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Analysis and comments on The Bells by Anne Sexton

Comment 4 of 4, added on March 27th, 2006 at 1:44 PM.

the significance of The Bells--this is much more of a dark memory from her
childhood. The bells are first seen trembling for the flying man--"the
three rings of danger."--the ringing takes you back to the bells. And is
repeated in her next stanza with "love, love, love"--is it love or is
another sign of danger? Is this a realization of where the danger begins at
this circus? and the bells come back for the final sentence--"all the
trembling bells of you were mine." That memory may read full of love, but
trembling bells in this poem equate to danger--it was a warning for
Anne--probably about her dad.

Julie from United States
Comment 3 of 4, added on October 24th, 2005 at 1:08 PM.

I think the point of this poem is that she is remembering a good time she
once had with her father. I think the significance of the bells are that
they are something she remembers hearing while she was with her dad, so
bells remind her of the good times she had with her dad.

Kasey from United States
Comment 2 of 4, added on March 9th, 2005 at 1:49 PM.

I think that the bells are symbolizing her emotions. In the poem she is
talking about how she feels very close to her father, and how they are
connected at this moment of time. Her and her father (or whatever person
she was thinking of) share their feelings. That is my insignificant
opinion anyway.

Carissa from United States
Comment 1 of 4, added on January 27th, 2005 at 10:43 PM.

I really don't understand it. What are the bells symbolizing?

Jenny from United States



Information about The Bells

Poet: Anne Sexton
Poem: The Bells
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 4965 times


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By: Anne Sexton

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