Loss is an inevitable part of life, but can we truly prepare for it? This is the question that Elizabeth Bishop's poem "One Art" (1976) explores. Through the voice of a speaker who believes in mastering the art of losing, the poem delves into the idea of distancing ourselves from the pain of grief. However, the irony lies in the speaker's own struggle with an unrelenting loss that cannot be overcome.
"One Art" is a poem written by Elizabeth Bishop, inspired by her own personal experiences. As a child, Bishop lost her parents and moved frequently between family members. This lack of attachment to a permanent home led her to travel extensively in her early adulthood. In 1951, she sailed to Brazil with the intention of staying for just a few weeks, but ended up staying for 15 years.
During her time in Brazil, Bishop fell in love with the country and Maria Carlota Costellat de Macedo Soares, also known as Lota, a wealthy art collector and landowner. Due to the societal unacceptance of homosexuality in both Brazil and the United States during the mid-20th century, their relationship remained private. Tragically, Bishop lost Lota when she committed suicide in 1967. This loss also meant losing her beloved Brazil, and she essentially returned to the United States after her partner's death.
"One Art" serves as a tribute to the losses in Bishop's life, from her parents and lover to the country of Brazil.
The poem begins with the speaker proclaiming, "The art of losing isn't hard to master" (1). She explains that it seems as though things are destined to be lost, so their absence is not a disaster. The speaker encourages the reader to embrace the chaos of everyday losses, like losing keys or wasting time. She also challenges them to see if they can handle losing bigger things, like places and names. As the speaker shares her own experiences of losing sentimental items and even entire cities and continents, she maintains that it is not a disaster. However, she admits that the thought of losing her beloved would be a disaster, despite her previous claims.
The speaker of the poem begins by stating that "The art of losing isn't hard to master" (1). She goes on to explain that things seem to have a natural tendency to be lost, so their absence should not be considered a tragedy. The speaker encourages the reader to embrace everyday losses and gradually challenge themselves by losing bigger things. She then shares her own experiences of loss, such as her mother's watch and her beloved home. Despite the speaker's assertion that loss is not a disaster, the poem ends with a confession that losing her beloved would be a true tragedy.
While the poem may initially seem straightforward, Bishop expertly employs various literary devices to add depth to "One Art." Through the use of repetition, symbolism, and personification, she reveals the irony of the speaker's nonchalant attitude towards loss. Additionally, the poem's structure, as a villanelle, also reflects the speaker's desire for control in the face of loss.
The villanelle form consists of 19 lines, with five tercets (3-line stanzas) followed by one quatrain (4-line stanza). Two refrains, or repeated lines of poetry, appear in the first stanza and alternate in each succeeding stanza. In "One Art," the refrain "The art of losing isn't hard to master" (1) and variations of "it's not a disaster" (3) reappear throughout the poem, emphasizing the theme of loss and the speaker's belief that it can be mastered.
Repetition and personification play significant roles in the poem. The continual use of the first and third lines of the first stanza emphasizes the speaker's insistence on the art of losing as a skill that can be mastered.
Aside from repetition, Elizabeth Bishop employs the technique of personification to personify the concept of "loss" in her poem, "One Art." By giving loss human qualities, the speaker suggests that it is a constant and inevitable force in life that can be mastered with practice.
The first stanza of the poem introduces the themes of loss and coping. Initially, they seem to go hand in hand, but as the poem progresses, they begin to contradict each other. The speaker boldly declares, "The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster" (1-3). This repetition of ideas implies that loss is a common occurrence in everyday life and becomes ordinary and unremarkable. The speaker distances themselves from the emotional weight of loss by treating it as a mundane event.
This stanza also includes the only instance of personification in the poem. By suggesting that lost items have a desire to be lost, the speaker shifts the burden and guilt of loss from themselves to the objects. This personification further demonstrates the speaker's detachment from their feelings of loss.
As the repetitions continue, the speaker's detachment begins to waver as the losses become more emotional and abstract. While discussing lost places, the speaker repeats that it wasn't a disaster, but also admits to feeling emotional pain by stating, "I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster" (15).
The facade of detachment crumbles in the final stanza as the speaker introduces a variation in their repetition, adding the word "too" and stating, "the art of losing's not too hard to master" (18). This subtle change reveals their wavering belief in their ability to master the art of loss.
