Words
by Sylvia Plath
1. What is the poem "Words’ about? [NU 2015]
Ans: The poem ‘Words’ is about the acts of writing. It is also about the far-reaching effect of utterances.
2. What do you mean by dry words?
Ans: Dry words mean words devoid of emotional intensity
3. What does "the bottom of the pool" signify?
Ans: "The bottom of the pool" signifies the world of death.
4. What does the first stanza of “Words” suggest?
Ans: The first stanza of Words suggests that writing something is as difficult as chopping down a tree.
5. What is the meaning of "Fixed Stars"?
Ans: The meaning of "fixed stars" is destiny.
6. What is the meaning of "fixed stars” mentioned in the poem “Words"?
Ans: The meaning of "fixed stars” mentioned in the poem “Words" is the fate that controls a life.
7. What is the significance of 'words' to Sylvia path?
Ans: The significance of 'words' to Sylvia path is that they like the fixed stars govern her life.
8. What is the theme of the poem "Words"?
Ans: The theme of the poem "Words" is the tremendous and long-lasting effect of speeches on a listener.
9. What is Words about?
Ans: The poem ‘Words’ is about the acts of writing. It is also about the far-reaching effect of utterances.
10. Why are words compared to axes?
Ans: Words are compared to axes because words set to paper ring out as an axe rings out when it is set to wood.
11. Why does Sylvia Plath use horse-imagery in the poem, "Words"?
Ans: Sylvia Plath uses horse-imagery in the poem, "Words" to signify the horse-like speed of words that causes bleeding.
12. What is the meaning of “fixed stars”?
Ans: The meaning of "fixed stars" is destiny.
13. What incident hurt Sylvia Plath very much? [NU 2013]
Ans: Sylvia Plath was hurt very much by her mother’s insistence on not to attend the funeral of her father who died because of toe-infection.
Analysis:
In the poem 'Words', she has presented the consequences of the bitter talk of all the people who move around us. The poem opens with unconventional way. The first line 'Axes' comes after the title that tells us that words are like axes. That means she compares the word of the speaker with axes, but this is not the normal tools. A wood can be cut with the hit of this tools. It also creates echo. The echoes doesn't remains in the center point of the hit but spread in the forest at the speed of a horse. Here the horse is also compare with the words and the speaker is compared with the rider of the horse. With go of time the speaker of the words doesn't encounter us but the words remains in our mind like the white skull remain in the bottom of the pool. Day by day it becomes harder. After long time we remember the words suddenly and feels more pain than the first time we hear it. Because, this time the speaker of the words is not present that means the horse is rider-less and more powerful that hits strongly than before.
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