h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Social Ideals in Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus" - A688197
Author: ivy rain - U189373

This was originally a standard five-paragraph essay for an english class. I'm not sure it belongs here, as it's more of an essay than encyclopedia entry.

What do you think?

Hi!

I've not read the original poem and here's where I think the problem may lie. It's hard to make sense of it without the original poem.

I am interested in the entry though and it does make me sort of want to read the original poem.

Your 'essay' appears to assume that people have read the poem and I think you need to look at it as though no-one has.

I would suggest an introduction to Sylvia Plath at the beginning to 'bed' in the entry on the poem.

Have a look at other biographical entries and entries on books and films. I'm not sure if there are any on poems, but a search on the word 'poem' should bring any up.

Something else that might help would be a link to the poem, if it appears on the internet, or quotes from the poem. They would have to be short because of copyright, but just giving individual lines doesn't do the trick.

Good luck with this one. If you need help, shout!

This is an excellent, insightful essay on this poem. Unfortunately, I haven't read the poem either - I wonder how lenient the editorial types would be if we proposed to insert the entire poem at the beginning of the article. I think that a brief summary of Sylvia Plath's life (and death) would also be appropriate. The literary criticism should remain unchanged - good work!

There's already a copy on the BBC archives...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/poetry/outloud/plath.shtml
A link perhaps?

Other than that, good article but I'd like to see some more background on the poet- at present there's nothing in the guide, and without it the review seems to suffer a little. Doesn't need to be much- a paragraph of biography near the start.

Thanks, Dastardly - beat me to it!

Ivy - it's okay to quote chunks of the poem in your essay, if you like. I'd recommend it - it'll help it flow a bit better.

Do let us know when you've made the amendments. There's a lot of good feeling about your entry and the Edited Guide needs good entries!

Looks like another one headed for Flea-dom. Seems that ivy rain has left the building...

Pity - didn't need that much!

I liked your essay a lot and am pleased that I'm not the only one who analysed the poem in this way. I'd like to know which book of Betty Friedan's you quoted from. Many thanks in advance.
By the way, I'm planning on writing my thesis on theatricality and self-dramatisation in Plath's Ariel-Poems. Any tips or ideas?

I suspect you may not get a reply, as Ivy Rain last posted in January 2002.

Good luck with your thesis!