The Ordinary Women
"The Ordinary Women" by Wallace Stevens is a poem that explores themes of transformation and escape from monotony. The poem begins with women rising from their impoverished conditions, leaving behind their mundane lives, and entering a world of opulence and fantasy. They move through palace walls, shedding monotony and embracing a nocturnal realm filled with music and moonlight. The women are depicted as studying the "heavenly script" and engaging with the mysteries of life and desire. The poem contrasts their previous poverty with the richness of their new experiences, highlighting the allure of beauty and the arts. The imagery of guitars, moonlight, and luxurious attire underscores the theme of transcendence and the pursuit of a more vibrant existence.
By Wallace Stevens · First published 1923 · Genre: Modernist Poetry, Surreal Poetry, Symbolist Poetry · 295 words
First lines
Then from their poverty they rose, From dry catarrhs, and to guitars They flitted Through the palace walls.
They flung monotony behind, Turned from their want, and, nonchalant, They crowded The nocturnal halls.
The lacquered loges huddled there Mumbled zay-zay and a-zay, a-zay. The moonlight Fubbed the girandoles.
And the cold dresses that they wore, In the vapid haze of the window-bays, Were tranquil As they leaned and looked
What this Textopian page supports
The Ordinary Women is listed on Textopian as a poem by Wallace Stevens, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Wallace Stevens
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Poetry, Surreal Poetry, Symbolist Poetry, Experimental Poetry
- Length: 295 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ordinary Women by Wallace Stevens
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Ordinary Women?
- How does this poem by Wallace Stevens fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Modernist Poetry first become important in the reading?
Genres
- Modernist Poetry — Embraces abstract imagery, fragmented narrative, and a focus on contemporary life, all signature traits of modernist poetry.
- Surreal Poetry — Incorporates dream-like, uncanny imagery and unexpected juxtapositions that defy conventional logic.
- Symbolist Poetry — Uses metaphorical and symbolic language to convey layered meanings beyond the literal text.
- Experimental Poetry — Exhibits unconventional structure and stylistic experimentation that challenge traditional poetic forms.
Tags
Modernism · Imagery · Symbolism · Surrealism · Philosophical · Abstract · Elegance · Ambiguity · Complexity · Contemplative · Contrasts · Intellectual