"When Man Enters Woman"

Paper Summary:

This paper presents both the literal and connotative meaning of the poem "When Man Enters Woman". The analysis is reference to Anne Sexton's background and experience as a poet and writer, and uses the analysis as one way of applying feminist criticism to the poem.

From the Paper:

"Sexton's poem is simple in its structure, yet the words and the idea that she utilizes in her poem are complex. The poem initially starts with the act of sexual activity, as suggested by the lines, "When man/ enters woman?" (lines 1-2, I). The next lines are illustrative details of the woman's pleasure of the sexual act, and Sexton uses the line "and the woman opens her mouth with pleasure/ and her teeth gleam/ like the alphabet?" (lines 5-7, I) to express this feeling. Unity is also included in the first stanza of the poem, as the poet tells her readers that they are unified by this particular sexual act through the "tying of the knot" of the man and the woman, and this action initiated by the man (tying of the knot) serves as a symbol of their unity, the man's confirmation that they will "never again be separate" (line 13, I). The last part of the first stanza (the last 5 lines) is quite complex, and describes the woman's action in response to the action initiated by the man (the "tying of the knot" and entering of the woman's body are both initiated by the man)."

More papers on "When Man Enters Woman":

• Analytical Essay # 138298 : "The Status of Women in Early Irish Society"
• Book Review # 3891 : "Hemingway's Women"
• Comparison Essay # 8136 : "New Cultures of Japan's and China's Young Adults"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: