Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Visits to St. Elizabeths" by Elizabeth Bishop is a poem that describes the speaker's visits to a psychiatric hospital and the people she meets there. In this poem, various poetic techniques are employed to create a vivid and emotional portrait of the hospital and its inhabitants.

Imagery: Bishop's use of vivid imagery helps to create a clear and detailed picture of the hospital and its surroundings. For example, the "rusty stains" on the walls, the "stiff white petticoats," and the "dingy-yellow cotton" all contribute to the atmosphere and mood of the poem.

Metaphor: One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the comparison of the hospital to a "suspended catastrophe." This metaphor emphasizes the sense of tension and unease that pervades the hospital and its inhabitants, and reinforces the idea that these people are living in a kind of suspended animation.

Symbolism: The poem is full of symbolic references, including the hospital itself as a symbol of confinement and the patients as symbols of human suffering and resilience. The line "the walls go up, the walls come down again" emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and the ongoing struggle for freedom and autonomy.

Tone: The tone of the poem is one of sadness and empathy, as the speaker observes the patients and tries to understand their experiences. The use of sensory details and the focus on individual stories creates a sense of intimacy and compassion.

Structure: The structure of the poem is relatively simple, with each stanza focusing on a different person or aspect of the hospital. This structure reinforces the theme of individuality and highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting the unique experiences of each person.

Repetition: Bishop uses repetition effectively throughout the poem, particularly in the repetition of the phrase "the terrible patience of the insane." This repetition emphasizes the sense of endurance and resilience that the patients exhibit in the face of their struggles.

Alliteration: Bishop's use of alliteration creates a sense of rhythm and melody in the poem, as in the line "the white hospital, the heavy hush of air." This reinforces the theme of confinement and emphasizes the weight and impact of the hospital on the patients and their lives.

Personification: Bishop personifies the hospital itself, as in the line "the hospital seizes and releases / like a gulp of steam." This emphasizes the power and control that the institution has over the lives of the patients and reinforces the idea that they are trapped in a kind of purgatory.

Form: The poem is written in free verse, without strict rhyme or meter. This allows Bishop to create a sense of movement and fluidity in the poem, reflecting the constantly shifting experiences of the patients and their ongoing struggle for freedom and autonomy.

Overall, "Visits to St. Elizabeths" is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that employs a range of poetic techniques to convey its themes of suffering, resilience, and human connection. Through its use of imagery, metaphor, symbolism, tone, structure, repetition, alliteration, personification, and form, the poem creates a poignant and compassionate portrait of a group of people struggling to find their place in the world.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...