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A Close Reading and Comparison of Selected Poems by Ingrid Jonker and Sylvia Plath

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A Close Reading and Comparison of Selected Poems by Ingrid Jonker and Sylvia Plath A close reading and comparison of selected poems by Ingrid Jonker and Sylvia Plath by Maria Magdalena Thomas A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Literary Theory in the Department of Afrikaans at the UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA FACULTY OF HUMANITIES SUPERVISOR: Professor C.H.F. Ohlhoff November 2013 © University of Pretoria Maria M Thomas 2013 Abstract Following a close reading strategy, the research seeks to discover what the intratextual relations of each selected poem, three by Ingrid Jonker and three by Sylvia Plath, reveal. Flowing from the thematic overlaps that exist between the selected Jonker poems and Plath poems, it explores what similarities or differences in poetic form, the use of poetic devices and content, in other words intratextual relations, can be discovered via a comparison. Given that Jonker and Plath were contemporaries and shared biographical events, and after having considered and compared the intratextual relations of the selected poems, the research seeks to show what similarities or differences can be discovered in the exploration and comparison of the intertextual and extratextual relations of the selected poems. Thus, the thesis’ critical approach includes the close investigation of the structure of each of the selected poems, in order to discover its communication first, before delving into biographical, historical, social, political, and thematic approaches and interpretations. The research reveals that exercises of close reading, with a few exceptions, have not been the main focus in the discussion of either poet’s poetry. In other words, context has, for the most part, been favoured over text and over form. What the research reveals is that there are overlaps in the intratextual, intertextual, and extratextual relations of the selection of poems, but also differences. A comparison of intratextual relations reveals Plath’s formal training in comparison to Jonker’s largely informal training, for example, and that generally Plath was the more disciplined author of the two. The intertextual and extratextual relations of each poem (and how these relations compare) reveal and highlight that the selection of poems is a reflection or sampling of the poets’ ‘own’ voices. It also reveals the development of their maturity as writers and the development of themes across their poetry and collections of poems. Keywords Close reading, Ingrid Jonker, Sylvia Plath, poetic device, poetic structure, content, context, comparison, intratextual, intertextual, extratextual Page | 1 © University of Pretoria Maria M Thomas 2013 Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................... 1 Keywords ............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 – Overview and Rationale ........................................................................ 6 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 6 1.1.1 A Concise Overview of Ingrid Jonker’s and Sylvia Plath’s Lives .................. 7 1.1.2 Rationale ......................................................................................... 10 1.2 Research Question .................................................................................. 13 1.3 Aim of the Research ................................................................................ 13 1.4 The Selection of Poems ............................................................................ 14 1.5 Theoretical Perspective ............................................................................ 17 1.6 Limitation of Study and Definition of Terms ................................................ 23 1.7 Overview of Research Design and Method .................................................. 24 Chapter 2 – Literature Review............................................................................... 25 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 25 1.2 Ingrid Jonker – Critical Review of Literature ............................................... 25 1.3 Sylvia Plath – Critical Review of Literature.................................................. 28 1.4 Summary ............................................................................................... 33 Chapter 3 – Intratextual Analysis of Selected Poems via Close Reading ...................... 34 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 34 1.2 “Swanger vrou” (“Pregnant woman”) ......................................................... 36 1.2.1 Metaphorical Constructions ................................................................ 38 1.2.2 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................... 41 1.2.3 Sound ............................................................................................. 44 1.2.4 Rhythm and Metre ............................................................................ 45 1.2.5 Irony ............................................................................................... 47 1.2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 48 1.3 “Bitterbessie dagbreek” (“Bitter-berry daybreak”) ....................................... 49 1.3.1 A Note on the Translation of “Bitterbessie dagbreek” ............................. 50 1.3.1 Metaphorical Constructions ................................................................ 51 Page | 2 © University of Pretoria Maria M Thomas 2013 1.3.2 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................... 53 1.3.3 Sound ............................................................................................. 55 1.3.4 Rhythm and Metre ............................................................................ 58 1.3.5 Irony ............................................................................................... 59 1.3.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 59 1.4 “Met hulle is ek” (“I am with those”) ......................................................... 61 1.4.1 A Note on the Translation of “Met hulle is ek” ....................................... 62 1.4.2 Metaphorical Constructions ................................................................ 63 1.4.3 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................... 65 1.4.4 Sound ............................................................................................. 69 1.4.5 Rhythm and Metre ............................................................................ 70 1.4.6 Irony ............................................................................................... 71 1.4.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 72 1.5 “You’re” ................................................................................................. 73 1.5.1 Metaphorical Constructions ................................................................ 73 1.5.2 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................... 77 1.5.3 Sound ............................................................................................. 79 1.5.4 Rhythm and Metre ............................................................................ 80 1.5.5 Irony ............................................................................................... 81 1.5.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 82 1.6 “Lady Lazarus” ....................................................................................... 84 1.6.1 Metaphorical Constructions ................................................................ 87 1.6.2 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................... 91 1.6.3 Sound ............................................................................................. 95 1.6.4 Rhythm and Metre ............................................................................ 96 1.6.5 Irony ............................................................................................... 98 1.6.6 A Note on the Use of Holocaust Imagery in “Lady Lazarus” .................... 98 1.6.7 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 101 1.7 “Balloons” ............................................................................................ 103 1.7.1 Metaphorical Constructions .............................................................. 104 Page | 3 © University of Pretoria Maria M Thomas 2013 1.7.2 Syntactic and Typographic Organisation............................................. 107 1.7.3 Sound ........................................................................................... 109 1.7.4 Rhythm and Metre .......................................................................... 110 1.7.5 Irony ............................................................................................. 111 1.7.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 112 1.8 Summary ............................................................................................. 112 Chapter 4 – A Comparison of Intratextual,
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