Marianne Moore's poetry, particularly 'What Are Years?', explores human existence, mortality, and courage. Her Modernist and Imagist style is characterized by free verse, slant rhymes, and vivid imagery. The poem delves into philosophical and religious themes, reflecting on life's finite nature and the pursuit of understanding through faith.
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Marianne Moore is celebrated for her contributions to the Modernist and Imagist movements in American literature
Irregular rhyme schemes and meter
Moore's poetry is marked by its inventive use of form, including irregular rhyme schemes and meter
Vivid, precise imagery
Moore's poetry is known for its vivid, precise imagery
Moore's work delves into deep philosophical questions concerning the human condition, ethics, and the inevitability of death
The poem is meticulously structured into three stanzas, each with nine lines, evolving from introspective questioning to a form of resolution
Moore's language is emblematic of her Modernist and Imagist leanings, utilizing crisp, resonant imagery and diction to navigate intricate philosophical themes
'What Are Years?' wrestles with themes of human frailty and the pursuit of bravery in the face of our own mortality
The poem's discourse on innocence and guilt evokes the Biblical story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden, accentuating the intrinsic fragility and susceptibility to sin in human nature
The motif of mortality is interwoven with the Christian perspective of life as a precious gift from God, implying that resistance to our predestined end is in vain
The poem's persistent probing and quest for understanding can be interpreted as a metaphor for the fortitude derived from faith and the act of yielding to a transcendent plan
The poem is crafted in free verse, allowing Moore the freedom to convey her thoughts without the constraints of traditional poetic forms
The poem's deliberate use of slant rhymes mirrors the progression from uncertainty to acceptance of life's ambiguities
Moore's deployment of imagery and the technique of juxtaposition serve to underscore the central themes of mortality and liberation in the poem
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Marianne Moore's role in literary movements
Key figure in Modernist and Imagist movements, influencing early 20th-century poetry.
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Themes explored in Moore's poetry
Human condition, ethics, mortality; deep philosophical questions.
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Significance of Moore's 'Selected Poems' (1935)
Showcases departure from traditional verse, embracing Modernist free-form expression.
