“The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

“The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks first appeared in 1960 in her poetry collection of the same name, The Bean Eaters. The poem encapsulates many of the qualities found throughout Brooks’ work: its plain language and simple structure belie a deep emotional resonance. The poem portrays an elderly couple reflecting on their lives over a modest meal of beans, and through their experience, Brooks explores themes of aging, memory, poverty, and resilience in the face of adversity. The poem’s unadorned language and directness give it an authenticity that resonates with readers, while its focus on everyday experiences elevates the mundane to the profound.

Text: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Annotations: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Line	Annotation
They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.	Highlights the couple’s poverty and simple diet, emphasizing the adjective “yellow” to suggest their age and perhaps race.
Dinner is a casual affair.	Underscores the unpretentious and routine nature of their meal, reflecting their daily life.
Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,	Describes their meager possessions and worn-out furniture, reinforcing the theme of poverty and age.
Tin flatware.	Further emphasizes their lack of material wealth and simple lifestyle.
Two who are Mostly Good.	Suggests a life lived with basic decency and kindness, despite hardships.
Two who have lived their day,	Acknowledges their advanced age and implies a life well-lived, despite its challenges.
But keep on putting on their clothes	Demonstrates their resilience and determination to continue with daily routines despite aging and limited resources.
And putting things away.	Shows their efforts to maintain order and dignity in their lives.
And remembering…	Introduces the theme of memory and reflection, which will be central to the rest of the poem.
Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,	Describes the bittersweet nature of memory, with moments of joy (“twinklings”) and pain (“twinges”).
As they lean over the beans in their rented back room that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths, tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.	The long, descriptive line paints a vivid picture of their cluttered living space, filled with mementos of their past lives. The accumulation of objects reflects the accumulation of memories and experiences.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Device	Definition	Example	Explanation
Assonance	The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.	“twinklings and twinges”	The ‘i’ sound is repeated to create internal rhyming within the phrase.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.	“rented back room that is full of beads”	Visual imagery is used to create a vivid picture of the couple’s cluttered room.
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.	“beans”	Beans symbolize the simplicity and frugality of the couple’s life.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.	“Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood, / Tin flatware.”	The sentence flows over the line break, emphasizing the continuity of their simple life.
Repetition	The action of repeating something that has already been said or written.	“Putting on their clothes / And putting things away.”	The repetition of “putting” emphasizes the routine nature of their lives.
Irony	The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite.	“Two who are Mostly Good.”	The word “Mostly” suggests a subtle irony about their goodness, indicating they are not perfect.
Metaphor	A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.	“twinklings and twinges”	The memories are metaphorically described as “twinklings and twinges” to evoke a sense of fleeting and poignant moments.
Simile	A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, using “like” or “as”.	None explicitly in the poem	The poem does not contain a direct simile.
Personification	Attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman.	“creaking wood”	The wood is personified to suggest it is making a sound as if it were alive.
Hyperbole	Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.	“lived their day”	The phrase exaggerates to emphasize that their prime years are behind them.
Oxymoron	A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.	“twinklings and twinges”	Combines contrasting feelings of joy and pain in memories.
Tone	The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.	Overall nostalgic and melancholic tone	The tone reflects a mix of nostalgia and melancholy for the past.
Juxtaposition	The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.	“beans mostly” vs. “twinklings and twinges”	The simplicity of their meals contrasts with the complexity of their memories.
Consonance	The recurrence of similar sounds, especially consonants, in close proximity.	“tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes”	The ‘b’ and ‘s’ sounds create consonance, adding to the musicality of the line.
Theme	The central topic a text treats.	Simplicity and nostalgia	The poem’s theme revolves around the simplicity of life and the nostalgia of old age.
Mood	The atmosphere or pervading tone of something, especially a work of art.	Nostalgic and reflective	The mood evokes a reflective and nostalgic feeling about past experiences.
Diction	The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.	Simple and unadorned diction	The straightforward language reflects the simplicity of the couple’s life.
Paradox	A statement that contradicts itself but might be true.	“Mostly Good”	The phrase suggests a contradiction, questioning the absoluteness of their goodness.
Allegory	A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.	The poem as a whole	The poem serves as an allegory for the enduring human spirit amidst simplicity and aging.

