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Questions and Answers
What is the central concept that Plath explores through the hobby of beekeeping in 'The Arrival of the Bee Box'?
What is the central concept that Plath explores through the hobby of beekeeping in 'The Arrival of the Bee Box'?
What literary device is used in the line 'Square as a chair'?
What literary device is used in the line 'Square as a chair'?
What is the effect of the assonance in the line 'Were there not such a din in it'?
What is the effect of the assonance in the line 'Were there not such a din in it'?
What is the significance of the monosyllables in the last line of the first quintet?
What is the significance of the monosyllables in the last line of the first quintet?
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What is the tone of the speaker in the first two lines of the poem?
What is the tone of the speaker in the first two lines of the poem?
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What does the box of bees represent in Plath's thoughts and feelings?
What does the box of bees represent in Plath's thoughts and feelings?
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What does the image of 'African hands' convey?
What does the image of 'African hands' convey?
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What is the significance of the 'unintelligible syllables' uttered by the bees?
What is the significance of the 'unintelligible syllables' uttered by the bees?
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What does Plath's 'moon suit and funeral veil' represent?
What does Plath's 'moon suit and funeral veil' represent?
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Study Notes
The Arrival of the Bee Box by Sylvia Plath
Themes and Ideas
- Mental Health: Plath struggles with her mental health while writing this poem, reflecting on her intrusive thoughts and feelings
- Depression: The poem explores the concept of depression and the poet's experience with it
- Control: The poem considers the concept of control, with the bees representing Plath's thoughts and feelings
- Intrusive Thoughts: The bees symbolize the intrusive thoughts and feelings Plath contends with
Style
- Repetition: Anaphora (repetition of the same word at the start of consecutive sentences) is used to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis
- Figurative Language: Similes (e.g., "Square as a chair"), metaphors (e.g., "coffin of a midget"), and personification (e.g., "petticoats of the cherry") are used to create vivid imagery
- Imagery: Taken from the natural world, with a focus on the bee box and its contents
Analysis of Key Quotes
- "I ordered this, this clean wood box": Plath comments on the box's appearance, using anadiplosis to slow down the pace and create a respectful, cautious tone
- "Square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift": A simile that creates a visual image, with the "almost" implying a sense of burden
- "I would say it was the coffin of a midget / Or a square baby": A strange and twisted visual image, with the use of enjambment carrying the thought forward
- "Were there not such a din in it": A cacophonous line with assonance, creating a jarring sound that evokes the bees' noise
- "I have to live with it overnight / And I can't keep away from it": A sense of tension and attraction to the box's contents
Bee Box Imagery
- The box is described as "locked" and "dangerous", with the bees inside representing Plath's thoughts and feelings
- The "grid" allows Plath to observe the bees, with the repetition of "dark" creating an ominous atmosphere
- The image of "African hands" connotes slavery and oppression, with Plath seeing herself as the coloniser
Plath's Thoughts and Feelings
- The bees represent Plath's intrusive thoughts and feelings, with the "unintelligible syllables" suggesting they are communicating in their own language
- The poem explores the idea that individual thoughts may be manageable, but together they become overwhelming
- Plath wonders if she might be forgotten if she were to undo the locks and become one with nature
- The final line, "The box is only temporary", suggests that nothing is permanent, not even suffering
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Description
Explore the themes and ideas in Sylvia Plath's poem, including mental health, depression, control, and intrusive thoughts. Delve into the poet's experiences and symbolism in The Arrival of the Bee Box.
