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Analysis and comments on Tulips by Sylvia Plath

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Comment 9 of 19, added on October 25th, 2005 at 5:24 AM.

I think that this poem is less deep than some people think, but still very
meaningful. To my mind, she is has suffered an accident, perhaps in a
boat, and her husband and child have died. "Their smiles catch at my skin,
little smiling hooks." I think that these recollections are taken from the
time that she goes under the anesthetic, and she is remeniscing about
seeing her "teaset, my bureaus of linen, my books / sink out of sight."
But rather than becoming morbid or depressed about the loss of her husband
and child, (which, by the way, had been successfully born, how else could
their be a photo?) she is recovering, "learning peacefulness, lying by
myself quietly." She does, however, have moments where she is struggling
with the loss. "The peacefulness is so big it dazes." Any thoughts?

Barnaby from Australia
Comment 8 of 19, added on October 25th, 2005 at 5:21 AM.

Hi, just a small note. I am studying this poem for a recital tomorrow, and
i noted a spelling error :p
7th stanza, line 5 i think, "I hAve..."
A beatuiful poem, and one that takes on new meaning every time you write it
or hear it or speak it. B

Barnaby from Australia
Comment 7 of 19, added on October 12th, 2005 at 7:27 AM.

This poem made me cry... the unrelenting despair tore through me... how
slyvia recognised that every moment of life was suffering... but was lost
for a way out of such a dreaded realisation. Existence is suffering. What
then? Her answer here seems to be nothingness... is existence is suffering,
then nothingnes is the only solution. Such an idea is at the root of much
despair in this world, and must be faced, and overcome.
I cried because I felt such despair, such a helpless wish to be done with
existence. If only she could have seen that there was hope in the face of
suffering....

John from Ireland
Comment 6 of 19, added on September 18th, 2005 at 8:44 AM.

role model? i understand if you like her poetry..its pure genious but i
dont think she should be your role model unless your goal in life is to be
depressed and die

bonnie from Norway
Comment 5 of 19, added on July 14th, 2005 at 12:51 PM.

The tulips are a physical reminder of what she has lost. They "correspond"
to her wound, make her think she is deficient in some way because she lost
her pregnancy. I sense bitterness toward whoever gave them to her
(probably her husband), because their associations and bright, blood-red
color seem inappropriate to her.

anna from United States
Comment 4 of 19, added on April 26th, 2005 at 7:11 PM.

To me, the tulips remind Sylvia of her past before her father passed away.
They burdern her, and she wishes for her hands to be 'empty' because they
remind her of her past. They remind her of her childhood when she did not
suffer from insanity. She longs for to be sane and healthy again.

Jackie from United States
Comment 3 of 19, added on March 18th, 2005 at 6:19 PM.

The heading of the poem says it all "tulips" they are representation of
mootherhood. PLatj challenges the traditional symbol of romance associated
with the flower. The flower remindes her of her sexaul personna which in
her case is cause of her physical pain becuase of a medical condition

Stephanie
Comment 2 of 19, added on January 16th, 2005 at 9:43 AM.

I think this poem is significant to Syvia Plaths history, I think its her
sucide note showing her fealings, sad poem

Oliva deroza from Botswana
Comment 1 of 19, added on October 17th, 2004 at 4:25 PM.

this poem is excellent im only 15 and im already intersted in this women,
she is my role model!! a hreat poem for everybody to read

lisa Byrne

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Information about Tulips

Poet: Sylvia Plath
Poem: Tulips
Volume: The Collected Poems
Year: 1961
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 23242 times


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