Mirror by Sylvia Plath

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Mirror by Sylvia Plath

• Who is the narrator of this poem?
• Find a line or phrase that suggests the mirror is
  unaffected by personal feelings.
• What does meditating on the opposite wall mean?
• Why does Plath describe the wall as part of
  her heart?
• How does the mood alter in the second stanza?
• What do you think the woman is doing?
• What does the lake symbolise?
• Why does she call the candles and the moon
  liars?
• Write a short paragraph explaining why you like
  or dislike this poem.

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Background on Sylvia Plath

• Born 1932, died 1963
• Suffered from depression and low self-esteem
• Committed suicide three days after writing
  'Mirror'
• Married to poet Ted Hughes their divorce was
  said to be the reason behind Plath's suicide

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Essay Writing

• Using 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath
• Re-read the poem and make notes on what it means
  to you
• Remember to use quotations (including quotation
  marks) throughout your essay.

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Introduction

• -Give the title of the poem and the poet.
• -Say what sort of poem it is (in this case
  free-verse it doesn't rhyme and laid out in
  two stanzas)
• -Write a few short sentences about the subject of
  the poem (truth, reflection, death, suicide...)

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Imagery

• -What are the pictures used in the poem? Why do
  you think they are used and what effect do they
  have on the reader?
• -What metaphors, similes and personification are
  used?
• -What senses are tapped into? Does this help you
  enjoy or understand the poem?

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Form Structure

• -Are there any interesting features in the poem
  from the way it appears on the page e.g. shape,
  length of lines, number of stanza

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Rhyme Rhythm

• -Does the poem rhyme? If so, what pattern is
  used e.g. ABAB, ABCB
• -Are there any strong beats in the poem rhythm?
• -If so, say why the poet might have used them.

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Language

• -Does the choice of words used by the poet help
  us understand her feelings?
• -Poets use certain words to trigger how we think
  about a poem which words do this?
• -Think about the sound of the poem which
  techniques are used? e.g. Alliteration,
  Onomatopoeia

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Themes

• -Explore the themes and ideas more carefully.
• -What is the poem really about? What message is
  Plath trying to put across?

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Conclusion

• -How do you  respond to the poem? Does it work
  for you?
• -Give your thoughts and feelings about the poem.