Night Sweat

Question 1

What is the theme of the poem? (Night Sweat)

Answer 1

The poem is about a man with bipolar who experiences uncomfortable ‘night sweats’ which leave him in a state of chaos.

Question 2

Paragraph 1? (Night Sweat)

Answer 2

Robert Lowell begins the poem by vividly describing the deep discomfort caused by his ‘night sweats’

Question 3

Quotes for paragraph 1? (Night Sweat)

Answer 3

‘litter’ vs ‘tidied room’
‘sweet salt embalms me’
‘creeping damp’ and ‘wilted white’

Question 4

‘litter’ vs ‘tidied room’

Answer 4

OXYMORON –> shows the sense of chaos and confusion which mimics the poet’s emotions and night sweats

Question 5

‘sweet salt embalms me’

Answer 5

‘sweet salt’ –> oxymoron shows the sense of chaos and confusion which mimics the poet’s emotions and night sweats

Question 6

‘creeping damp’ ‘wilting white’

Answer 6

damp –> personified –> out of control and powerful
- ideas of decay showing how the night sweats eat away at him constantly

Question 7

Paragraph 2? (Night Sweat)

Answer 7

The speaker moves to focusing more on his mental and spiritual state, demonstrating the strain of existence.

Question 8

Quotes for paragraph 2? (Night Sweat)

Answer 8

‘child who died’ ‘inside me his will to die’
‘one universe, one body…in this urn’
‘animal night sweats of the spirit burn’

Question 9

‘child who died’ ‘inside me is his will to die’

Answer 9

ideas of life and death and more specifically a focus on death where he addresses a loss of childhood and self destruction

Question 10

‘one universe, one body…in this urn’

Answer 10

urn –> connotes death which shows the horror of the night sweats

Question 11

‘animal night sweats of the spirit burn’

Answer 11

burn –> shows the aggression and pain
animal –> feels reduced to an animalistic state

Question 12

Paragraph 3? (Night Sweat)

Answer 12

The speaker then shows the shift from night to day, as he starts to address his wife and the comfort she provides

Question 13

Quotes for paragraph 3? (Night Sweat)

Answer 13

‘Behind me! You!’
‘my wife…your lightness alters everything’
‘poor turtle, tortoise’ ‘as you bear this world’s dead weight and cycle on your back’

Question 14

‘Behind me! You!’

Answer 14

reference to Satan in bible scripture
Lowell is rejecting Satan and these negative emotions

Question 15

‘my wife…your lightness alters everything’

Answer 15

reference to ‘light’ –> wife is a saviour who helps him see the light

Question 16

‘poor turtle, tortoise’ ‘as you bear this world’s dead weight and cycle on your back’

Answer 16

compares his wife to a helpless tortoise who’s ability to help is somewhat limited despite her evident efforts