Eunice de Souza’s poem Advice to Women is a distinctive poem that discusses the “otherness” of lovers and the roles that cats may serve. The brief poem poses as a bit of advice for women. The speaker advises women to buy a cat so they may see through its mistreatment and overall lack of affection what it’s like to be in an “othering” relationship, where their significant other maintains an emotional distance from them.

Advice to women summary

The poem lacks a regular rhyme scheme. Dickinson frequently used slant rhymes. In the first verse, for example, “that” rhymes with “state” but not precisely. The words “looks” and “Eclipse” in the second verse are examples of slant rhyme. While Dickinson neatly rhymes the words “compare” and “there” in the last verse. The words “then” and “pain” also sound very similar.

I’m “wife”—I’ve finished that Summary

1. Metaphor: Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things. In this poem, the speaker uses metaphor to liken her roles to different identities. For example, when she says, “I’m ‘wife’—I’ve finished that,” she metaphorically compares her identity as a wife to a completed task or state of being.
2. Personification: Personification is a literary device in which non-human objects or abstract concepts are given human attributes. While not as prominent in this poem, the line “I think that Earth feels so” personifies the Earth, suggesting it has feelings and emotions.
3. Symbolism: Symbolism involves the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In this poem, the terms “Wife” and “Woman” can be seen as symbols representing different aspects of the speaker’s identity and roles in society. “Wife” symbolizes her marital role, while “Woman” represents her broader identity.
4. Irony: Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to their literal sense. The poem carries a sense of irony in the speaker’s declaration of being a wife and her dismissal of further comparison or analysis. The irony lies in her assertion that she is content and fulfilled with this role while using a somewhat dismissive tone.
5. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause. It can create a sense of flow and connection between lines. An example in the poem is, “How odd the Girl’s life looks / Behind this soft Eclipse—.” The sentence continues seamlessly from one line to the next, emphasizing the speaker’s contemplation.

I’m “wife”—I’ve finished that Summary

1. Imagery: Imagery involves the use of vivid and sensory-rich descriptions to create mental pictures for the readers. Examples include: “The Carriage held but just Ourselves”
2. Personification: Personification attributes human qualities and actions to non-human entities. In this poem, Death and Immortality are personified. For instance: “Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me”
3. Metaphor: Metaphors make comparisons between two, unlike things to create meaning. In the poem, the journey with Death is metaphorically compared to a carriage ride: “The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.”
4. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, creating rhythm and musicality. An example is: “The Roof was scarcely visible” (repetition of the “s” sound)
5. Symbolism: The poem uses symbols to represent abstract ideas. For example: The Carriage symbolizes the vehicle that transports the soul from life to death.
6. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of a poem to the next without a pause. This creates a flowing and uninterrupted rhythm. For example: “We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground –”
7. Repetition: The poem repeats certain phrases, such as “We passed,” to emphasize the passage of time and the various stages of life.

I cannot live without you Summary