Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sestina" is a poem written by Elizabeth Bishop that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the relationship between the individual and the passage of time. The poem is characterized by its use of repetition, its complex structure, and its questioning of traditional notions of memory and time.

The essential poetic elements of "Sestina" are:

1. Form: The poem is written in the form of a sestina, a complex and challenging poetic form characterized by its use of repetition and pattern.
2. Theme: The central theme of the poem is memory, loss, and the relationship between the individual and the passage of time.
3. Imagery: The poem uses vivid and evocative imagery to describe the objects and scenes of the speaker's memory, such as the description of the "grandmother" and the "seashell".
4. Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative, as the speaker reflects on the nature of memory and the passage of time.
5. Sound: The poem uses repetition and pattern to create a musical effect and help to unify the poem.
6. Language: Bishop's language is complex and richly layered, with an emphasis on exploring the complexities of memory and the passage of time.
7. Figurative language: The poem uses metaphor and symbolism to create deeper meaning and layers of interpretation, such as the comparison of the grandmother to a "medieval chastity belt".
8. Structure: The poem is structured around the complex and challenging form of the sestina, which uses repetition and pattern to explore the themes of memory and time.
9. Symbolism: The objects and scenes of the speaker's memory serve as symbols for the larger themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time.
10. Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing in the reader, as the speaker reflects on the nature of memory and the passage of time.

"Sestina" was first published in 1965, and it reflects the changing artistic sensibilities of the mid-20th century, as writers and artists began to explore the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a complex and challenging exploration of the nature of memory and the complexities of time, and it continues to be widely read and studied today.

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