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Mary Emerson Owen

Mrs. Kirschner
English II- Section 2
6 April 2016
People Need Moore Poetry
Are toads the first things that come to mind when thinking about poetry? Marianne
Moore says, Poetry is the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads. Marianne Moore
is a famous Modernist poet renowned for her observational style of writing, descriptions of
nature, and wit and humor. Moore is considered an influential Modernist poet because she
explored new ways to develop her writing and connect with readers. For example, she
experimented with point of view and free verse. Her poetry was shaped out of her early life
influences as well as her relationships with her mother, colleagues, and nature. Moores poetry
reflects these aspects of her life as well as Modern poetry characteristics; therefore, she reaches
many people with her work.
Moore was born in 1887 in Missouri. Her father, John Moore, was hospitalized due to a
mental breakdown. As a result, Moores father was not constant in her life. Moore was raised
primarily by her mother, Mary, who later became a major influence in her life and writing. Her
mother moved Marianne around so that she could receive the best education in Pennsylvania.
Moore attended Bryn Mawr College and studied history, law, and politics (Oswald). She
graduated with a bachelors degree in 1909. She was also interested in biology, animals, and
painting, and these interests in nature, art, and science appear in her poetry.
Moores relationships with her mother and friends shaped her ideas and creativity behind
her poetry. Her mother, Mary, became one her closest family members and friends. Mary was a

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constant part of Moores life and would often critique her poems as well as offer her suggestions.
Because Moore did not grow up with a father, her views on gender and relationships were
different than other people during this time period. She was not interested in romantic
relationships. Her opinion on marriage is found the poem Marriage. In this poem, Moore
writes, In which experience attests/that men have power/ and sometimes one is made to feel it
(195-197). Based on these lines, Moore does not believe that marriage is something that is
crucial to a womans life. The poem shows marriage as a kind of romantic fantasy. Moore
dismisses the idea that the sexes should be joined. This poem also includes many elements
including dialogue between two characters who are Adam and Eve. This is significant because it
shows the tense relationship between men and women that Moore sees and critiques as well as
the male dominance in society. Moore states her opinion about men by writing, Men are
monopolists/ of stars, garters, buttons/ and other shining baubles--/ unfit to be the guardians/ of
another person's happiness (204-208).
Marianne Moore reveals her opinion on gender and relationships in another poem,
Roses Only. In this poem, Moore explores feminism and how women are perceived by
society. The rose in this poem symbolizes the beauty of women. Marianne Moore believes that
beauty is not the only important thing in a womans life. For example, she writes, You do not
seem to realize that beauty is a liability rather/ than/ an asset- (1-3). She wants women to know
that the idea of beauty should not consume them and take away from their other qualities such as
intelligence and wit. This poem also introduces the idea that their flaws help give them a distinct
personality. Moore supports this idea by describing the thorns of a rose. She writes, Your
thorns are the best part of you (26). Even something as beautiful as a rose has flaws or thorns.

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Along with her mothers influence, Moores poetry was also shaped through the support
and critiques from her friends. Many of them were famous Modern poets. For example, Moore
was friends with Ezra Pound, and she visited him during his time spent in St. Elizabeths
Hospital in Washington D.C. (Oswald). H.D. helped Moore publish her first book of poetry, and
T.S. Eliot wrote an introduction to another one of her books, Selected Poems. For example,
Eliot wrote:
Living, the poet is carrying on that struggle for the maintenance of a living
language, for the maintenance of its strength, its subtlety, for the preservation of
quality of feeling, which must be kept up in every generation Miss Moore is, I
believe, one of those few who have done the language some service in my
lifetime. (Poetry Foundation)
This quote shows how many people respected Moore as a writer and a person. Finally, Moore
became a very good friend and influence in Elizabeth Bishops life. For example, both poets
wrote a poem titled The Fish.
One example of the influence from Moores colleagues is found in the poem Poetry. In
this poem, Moore uses her tone and writing style to relate to the reader about poetry. She writes,
I, too, dislike it (1). "Poetry" is a great example of Moores style because it explores the
relationship between thought and language. In "Poetry, Moore explains that language is
necessary for communication and can bring new ideas to your thoughts. One of the ways to
achieve this is to write poetry, even though many people dislike reading and writing it at first.
Moore received praises from her friends for this poem. For example, William Carlos Williams
thought the poem was brilliant. He stated that Moore was the only one who sees any use in
using his brain (Bennett-Bealer).

