'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: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you a fan of poetry? Do you enjoy reading works that explore the nuances of language and the complexities of human emotions? If so, then Margaret Atwood's "Spelling" is a must-read for you.
At only 14 lines long, "Spelling" is a brief yet powerful poem that explores the themes of identity, loss, and the power of language. Atwood's use of imagery and metaphor throughout the poem invites readers to delve deeper into the meaning behind her words, and to consider how language shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us.
The Power of Language
At its core, "Spelling" is a meditation on the power of language. Atwood begins the poem by referencing the act of spelling, which is often seen as a mundane and unremarkable task. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that spelling is far from ordinary. Instead, it is a means of defining and understanding ourselves and the world around us.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for this exploration of language and identity:
My daughter plays on the floor with plastic letters, red, blue & hard yellow, learning how to spell, spelling, how to make spells.
Here, Atwood establishes the idea of spelling as a form of magic or enchantment. By learning to spell, the daughter is not just mastering the rules of language, but is also gaining the ability to create spells and shape the world around her. This idea is reinforced in the second stanza, which describes the daughter "arranging / the magnetic letters into names / and then standing back to admire / her name spelled / brightly on the fridge."
Through this use of metaphor and imagery, Atwood draws attention to the ways in which language shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world. By learning to spell and write, we gain the ability to create our own narratives and shape our own identities.
Loss and Change
Another key theme in "Spelling" is loss and the inevitability of change. Throughout the poem, Atwood references the passage of time and the ways in which things inevitably shift and transform.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly poignant in this regard:
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
Here, Atwood uses vivid imagery to describe the breaking down and transformation of language. She references the "hot bones" of language, suggesting that language is a living, breathing thing that can be both powerful and fragile. She also describes the "melting point of granite," a metaphor for the point at which even the most unyielding and solid things can break down and change.
This idea of loss and transformation is further reinforced in the poem's final lines:
my child’s vocabulary,
gathered innocently
every day
without care or compulsion
out of necessity,
falls off like little leaves from a tree;
adults can’t see or find them;
they do not have the words
for autumn
or the softness
of spring.
Here, Atwood uses the metaphor of falling leaves to describe the loss of language and the passage of time. The child's vocabulary, once abundant and vibrant, falls away like the leaves of a tree, leaving only empty spaces and the promise of change.
Interpretation and Analysis
At its core, "Spelling" is a powerful meditation on the ways in which language shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Through her use of metaphor and vivid imagery, Atwood invites readers to consider the power of words and the inevitability of change.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it serves as a commentary on the nature of identity. By suggesting that language is a form of magic or enchantment, Atwood implies that the act of naming and defining ourselves is a deeply powerful and transformative act. However, the poem's focus on loss and change also suggests that our identities are inherently fragile and subject to transformation over time.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it serves as a commentary on the nature of language itself. By describing language as a living, breathing thing that can break down and transform over time, Atwood suggests that language is never static or unchanging. Rather, it is a dynamic force that is constantly shifting and evolving, just like the world around us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Spelling" is a brief yet powerful poem that explores the themes of language, identity, loss, and change. Through her use of metaphor and vivid imagery, Atwood draws attention to the ways in which language shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us, and invites readers to consider the power of words and the inevitability of transformation over time.
Whether you are a seasoned poetry lover or a newcomer to the genre, "Spelling" is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of language and the complexities of human emotion. So why not take a few minutes to read this powerful and thought-provoking poem today?
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Spelling by Margaret Atwood is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both simple and complex, and it speaks to the heart of what poetry is all about. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem, and we will see how Atwood uses these elements to create a powerful and memorable piece of poetry.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz." This is a playful and whimsical opening that immediately captures the reader's attention. Atwood is inviting us into her world, a world where the rules of language are not set in stone, but are instead open to interpretation and imagination.
As the poem continues, we see that Atwood is not just playing with language for the sake of it. She is using language to explore deeper themes and ideas. One of the main themes of the poem is the power of language to shape our understanding of the world. Atwood writes, "I believe in living, I believe in birth. / I believe in the sweat of love / and in the fire of truth." These lines show us that language is not just a tool for communication, but it is also a tool for shaping our beliefs and values.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of creativity and imagination. Atwood writes, "I believe in the imagination. / What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see." These lines show us that Atwood values the power of the imagination to create new worlds and new possibilities. She is urging us to look beyond what is immediately visible and to explore the infinite possibilities that exist in our minds.
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. Atwood uses a simple and repetitive structure that gives the poem a sense of rhythm and momentum. Each stanza begins with the same phrase, "My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz," and each stanza ends with a different word that begins with the letter "y." This structure creates a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem, while also allowing Atwood to explore a wide range of ideas and themes.
The language of the poem is both playful and profound. Atwood uses a mix of simple and complex language to create a sense of contrast and balance. She uses words like "yuzz-a-ma-tuzz" and "yekkedy-yak" to create a sense of playfulness and whimsy, while also using more complex language to explore deeper themes and ideas.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that Atwood uses language to create vivid and memorable images. For example, she writes, "I believe in the gremlin and the chariot / and the small gods / that pull at us / like a shoelace." These lines create a sense of magic and wonder, and they show us that language can be used to create powerful and evocative images that stay with us long after we have finished reading.
In conclusion, Poetry Spelling by Margaret Atwood is a classic poem that explores the power of language to shape our understanding of the world. Atwood uses a playful and whimsical tone to invite us into her world, while also exploring deeper themes and ideas. The structure of the poem creates a sense of unity and coherence, while the language creates vivid and memorable images. This is a poem that speaks to the heart of what poetry is all about, and it is a testament to the power of language to inspire and transform us.
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