Why is the mirror important for her? (Mirror)
The mirror is important because she uses it daily to see her reflection and track the changes in her face over time.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for mentioning that she uses the mirror daily to see her true reflection and track changes in her appearance.
Hint
The mirror calls itself 'important to her' because she comes to it every morning. Think about what the mirror offers that candles and moonlight cannot.
Quick Oral Answer
The mirror is important to the woman because she depends on it every morning to see her true reflection. It is the only honest source that shows her face without flattery, unlike candles or moonlight.
Analysis & Explanation
This question from Sylvia Plath's poem 'Mirror' asks students to understand the psychological dependency the woman has on the mirror. The mirror declares 'I am important to her' because the woman relies on it as part of her daily ritual. Each morning, she replaces 'the darkness' (night/sleep) with her face in the mirror. The mirror is important because it is truthful and shows her exactly what she looks like without any flattery. Unlike 'candles or the moon' which the mirror dismisses as 'liars' because they cast soft, flattering light, the mirror provides an unflinching, honest reflection. The woman's compulsive need to look at herself every morning reveals her deep anxiety about aging. She searches the mirror hoping to see traces of the young girl she once was, but instead confronts the gradual changes time has wrought on her face. The mirror has become indispensable to her daily existence, almost like a ritual she cannot abandon. For the exam, students should focus on two key points: the mirror's truthfulness and the woman's dependence on it for self-assessment. A 1-mark answer requires a concise, specific response. Avoid vague statements like 'she likes looking at herself'. Instead, connect the mirror's importance to its role as an honest reflector and the woman's need to confront her aging appearance daily.
Common Mistakes
- 1Writing that the woman likes the mirror or enjoys looking at herself, when in reality she is troubled and distressed by what she sees but cannot stop looking.
- 2Giving a generic answer about mirrors being used to see oneself without connecting it specifically to the poem's themes of truth, aging, and the woman's daily compulsive ritual.
- 3Confusing the mirror's importance with vanity. The woman is not vain; she is anxious and fearful about aging. Her visits to the mirror are driven by dread, not self-admiration.
Interesting Facts
Sylvia Plath wrote 'Mirror' on October 23, 1961, just two years before her death at age 30. The poem was published posthumously in her collection 'Crossing the Water' in 1971.
The use of mirrors as literary symbols dates back to ancient Greek mythology, where Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection. Plath subverts this by making the mirror a source of horror rather than admiration.
Sylvia Plath is one of the most studied poets in CBSE Class 10 English Communicative, and 'Mirror' has appeared in board exams consistently since it was added to the syllabus, with questions about the woman's relationship with the mirror being the most frequently asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is 'her' in this question about the poem Mirror?
The 'her' refers to the unnamed woman in the second stanza of Sylvia Plath's poem 'Mirror'. She is an aging woman who comes to the mirror every morning to examine her reflection and confront the reality of growing older.
Why does the mirror describe itself as important to the woman?
The mirror says 'I am important to her' because it is the only truly honest source of her appearance. Unlike candles and moonlight, which the mirror calls 'liars', it reflects her face without any flattery or distortion.
Is the poem 'Mirror' written from the mirror's perspective?
Yes, the entire poem is a dramatic monologue spoken by the mirror itself. This literary technique called personification allows Plath to explore themes of truth, vanity, and aging from a detached, objective viewpoint.