My daughter plays on the floor
with plastic letters,
red, blue & hard yellow,
learning how to spell,
spelling,
how to make spells.
I wonder how many women
denied themselves daughters,
closed themselves in rooms,
drew the curtains
so they could mainline words.
A child is not a poem,
a poem is not a child.
there is no either/or.
However.
I return to the story
of the woman caught in the war
& in labour, her thighs tied
together by the enemy
so she could not give birth.
Ancestress: the burning witch,
her mouth covered by leather
to strangle words.
A word after a word
after a word is power.
At the point where language falls away
from the hot bones, at the point
where the rock breaks open and darkness
flows out of it like blood, at
the melting point of granite
when the bones know
they are hollow & the word
splits & doubles & speaks
the truth & the body
itself becomes a mouth.
This is a metaphor.
How do you learn to spell?
Blood, sky & the sun,
your own name first,
your first naming, your first name,
your first word.
Summary
Margaret Atwood’s Spelling is a deeply evocative poem that explores language, power, and the historical suppression of women’s voices. The poem moves between the personal and the historical, weaving together a child learning to spell, the silencing of women throughout history, and the transformative power of words.
Key Ideas in the Poem
- A Child Learning to Spell
- The poem opens with a simple, innocent scene: a daughter playing with plastic letters, learning to spell.
- The act of spelling is compared to making spells, suggesting that language has a magical and transformative power.
- The Sacrifice of Women for Words
- The poet reflects on women who denied themselves daughters—possibly referencing women who sacrificed family life to pursue literature.
- The imagery of closing curtains and shutting themselves in rooms evokes the isolation of female writers who had to struggle for creative freedom.
- The Historical Silencing of Women
- The poem introduces violent historical imagery:
- A woman in labor during war, whose thighs are tied together by the enemy to prevent birth.
- The witch whose mouth was covered with leather to stop her from speaking.
- These brutal images symbolize the suppression of women’s voices, creativity, and autonomy throughout history.
- The Power of Language
- The line “A word after a word after a word is power” is a defining moment.
- Atwood presents language as an act of resistance—something that, when continuously used, can challenge oppression.
- The Body as a Mouth, Language as Survival
- The poem moves towards a mystical, almost surreal reflection on language at the edge of survival.
- The breaking rock, flowing darkness, and hollow bones suggest moments of deep pain or transformation.
- The poem ends by tying language to identity: the first word a child learns is their own name, symbolizing the power of self-definition.
Critical Analysis
1. Feminist Perspective
- The poem explores the struggles of women writers and the historical silencing of women.
- The witch and the woman in labor represent oppressed female voices—those who have been persecuted for speaking their truth.
2. The Power and Magic of Language
- The connection between spelling and “spells” suggests that words have a magical ability to shape reality.
- The phrase “a word after a word after a word is power” affirms that language is a tool for empowerment.
3. The Relationship Between Motherhood and Writing
- Atwood presents a tension between motherhood and writing.
- Women have often been forced to choose between nurturing a child and nurturing their creative voice.
4. Language as Survival
- The poem suggests that words are tied to existence itself.
- The final lines emphasize that naming is the first step in understanding identity and existence.
Themes
- The Power of Words and Language
- Words are transformative, powerful, and sometimes dangerous.
- Language is both a weapon and a means of survival.
- Feminist Resistance and Silencing
- The poem speaks about the historical oppression of women—especially women who dared to speak, write, or create.
- The witch burning, tied woman, and silenced poet are all symbols of this suppression.
- The Conflict Between Motherhood and Creativity
- The poet reflects on how women have often been forced to choose between family and artistic expression.
- There is an underlying question: Can a woman be both a mother and a poet?
- Language and Identity
- Learning to spell and name things is an act of self-definition.
- The poem suggests that language is how we construct ourselves and our world.
Literary Devices
- Imagery
- “Plastic letters, red, blue & hard yellow” → Vivid image of a child learning to spell.
- “Thighs tied together by the enemy” → Disturbing image of oppression and control.
- Metaphor
- “A child is not a poem, a poem is not a child” → Challenges the idea that women must choose between motherhood and writing.
- “The body itself becomes a mouth” → Suggests that even when speech is silenced, the body continues to express truth.
- Repetition
- “A word after a word after a word is power” → Reinforces the theme that language builds strength and authority.
- Symbolism
- The burning witch → Represents women persecuted for their voices.
- Plastic letters → Symbolize the early learning of language and the potential power it holds.
- Contrast
- The poem shifts between a tender childhood scene and violent historical oppression, emphasizing how language connects both innocence and suffering.
Conclusion
“Spelling” by Margaret Atwood is a powerful feminist poem that explores the connection between language, power, and female oppression. Through striking imagery and historical references, the poem shows that words are both a source of control and a means of resistance. It emphasizes that language shapes identity and that naming is an act of reclaiming power.
stanza by stanza
First Stanza:
“My daughter plays on the floor
with plastic letters,
red, blue & hard yellow,
learning how to spell,
spelling,
how to make spells.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Spell: To form words with letters; also refers to magic incantations.
