Plath - The Arrival of the Bee Box Date: Objectives: Introduce and annotate the poem Explore the theme of control.

What words or ideas pop into your head when you think of bees. Warm-up - Bees When a poet uses a metaphor, it depends on pre-existing notions about a thing. What words or ideas pop into your head when you think of bees. Write down 2-3 – we’ll share – write down others ideas too.

Context before reading poem (write this one down) In the poem, Plath expresses a desire to be in control. This is her in a moment of panic before calmly making a decision.

Let’s read The Arrival of the Bee box I ordered this, clean wood box  Square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift.  I would say it was the coffin of a midget  Or a square baby  Were there not such a din in it.  The box is locked, it is dangerous.  I have to live with it overnight  And I can't keep away from it.  There are no windows, so I can't see what is in there.  There is only a little grid, no exit.  I put my eye to the grid.  It is dark, dark,  With the swarmy feeling of African hands  Minute and shrunk for export,  Black on black, angrily clambering.  How can I let them out?  It is the noise that appals me most of all,  The unintelligible syllables.  It is like a Roman mob,  Small, taken one by one, but my god, together!  I lay my ear to furious Latin.  I am not a Caesar.  I have simply ordered a box of maniacs.  They can be sent back.  They can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner.  I wonder how hungry they are.  I wonder if they would forget me  If I just undid the locks and stood back and turned into a tree.  There is the laburnum, its blond colonnades,  And the petticoats of the cherry.  They might ignore me immediately  In my moon suit and funeral veil.  I am no source of honey  So why should they turn on me?  Tomorrow I will be sweet God, I will set them free.  The box is only temporary.

Note this down: Stanza 1 “I” first word – personal, control ‘Square as a chair’ – simile, domestic, comfortable ‘Coffin’ – associated with death. Dark and unsettling. “Din” – noise, hard to ignore / suppress The language of the poem is unable to label or control the bees correctly.

Note this down: Stanza 2 “locked”, “dangerous” – frightens and attracts her. “have to live with it” – metal issues ‘No exit’ (for them) – asserting control

Note this down: Stanza 3 Moves closer to the box. “minute and shrunk” - Swarming sounds adds to claustrophobic or trapped atmosphere. Horrific metaphor - “African hands” – slave trade where the strong control the weak – poem about control.

Note this down: Stanza 4 Outside the box, the speaker remains nervous. Simile – “like a roman mob” - danger The thought of all the bees acting with a single purpose unnerves her. Bees can represent mental issues/problems here.

Note this down: Stanza 5 Latin and Caesar – cannot understand or control. Hope – image of maniacs less scary than slaves or mobs. Reveals darker side to her persona – cruel selfishness. Means of control - food

Note this down: Stanza 6 Giving up humanity – becoming object – suicide metaphor. Bees hungry – not angry (can ignore – but if interested) laburnum – a tree Colonnades – building structure

Note this down: Stanza 7 Moon – Bee suit She is in control. Not a victim. Let the bees / mental issues out and release control of them. The box (keeping our issues inside) only a temporary measure.

Note this down: Final note Pronoun “I” used 18 times Ownership of the bees causes her to become hyper-aware of her own sense of self. The poem is about control and control of her identity.

Questions on back of page Complete questions for homework. Cooldown - finish the following sentences. I think...... I know........ I want to know........

May need a second class to finish this Homework questions could be used to fill that class. Use warm-up on next slide too

Warm-up – think-pair-share: Fear. Think for 1 min, write with a partner, share with the class Do you think people should face their fears? Why or why not? Have you any experience with this.