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A review by kamrynkoble
Ariel: The Restored Edition by Sylvia Plath
5.0
UPDATE: The more I read this collection the more I adore it. It was my choice for "favorite poetry" in my creative writing class; when I wrote this first review I was still unfamiliar with how to read and digest true poetry. Ariel is mastery.
I felt almost as if I was doing math homework with this volume and I doubt that's what poetry is supposed to feel like. I was constantly connecting metaphors or personification back to their subject, noting tie-ins to other stanzas, underling allusions, and defining odd words or phrases. And then I was still lost.
Should I be embarrassed that Plath's mind wasn't instantly unfurled for me to pick apart through this poetry? I wish there were line-by-line analysis online but the ones that are available are all twenty paragraph essays. Then again, I also feel as if I need to crack the Code of Plath on my own to really read her poetry.
I'm wondering if this was not the best collection to start with. The Bell Jar was lovely and this particular poetry of hers was the only volume at Barnes and Noble; however, it's the Insane Suicidal Poetry. That's made quite clear from the forward by her daughter, Frieda Hughes, which was quite enlightening. Plath comes across as somewhat broken and disturbed, and constantly makes references to resenting motherhood and/or being ridiculed for being barren (normally by the moon).
I devoured all of Ariel: The Restored Edition in nearly one sitting, and yet I don't feel full. I need to do further analyzing and even more annotating and research. Perhaps there will be a part two to this review as I feel that Ariel and I are not done with each other.
Regardless of any confusion I have, Plath's mastery of the English language stands strong. The composition is beautiful and unique to itself. This edition in particular is a must-have for any fans as the introduction, poetry typed by Plath herself, handwritten bits, script of her BBC broadcast, and other features set this apart as the copy you should buy.
I felt almost as if I was doing math homework with this volume and I doubt that's what poetry is supposed to feel like. I was constantly connecting metaphors or personification back to their subject, noting tie-ins to other stanzas, underling allusions, and defining odd words or phrases. And then I was still lost.
Should I be embarrassed that Plath's mind wasn't instantly unfurled for me to pick apart through this poetry? I wish there were line-by-line analysis online but the ones that are available are all twenty paragraph essays. Then again, I also feel as if I need to crack the Code of Plath on my own to really read her poetry.
I'm wondering if this was not the best collection to start with. The Bell Jar was lovely and this particular poetry of hers was the only volume at Barnes and Noble; however, it's the Insane Suicidal Poetry. That's made quite clear from the forward by her daughter, Frieda Hughes, which was quite enlightening. Plath comes across as somewhat broken and disturbed, and constantly makes references to resenting motherhood and/or being ridiculed for being barren (normally by the moon).
I devoured all of Ariel: The Restored Edition in nearly one sitting, and yet I don't feel full. I need to do further analyzing and even more annotating and research. Perhaps there will be a part two to this review as I feel that Ariel and I are not done with each other.
Regardless of any confusion I have, Plath's mastery of the English language stands strong. The composition is beautiful and unique to itself. This edition in particular is a must-have for any fans as the introduction, poetry typed by Plath herself, handwritten bits, script of her BBC broadcast, and other features set this apart as the copy you should buy.