“Barter” by Sara Teasdale: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

“Barter” by Sara Teasdale was published in her 1918 collection, “Love Songs,” which later went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. The poem utilizes vivid imagery to capture the multifaceted beauty of life, encompassing natural wonders like crashing waves and crackling fires alongside the intimacy found within another’s gaze. However, Teasdale doesn’t shy away from the cost. The speaker proposes a complete surrender, a relinquishment of “all you have been, or could be,” suggesting the profound transformation required to fully embrace life’s profound depths.

Text: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

Annotations: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

Stanza	Annotations
1	Teasdale begins by presenting life’s offerings as valuable commodities that can be exchanged or bartered for. She describes nature’s beauty – the ocean waves crashing against cliffs, the warmth and movement of a fire, and the innocent wonder in children’s faces.
2	Continuing the theme of life’s offerings, Teasdale mentions additional forms of beauty: music, the refreshing scent of pine trees after rain, the comfort of loving gazes and embraces, and the uplifting power of spiritual thoughts.
3	In this stanza, Teasdale urges readers to invest everything they have in pursuit of loveliness. She suggests that the benefits of experiencing even a brief moment of peace or ecstasy far outweigh any sacrifices made to attain them.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“Blue waves whitened”	Repetition of initial consonant sounds for a musical effect
Amplification	“All beautiful and splendid things”	Emphasizing the extent or degree of a quality
Anaphora	“Life has loveliness to sell” ( repeated )	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Assonance	“Soaring fire that sways and sings”	Repetition of vowel sounds for a musical effect
Enjambment	“And children’s faces looking up / Holding wonder like a cup”	A sentence or phrase continuing into the next line without punctuation
Hyperbole	“Count many a year of strife well lost”	Exaggeration for emphasis or effect
Imagery	“Blue waves whitened on a cliff”	Vivid description to create a mental image
Irony	“Spend all you have for loveliness”	Saying the opposite of what is meant, often to convey a contrast
Juxtaposition	“Life has loveliness to sell” vs. “strife well lost”	Placing two contrasting ideas side by side
Metaphor	“Music like a curve of gold”	Comparing two unlike things without “like” or “as”
Meter	The poem follows a consistent rhythm and syllable count	A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
Personification	“Eyes that love you, arms that hold”	Attributing human qualities to non-human entities
Repetition	“Life has loveliness to sell” ( repeated )	Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis or unity
Rhyme	“things” and “sing”	Similar sounds in words, often at the end of lines
Simile	“Music like a curve of gold”	Comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”
Symbolism	“Children’s faces” and “Holy thoughts”	Using objects or colors to represent abstract ideas
Synecdoche	“Eyes that love you” (using “eyes” for the whole person)	Using a part to represent the whole
Tone	The overall tone is one of optimism and encouragement	The speaker’s attitude or feeling conveyed through language
Trochee	The poem’s dominant foot is the trochee (stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one)	A metrical foot consisting of two syllables, with the first stressed and the second unstressed

Themes: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

• Theme 1: The Value of Beauty and Joy: The poem emphasizes the importance of prioritizing beauty and joy in life. Teasdale urges the reader to “Spend all you have for loveliness, / Buy it and never count the cost” (lines 13-14), suggesting that the value of beautiful experiences and emotions outweighs any material cost. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of lovely things, such as “Blue waves whitened on a cliff, / Soaring fire that sways and sings” (lines 3-4), which illustrate the beauty and joy that life has to offer.
• Theme 2: The Power of Imagination and Wonder: The poem celebrates the power of imagination and wonder in transforming our lives. Teasdale writes, “And children’s faces looking up / Holding wonder like a cup” (lines 5-6), highlighting the way that children’s imaginations and sense of wonder can enrich their experiences. The poem’s use of metaphor and imagery, such as “Music like a curve of gold” (line 9), also encourages the reader to imagine and appreciate the beauty in life.
• Theme 3: The Importance of Living in the Present: The poem encourages the reader to live in the present moment and appreciate the beauty and joy that is available now. Teasdale writes, “For one white singing hour of peace / Count many a year of strife well lost” (lines 15-16), suggesting that even a brief moment of peace and happiness is worth more than a long period of struggle. The poem’s focus on the present moment is also evident in its use of sensory details, such as “Scent of pine trees in the rain” (line 11).
• Theme 4: The Need to Prioritize Spiritual and Emotional Fulfillment:The poem suggests that spiritual and emotional fulfillment are essential for a happy and meaningful life. Teasdale writes, “And for your spirit’s still delight, / Holy thoughts that star the night” (lines 17-18), highlighting the importance of nurturing one’s spirit and finding comfort in thoughts and experiences that bring joy and peace. The poem’s emphasis on “loveliness” and “beauty” also suggests that prioritizing these aspects of life is essential for fulfillment.

Literary Theories and “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

Literary Theory	Explanation	Example from “Barter”
Reader Response Theory	Reader Response Theory focuses on the role of the reader in interpreting and creating meaning from a text. It suggests that meaning is not inherent within the text itself but is constructed by the reader’s interaction with the text.	In “Barter,” different readers may interpret the loveliness being sold by life differently based on their personal experiences and perspectives. For example, one reader might see the “blue waves whitened on a cliff” as a symbol of freedom, while another might see it as a symbol of isolation.
Feminist Literary Theory	Feminist Literary Theory examines literature through the lens of gender dynamics, exploring how gender roles, power structures, and societal expectations influence the portrayal of characters and themes.	Teasdale’s portrayal of “children’s faces looking up” with “wonder like a cup” may reflect traditional gender roles, with the innocence and vulnerability of children often associated with femininity and nurturing qualities.
Ecocriticism	Ecocriticism focuses on the relationship between literature and the environment, analyzing how texts represent nature, ecological issues, and humanity’s connection to the natural world.	The imagery of nature in “Barter,” such as “blue waves whitened on a cliff” and the “scent of pine trees in the rain,” invites readers to reflect on their connection to the natural world and the importance of preserving its beauty.