- Spells: Magic rituals or incantations.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poem opens with a simple, domestic scene: a child playing with plastic letters, learning to spell. The act of spelling is juxtaposed with the idea of “making spells,” suggesting a connection between language and power. This duality introduces the theme of words as tools for both communication and transformation, hinting at the magical or transformative power of language.
The imagery of the child playing with colorful letters also evokes innocence and creativity, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the struggles women have faced in claiming their voices and power through language.
Second Stanza:
“I wonder how many women
denied themselves daughters,
closed themselves in rooms,
drew the curtains
so they could mainline words.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Denied: Refused to accept or acknowledge.
- Mainline: To inject a drug directly into a vein; here, it metaphorically suggests an intense, almost addictive focus on words.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The speaker reflects on the sacrifices women have made throughout history to pursue their intellectual and creative ambitions. The image of women “closing themselves in rooms” and “drawing the curtains” suggests isolation and secrecy, as if their pursuit of knowledge and expression was something forbidden or dangerous.
The metaphor of “mainlining words” likens the act of writing or learning to an addiction, emphasizing the intensity and necessity of language for these women. This stanza highlights the historical barriers women have faced in accessing education and expressing themselves, as well as their determination to overcome these obstacles.
Third Stanza:
“A child is not a poem,
a poem is not a child.
there is no either/or.
However.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Either/or: A choice between two alternatives.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The speaker draws a distinction between a child and a poem, rejecting the idea that one must choose between motherhood and creativity. The lines “there is no either/or” suggest that women should not be forced to choose between these roles, challenging societal expectations that often pit them against each other.
The word “However” introduces a shift in tone, signaling that the speaker will now delve into the darker realities of women’s experiences.
Fourth Stanza:
“I return to the story
of the woman caught in the war
& in labour, her thighs tied
together by the enemy
so she could not give birth.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Labour: The process of childbirth.
- Enemy: A person or group that is actively opposed or hostile to another.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The speaker recounts a harrowing story of a woman in wartime who is prevented from giving birth by having her thighs tied together. This brutal act symbolizes the ways in which women’s bodies and lives have been controlled and violated, particularly in contexts of conflict and oppression.
The story serves as a stark reminder of the violence and suffering women have endured, contrasting sharply with the earlier image of the child playing with letters. It underscores the urgency of reclaiming power and agency, both physically and linguistically.
Fifth Stanza:
“Ancestress: the burning witch,
her mouth covered by leather
to strangle words.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Ancestress: A female ancestor.
- Burning witch: A reference to the historical persecution of women accused of witchcraft.
- Strangle: To choke or suppress.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The speaker invokes the image of a witch being burned at the stake, her mouth covered to silence her. This powerful metaphor represents the historical suppression of women’s voices and knowledge. The “burning witch” symbolizes the fear and punishment directed at women who dared to speak out or wield power, particularly through language.
The stanza highlights the connection between language and power, suggesting that silencing women has been a way of maintaining control over them.
Sixth Stanza:
“A word after a word
after a word is power.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Power: The ability to influence or control.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the central theme of the poem: the power of language. Each word builds upon the last, creating meaning and asserting presence. The repetition of “word after word” emphasizes the cumulative effect of language, suggesting that even small acts of expression can lead to empowerment.
Seventh Stanza:
“At the point where language falls away
from the hot bones, at the point
where the rock breaks open and darkness
flows out of it like blood, at
the melting point of granite
when the bones know
they are hollow & the word
splits & doubles & speaks
the truth & the body
itself becomes a mouth.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Granite: A hard, igneous rock; metaphorically, something unyielding.
- Hollow: Empty inside.
- Splits & doubles: Divides and multiplies.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
This stanza uses vivid, almost surreal imagery to describe the transformative power of language. The “hot bones” and “melting point of granite” suggest a moment of intense pressure and change, where language becomes inseparable from the body. The body itself becomes a “mouth,” symbolizing the fusion of physical and verbal expression.
The stanza conveys the idea that language is not just a tool but a fundamental part of human existence, capable of revealing truth and asserting identity.
Eighth Stanza:
“This is a metaphor.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Metaphor: A figure of speech that describes something by comparing it to something else.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The speaker explicitly states that the preceding imagery is a metaphor, drawing attention to the poem’s use of figurative language. This self-awareness reinforces the theme of language as a means of creating meaning and understanding.
Ninth Stanza:
“How do you learn to spell?
Blood, sky & the sun,
your own name first,
your first naming, your first name,
your first word.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Spell: To form words with letters.
- Naming: The act of giving a name.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poem concludes by returning to the image of the child learning to spell. The speaker suggests that language begins with the most fundamental elements: “blood, sky & the sun,” representing life, nature, and existence. The act of naming—starting with one’s own name—is portrayed as the first step in claiming identity and power through language.
The final lines emphasize the importance of language in defining who we are and how we relate to the world. The child’s first word symbolizes the beginning of a lifelong journey of expression and self-discovery.
Overall Analysis:
Margaret Atwood’s poem is a meditation on the power of language and its connection to identity, particularly for women. The poem juxtaposes the innocence of a child learning to spell with the historical struggles of women to claim their voices and power. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, Atwood explores themes of oppression, resilience, and the transformative potential of words. The poem ultimately celebrates language as a tool for empowerment and self-definition, while acknowledging the sacrifices and struggles that have made this possible.
