"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