What is the figurative language in Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy?

A simile is used in “Barbie Doll” to show how tired the female got when trying to maintain the perfect image “Her good nature wore out / like a fan belt” and eventually the girlchild gave up (15-16). She sacrificed herself to the Beauty Gods and “…she cut off her nose and her legs” (17).

What literary devices are used in the poem Barbie Doll?

Piercy’s poem, “Barbie Doll,” through its diction, simile, irony, and tone, exhorts its readers to reevaluate the influences in their lives and the influence they are in the lives of others. Through her poem Piercy shows us the destructive nature of our own society.

What is the meaning of the poem Barbie Doll?

Barbie Doll is a narrative poem written by American writer, novelist, and social activist Marge Piercy. It was published in 1971, during the time of second-wave feminism. It is often noted for its message of how a patriarchal society puts expectations and pressures on women, partly through gender role stereotyping.

What is the theme of the poem Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy?

It explores themes of feminism and expectations. ‘Barbie Doll’ was written and published in the early 1970s, during the period of second-wave feminism. Throughout the poem, the speaker explores the sentiments against which feminism was and still is, fighting.

What is the irony in the poem Barbie Doll?

In the first stanza of “Barbie Doll”, one line says, “Then in the magic of puberty”. This line is an example of verbal irony because there really is nothing magical about puberty because puberty is just a part of life that everyone will have to go through some day.

What happens to the girl child in Marge Piercy’s poem Barbie Doll?

In Piercy’s poem, as the girlchild is growing up, she is given all the toys girls today get, toy dolls, GE stoves, irons, and lipsticks (Piercy). All the things she will need to be “successful” as a woman.

Who is the speaker in the poem Barbie Doll?

By Marge Piercy Our speaker of “Barbie Doll” sounds like she’s straight out of a modern fairytale and on a mission to turn the whole damsel-in-distress motif on its head. The girlchild is a kind of Sleeping Beauty, only a prince isn’t coming to wake her up from some awful nightmare.

When was Barbie Doll written?

1971
Author Marge Piercy reflects on the changed state of women’s lives since her poem was published in 1971.

What is a plot in a story?

The plot is what happens in a story. However, a plot is not a simple sequence of events. A strong plot is centered on one moment—an interruption of a pattern, a turning point, or an action—that raises a dramatic question, which must be answered throughout the course of the story. This is also known as plot A.

What is the message of Barbie doll by Marge Piercy?

‘Barbie Doll’ by Marge Piercy was inspired by the traditional girl’s toy, the Barbie Doll. It explores themes of feminism and expectations. ‘ Barbie Doll’ was written and published in the early 1970s, during the period of second-wave feminism.

What literary devices are used in Barbie doll by Piercy?

Piercy makes use of several literary devices in ‘Barbie Doll.’ These include but are not limited to enjambment, imagery, and alliteration. The first of these, enjambment, is a common formal device in poetry that’s concerned with the way that lines end. If a line ends before the conclusion of a phrase or sentence, it is likely enjambed.

Is Barbie doll a feminist poem?

‘ Barbie Doll’ was written and published in the early 1970s, during the period of second-wave feminism. Throughout the poem, the speaker explores the sentiments against which feminism was and still is, fighting.

What happens at the end of Barbie doll poem?

Eventually, the woman in ‘Barbie Doll’ has had enough of the way the world treats her and “cut off her nose, and her legs / and offered them up.” The poem concludes with a haunting image of “everyone” gathered around her coffin, admiring how beautiful she looked in the “undertaker’s cosmetics.”