Discuss the metaphors used in “Words” by Sylvia Plath
Discuss the metaphors used in Words by Sylvia Plath to show the difficulties in writing poetry Sylvia Plath s - poem Words is full of strong metaphors These metaphors show both the power of writing and the difficulties a poet faces We will discuss the metaphors below Words as Axes At the beginning Plath compares words to axes This metaphor shows the power of writing poetry Axes cut down trees so that their wood can be made into something else Just like this the poet can transform raw experience into art by writing poetry The axe metaphor also implies words ability to hurt Words can cut those who read them and perhaps those who write them Words as Water and Tears Plath also compares words to water and tears She says The sapWells like tears Here Plath compares words to tears Words are like crying They help the poet to
release deep emotions This metaphor shows how writing poetry often comes from pain and sadness So writing poetry can be painful Plath says that when a rock falls in water the water struggles to become calm again In the same way after writing the poet struggles to return to peace Words as Horses Later Plath calls words riderless horses She writes Words dry and riderless This metaphor shows how once words are released they run free on their own The poet cannot control them anymore They may lose their connection with the poet s emotions This is another difficulty in writing poetry In short Plath uses the metaphors of axes water tears and horses to show the difficulty of writing poetry Words are powerful but they are also uncontrollable They may hurt they may heal but once written they live a life of their own