Anna's+Analysis


 * __Individual Analysis of " Said the Poet to the Analyst" by Anne Sexton__**

In "Said the Poet to the Analyst," Anne Sexton portrays the two different jobs and perspectives of poets versus those who analyze the poets work. Sexton uses imagery and similes to describe each subject's work. The poem is written in a conversational matter addressing to the reader.

Sexton begins with describing her work, using similes to compare words with different objects. The poem gets a conversational tone from the use of "I' followed by "you" comparisons. As well, in the second line, Sexton goes through a series of similes to "words," choosing a more suitable word in the end. This tactic gives a flow to the poem, and a sense of uncontrolled conversation.

Sexton shows the double meaning of words depending on perception. As she states that she as the poet may be writing about a nickel machine, about the luck of the win, the analyst can read these words to find a different meaning. With this, the true meaning will be lost, as stated by the last three lines, " then I grow weak remembering how my hands felt funny/ and ridiculous and crowded with all / the believing money." The poet had written about the money with passion and reality, and with critique the money's reality faded and became a dream.

Interestingly, Sexton uses a recurring image in her poem: money. In the second line, she begins with trying to describe words. Sexton uses three similes, labels, coins, and swarming bees. Later in the poem, Sexton refers to a nickel machine, jackpots and money.Curiously, the fact that words could be described as money could be symbolic for a nickel machine has a lot of money which can be won, while words in a way are also a jackpot for there are so many of them. As well, Sexton refers to words as valuable, like money, and by mentioning words as her business, they are the bringers of money. This is true, taking in effect that language is used in business situations. A point to notice, there is no way to describe words than by other words, and the wide range of words available gives the poet, and the analyst, the chance to create different definitions for the word "words." Therefore, we once again see the theme of the double meaning of words.

According to Sexton, since words have a double meaning, the main theme in this poem is debatable. Therefore, will we ever know the truth of what others say?

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