Reflecting on 'Mirror' by Sylvia Plath



Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash


OVERVIEW 

Written in 1961, the poem focuses on conveying the mirror's importance in a woman's life. Mirrors are used to check our appearances so we can determine if they are in acceptable condition. Mirrors are of particular importance to women who are often pressured by society to meet demanding beauty standards. Usually, whatever mirrors reveal determines if we approve what we see or are left petrified. In this poem, the woman is left petrified.

In the first stanza, through personification, the mirror makes it clear that it has no preconceptions, meaning it does not form any opinions about the people it reflects. Instead, whatever it sees it reflects faithfully without any bias or prejudice. The reflection it offers is merely the truth and not a deliberate attempt to be cruel. It offers itself as an objective object. The mirror presents itself as the 'eye of a little god'. Most times it faces a pink wall that has speckles (spots). However, from time to time, faces and darkness come between them. This indicates the passage of time as people go about their daily lives.

In the second stanza, the mirror has turned into a lake, but it is still being used as a means of reflecting images. There is a woman who is looking at it to see her reflection. The lake is important to her because she uses it to keep track of her appearance as she ages. She is disturbed by what she sees and this results in her crying and wringing her hands in agitation as she is confronted by her mortality. She visits the lake daily, hoping to see a youthful and appealing image of herself being reflected. Overtime, though, she ages, changing from a young girl to an old woman. The poem paints a frightening image of aging by likening her fading youth to 'an old woman / Ris[ing] toward her, day after day, like a terrible fish'. 

 

Literary Devices

  • Personification - The mirror is personified throughout the poem. This is done to present its objectivity in reflecting the things or people that come before it. The moon and candles are also identified as liars.
  • Metaphor - The mirror identifies itself as the 'eye of a little god', reinforcing that it only sees and tells the truth. 
  • Imagery - There is mostly visual imagery in the poem. Some examples are: The mirror describes itself as 'silver and exact'. There is the image of the woman crying and wringing her hands in agitation. Also, note the picture that is created of an old woman ris[ing] towards the woman day after day like a terrible fish. 
  • Simile - The comparison is seen in the expression 'an old woman rises toward, her day after day, like  terrible fish'. This is done to emphasize how terrifying the woman finds the approach of aging.
  • Symbolism - The mirror is significant to the woman because the woman depends on it to monitor her appearance. It signals how the passage of time has transformed her physical features.
  • Contrast - There is a difference between the mirror and the moon and candles. The mirror offers her the truth while it seems the moon and candles present an image of her that is false.  The moon and candles are known for softening one's features and making them appear lovelier than they are. Hence the moon and candles are accused of being liars.
  • Irony - The mirror causes the woman great distress, but she cannot resist consulting it every day to see how her appearance changes with time.

Themes

  • aging
  • fear of death
  • mortality
  • beauty
  • passage of time

Tone

  • matter of fact
  • neutral
  • straightforward

STUDY QUESTIONS

*Use these questions to guide your review of the poem in study groups or in your own designated study time.

  1. How is the mirror presented?
  2. Why is the mirror/lake important to the woman?
  3. Explain the conflict that is in the poem.
  4. What themes does the poem highlight?
  5. Identify and comment on the literary devices that are used to explore the specific themes in the poem.
  6. Discuss the tone in the poem.


Study Hub for CXC English A & B
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simplifying Reflection 2 of the CXC English A SBA

Image
Students who are completing the English A SBA are asked to write three reflections. One in particular is quite challenging to many students - Reflection 2. What does Reflection 2 entail? Reflection 2 requires students to comment on the use of language in their chosen pieces. This requirement has plunged some students in a whirlpool of frustration. However, the experience of writing this specific reflection does not have to be overwhelming if students become more aware of what they are expected to do. Now, it is important for students to realize that the pieces they have selected serve a specific purpose - to communicate information about the students' individual topics. Therefore, if an individual topic focuses on the benefits of social media, for example, then students may come across a poem, article and a picture that provide pertinent information on this topic.  Reflection 2 requires students to pay attention to the language that is used to convey meaning. The word ' comment
Read more

Tips on Writing Reflections for the CXC English A SBA

Image
THE ENGLISH A SBA (Writing the Reflections) Worth: 5 marks Please note that the reflections must be written in class. Each reflection should comprise of 150 words . You should have three reflections in all, and each reflection has a different focus. Reflection 1 In this reflection, you are expected to reflect on how each of the three pieces you have selected shaped your thinking about the topic. As you consider how each piece has shaped your thinking, consider the following: Have you gained any new knowledge? What does each piece make you think or feel about the topic? What do you understand more? Has your thinking changed? Recommendation: Encourage students to reflect on how each piece shaped their thinking in a separate paragraph. Reflection 2 This reflection focuses on the use of language in each piece. For print stimuli, focus on how the writer/author uses words to communicate or evoke a specific response in the selected stimuli. Firstly, the candidate mus
Read more

English SBA - The Plan of Investigation

Image
This is an individual task that is worth 5 marks . It should comprise of 100 words. It is an introduction to the topic/issue/theme. It answers the following questions: What is your chosen theme and sub-topic? Why did you choose this issue/topic/theme? What are the expected benefits to you as a student of English? Consider how it will impact your vocabulary, knowledge, research skills, discussions and other aspects of your performance in English. How do you plan to collect relevant information on your issue/topic/theme and use specific English skills to analyse the pieces?  Overall, this section gives an overview of the general direction the SBA will take.   Once you are finished with your plan of investigation, then you should start writing your reflections. SAMPLE PLAN OF INVESTIGATION NOTE: Please note that this sample is by no means prescriptive (or standard) but should be used as a guide . My group and I have chosen the theme skin bleaching. I will be focu
Read more