poem summaries

In both poem by Sylvia Plath and poem by Ted Hughes, use the question, though plath portrays it as xyz , while hughes presents it as xyz

e.g. "In both The Moon and the Yew Tree by Sylvia Plath and Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes, nature is presented as hostile and comfortless, though Plath portrays it as emotionally cold and alienating, while Hughes presents it as brutally dominant and self-assured."

Sylvia Plath – Morning Song – Love, Relationships, Parenthood, Childhood

The speaker, a new mother, reflects on the arrival of her child with a sense of detachment and awe. The poem tracks her journey from alienation to tentative emotional connection, using metaphors of nature and sound to explore identity loss in motherhood.

Alienated, Intimate, Reflective

Ted Hughes – Full Moon and Little Frieda – Love, Relationships, Parenthood, Childhood

A father observes his young daughter calling out to the moon, experiencing a quiet moment of wonder. The natural world mirrors the child's presence, creating a sacred connection between the personal and universal.

Reverent, Serene, Spiritual

Sylvia Plath – You’re – Love, Relationships, Parenthood, Childhood

Addressing her unborn child, Plath uses surreal, whimsical metaphors to describe the mystery and anticipation of pregnancy. The poem celebrates the strange vitality of new life, full of potential and enigma.

Surreal, Mysterious, Affectionate

Ted Hughes – Lovesong – Love, Relationships, Parenthood, Childhood

An intense portrayal of physical and emotional desire within a relationship, this poem depicts love as obsessive and all-consuming. The bodies of the lovers merge and blur, evoking both intimacy and entrapment.

Passionate, Claustrophobic, Visceral

Sylvia Plath – Daddy – Violence, Power, Conflict, Death, War

The speaker addresses her dead father with powerful, accusatory language, likening him to a Nazi and herself to a victim. The poem explores themes of oppression, identity, and psychological trauma through shocking metaphors.

Bitter, Oppressive, Confessional

Ted Hughes – Hawk Roosting – Violence, Power, Conflict, Death, War

Narrated by a hawk, the poem explores a mindset of domination and self-importance. The hawk represents raw power and nature’s indifference, asserting its rule without remorse or reflection.

Ruthless, Controlling, Primal

Sylvia Plath – Cut – Violence, Power, Conflict, Death, War

A minor kitchen accident becomes a grotesque spectacle as Plath compares a cut finger to historical violence. The poem mixes horror and absurdity, critiquing how pain and violence are internalized.

Satirical, Grotesque, Unsettling

Ted Hughes – Bayonet Charge – Violence, Power, Conflict, Death, War

Following a soldier in the midst of battle, the poem captures the chaos, fear, and disorientation of war. As the soldier runs, he begins to question the patriotic ideals that brought him there.

Mechanical, Disoriented, Bleak

Sylvia Plath – Ariel – Identity, Self, Mental Illness, Psychological Struggles

The speaker describes a wild horse ride that becomes a metaphor for personal liberation, frenzy, and self-annihilation. The poem merges movement, nature, and mental intensity in a search for identity.

Frenzied, Liberating, Self-Destructive

Ted Hughes – Wodwo – Identity, Self, Mental Illness, Psychological Struggles

A mythic creature (a "wodwo") emerges from the woods, questioning its origins and nature. Through fragmented thoughts and instinctual questions, Hughes explores existential uncertainty.

Curious, Disjointed, Existential

Sylvia Plath – Mirror – Identity, Self, Mental Illness, Psychological Struggles

Narrated by a mirror, the poem explores a woman’s growing obsession with age and appearance. The mirror’s unemotional voice reflects the woman's psychological descent and search for self-worth.

Cold, Reflective, Tragic

Ted Hughes – The Thought-Fox – Identity, Self, Mental Illness, Psychological Struggles

A metaphorical fox emerges from darkness into the poet’s mind, symbolising the arrival of poetic inspiration. The creative process is likened to a silent, instinctual hunt.

Meditative, Instinctual, Intimate

Sylvia Plath – The Munich Mannequins – Feminism, Gender Roles, Identity

Plath critiques the artificiality and sterility of modern female beauty standards, using mannequins to symbolise lifeless perfection. The poem also mourns lost fertility and societal constraints on women.

Ironic, Sterile, Accusatory

Ted Hughes – Her Husband – Feminism, Gender Roles, Identity

A gritty portrait of a woman trapped in domestic labor and routine, dominated by her husband’s expectations. Hughes critiques the unglamorous, harsh realities of traditional gender roles.

Gritty, Oppressive, Realistic

Sylvia Plath – Lesbos – Feminism, Gender Roles, Identity

A chaotic, confrontational monologue exposing the speaker’s resentment of domesticity and rivalry between women. The poem critiques motherhood, femininity, and social expectations.

Venomous, Fragmented, Intense

Ted Hughes – Bride and Groom Lie Hidden for Three Days – Feminism, Gender Roles, Identity

A symbolic, myth-inspired narrative where two lovers isolate themselves to shed past identities and become one. The poem celebrates emotional renewal and mutual transformation.

Symbolic, Intimate, Surreal

Sylvia Plath – Wuthering Heights – Nature, Natural World, Myth, Legend, Supernatural

Plath describes a cold, eerie moorland landscape that mirrors her emotional numbness and alienation. The poem fuses physical and psychological bleakness with Gothic atmosphere.

Bleak, Haunting, Isolating

Ted Hughes – The Horses – Nature, Natural World, Myth, Legend, Supernatural

A post-apocalyptic dawn is broken only by the silent presence of horses, evoking a sense of timelessness and spiritual peace. Nature is both mysterious and redemptive.

Silent, Reverent, Elemental

Sylvia Plath – Finisterre – Nature, Natural World, Myth, Legend, Supernatural

Set on a barren coastal cliff, the poem explores the desolation of place and spirit. Religious imagery is invoked but undercut, suggesting spiritual emptiness and distance.

Melancholic, Mythic, Ironic

Ted Hughes – Crow’s First Lesson – Nature, Natural World, Myth, Legend, Supernatural

In this darkly comic myth, God teaches Crow the word “Love,” but Crow can only produce chaos. The poem mocks human ideals and emphasizes the brutal limits of instinct.

Darkly Comic, Chaotic, Mythic