In "The Ballad Of The Harp Weaver" By Edna St. Vincent Millay, Does She Really Weave Anything Or Is The Weaving Symbolic?

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In "The Ballad Of The Harp Weaver" By Edna St. Vincent Millay, Does She Really Weave Anything Or Is The Weaving Symbolic?

2 Answers

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Answer 1

I'm inclined to agree with your daughter. The poem doesn't seem to be realistic in the way some ballads are; for one thing, you couldn't make actual clothes out of a harp. It seems more as if the "clothes" are a metaphor for the magical, protective power of love, and perhaps also for the magic of creativity - the kingly clothes are a kind of expression of art, like music made visible.

But like all good poems, it can be read more than one way - your daughter's class will probably have more discussions about it.

Answer 2

Actually poetry has a lot more to it than the outset meaning portrayed. It is more than just the ordinary meaning to it. Your daughter is right when she says that he weaving is just a metaphor. The poem signifies the power of the love of a mother. Her emotions for her children. Her sacrifices are shown as the mother in the poem lies dead while weaving clothes for her son, with a smile on her face.