full fathom five Flashcards
What is the primary theme of the poem ‘Full Fathom Five’?
The poem explores the complex relationship between Plath and her father, reflecting themes of awe, danger, and ambivalence.
The poem is often considered in the context of Plath’s other works about her father.
Who is the figure that Plath’s father is compared to in ‘Full Fathom Five’?
Poseidon/Neptune
This comparison emphasizes the immense and inscrutable nature of her father’s memory.
What Shakespearean play is referenced in ‘Full Fathom Five’?
The Tempest
The poem draws on a song sung by Ariel in the play, which relates to themes of loss and searching.
What imagery is used to describe Plath’s father in the poem?
His beard is ‘far-flung’ and his hair is ‘miles long’; he is compared to ‘ice-mountains’ and is described as ‘inscrutable’.
These descriptions highlight the father’s colossal and overwhelming presence.
What duality is present in Plath’s tone towards her father?
Awe and danger
Plath admires her father’s vastness while also recognizing the threat he represents.
How does John Ramazani interpret the tone of ‘Full Fathom Five’?
He sees a menace in the figure, characterized by ‘coldly formal tone, diction, and syntax’.
This interpretation suggests emotional distance and resentment.
What does the final lines of the poem imply according to Ramazani?
Incest and exile
These themes reflect Plath’s complex feelings towards her father and the patriarchal literary world.
What personal connection does Plath have with the sea?
She spent her youth vacationing on the North Atlantic coast, linking it to her father.
This personal history enhances the emotional weight of the sea imagery in her poetry.
What metaphor is used to describe Plath’s childhood experiences with the sea?
Sealed themselves off like a ship in a bottle
This metaphor illustrates the nostalgia and inaccessibility of her childhood memories.
