Nick and the Candlestick by Sylvia Plath

In today's lesson you are going to explore the poem 'Nick and the Candlestick' by Sylvia Plath. This poem continues the theme of parenthood. It has quite a different tone from the other two Plath poems you have studied so far. Nick and the Candlestick

Work through some of the exercises to help you explore the poem before writing a commentary on the whole of the poem. You can go through stanza by stanza or take a framework approach. Watching the video in the link below might help (see extension task).

If you feel confident to write a commentary without the prompts and exercises below - go for it!

Exploring some of the imagery in the poem

Look at these images. What are they? What do they make you think about?

Now read the poem, copy the images and find a line that could go with each image e.g.'waxy stalactites / Drip and thicken' and then explain what effect the line has. Where is it set? What are the connotations with the specific lexical choices used in your quotation?

Now look at these images. What are they? What do they make you think about? How are they different to what you have explored already? Why is there a shift in tone? Find a line that could go with the image.

Exploring the narrative voice

Who is the I of the poem? Where is the narrator? What sort of world is she in? Who is the poem addressing? How do we know this? How does Plath create a sense of horror and panic in the first half  of the poem?

Exploring the structure

The poem is written in free verse. Why is this effective for this poem? How is the poem split into two distinct parts? Where is the change? What happens? Find two examples of repetition? What effect do they have?

Exploring the sounds and rhythm of the poem

Count the number of monosyllabic words used.  What do you notice? What effect is Plath trying to create?

The sounds of the poem are important. Say these out loud. What do you notice?

Black bat
cave of calcium
vice of knives
newts are white
blood booms

Click here for some sound terminology: Phonology Terminology


Wider reading and extension work

 A discussion of Plath and the impact of the poem

Paris Review Text

Preparation for next week - we are going to focus on this poem and scene, exploring maternal relationships.

Look on Moodle for an overview of 'Reference Back' by Philip Larkin
Read Act 3 Scene 4 until line 100.