“This Is a Photograph of Me”

and “Spelling” by Margaret

Atwood
Comparative Analysis
SUBJECT: CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
Presented by: Smrithy K - A50606120004
Semester: V
 TOPIC OUTLINE
Introduction to Language in both
Margaret Atwood poems

Comparitive analysis Conclusion

A b C d E f G h I j K l M n O p Q r S t U v W x Y z
 INTRODUCTION
TO
MARGARET
Margaret Eleanor Atwood is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary
critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor.
ATWOOD
She shows the status , position and life of women, but never
wants to call herself a feminist poet.

As a keen observer of Canadian life, her poetry explores the

man-woman dynamic, estrangement, civilization vs. wilderness,
impermanence, untamed landscapes, and identity crisis.
 LANGUAGE IN THE POEMS
SPELLING THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME
The speaker uses soft language to describe the scene, such
"A child is not a poem, A poem is not a child." as “gentle slope,” “small frame house,” and “low hills.” As a
There are not alternatives that can be chosen to replace result, the scene appears quaint and calm.
each other. Atwood plays with very simple language The speaker then guides the reader through a more detailed
and actually posits the “either/or” in the verse. analysis of the photograph, using directional language.
"A word after a word, After a word is power" The speaker’s use of simple, understated language projects
Atwood displays the power of language almost as a quaint and benign image.
simplistically as a child would say it. The speaker comes across as confident, while the poem's
"the word, splits & doubles & speaks, the truth & the plain, reserved language projects credibility.
body, itself becomes a mouth." The speaker appears instructional, like an attendant
Finally, language itself is personified. orienting the audience so that they may better grasp the
Spelling, which can be read in its whole here, is a image in front of them—almost like an audio guide at a
stunning depiction of pictures woven together and done museum, especially considering the speaker's disinterested
through language play that occasionally covers and tone of English.
discloses deeper difficulties, the burning challenges for The speaker’s language is plain and straightforward—not
particularly emotional or forceful. The fact that the speaker
female debate.
narrates from beyond the grave accounts for the detached
tone.
 SPELLING THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH
OF ME
The speaker delves into the various The speaker is wistful and has rendered
identities that women adopt during their herself inconsequential even in death.
lives, as well as how society prevents The dangerous implications of existing
women from pursuing those that stray mindsets on a woman’s place in society
from her role in the house. are shown by highlighting female
The speaker tackles a decision that most speakers who are so oppressed that they
women face in their lives: whether to deem themselves as not worthy to be
prioritise their family or their personal seen or recognized
growth.
 SPELLING THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH
OF ME
She recognises the necessity to choose between The speaker identifies herself in parenthesis, as
becoming a mother and pursuing one's dreams though she is irrelevant to the scenario being
because society does not allow women to have recounted.The use of parentheses devalues the
both. The use of effective diction in the form of speakers life as unimportant to be narrated in the
short, harsh words has a definitive tone to it, same manner as the poem.
representing the collective opinions of those who The effective diction, which addresses the reader
accept the reality as it is and live with the limits directly with the pronoun "you," urges them to
imposed on them. disregard societal rules in order to perceive and
Telling a woman what she can and cannot do is a identify the speaker. After portraying herself as
sign of marginalization as it takes away her insignificant for the rest of the poem, the final few
autonomy and decision making capabilities. lines are a cry for aid in an attempt to recognise her,
The speaker's use of a historical example to if not in her life, at least in her death. Despite this
demonstrate that the same repercussions of call to action for the reader, she accepts herself as
defying gender norms apply now reinforces deserving of being neglected in the last verse and
society's historical marginalisation of women. gives in to society's image of her.
 CONCLUSION
Through her masterpieces "This is a Photograph of Me" and "Spelling," Margaret Atwood
has built a societal critique on the mistreatment of women across generations. Limiting a
woman's identity by telling her what she can and cannot do, as well as demeaning her
presence, are significant limits on her potential.

MY ANALYSIS:
The hazardous ramifications of present beliefs about a woman's role in society are demonstrated by
emphasising female speakers who are so repressed that they believe they are unworthy of being seen
or recognised.
According to my perspective, this is what connects the two poems.
THANKYOU
FOR YOUR TIME
. .