels. The poem is about the human experience of loss, temptation, sin, and redemption, and it speaks to the universal human longing for a sense of purpose and belonging.
The poem's significance lies in its ability to speak to the human experience in a way that is both universal and specific. On the one hand, the poem's themes and motifs are universal, relevant to all human beings, regardless of their cultural or religious background. On the other hand, the poem is specific in its use of religious imagery and symbolism, making it a reflection of Sexton's own religious and cultural background.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Fallen Angels is a masterpiece of poetry that is both beautiful and profound. Through its language and imagery, the poem explores themes such as loss, temptation, sin, and redemption, and it does so in a way that speaks to the universal human experience. The poem's structure is loose, and its language is musical, creating a sense of fluidity and melancholy that underscores the fallen angels' sense of loss and longing. Ultimately, The Fallen Angels is a poem that reminds us of the importance of faith, hope, and redemption in the face of life's many challenges.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Fallen Angels: A Poem of Redemption and Self-Discovery
Anne Sexton's "The Fallen Angels" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the human condition. Written in Sexton's signature confessional style, the poem is a deeply personal meditation on the nature of sin and the possibility of redemption.
At its core, "The Fallen Angels" is a poem about the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems chaotic and meaningless. The poem begins with a vivid description of the fallen angels, who are portrayed as "blackened birds" with "broken wings" and "torn feathers." These angels are a metaphor for the human condition, which is marked by a sense of loss and brokenness.
As the poem progresses, Sexton explores the idea of redemption and the possibility of finding meaning in the midst of suffering. She writes, "We are the fallen angels, / but we are also the ones / who can rise again." This line suggests that even though we may be broken and lost, we have the power to rise above our circumstances and find redemption.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey her message. For example, she compares the fallen angels to "blackened birds," which suggests that they have been tainted by sin and are no longer pure. This metaphor is reinforced by the image of the angels' broken wings and torn feathers, which symbolize their inability to fly and their sense of loss.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is the image of the "burning bush." This image is a reference to the biblical story of Moses, who encountered a burning bush that spoke to him and revealed the divine presence. In Sexton's poem, the burning bush represents the possibility of redemption and the hope that we can find meaning in our suffering.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Fallen Angels" is its use of language. Sexton's writing is both lyrical and raw, and she uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey her message. For example, she writes, "We are the ones who have tasted the apple, / who have felt the serpent's tongue / and the devil's breath." This line is a reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who were tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit. By using this metaphor, Sexton suggests that we are all sinners who have been tempted and fallen.
Another powerful image in the poem is the image of the "broken heart." This image is a metaphor for the pain and suffering that we all experience in life. Sexton writes, "We are the ones with the broken heart, / the ones who have been shattered / and left to pick up the pieces." This line suggests that even though we may be broken and wounded, we have the power to heal and find redemption.
Throughout the poem, Sexton also explores the idea of self-discovery. She writes, "We are the ones who must find ourselves, / who must journey through the darkness / and emerge into the light." This line suggests that the path to redemption and self-discovery is not easy, but it is necessary if we are to find meaning and purpose in our lives.
In conclusion, "The Fallen Angels" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Sexton conveys a message of hope and possibility, suggesting that even though we may be broken and lost, we have the power to rise above our circumstances and find redemption. This poem is a testament to the power of language and the human spirit, and it is a must-read for anyone who is searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.
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