'The Little Ghost' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Renascence and Other Poems1917I knew her for a little ghostThat in my garden walked;
The wall is high-higher than most-And the green gate was locked.And yet I did not think of thatTill after she was gone-
I knew her by the broad white hat,All ruffled, she had on.By the dear ruffles round her feet,By her small hands that hung
In their lace mitts, austere and sweet,Her gown's white folds among.I watched to see if she would stay,What she would do-and oh!
She looked as if she liked the wayI let my garden grow!She bent above my favourite mintWith conscious garden grace,
She smiled and smiled-there was no hintOf sadness in her face.She held her gown on either sideTo let her slippers show,
And up the walk she went with pride,The way great ladies go.And where the wall is built in newAnd is of ivy bare
She paused-then opened and passed throughA gate that once was there.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Little Ghost by Edna St. Vincent Millay

As soon as I started reading "The Little Ghost" by Edna St. Vincent Millay, I was immediately transported to a world of wonder and mystery. The poem, which was first published in 1920 in Millay's collection "Renascence and Other Poems", is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of Halloween and the spookiness of ghost stories.

Overview

"The Little Ghost" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a little ghost who is looking for a friend. The ghost is described as being "a queer little figure in sheet and in sash" and is portrayed as being innocent and childlike. The poem follows the little ghost as she goes out into the world to find someone to be her friend.

Interpretation

One of the things that struck me about "The Little Ghost" is the way in which Millay portrays the ghost as being innocent and childlike. The ghost is described as being "a queer little figure in sheet and in sash" which gives her a sense of vulnerability and innocence. The fact that she is looking for a friend also reinforces this sense of childlike innocence.

Another thing that stood out to me about the poem is the way in which Millay uses language to create a sense of mystery and wonder. The poem is full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions that bring the world of the little ghost to life. For example, the line "The moon was up, and a star or two" creates a sense of magic and wonder, while the line "The trees like skeletons stood in the square" creates a sense of spookiness and foreboding.

One of the most powerful themes in the poem is the idea of loneliness and the search for companionship. The little ghost is searching for a friend and is willing to go to great lengths to find one. This theme is particularly poignant given the fact that the little ghost is a ghost - a creature that is often portrayed as being lonely and isolated.

Literary Analysis

One of the things that makes "The Little Ghost" such a powerful piece of literature is the way in which Millay uses language to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The poem is full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions that bring the world of the little ghost to life. For example, the line "The moon was up, and a star or two" creates a sense of magic and wonder, while the line "The trees like skeletons stood in the square" creates a sense of spookiness and foreboding.

Another important aspect of the poem is the way in which Millay uses repetition to reinforce certain themes and ideas. For example, the little ghost's repeated refrain of "Won't you be my friend?" reinforces the theme of loneliness and the search for companionship.

The poem also makes use of various poetic techniques such as alliteration, assonance, and rhyme. For example, the line "The moon was up, and a star or two" makes use of alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and flow, while the line "And brushed the cobwebs out of the sky" makes use of assonance to create a sense of softness and gentleness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Little Ghost" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of Halloween and the spookiness of ghost stories. The poem is full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions that bring the world of the little ghost to life. The theme of loneliness and the search for companionship is particularly poignant, and the poem's use of repetition and various poetic techniques make it a powerful piece of literature. Overall, I would highly recommend this poem to anyone who enjoys the beauty and power of poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Little Ghost: A Hauntingly Beautiful Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her lyrical and evocative poetry that captures the essence of human emotions. Her poem, The Little Ghost, is a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the afterlife. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the meaning and symbolism of this classic poem.

The Little Ghost is a short poem that tells the story of a ghost who haunts a house where she once lived. The ghost is described as a "little" ghost, which suggests that she is not a powerful or malevolent spirit, but rather a gentle and innocent one. The poem begins with the ghost lamenting her lost love, who has passed away and left her alone in the world. She longs to be reunited with him, but knows that it is impossible.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The ghost is described as "sad" and "lonely," which immediately evokes a sense of melancholy in the reader. The use of the word "wistful" suggests that the ghost is not only sad, but also longing for something that she cannot have. This sets up the central conflict of the poem: the ghost's desire to be reunited with her lost love.

In the second stanza, the ghost describes her surroundings. She is in a house that she once lived in with her love, but now it is empty and abandoned. The use of the word "desolate" emphasizes the emptiness and loneliness of the house. The ghost is the only inhabitant, and she is trapped there, unable to leave or move on.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a turn. The ghost hears a sound outside the house, and she becomes excited. She thinks that it might be her lost love, returning to her. The use of the word "fluttered" suggests that the ghost is feeling a mix of emotions: excitement, hope, and fear. She wants to believe that her love has returned, but she is also afraid of being disappointed.

In the fourth stanza, the ghost realizes that the sound she heard was not her love, but rather a bird. This realization is devastating for her. The use of the word "sobbed" suggests that the ghost is not just sad, but also heartbroken. She had allowed herself to hope for a moment, only to have that hope dashed.

The final stanza of the poem is where the true meaning and symbolism of The Little Ghost becomes clear. The ghost realizes that she will never be reunited with her love, and that she is doomed to haunt the empty house forever. The use of the word "forever" emphasizes the finality of her situation. She is trapped in a state of limbo, unable to move on to the afterlife.

The final line of the poem, "And I am dead, dead, dead," is a powerful one. It suggests that the ghost has come to accept her fate, and that she is resigned to her eternal loneliness. The repetition of the word "dead" emphasizes the finality of her situation, and the fact that she is no longer alive in any meaningful sense.

The Little Ghost is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the afterlife. The ghost is a sympathetic character, trapped in a state of eternal loneliness and longing. The use of symbolism, such as the empty house and the bird, adds depth and meaning to the poem. The repetition of certain words, such as "sad" and "dead," emphasizes the emotional weight of the ghost's situation.

Overall, The Little Ghost is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of human emotions. Edna St. Vincent Millay's lyrical and poetic language creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after the poem is finished. It is a classic piece of poetry that deserves to be read and appreciated by generations to come.

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