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Poetry Explication - Papers

Poetry Explication

The second sonnet in Mark Jarman's group of sonnets entitled The Word "Answer" can be interpreted two different ways. Is there a "right" way from which to view this poem, or is the poet simply exercising his God given right to ambiguity? Sonnet 2, as I will refer to it, revolves around someone sitting in a bathtub when suddenly there is a knock at the door, which soon turns into ringing and pounding, and finally the sound of breaking glass. Throughout the poem the person bathing debates whether or not to answer the door. By poem's end, the reader knows no more about the outcome than before the book was opened. Yet the importance lies not in a climactic conclusion, but rather the ...

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of the poem's two characters represents God and which represents the reader.
Line one presents the all-important dilemma, "There's the door. Will anybody get it?" (Jarman 170). The bather hopes someone else will get the door because his warm bath is so soothing. The bather thinks of a substantial reason why not to answer the door. Chances are that "by the time he towels off and puts on his pajamas, robe, and slippers and goes down, they'll be gone…" (Jarman 171). These lines present the bather as being comfortable in his present situation, soaking in a nice warm bath. Allegorically, this is representative of someone who is comfortable with the way his life is, not wanting anything to disturb their present state of living; especially not God. Then again, it could be God in the bathtub while we stand outside wondering, while we pray, if God hears us, or if He is even there; a legitimate fear we all experience at some time in our lives.
The next few lines state that, ...

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Poetry Explication. (2005, July 14). Retrieved January 9, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Poetry-Explication/30069

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 7/14/2005 05:42:29 PM
Category: English
Type: Free Paper
Words: 788
Pages: 3

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