Night Sweat by Robert Lowell - Revision Flashcards
What did Lowell suffer from?
Extreme bipolar disorder
What was the name of Lowell’s wife?
Elizabeth Hardwick
What poetry device is used to represent Lowell’s stream of consciousness throughout the poem?
Enjambment
What structure is Night Sweat in?
Free verse - represents his scattered mind
What are the two episodes of bipolar disorder?
Mania and depression
What type of language is used in the first part of the poem and what does it represent about the poem?
The first part of the poem uses metaphors to convey his writer’s block and the anxiety he feels by not being able to write. His bipolar disorder is negatively affecting him and the first part shows the bad side effects of bipolar disorder.
What is the ‘light’ that Lowell writes about in the second part of his poem?
His wife: Elizabeth Hardwick
What is the main message of the poem?
Lowell describes his struggles with bipolar disorder and conveys his love for his wife who supports him through everything
What does the metaphor ‘child who died’ mean?
This metaphor means that his youthful energy has died and time is taking away his creativity and sanity.
What is Lowell’s mood/tone in the poem?
In the beginning, he is tired and nervous about losing his writing ability forever, but he is also grateful for Hardwick
