Lecture Notes: Poetry Discussion on Sylvia Plath's 'Morning Song'

Introduction

• Host: Adrienne Ford
• Platform: Coverlet (Literature Discussion Channel)
• Poem Discussed: 'Morning Song' by Sylvia Plath
• Note on reading: Difficulty in reading Plath due to rhythm and imagism.

Initial Impressions

• Sylvia Plath's poetry often requires multiple readings to understand.
• Host's personal challenge: Difficulty connecting with Plath's work compared to Emily Dickinson.
• Gender and identification: Observations about how many women strongly identify with Plath's work.

Poem Analysis

• Theme:

  • About parenthood, specifically motherhood.
  • Ambiguity in narrative voice: Could be interpreted as mother or father, but context suggests mother.

• Imagery and Symbolism:

  • Unconventional use of imagery to make the familiar strange.
  • Examples:
    • "Love set you going like a fat gold watch."
    • "Cow heavy and floral in my Victorian nightgown."
    • "Clear vowels rise like balloons."

Existentialism in Plath's Work

• Existentialism Overview:

  • A philosophical movement post-WWII focusing on alienation, loss of belief, and life's perceived meaninglessness.
  • Key figures: Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche.
  • Concepts: Existence precedes essence, personal essence created through choices.

• Existential Themes in 'Morning Song':

  • The poem examines motherhood from a distance, presenting it as an "othered" experience.
  • The speaker's perspective creates an existential lens, offering a unique view on motherhood and personal identity.

Conclusion and Larger Observations

• Purpose of Plath’s Poetry:

  • Not to make the subject universal or relatable, but to make it new and strange, thereby offering new access.
  • The poem highlights the speaker’s distance from traditional motherhood while embracing an unconventional stance.

• Criticism of Plath's Work:

  • Often involves discussions of her mental health, though not necessarily relevant here.
  • Plath's approach allows for a broad exploration of identity and existential themes beyond mental health.

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement to engage with the channel for more literary discussions and analyses.
• Call to action: Like, subscribe, and engage with more content on the channel.

These notes summarize the key points from the discussion about Sylvia Plath's 'Morning Song' and its existential themes, providing an overview of the analysis and broader observations on Plath's work.