One Art Analysis Essay
Elizabeth Bishop addresses the subject of loss. She focuses on two major subjects in her four-stanza poem entitled “One Art”. Between those two topics, Elizabeth Bishop categorizes them with language, attitude, and form.
Elizabeth Bishop talks about losing miscellaneous items in the first three stanzas: “of lost door keys.” She also talks about losing real estate property: “of three loved houses went.” The fourth stanza refers to losing a personal relationship with someone: “---Even losing you.” Not only is Elizabeth Bishop discussing losing different items, but she also displays distinctive attitudes. The attitude Elizabeth Bishop portrays can be described as sarcastic. She uses repetition by saying: “places, names, where it was you meant
to travel.” “The art of losing isn’t hard to master.” Elizabeth Bishop names generic items such as her mother’s watch to why losing something is not a big concern: “I lost my mother’s watch.” However, she jokingly lies in the last stanza “---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan’t have lied.” Elizabeth Bishop’s attitude correlates with how she forms the poem. The form, or the wording, of this poem is unique. Elizabeth Bishop gradually progresses the language throughout the stanzas. She starts off talking about items that can be replaced: “of three loved houses went.” She later advances to losing people or losing love with someone and moving on. She lies about the loss, but later admits that losing a person is and feels like a disaster: “(the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan’t have lied.”
Elizabeth Bishop talks about losing miscellaneous items in the first three stanzas: “of lost door keys.” She also talks about losing real estate property: “of three loved houses went.” The fourth stanza refers to losing a personal relationship with someone: “---Even losing you.” Not only is Elizabeth Bishop discussing losing different items, but she also displays distinctive attitudes. The attitude Elizabeth Bishop portrays can be described as sarcastic. She uses repetition by saying: “places, names, where it was you meant
to travel.” “The art of losing isn’t hard to master.” Elizabeth Bishop names generic items such as her mother’s watch to why losing something is not a big concern: “I lost my mother’s watch.” However, she jokingly lies in the last stanza “---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan’t have lied.” Elizabeth Bishop’s attitude correlates with how she forms the poem. The form, or the wording, of this poem is unique. Elizabeth Bishop gradually progresses the language throughout the stanzas. She starts off talking about items that can be replaced: “of three loved houses went.” She later advances to losing people or losing love with someone and moving on. She lies about the loss, but later admits that losing a person is and feels like a disaster: “(the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan’t have lied.”