Figurative Language
Most poets use some form of figurative language to convey messages in their poetry because it allows the reader to attach a relatable visual to the emotion. As a result, nature, with its immense web of symbolism and mystery, is often encrypted into poetry. Poetry readers are often confused by a poets reference to nature such as trees, flowers, moons, etc., by assuming that any connection to the beauties of nature implies a positive connotation; however, it can be argued that nature's attributes are mostly associated with negative references such as liminal space, phallic symbols, and death. Both Sylvia Plath in "The Night Dances" and Seamus Heaney in "Ocean's Love to Ireland" use nature to create clear imagery in their poems in a manner that
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By stating that the smile is forever lost because it fell in the grass is implying that grass is a symbol of doom, end, death, etc. However, grass is commonly interpreted as symbolizing life, health, growth, and interconnection. Furthermore, when analyzing the existence and characteristics of grass itself, it can be concluded that grass is durable as it survives through every season, including winter, grass is vibrant in color, and grass is usually visualized around pastoral scenery. These are all positive connotations of nature and yet Plath uses grass to describe the loss of happiness. Later in the poem Plath writes, "Of your small breath, the drenched grass / Smell of your sleeps, lilies, lilies" (10-11). Now, the reference to "drenched grass" in these two lines can be interpreted as a negative connotation as well as it could symbolize drowning because the grass is over watered. Then there is the mentioning of "lilies" after sleep (which can also be interpreted as the liminal space between life and death) that may imply that the lilies are drowned in the "drenched grass." Another common reference to nature that Plath uses towards the end of the poem is the reference to the
By stating that the smile is forever lost because it fell in the grass is implying that grass is a symbol of doom, end, death, etc. However, grass is commonly interpreted as symbolizing life, health, growth, and interconnection. Furthermore, when analyzing the existence and characteristics of grass itself, it can be concluded that grass is durable as it survives through every season, including winter, grass is vibrant in color, and grass is usually visualized around pastoral scenery. These are all positive connotations of nature and yet Plath uses grass to describe the loss of happiness. Later in the poem Plath writes, "Of your small breath, the drenched grass / Smell of your sleeps, lilies, lilies" (10-11). Now, the reference to "drenched grass" in these two lines can be interpreted as a negative connotation as well as it could symbolize drowning because the grass is over watered. Then there is the mentioning of "lilies" after sleep (which can also be interpreted as the liminal space between life and death) that may imply that the lilies are drowned in the "drenched grass." Another common reference to nature that Plath uses towards the end of the poem is the reference to the