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Moores interest in nature was another influence in her poetry because she often
connected humans and nature in her writing. One example of this is found in the poem
Nevertheless written in 1944. This poem uses many examples of fruits and plants and explains
how they survive the harsh environments in which they grow. Moore writes, The weak
overcomes its/menace, the strong over-/comes itself/ What is there like fortitude! (28-31). This
poem conveys the theme of perseverance. It relates to humans because Moore communicates
how the plants can survive even in extreme and challenging odds. She wants the readers to know
that they can also overcome difficult tasks in life.
Another example of connecting nature and humans is found in the poem The Fish
written by Moore and published in 1921. This poem describes the movement of a fish through
the good, light environments of the ocean and contrasts it with the dark, gloomy depths. It also
conveys the theme of perseverance as well as themes of life and death. Moore writes,
Repeated/ evidence has provided that it can live/ on what cannot revive/ its youth (27-40). The
poem demonstrates how the sea can be both an amazing yet cruel environment. The Fish also
has an interesting geometric format. The stanzas have a flowing pattern that reminds the reader
of moving water or swimming fish. One source even proposes that this poem reflects
characteristics of Cubism, an art movement present during her lifetime that was also considered
Modernistic. Examples of this include multiple points of views, complexity, and depth (Graves).
This again confirms how the arts influenced Moores writing.
Marianne Moores poetry reflected characteristics of the Modern period because it was
not like the traditional style of writing. Moore used different points of view that allowed the
reader to interpret her poems in various ways. Many of her works did not have one theme or
message set in stone. Instead, she experimented with using several themes and opinions to create

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her powerful poetry. Common Modern elements she used include the themes of growth and
perseverance, the use of free verse, the exploration of gender roles in society, and the use of
irony.
Moore became well known both inside and outside of the poetry community because of
her published poems. Her tricorn hat and black cape became her personal insignia at public
events (Oswald). After she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1951 for her Collected Poems, more and
more people began to recognize her work (Poetry Foundation). She was featured in the New
York Times, the New Yorker, and Life magazine, and she published many of her works in in
periodicals such as the Kenyon Review, the New Republic, the Nation, and the Partisan Review
(Oswald). Marianne Moore also became a popular figure in society because she loved sports,
especially baseball. She threw the baseball to open the season in 1968 at Yankee Stadium
(Oswald). Because of her creativity, Ford asked her to create names for new cars they were
developing. One of her suggestions was Edsel (Oswald). Several other awards that Moore
won include the Poetry Society of America's Gold Medal for Distinguished Development, the
National Medal of Literature, and an honorary doctorate from Harvard University (Poetry
Foundation).
Marianne Moore died due to a series of strokes in 1972 in New York City (Oswald).
However, her poetry had long lasting effects on her readers and colleagues because of her style,
themes, and tone used in her Modern works. Marianne Moore was able to draw the reader in by
using Modern characteristics that broke away from tradition and allowed the reader to imagine
and explore complex themes that connected the readers life circumstances and everyday things.
By analyzing the poems Marriage, Roses Only, Poetry, Nevertheless, and The Fish,
the reader can see Moores influences from her early life and colleagues come forth in her

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writing. Marianne Moore was a unique person and Modernist poet who is still able to identify
with readers today.

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Bibliography
Bennett-Bealer, Nichole. "The Fish." In Evans, Robert C., ed., and Patricia M. Gant, gen. ed.
Student's Encyclopedia of Great American Writers: 1900 to 1945, vol. 3. New York:
Facts On File, Inc., 2010. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 29 Feb. 2016
<http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE54&WID=19270&SID=5&iPin=SEGAWIII1217&SingleRecord=True>.
Bennett-Bealer, Nichole. "Nevertheless." In Evans, Robert C., ed., and Patricia M. Gant, gen.
ed. Student's Encyclopedia of Great American Writers: 1900 to 1945, vol. 3. New York:
Facts On File, Inc., 2010. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 29 Feb. 2016
<http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE54&WID=19270&SID=5&iPin=SEGAWIII1227&SingleRecord=True>.
Bennett-Bealer, Nichole. "Poetry." In Evans, Robert C., ed., and Patricia M. Gant, gen. ed.
Student's Encyclopedia of Great American Writers: 1900 to 1945, vol. 3. New York:
Facts On File, Inc., 2010. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 29 Feb. 2016
<http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE54&WID=19270&SID=5&iPin=SEGAWIII1219&SingleRecord=True>.
Dyer, Rebekah. "Selected Poems of Marianne Moore: Supplemental Reading for English 205."
George Mason University. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
<http://mason.gmu.edu/~stichy/MODERNpapers.html>.
Eleanor, Graves. "Selected Poems of Marianne Moore: Supplemental Reading for English 205."
George Mason University. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
<http://mason.gmu.edu/~stichy/MODERNpapers.html>.

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Marianne Moore. Poetry Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/marianne-moore>.
Oswald, Elaine Gale, Robert L. "Marianne Moore." American National Biography (From Oxford
University Press) (2010):Research Starters. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
Salter, Mary Jo. "'Mon dieu, what a mother!': Marianne Moore's poetic voice was supremely
idiosyncratic--and so was her family life." The Atlantic Jan.-Feb. 2014: 42+. Biography
in Context. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.