The poem seems to follow the same structure as a traditional sonnet. However, there are differences. Identify those differences and explain how they fit into the theme of the poem.
"I, Being Born a Woman and Distresses" by Edna St. Vincent Millay follows a different pattern than the traditional petrarchan sonnet. They normally follow a first rhyme scheme of abba abba, this holds true for this sonnet. However, the second part follows a less traditional ending scheme of cd cd cd instead of cde cde. This "rebellion" fits into one possible interpretation of the poems theme: rebellion. Some readers interpret the theme of the poem as rebellion, the 'rebellion' involved in using a less than traditional rhyme scheme fits with this.
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Trevor
10/10/2012 03:07:24 pm
Good catch on the rhyming. I didn't pick that one up.
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Sammy Farmer
10/18/2012 05:18:40 am
Tristan I love the rebellion theme! That never even occurred to me. Your interpretation helped me to see the poem a bit differently. You tied the theme in very well with the structure.
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Trevor
10/10/2012 03:06:40 pm
Although the poem “I, being born a woman and distressed” seems to have the same structure as a traditional petrarchan sonnet, there is a small difference. Instead of allowing ten syllables per line throughout the poem, lines 9-11 are 11 syllables. By adding one more syllable to these lines, it creates a slightly more relaxed tone that causes the final three lines to sharply crack over the readers head like a whip, allowing her to really drive her final point home.
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Sammy Farmer
10/18/2012 05:17:09 am
Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem “I, being born a woman and distressed” is a Petrarchan sonnet with a variation on rhyme scheme. The poem consists of an octet followed by sestet. The sestet is used to show the character’s growth and how she became stronger. Millay uses three rhyming words, brain, plain, and again to strongly conclude the poem. The theme of this poem is nearness as well as distance. The author uses words such as “propinquity” and “weight” in the octet, and “undone” and “treason” in the sestet. The structure of the poem and the diction used help contribute to its theme.
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