Poetry - A Picture of Otto Flashcards
“You stand there at the blackboard:”
A direct allusion to ‘Daddy’ - challenges the depiction of Hughes and Otto and oppressors and the Nazi comparisons.
“honey-bee’s commune.”
Symbolism - bees serve as a community and live as a family. The main goal is protecting the queen, implying that Plath hasn’t fulfilled this role of protecting her family.
Hughes was a keen biologist and wrote about bees—also links to Otto being an entomologist.
“A big shock for so much of your Prussian backbone”
Noun refers to how surprising it is that Plath bases so much of her poetry around Otto when she was only 8 when he died.
Plosive alliteration, assonance and harsh consonance replicate Otto’s toughness.
Noun softens the German Nazi and fascist links made by Plath.
A metaphor for strength of character - softens strength criticised in ‘Daddy’.
“To meet me face to face in the dark adit”
Diacope emphasises the conflation between Hughes and Otto. Hughes is trying to find himself.
‘Adit’ refers to a mining tunnel, with a sense of digging deep to discover the true self. A symbol of the inability to find the truth, and questions whether Plath’s perception is accurate.
“Your portrait, here, could be my son’s portrait.”
Caesura creates a tender moment and adds emotion to the portrayal of Otto. Trying to demythologise the perceptions of himself and Otto.
Diacope reiterates the biological and physical connection between the two generations of men. Nicholas was often depicted as a beacon of hope in Plath’s poetry. Is this presenting the errors/biases of Plath’s depiction of Otto and Hughes?
“This underworld, my friend, is her heart’s home.”
An emotional connection is established between Hughes and Otto through intimate terms.
Extended metaphor continuing the view of Otto as Hades, Plath will always be trapped by her perception of her father.
Alliteration emphasises Plath’s comfort in the underworld.
Mythological allusion - Orpheus and Eurydice. Otto is Hades, and Hughes is Orpheus. Allusion refers to how Plath can’t be brought back.
What does the structure tell us?
Six quatrains followed by a single-line stanza emphasise the unity and conflation of Hughes and Otto. Starkly contrasts Plath’s separation and loneliness from the two.
