Poem Analysis - Words

Introduction: The Lingering Impact of Words

Sylvia Plath's "Words" is a short but powerful meditation on the enduring and complex nature of language. The poem begins with a violent image of axes and their resounding echoes, then shifts to a more contemplative reflection on the way words persist and resonate over time. The initial tone is sharp and almost brutal, which evolves into a more melancholic and resigned acceptance of words' lasting power and the seemingly immutable forces that govern life. The poem's final image of fixed stars suggests a sense of inevitability and perhaps even a lack of control over the speaker's own narrative.

The Violence of Creation and its Echoes

The opening stanza immediately establishes a sense of force and destruction with the image of "Axes." The phrase "After whose stroke the wood rings" evokes the sound of violence, but also the creation of something new. The "wood rings," suggesting the wood is making an audible response that can be interpreted in many ways. The subsequent "echoes" symbolize the lasting impact of these actions and, metaphorically, the impact of words. The line "Echoes traveling / Off from the center like horses" presents a vivid image of words spreading outward, suggesting both their power and their uncontrollable nature. The use of "horses" implies a sense of momentum and perhaps even a destructive force.

Mortality and the Impermanence of Meaning

The poem delves into the theme of mortality through stark imagery. The "sap / Wells like tears" introduces an element of vulnerability and suffering. The image of "Water striving / To re-establish its mirror / Over the rock" suggests a struggle for clarity and reflection in the face of an obstacle. The "rock" transforms into "a white skull, / Eaten by weedy greens," a powerful symbol of death and decay. This imagery contributes to the poem’s overall sense of impermanence and the fleeting nature of existence. The act of the water trying to restore its mirror is important as it can be interpreted as an attempt of the author or a subject to restore their self image.

Words as Ghosts: Persistent but Empty

One of the central themes is the enduring, yet ultimately hollow, nature of words themselves. The lines "Years later I / Encounter them on the road—/ Words dry and riderless, / The indefatigable hoof-taps" suggest that words persist over time, but they have lost their original meaning or intent. They are "dry" suggesting a lack of emotional substance, and "riderless," indicating that they are no longer guided by a conscious speaker. The phrase "indefatigable hoof-taps" implies a relentless, almost haunting presence. The word taps suggest small actions, however combined they become "indefatigable" meaning they continue to have impact.

The Governing Stars: Fate and Inevitability

The final stanza introduces the image of "fixed stars" at the "bottom of the pool," which "govern a life." This potent symbol suggests that larger, perhaps predetermined forces, control our existence. The stars, traditionally associated with fate and destiny, are "fixed," implying a lack of free will or agency. It is key that the stars are seen at the bottom of the pool, which may represent some emotional depth and further emphasizes that words are on the surface while stars govern life from a deep level. This image adds a layer of fatalism to the poem, suggesting that even our words are ultimately shaped by forces beyond our control. Is the speaker suggesting that words, though powerful, are ultimately inconsequential in the face of a larger, predetermined fate?

Conclusion: A Poignant Reflection on Language and Existence

"Words" is a poignant reflection on the power and limitations of language. Through vivid imagery of axes, echoes, skulls, and stars, Plath explores themes of creation, mortality, and fate. The poem suggests that words, while capable of both violence and beauty, can become detached from their original meaning, persisting as empty echoes in the face of overwhelming forces. Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader with a sense of the enduring presence of language, but also with a feeling of resignation about its ultimate impact on a life governed by "fixed stars."