The poem itself is deeply ironic, as the more the speaker claims to be immune to loss, the more evident their true pain becomes. In the last stanza, the speaker's ultimate assertion is that mastering the art of loss will make losing love less emotionally catastrophic. However, their struggle to finish the poem and insistence that loss isn't a disaster show that they do not truly believe their own arguments.
The speaker's use of symbolism adds emotional weight to the theme of loss. The loss of their mother's watch symbolizes the loss of childhood, innocence, and possibly the relationship with their mother. Similarly, the loss of three loved houses represents the loss of family and protection. The symbolic meaning behind these seemingly simple objects adds depth to the speaker's emotions.
"One Art" delves into the theme of loss and the speaker's attempts to distance themselves from the emotional pain it causes. Repetition, irony, and symbolism are effectively utilized to convey the conflicting emotions surrounding loss in this poem.
The use of end-stopped lines and enjambment in poetry creates a tension between the speaker's claims and their true emotions. These poetic techniques are commonly used to convey the theme of loss and grief in a powerful way. Let's take a closer look at how they are used in Elizabeth Bishop's "One Art."
End-stopped lines refer to a pause at the end of a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. On the other hand, enjambment continues a sentence into the next line, creating a more fluid and continuous flow. In "One Art," Bishop skillfully uses a mix of end-stopped lines and enjambment to mirror the speaker's approach to loss.
The end-stopped lines in stanza five demonstrate the speaker's nonchalant attitude towards loss. Each line is punctuated, emphasizing their casual acceptance of their losses: "I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,/some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent./I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster." (13-15)
In contrast, the enjambment used in the final stanza reveals the speaker's true emotions, which cannot be contained by their attempt to minimize their impact. The entire stanza is enjambed, with lines overflowing into each other: "Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture/I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident/the art of losing's not too hard to master/though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster." (16-19)
Through the skillful use of poetic techniques, "One Art" explores the conflicting emotions surrounding loss and the speaker's attempt to cope with it.
Published in 1976, Elizabeth Bishop's poem "One Art" delves into the powerful and complex themes of loss and love. Through her use of poetic devices such as irony, repetition, and enjambment, Bishop paints a poignant portrait of human emotions and experiences.
The title, "One Art", is significant as it holds multiple meanings within the context of the poem. On the surface, it seems to refer to the art of losing, but it also touches upon the art of coping and the art of writing as a means of coming to terms with loss. These three aspects are interlinked and crucial to the poem's message.
At its core, "One Art" is a commentary on the power of love and its ability to bring both joy and pain. The speaker's experiences with loss highlight the profound impact that love has on our lives. Despite our attempts to shield ourselves from loss, the poem reminds us that it is an inevitable part of the human experience.
The villanelle form of "One Art" adds depth and structure to the poem's message. With its nineteen lines and specific rhyme and repetition scheme, it allows the poet to convey their thoughts in a powerful and memorable way. This unique form adds to the overall impact of the poem, making it a timeless piece of literature.
Irony is a prevalent poetic device in "One Art." The speaker claims to have mastered the art of losing, yet as the poem progresses, we see that she is struggling with loss and has not truly overcome it. This irony emphasizes the raw and painful nature of grief and reinforces the poem's message that loss cannot be easily controlled.
Through "One Art," Bishop explores the possibility of being unaffected by the losses in our lives. Loss is an inevitable aspect of life, whether it be trivial or significant. However, the speaker's attempts to convince herself and others that she is numb to loss are ultimately flawed. The final stanza reveals that the loss of love is the one loss that the speaker cannot endure, highlighting the power and impact of love.
Love also challenges the speaker's attempt to master the art of losing. It reminds her of her human emotions and connections, causing her to question her own numbness towards loss. In the end, she realizes that she is far from being indifferent to loss. This serves as a reminder that loss is not just a physical departure but a deep emotional experience.
Despite the speaker's claims of mastering the art of losing, "One Art" ultimately reveals that loss is a complex and inevitable part of life that cannot be easily controlled and managed. Through its unique form, clever use of irony, and powerful message, the poem continues to resonate with readers, serving as a poignant reminder of the human experience.