Critical Questions about “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

• Question 1: How does the poem’s use of imagery and metaphor contribute to its themes and tone?
• The use of imagery and metaphor plays a significant role in conveying its themes and tone. Teasdale’s vivid descriptions of natural beauty, such as “Blue waves whitened on a cliff, / Soaring fire that sways and sings” (lines 3-4), create a sense of wonder and awe, emphasizing the beauty and joy that life has to offer. The metaphor “Music like a curve of gold” (line 9) compares music to a precious and valuable material, highlighting the value of beautiful experiences. The imagery and metaphors also contribute to the poem’s optimistic and encouraging tone, inviting the reader to appreciate and prioritize the loveliness in life.
• Question 2: How does the poem’s structure and repetition reinforce its message and themes?
• The poem’s structure and repetition reinforce its message and themes by creating a sense of urgency and emphasis. The repeated refrain “Life has loveliness to sell” (lines 1, 5, and 13) becomes a kind of mantra, driving home the idea that life is full of beauty and joy waiting to be appreciated. The short, simple sentences and consistent rhythm also create a sense of momentum, encouraging the reader to take action and prioritize the loveliness in life. The repetition of words like “loveliness” and “beauty” also emphasizes the importance of these concepts and reinforces the poem’s themes.
• Question 3: How does the poem’s speaker engage with the reader, and what effect does this have on the poem’s impact?
• The poem’s speaker engages with the reader in a direct and encouraging way, using imperative verbs like “Spend” (line 13) and “Buy” (line 14) to urge the reader to take action. This direct address creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, making the reader feel like they are being personally advised to prioritize the loveliness in life. The speaker’s tone is also optimistic and encouraging, which has a positive effect on the reader, inspiring them to appreciate the beauty and joy in their own life. The speaker’s engagement with the reader also creates a sense of shared experience, making the poem feel more relatable and universal.

Literary Works Similar to “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

1. “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W.B. Yeats: This poem explores the speaker’s desire for a simple, idyllic life close to nature, emphasizing the beauty and tranquility of natural surroundings.
2. “A Bird Came Down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson: Dickinson’s poem captures the speaker’s intimate encounter with a bird, highlighting the beauty and wonder of the natural world in a brief moment of observation.
3. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost: While not explicitly about nature, Frost’s poem reflects on choices and the paths we take in life, echoing the theme of weighing options and making decisions found in “Barter.”
4. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth: Also known as “Daffodils,” this poem celebrates the beauty of nature and the joy it can bring, similar to the appreciation of loveliness in “Barter.”
5. “Leisure” by W.H. Davies: Davies’ poem questions the value of modern life’s busyness and calls for a return to simplicity and appreciation of life’s small pleasures, aligning with the theme of prioritizing loveliness over material concerns in “Barter.”

Suggested Readings: “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

1. Teasdale, Sara. Love Songs. The Macmillan Company, 1918.
2. Poetry Foundation. “Barter” by Sara Teasdale. www.poetryfoundation.org

Representative Quotations “Barter” by Sara Teasdale

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspectives
“Life has loveliness to sell, All beautiful and splendid things”	Teasdale begins by presenting life’s offerings as valuable commodities that can be exchanged or bartered for. She emphasizes the abundance of beauty and wonder in the world.	Reader Response Theory: Readers may interpret the concept of “loveliness” differently based on their individual experiences and perspectives.
“And for your spirit’s still delight, Holy thoughts that star the night”	Teasdale suggests that spiritual fulfillment and inner peace are among the loveliness that life offers. These experiences bring solace and transcendence, enriching one’s existence beyond material possessions.	Feminist Literary Theory: The poem acknowledges the importance of inner peace and spiritual fulfillment, which can be seen as empowering for individuals, regardless of gender.
“Spend all you have for loveliness, Buy it and never count the cost”	This line encourages readers to prioritize seeking out and cherishing moments of beauty and joy, even if it means sacrificing material possessions or worldly concerns. It underscores the value of experiences over material wealth.	Ecocriticism: The emphasis on appreciating the beauty of life’s offerings aligns with ecocritical perspectives, which advocate for a deeper connection to and appreciation of nature.
“For one white singing hour of peace Count many a year of strife well lost”	Teasdale suggests that even a fleeting moment of peace or tranquility is worth sacrificing years of struggle or hardship. This highlights the transformative power of brief moments of beauty and serenity.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: The poem’s emphasis on finding peace and ecstasy may be interpreted as a reflection of unconscious desires for harmony and fulfillment within the psyche.
“And for a breath of ecstasy Give all you have been, or could be”	The final line underscores the idea of surrendering oneself entirely to experiences of ecstasy and joy, suggesting that such moments have the potential to redefine one’s identity and shape their future self.	Marxist Criticism: The notion of giving all one has for moments of ecstasy can be viewed through a Marxist lens, considering the socioeconomic implications of prioritizing spiritual and emotional fulfillment over material wealth.