The Plot Against the Giant
"The Plot Against the Giant" by Wallace Stevens is a poem that depicts a whimsical and strategic plan by three girls to thwart a giant. Each girl describes her unique method to distract and ultimately defeat the giant. The First Girl plans to use the pleasant scents of flowers to check his advance. The Second Girl intends to dazzle him with colorful, delicate cloths. The Third Girl aims to captivate him with soft, enchanting whispers. Together, their combined efforts symbolize the power of subtlety and beauty over brute strength.
By Wallace Stevens · First published 1923 · Genre: Modernist Poetry, Surreal Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 146 words
First lines
_First Girl_
When this yokel comes maundering, Whetting his hacker, I shall run before him, Diffusing the civilest odors Out of geraniums and unsmelled flowers. It will check him.
_Second Girl_
I shall run before him, Arching cloths besprinkled with colors As small as fish-eggs. The threads Will abash him.
What this Textopian page supports
The Plot Against the Giant 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, Philosophical Poetry, Symbolist Poetry, Experimental Poetry
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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- 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 the complexity and ambiguity characteristic of modernist literature with its use of unconventional imagery and fragmented narrative techniques.
- Surreal Poetry — Employs dream-like juxtapositions and unexpected imagery that disrupt conventional logic, aligning with surrealist tendencies.
- Philosophical Poetry — Invites contemplation on abstract themes such as perception and existence through indirect, allusive language.
- Symbolist Poetry — Utilizes symbolic language and evocative metaphors to suggest meanings beneath the literal text.
Tags
modernism · poetry · symbolism · imagery · abstract · allegory · philosophical · existential · ambiguity · introspection · surreal · avant-garde