Mary Oliver Crossing The Swamp

Words: 223
Pages: 1
Open Document
Mary Oliver, author of "Crossing the Swamp", portrays many techniques within the poem to emphasize relationships. The speaker's relationship with the swamp is challenging yet inspiring. The poem reveals how life hands out difficult situations in order to lead a person down a path of hope. At the end of the path, another chance is waiting.

Oliver incorporated imagery to help the reader understand the hardship through the journey. "I feel not wet so much as painted and glittered..." The quote brings the reader into the poem as descriptive words piece together how the swamp is laid out. This meaning drawing a mental picture in one's mind while reading this poem becomes more vivid.

Personification exemplifies the relationship near the end
Show More

Related Documents: Mary Oliver Crossing The Swamp

Mary Oliver Crossing The Swamp

“Crossing the Swamp,” written by poet Mary Oliver, depicts life’s hardships through the usage of symbolism, metaphors, and imagery. Oliver expresses the struggles of life through the journey of crossing a swamp. The swamp symbolizes life, and the many components that go along with it. Through selective word choice and literary devices, Oliver is able to make a strong connection with the reader. The usage of consonance helps us understand the swamp is not only a physical obstacle, but a mental obstacle…

Words 551 - Pages 3

Analyzing Mary Oliver's 'Crossing The Swamp'

DocViewer Zoom Pages In the poem, “Crossing the Swamp”, by Mary Oliver, the relationship between the speaker and the swamp is described by the setting and atmosphere of the swamp. The theme of this poem is overcoming an obstacle in life which is demonstrated by how the author describes the atmosphere of the swamp. The speaker uses the swamp to describe a struggle they experienced. By explaining the swamp with detailed words such as “dense sap”, “branching vines” and “ dark burred faintly belching…

Words 268 - Pages 2