Miss Drake Proceeds to Miss Drake Proceeds to SupperSupper

Sylvia Plath

No noviceIn those elaborate ritualsWhich allay the maliceOf knotted table and crooked chair,The new woman in the wardWears purple, steps carefullyAmong her secret combinations of eggshellsAnd breakable hummingbirds,Footing sallow as a mouseBetween the cabbage-rosesWhich are slowly opening their furred petalsTo devour and drag her downInto the carpet's design.With bid-quick eyed cocked askewShe can see in the nick of timeHow perilous needles grain the floorboardsAnd outwit their brambled plan;Now through her ambushed air,Adazzle with bright shardsOf broken glass,She edges with wary breath,Fending off jag and tooth,Until, turning sideways,She lifts one webbed foot after the otherInto the still, sultry weatherOf the patients' dining room.

What’s it all about?

Madness?Grandeur?

Fear?Movement?

Discuss with your neighbour.

Next paired activity:

Track the imagery throughout the poem by identifying each image and explaining it fully.Look for both positive and negative connotations…

Be prepared to feed back!

No noviceIn those elaborate ritualsWhich allay the maliceOf knotted table and crooked chair,The new woman in the wardWears purple, steps carefullyAmong her secret combinations of eggshellsAnd breakable hummingbirds,Footing sallow as a mouseBetween the cabbage-rosesWhich are slowly opening their furred petalsTo devour and drag her downInto the carpet's design.With bird-quick eyed cocked askewShe can see in the nick of timeHow perilous needles grain the floorboardsAnd outwit their brambled plan;Now through her ambushed air,Adazzle with bright shardsOf broken glass,She edges with wary breath,Fending off jag and tooth,Until, turning sideways,She lifts one webbed foot after the otherInto the still, sultry weatherOf the patients' dining room.

Essay task: Is Plath Essay task: Is Plath mocking or sympathetic mocking or sympathetic

in Miss Drake Proceeds to in Miss Drake Proceeds to Supper?Supper?

Support your response with evidence.

Don’t be scared to have a point of view!