“Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

“Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath، first published in 1960 in her collection, The Colossus, presents a series of vivid metaphors to explore the complexities of pregnancy. While the imagery can be playful at times, comparing the speaker to a “melon strolling on two tendrils,” there’s also a sense of unease and confinement. This poem’s dark undercurrent reflects Plath’s own conflicted feelings about motherhood, written during her first pregnancy.

Text: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

I’m a riddle in nine syllables,
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.
Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.
I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded the train there’s no getting off.

Annotations: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

Line	Annotation
I’m a riddle in nine syllables,	The speaker describes themselves as a puzzle or enigma, with “nine syllables” likely referring to the word “pregnant” which has nine syllables when broken down (pre-gnan-t-ic)
An elephant, a ponderous house,	The speaker compares themselves to an elephant, symbolizing weight and burden, and a “ponderous house” which suggests a sense of confinement and heaviness
A melon strolling on two tendrils.	The speaker compares themselves to a melon, a fruit associated with fertility and abundance, “strolling on two tendrils” suggests a sense of slow and awkward movement
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!	The speaker addresses their unborn child, using imagery that suggests preciousness and value (“red fruit”, “ivory”, “fine timbers”)
This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.	The speaker compares their pregnant body to a loaf of bread, with the “yeasty rising” suggesting growth and expansion
Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.	The speaker compares their pregnant body to a “fat purse”, suggesting a sense of abundance and wealth
I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.	The speaker describes themselves as a means to an end, a stage for the unborn child to develop, and a cow in calf, emphasizing their role as a nurturing and providing figure
I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,	The speaker suggests they have taken on a burden or made a sacrifice, with “green apples” symbolizing a sense of bitterness or regret
Boarded the train there’s no getting off.	The speaker suggests they are on a journey with no escape or return, emphasizing the idea that pregnancy and motherhood are irreversible and life-changing

Literary and Poetic Devices: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

Literary/Poetic Device	Example from the Poem	Explanation
Metaphor	“I’m a riddle in nine syllables”	The speaker compares themselves to a riddle, suggesting complexity and mystery.
Personification	“An elephant, a ponderous house”	Giving human-like qualities to non-human entities, making the elephant and house seem ponderous, or heavy and weighty.
Metaphor	“A melon strolling on two tendrils”	The speaker compares themselves to a melon, perhaps suggesting a sense of vulnerability or fragility.
Imagery	“O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!”	Vivid description appealing to the senses, evoking images of red fruit, ivory, and fine timbers.
Metaphor	“This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising”	The loaf of bread is compared to something pregnant, suggesting growth and potential.
Metaphor	“Money’s new-minted in this fat purse”	Money is compared to freshly minted coins, emphasizing its newness and abundance.
Metaphor	“I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf”	The speaker compares themselves to various things, suggesting multiple facets or roles they inhabit.
Hyperbole	“I’ve eaten a bag of green apples”	Exaggeration for emphasis, suggesting consumption of a large quantity of apples.
Metaphor	“Boarded the train there’s no getting off”	Life or a particular situation is compared to a train journey, suggesting inevitability or inability to change course.

Themes: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

• Theme 1: The Burden of Pregnancy
• The poem explores the physical and emotional burden of pregnancy, with the speaker comparing themselves to a “ponderous house” and an “elephant”. The weight of the unborn child is felt in the “yeasty rising” of the loaf and the “fat purse” of the speaker’s body. The speaker feels confined and trapped, like a “cow in calf”.
• Theme 2: The Loss of Identity
• The poem expresses the speaker’s sense of losing their identity and autonomy during pregnancy. The speaker is no longer themselves, but a “means” and a “stage” for the unborn child. They feel like they’ve “eaten a bag of green apples”, suggesting a sense of bitterness and regret. The train that can’t be gotten off represents the irreversible journey of motherhood.
• Theme 3: The Commodification of the Female Body
• The poem critiques the way women’s bodies are treated as objects or commodities during pregnancy. The speaker’s body is compared to a “fat purse” and a “loaf” of bread, emphasizing its value and utility. The “red fruit” and “ivory” imagery suggests a sense of preciousness and ownership.
• Theme 4: The Ambivalence of Motherhood
• The poem expresses the speaker’s ambivalence towards motherhood, feeling both wonder and terror at the new life growing inside them. The “red fruit” and “fine timbers” suggest a sense of awe and preciousness, while the “elephant” and “ponderous house” suggest a sense of burden and confinement. The speaker is both eager and reluctant to embrace their new role.

Literary Theories and “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

Literary Theory	Explanation	Example from “Metaphors”
Feminist Criticism	Analyzes literature through the lens of gender roles, power dynamics, and female experience.	* “I’m a filled balloon,” * “walking on two tendrils,” * “tugging at my ankles” (all highlight the physical limitations and societal expectations placed on pregnant women).
Confessional Poetry	Explores the poet’s personal experiences and emotions, often raw and unfiltered.	* “I’ve eaten a bag of green apples” (possible allusion to Eve and the loss of innocence associated with pregnancy).
Imagery	Uses vivid descriptions to create sensory experiences and evoke emotions in the reader.	* “This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising” (sensory details of pregnancy). * “Out of my breath” (evokes physical discomfort). * “Blackberries clot like blood” (dark and unsettling imagery).
Symbolism	Uses objects, actions, or colors to represent deeper meanings or ideas.	* “Apples” (potential symbol of temptation or forbidden knowledge). * “Loaf of bread” (symbol of creation, but also of confinement). * “Train” (symbol of a one-way journey towards motherhood).

Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements: “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

Topic	Question	Thesis Statement
Identity and Self-Exploration	How does Plath use metaphors to explore the complexity of identity?	In “Metaphors,” Sylvia Plath employs vivid metaphors to delve into the multifaceted nature of identity, revealing layers of complexity and ambiguity.
Gender and Femininity	How does Plath’s use of metaphors reflect gender roles and societal expectations?	Through metaphors in “Metaphors,” Sylvia Plath critiques societal expectations placed on women, highlighting the confinement and expectations of femininity.
Mental Health and Emotional Struggle	How do the metaphors in the poem convey the speaker’s emotional turmoil?	Sylvia Plath utilizes metaphors in “Metaphors” to depict the speaker’s internal struggle with mental health, portraying feelings of isolation, vulnerability, and despair.
Creative Expression and Language	How does Plath manipulate language through metaphors to convey deeper meaning?	Through metaphors in “Metaphors,” Sylvia Plath demonstrates the power of language to evoke vivid imagery and convey complex emotions, enriching the reader’s understanding of the poem.

Short Questions/Answers about “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

• Q1: What is the central theme of the poem?
• The central theme of the poem is the speaker’s experience of pregnancy and the conflicting emotions that come with it. The speaker explores the physical and emotional changes they are going through, using metaphors to describe the transformation. For example, “I’m a riddle in nine syllables” and “I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf” show the speaker’s sense of wonder and confusion.
• Q2: What literary device is prominently used in the poem?
• Metaphor is the most prominently used literary device in the poem. The speaker uses metaphors to describe their experience of pregnancy, comparing themselves to an “elephant”, a “ponderous house”, a “melon”, a “loaf” of bread, and a “cow in calf”. These metaphors create vivid images and convey the speaker’s complex emotions.
• Q3: How does the speaker feel about their body during pregnancy?
• The speaker feels a sense of disconnection and discomfort with their body during pregnancy. They compare their body to a “ponderous house” and a “fat purse”, emphasizing its weight and bulk. The speaker also says “I’ve eaten a bag of green apples”, suggesting a sense of bitterness and regret.
• Q4: What tone does the speaker convey in the poem?
• The speaker conveys a tone of ambivalence and complexity in the poem. They express both wonder and terror at the new life growing inside them, and both awe and discomfort at the changes in their body. The tone is also introspective and contemplative, as the speaker tries to make sense of their experience.

Literary Works Similar to “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

1. “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath: Plath’s semi-autobiographical novel explores themes of identity, mental health, and societal expectations, resonating with the themes found in “Metaphors.”
2. “Ariel” by Sylvia Plath: This poetry collection, akin to “Metaphors,” delves into themes of femininity, motherhood, and emotional struggle with Plath’s characteristic use of vivid imagery and metaphor.
3. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: This short story delves into themes of mental health, gender roles, and confinement, echoing the themes addressed in “Metaphors.”
4. “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath: Another of Plath’s poems, “Daddy,” similarly explores complex emotions surrounding the speaker’s relationship with her father, employing powerful imagery and metaphor.
5. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot: Eliot’s modernist poem, like “Metaphors,” utilizes fragmented imagery and symbolism to explore themes of disillusionment, spiritual emptiness, and the fragmented nature of modern life.

Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

• Demjén, Zsófia. “Motion and conflicted self metaphors in Sylvia Plath’s ‘Smith Journal’.” Metaphor and the Social World 1.1 (2011): 7-25.
• Demjén, Zsófia. “Metaphors of a conflicted self in the journals of Sylvia Plath.” (2010).
• Stewart, Penny. “Plath’s Metaphors.” The Explicator 40.3 (1982): 59-60.
• Keefe, Jenna L. “” The Pregnant Riddle”: An Explication of” Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath.” ESSAI 5.1 (2007): 27.
• https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/sylvia-plath/metaphors
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00144940.2018.1551774

Representative Quotes from “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath

Quote	Context and Theorization
“I’m a riddle in nine syllables,”	The speaker introduces themselves as a mystery or enigma, suggesting complexity and intrigue within their identity.
“An elephant, a ponderous house,”	Through this metaphor, the speaker conveys feelings of heaviness or burden associated with their identity or existence.
“A melon strolling on two tendrils,”	This metaphor evokes a sense of vulnerability or fragility, depicting the speaker’s delicate balance or precarious nature.
“O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!”	The speaker uses vivid imagery to describe themselves, highlighting elements of richness, purity, and sophistication.
“I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,”	This hyperbolic statement suggests the speaker’s consumption or experience of something, perhaps representing knowledge or growth.