‘Mirror’ is a poem based on the idea of reflection, both at the outward and the inward self, in which Plath personifies a mirror as the speaking voice to best articulate the theme of self-exploration. There are two levels of perspective that separate the poem in two stanzas which are of similar length – the first being seen with the physical feature and the second being seen through the psychic lens of the woman mirrored on the lake. Through these two levels of life, Plath designs an illustration of the unadulterated and unmarred nature of the truth, as well as commenting on time and how it surfaces forward ‘like terrible fish’. Read more at https://aolw.org/mirror-sylvia-plath/

1. Mirror by
Sylvia Plath
Created by Anindita Rhine
Analysis of Literary Works
Summary and Analysis

2. The poem "Mirror" was published in 1961 and is one of
Plath's most famous works. It explores the theme of self-
perception and the struggle to understand one's own
identity.
Brief Biography of Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath was an American poet who wrote
confessional poetry in the mid-20th century. She is
known for her intense and emotional writing, often
dealing with themes such as death, mental illness, and
identity.

3. Summary of the poem
The woman sees herself aging
and becoming less beautiful,
and she becomes upset by the
sight of her own tears and
agitation of hands. She tries to
find meaning and depth
beyond the surface of the
mirror, but the mirror only
reflects what it sees.
The poem ends with the woman recognizing her own mortality and
the passage of time. She sees an old woman rising toward her day after
day, like a terrible fish. The poem suggests the difficulty of truly
knowing oneself and the importance of self-reflection and
introspection in understanding one's identity.
"Mirror" is a poem about a
woman who looks into a mirror
and is confronted with her own
image and mortality. The
mirror claims to be a truthful
reflection of reality, and the
woman is disturbed by what
she sees.

4. The
Speaker
and the
Mirror
The mirror is personified in the poem,
becoming a character with its own
perspective and voice. The mirror
claims to be truthful and objective, but
it is also an inanimate object that simply
reflects what it sees.
The speaker of the poem is a woman
who is struggling with her own image
and mortality. She looks into the
mirror and is confronted with a
truthful reflection of herself, which
disturbs her.
Who is the speaker? Analysis of the Mirror
The relationship between the woman and the mirror is complex, with the mirror acting as a symbol of truth and self-
perception. The woman is struggling to come to terms with her own identity and her place in the world, and the mirror
represents the difficult journey of self-discovery.
Through the relationship between the woman and the mirror, the poem explores the themes of truth, identity, and self-
perception, suggesting that these are complex and often elusive concepts.
The Relationship Between the Speaker and the Mirror

5. Interpretation of the poem's imagery
The woman's tears and agitation of hands are also
powerful images that suggest her emotional turmoil
and dissatisfaction with her own image. She is
struggling to find meaning and depth beyond her
physical appearance, and the tears and agitation of
hands suggest her frustration with this search.
Agitation of Hands
The poem is rich with vivid imagery that
helps to convey the speaker's emotional state
and the themes of the poem. The pink,
speckled wall behind the mirror is a striking
image that showcases a sense of femininity
and youthfulness.
Pink, Speckled Walls
The poem's final image, of an old woman rising toward
the speaker " day after day, like a terrible fish," is a
haunting and powerful image that suggests the
inevitability of aging and death. The use of the
metaphor "terrible fish" adds to the sense of dread and
discomfort that runs throughout the poem.
A Terrible Fish
The "liars" in the poem, the candles and the
moon, are also striking images that add to
the poem's themes of truth and illusion.
These images suggest that even the things we
rely on for truth and guidance can be
deceptive and unreliable.
The Candles and Moon

6. Themes of the Poem
The poem also suggests that our physical
appearance is a key factor in our self-perception, but
that there is more to us than what we see in the
mirror. The speaker is struggling to find meaning
and depth beyond her physical appearance, and the
poem suggests that this is a universal struggle.
Truth and Identity
The theme of mortality is also central to the poem,
with the image of the old woman rising like a fish
suggesting the inevitability of aging and death.
The poem suggests that coming to terms with our
own mortality is a difficult but necessary part of
the human experience.
Mortality and Aging
"Mirror" explores a number of themes that are common in Plath's work, including self-perception, identity, and
mortality. The poem suggests that our perception of ourselves is often distorted, and that it can be difficult to
come to terms with our own identity.

7. Conclusion
"Mirror" is a powerful poem that explores the human
struggle with self-perception and the inevitability of
aging and mortality. Through its vivid imagery and
language, the poem conveys the emotional turmoil of
the speaker and the complexity of the themes it
explores.
Through "Mirror," Plath encourages us to reflect on our
own self-perception and the journey of self-discovery
that we all must undertake. The poem is a powerful
reminder of the importance of introspection and the
difficulty of truly knowing ourselves.

8. Visit www.aolw.org to get
study guides, A+ essay
answers, detailed
analysis and tutoring
help!
Link in the Description Below