Anna Akhmatova & Wislawa Szymborska on “Lot’s Wife”

1. Determination and temptation. The man was determined to get somewhere while the woman was being tempted from being focused on where she is going to.

2. The memories are positive.
“Where once you sang, the gardens shall mourn”
There most have been parties and musical events.

3. Terrorism and the search for greener pasture.

4. From “righteous nape” it seems her husband’s back was turned to her and he will not hesitate to leave without her.

5. Yes she did. She mentioned all the reasons why she turned back. Some of them include :

They say I looked back out of curiosity.
But I could have had other reasons.

I looked back in desolation.
In shame because we had stolen away.

I looked back for all the reasons given above.
I looked back involuntarily.

From the following lines, we are able to understand the underlying factors that made her look back.

6. It is not a religious poem because her account is different from the biblical narration of events.

7. The second poem by Wislawa Szymborska.

8. The second poem is more sympathetic.

9. The second poem. Most times there is often more to the story was what Wislawa managed to establish.

10. First of all, Anna’s poem is written in a third person’s point of view while Wislawa’s poem is in the first person’s point of view. The imagery in Anna’s poem is superficial while that of Wislawa is very detailed, wish paints clear and vivid pictures in the minds of readers. Anna’s is from a biblical perspective while Wislawa’s is not, however she opened my mind to possible scenarios that might have led Lot’s wife to look back and I am forced to look upon her with pity. Anna is generally sympathetic towards Lot’s wife while Wislawa is playful and serious, humourous and sarcastic at the same time. Anna allows her persona to rub off in her piece while Wislawa fully immerses herself into the plot in such a way that we are not really sure if she’s talking about Lot’s wife or herself. Finally Anna’s poem is well structured with stanzas and a rhyme scheme. Wislawa’s poem is a free verse with highly irregular lines.

Vera