Night Sweat - Detailed Flashcards
What mental condition does the author, Robert Lowell have?
Bipolar Disorder
What is writers block and how did it affect Lowell?
Writer block is the inability to think or proceed about writing something. The “sweats” is what he wakes up, it is tied to his writers block.
Does the poem use any sort of structure?
The poem consists of 2 sonnets
Who is the main focus of the second sonnet on?
His wife, Elizabeth
Why, in the second sonnet does he refer to his wife in such a pitying way?
Lowell’s bipolar disorder took a lot of care, effort and attention from his wife. He feels as if his bipolar disorder is a burden to her.
What does the language “the child who died” mean?
With his childhood a great creativity accompanied it, as he grew older it faded away. The remnants of the creativeness is still there but Lowell shows us that he believes it is gone forever.
What does the language “The black web” mean?
The web is his bipolar disorder, it traps him and tangles him up, only external forces can get him out. He cannot escape his bipolar disorder by himself.
What is the meaning of the first sonnet?
This sonnet mainly focuses on Lowell’s writers block and his lack of creativity. He expresses a fear that the flowing creativity that he had is now gone, he wakes in the nigh worried about it.
What is the meaning of the second sonnet?
The second sonnet seems to be more centered around the effects of his bipolar disorder and how it affects him and the people around him. He pities his wife for having to take care of him so much.
What is the meaning of “one universe”?
This could shows us how Lowell thinks of the world. He believes that we are truly all alone in ourself and like ashes when mentally sick.