Themes: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

1. Poverty and Simple Living: The poem is steeped in the imagery of poverty, from the “plain chipware” and “tin flatware” to the rented back room filled with humble possessions. The couple’s diet of beans emphasizes their meager means. Yet, there is no sense of bitterness or resentment. The poem highlights the dignity and resilience that can be found even in the most modest circumstances.
2. Aging and Memory: The elderly couple, having “lived their day,” now find themselves in a quieter phase of life, filled with reminiscences. The “twinklings and twinges” of memory suggest both the joys and sorrows of the past. The poem gently acknowledges the passage of time and the importance of holding onto memories as one ages.
3. Resilience and Dignity: Despite their poverty and the limitations of old age, the couple continues to “put on their clothes” and “put things away,” maintaining a sense of order and purpose. The poem celebrates the quiet strength and perseverance of ordinary people in the face of life’s challenges.
4. The Richness of Everyday Life: Even within their simple existence, the couple finds meaning and beauty. Their cluttered back room, filled with “beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,” is a testament to a life lived fully. The poem suggests that even the most humble lives are filled with experiences worth remembering and cherishing.

Literary Theories and “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Literary Theory	Application to “The Bean Eaters”	Critique
Reader-Response Criticism	Focuses on how readers interact with and create meaning from the text. Readers might connect with the themes of aging, memory, poverty, and resilience based on their own experiences.	Neglects the author’s intent and historical context, potentially leading to overly subjective interpretations.
Feminist Criticism	Examines the poem’s portrayal of an elderly woman and her experiences. It might highlight how the woman’s life is defined by domesticity and caregiving, while also celebrating her quiet strength and resilience.	May overlook other important aspects of the poem, such as its focus on poverty and memory.
Marxist Criticism	Analyzes the poem through the lens of class struggle and economic inequality. It would emphasize the couple’s poverty and their meager possessions, while also exploring how their experiences are shaped by societal structures.	Could reduce the poem to a simplistic commentary on class, neglecting its nuanced exploration of human experience and emotions.

Critical Questions about “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

• How does the poem’s structure and language contribute to its overall meaning?
• The poem’s free verse form and simple, everyday language mirror the unadorned lives of the elderly couple. The lack of formal structure reflects the natural flow of their thoughts and memories. The use of repetition (“And remembering…”) emphasizes the importance of reminiscence in their lives. The poem’s directness and lack of embellishment create a sense of authenticity and intimacy, allowing readers to connect with the characters and their experiences.
• What is the significance of the objects mentioned in the poem (beads, receipts, dolls, etc.)?
• The objects in the couple’s back room are not merely clutter, but rather tangible representations of their life’s journey. The beads, receipts, dolls, and other items serve as triggers for memories, both joyful and painful. They symbolize the accumulation of experiences and relationships that have shaped the couple’s lives.
• How does the poem challenge or reinforce stereotypes about aging and poverty?
• The poem challenges stereotypes by portraying an elderly couple who, despite their poverty and limited resources, maintain their dignity and resilience. They are not defined solely by their age or economic status, but rather by their shared experiences and enduring love for each other.The poem celebrates the quiet strength and perseverance of ordinary people in the face of life’s challenges, offering a counter-narrative to the often-negative portrayal of aging and poverty.
• What is the role of the speaker in the poem?
• The speaker is an observer, presenting the couple’s lives without judgment or sentimentality. The speaker’s detached tone allows readers to form their own interpretations and connections with the characters.However, the speaker’s choice of words and details reveals a deep empathy and respect for the couple, highlighting their resilience and the richness of their lives.

Literary Works Similar to “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

1. “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden: Both poems reflect on the unnoticed, simple acts of love and sacrifice in daily life.
2. “A Blessing” by James Wright: Both poems capture moments of simple beauty and connection amidst humble settings.
3. “The House on the Hill” by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Both poems contemplate the passage of time and the quiet persistence of daily routines.
4. “The End and the Beginning” by Wisława Szymborska: Both poems explore themes of resilience and the quiet strength found in everyday life.
5. “To a Daughter Leaving Home” by Linda Pastan: Both poems depict the bittersweet emotions of aging and the passage of time in family life.

Suggested Readings: “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Representative Quotations of “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.”	The poem opens with an image of an elderly couple, emphasizing their humble meal of beans, which reflects their economic hardship and simplicity of life.	Marxist Theory: This line highlights economic struggles and class distinctions.
“Dinner is a casual affair.”	Describes the informal and unpretentious nature of the couple’s meals, suggesting a routine of simplicity and perhaps resignation to their modest circumstances.	Realism: Captures the everyday reality of the couple’s life without romanticizing it.
“Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood, / Tin flatware.”	The imagery of cheap and worn-out dishes and utensils further illustrates the couple’s poverty and the worn state of their lives.	Material Culture: Focuses on the physical objects that represent the couple’s socio-economic status.
“Two who are Mostly Good.”	Reflects on the couple’s moral character, suggesting that despite their poverty, they maintain a sense of decency and goodness.	Humanism: Emphasizes the inherent dignity and moral worth of the couple.
“Remembering, with twinklings and twinges, / As they lean over the beans in their rented back room.”	Conveys a sense of nostalgia and the bittersweet nature of their memories as they reflect on their past while living in a rented, likely humble, space.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Examines the inner emotional life and memories of the couple.