Literary Analysis Of 'I Knew A Woman' By Lorine Neidecker

Kelsey Tynes

Tyler Farrell

ENGL 2010

7 March 2016

Women in Power: A Literary Analysis The twentieth century as a whole was characterized by the nature of innovation and change; the poetry written during this time was no exception. From the social norms established in the early 1900s, two poets in particular took to forming new customs. Lorine Neidecker (1903-1970) and Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) both used their writing to praise the modern-day woman, and feed the growing movement of feminism. The poems “Who Was Mary Shelley?” by Lorine Neidecker and “I Knew a Woman” by Theodore Roethke are two prime examples that use specific styles and word choice to make an impact on how women are viewed in modern society.

Lorine Neidecker was a modest poet who grew up in the desolate area of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The isolated environment in which she

She married to gain security so that she could continue writing poetry. She never bore children, but still felt that she had purpose in her life. Neidecker idolizes Mary Shelley in breaking the stereotypes created for women during their lifetimes. Neidecker uses her poem “Who Was Mary Shelley?” to idolize Mary Shelley, and proclaim her desires to be like her. Theodore Roethke wrote his poem “I Knew a Woman” with a similar theme. Both poems aim to admire two women, although using very different tones. Theodore Roethke was one poet who had much more to offer than one would assume at first sight. Roethke—a burley man who weighed upwards of two hundred and twenty pounds—was the furthest thing from the stereotypical image of a high-minded poet living in the early 1900s. The twentieth century writer suffered through abandonment issues stemming from his father’s death and uncle’s suicide at age fourteen (Bloom 2). His poetry, however, served as an outlet to show his true colors. Roethke’s poem “I Knew a Woman” uses great imagery in his words describing an astonishing