I being born a woman and distressed Flashcards
Who wrote this poem?
- Millay
When was this poem published?
- 1923
Context of Millay.
- American lyrical poet
- Wrote in “Roaring twenties” - time of liberalism and freedom.
- Lived in liberal household/ was bisexual.
- Was a “feminist icon.”
What form does this poem have? Significance?
- Petrarchan sonnet.
- Often about romantic connection whereas, this poem is about raw, sexual desire. Creates ironic/ mocking tone to people who believe in “typical love”/ not partaking in sexual encounters freely.
- Clash betwen form and content could be battle between speaker’s mind (ie. societal restraint) and her emotions.
Significance of fixed rhyme scheme?
- Shows fixed societal rules expected o f her as a woman in the 20’s (around how to partake in sexual activity.)
- Sense of entrapement: mirroring speakers’ entrampement in society’s expectations.
- Makes poem lyrical/ romantic but her words juxtapose this romanticism (showing her subverison of expectations.)
Significance of the title.
- “I” –> asserts speaker’s identity/ indpendence (would be shocking for 1920’s readers.)
- Caesura in title –> subverting norms of traditional sonnet.
- Millay is not ashamed to say that this poem is based on her personal experience of sexual encounters.
- “Born” –> emphasising that she hasn’t chosen her gender/ expectations on her are unfair.
Significance of poem being so short?
- Symbolises how Millay has “contained” her sexual encounters, separating them from true love.
- Shows how quick her enocunters are.
What was the idea of “The New woman” in America in the 1920’s?
- Idea that women should be sexually indepent and open.
- Millay has “new woman” ideologies/ is advocating people to be open about sexuality.
What is Millay critiquing in this poem? What is she advocating for?
- The societal expectations imposed on women around sexuality in 1920’s.
- Millay could be advocating for sexual freedom for women!!
- Advocating women to not stay with men who make them feel like they are in a frenzy.
What adds to the musicality/ romanticism of this poem?
- Clear rhyme scheme.
- Sibilance throughout
- Makes poem appear/ sound romantic but words being said aren’t! MOCKING those who make sex all about romance OR showing that there is romanticism attached with having one-night stands, just not romanticism expected by society.
When is enjambement (give one example) used in this poem? What does this convey?
- “poor treason - one line- of my stout blood.”
- This conveys how her distress of battling between her sexual desires and societal expectations is constant for her/ unavoidable.
What does “propinquity” mean?
- Proximity.
What is significance of enjambement when Millay speaks about the attributes in the person she finds “fair?”
- Enjambement creates a quick pace, perhaps mirroring that of a hearbeat.
Significance of Millay describing “fume of life designed?”
- “fume” –> implying that life is futile/ will go away - just like smoke will so there is no point in holding back your sexual desires.
- “designed” –> implies that God made women with sexual desires (so they shouldn’t be ashamed of them.)
- Allusion to Romeo/ Julliet (“fume of sighs”) –> echoing Shakespearen presentation of love like a sort of madness –> Millay could be suggesting that traditional love leads to determinetal effects; as it did for Romeo/ Julliet.
Give examples of smoke imagery used in the poem.
“fume of life.”
“cloud the mind.”
Give example of physical attraction narrator experiences in poem.
- “bear your body’s weight on my breast.”
- Plosives: physical aggression of sexual encounter (she enjoys this!) Again, subverting the expectations of women being gentle/ dismissive.
What phrase (with contrasting ideas) does Millay use to describe how she feels after the sexual encounter?
- “clarify the pulse and cloud the mind.”
- Her body feels at ease but her mind is in a worldwind/ man has power over her thinking –> critquing this!
- “clarify pulse” –> suggests that fulfilling sexual desire is physical need for her (advocating women to speak more openly about this need/ demand for more sexual freedom.)
Give examples of weak/ broken imagery used throughout poem.
- “undone, possessed”
- Physically/ emotionally left in a frenzy.
“possessed”–> man has completely drawn her in/ she is unable to think clearly (with her own judgement) because the encounter has lured her in (is she suggesting that women should be able to leave men whenever they wish after sexual encounters.)
What is the sexual encounter like for narrator overall?
- Enjoyable during initial attraction and during act but afterwards, sense of reality drifted away and she feels “possesed.”
What is the “poor treason” described by Millay?
- “poor treason of stout blood against staggering brain.”
- Alliteration: clear image of her distressed nature.
- “stout blood” –> feeling of sexual attraction moved through her body/ completely physically overhelms her.
- Her mind is now taking over her physical fulfillment of sexual desire (now able to see with reason.)
- “poor treason” –> betrayed by her blood (metaphorically her desires.)
Where is volta in poem? Significance of it?
- When narrator says: “think not for this… “
- Complete change in tone (from infatuated/ somehwat weak tone in first half.)/ change in rhyme scheme.
- Imperative/ demanding; weak and broken imagery is now completely gone/ she is able to take part in sexual activity without feeling connected/ drawn in (like she was at beginning of poem.) INTELLECTUAL DOMINANCE.
Significance of phrase “my scorn with pity.”
- Shows that narrator is made to feel bad for disliking men’s behaviour/ wanting to not be with them.
What journey do we go on with Millay in poem?
- Her being completed infatuated with a man and then her deciding that she can walk away from this encounter with no further “conversation.”
How is it clear that sex is viewed as a sort of “drug” for the narrator?
- Described to “cloud the mind” and leave her “possessed” –> enjoys it in moment and feels “zest” but has bad effects afterwards; just as drug would.
What is the main conflict between in this poem?
- Between lust/ desire VS reason
Imperatives used.
- “think not”/ “let me make it plain.” –> asserting dominance as a woman/ not letting a man completely overwhelm her; urging women to do the same.
How can Millay’s bisexuality be reflected in poem?
- Not addressed to male/ female.
- Complete subversion of societal expectations (urging people to take part in this encounter BUT to be able to walk away when they want to!)
