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Analysis of the Poem Women by Nikki Giovanni Essay

Decent Essays

Giovanni brilliantly uses the literary devices of imagery, paralleled repetition and symbolism to depict a vivid journey of transformation, concluding with an exquisite moment of self-realization.

The use of symbolism and imagery is beautifully orchestrated in a magnificent dance of emotion that is resonated throughout the poem. The two main ideas that are keen to resurface are that of personal growth and freedom. Furthermore, at first glimpse this can be seen as a simple poem about a women’s struggle with her counterpart. However, this meaning can be interpreted more profoundly than just the causality of a bad relationship.

The image that is firstly drawn in the first stanza is that of a blade of grass amid a field and the …show more content…

The tree is a stern portrayal of strength and also reliability being firmly rooted to the ground, and consistent in its ways. The tree furthermore functions as a place of stability where the bird can rest and grow still dependent to the tree but yet independent at the same time.

The third stanza is an illustration of a woven web with the spider nesting in a corner.

The web is a symbol of flexibility, growth and also creation with its different facets of interconnectedness. However, the web is depended on the corner for its foundation and growth since the web in itself is relative to the corner for its construct. On another note the corner is symbolic with the edifice. The cornerstone being the foundation wish all stones are set in relations too.

The fourth stanza is the depiction of an open book. This symbolizes revelation of that which is hidden. However, like any book the judgment is based on the perception of the reader. For this reason, this becomes a moment of courage, where the revelation can be accepted by the outside world or rejected if the views are not in concordance.

In consequence, the fifth stanza it is noted she turn herself into a bulb but was hindered from blossoming.

The idea that is associated with this portrayal is that of transformation, but also maturation. The refusal to blossom is a denial of her right of independence and individuality and most importantly the refusal to give her any equal standing

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