Finisterre (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Finisterre

Introduction

"Finisterre" stands as one of Sylvia Plath's most powerful meditations on the relationship between the natural world and human existence. The poem takes its title from Cape Finisterre, a dramatic rocky peninsula on Spain's Atlantic coast, and uses this setting as a springboard for exploring themes of death, spirituality, and the eternal struggle between humanity and the sea.

Overview and setting

The poem presents a haunting portrait of Cape Finisterre, where Plath positions herself as both observer and pilgrim. Through her vivid descriptions, she transforms the physical landscape into a symbolic space where the living and the dead intersect. The poet's imagination allows her to visualise not just what her eyes can see, but also the deeper mysteries hidden beneath the ocean's surface - the drowned, the past, and the unknown depths that stretch beyond the horizon.

This coastal setting becomes a place of contemplation where Plath reflects on the cape's history as a destination for pilgrims and its reputation as "the end of the world." The poem captures both the scenic beauty and the ominous nature of this dramatic landscape.

Structure and form

Plath constructs "Finisterre" using four stanzas, each containing nine lines. The poem demonstrates her mastery of free verse, deliberately avoiding a regular rhyme scheme while occasionally employing slant rhymes to maintain the poem's musical flow. She combines both iambic and trochaic metres throughout the work, creating a rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of the sea itself.

The absence of a fixed internal rhythm makes this an example of black verse, yet the mixture of different metres creates an underlying current that carries the reader through the poem. This structural choice reflects the poem's thematic content - like the unpredictable ocean, the verse flows and breaks, then catches itself again.

Literary techniques and devices

Plath employs a rich array of literary devices that serve to deepen the poem's impact and meaning. The opening phrase "land's end" functions as both metaphor and allusion, directly referencing Cape Finisterre while suggesting finality and boundaries. Throughout the poem, she personifies the cliffs, comparing them to "the last fingers, knuckled and rheumatic," which gives the landscape human characteristics and suggests age and weariness.

The poet makes effective use of allusion, particularly referencing historical battles at Cape Finisterre. Her employment of onomatopoeia can be heard in phrases that echo the sounds of the sea and wind. Metaphorical language appears consistently, such as when she describes the cliffs metaphorically as resembling "the end of an embroidered cloth."

The simile "They go without hope, like sighs" powerfully captures the despair of the drowned souls, while the metaphorical reference to "beaded with tears" creates a vivid image of sorrow made tangible. In the third stanza, Plath uses metonymy when referring to "marble skirts," where the colour and texture stand for the larger figure. The final stanza presents the "Bay of the Dead" as a symbol that encapsulates the entire cape and its tragic history.

Major themes

Death and the sea

The most prominent theme running through "Finisterre" is death, particularly death by drowning. Plath presents the ocean as a ruthless natural force that shows no compassion for those who perish in its depths. The sea becomes a symbol of death itself, hiding the sorrow and final struggles of men who tried desperately to save themselves after falling into the water. The imagery in the first two stanzas particularly emphasises this theme, with the cliff creating an atmosphere of mystery and foreboding around the deadly waters.

Faith and pilgrimage

A second major theme explores faith and spiritual seeking. The pilgrims in the poem's later stanzas have come to Cape Finisterre with religious devotion, believing in the spiritual power of this sacred place. They hope that the mysterious depths of the sea hold something holy that can cleanse them of their sins. However, Plath presents this faith as complex and sometimes misguided.

Natural mystery

The poem also develops a theme of natural wonder and the unknowable. Plath creates a mysterious atmosphere through her descriptions of the sea and cape, suggesting that nature holds secrets beyond human understanding. The sudden appearance of the "Lady of the Shipwrecked" exemplifies this mysterious quality, representing forces that are both divine and incomprehensible.

Detailed stanza analysis

Stanza one

The opening stanza establishes the poem's dark tone by painting Cape Finisterre as a gloomy, forbidding place. Plath describes the cliff as "black" and "admonitory," suggesting it serves as a warning to those who might venture too close. The cliff has witnessed numerous drowning deaths and now appears to warn others away from the dangerous waters.

The sea is portrayed as having "devoured" men at its bottom, and these men have now become "a dump of rocks." This harsh imagery emphasises the ocean's cruelty - it not only kills but transforms human remains into lifeless stone. The representation of the sea as completely without feeling, harbouring only cruelty and harshness, sets the tone for the entire poem.

Stanza two

The second stanza shifts focus to describe the cliffs in more detail, comparing them to fabric "embroidered by an old lady". This comparison suggests that the natural patterns on the cliff face - trefoils, stars, and bells - resemble delicate needlework, though they lack the sophistication of skilled hands. The mists partially shroud the cliff, making it appear ancient and timeless.

Plath then returns to the theme of the drowned, describing the souls of men who died in warfare at sea. These souls are presented as hopeless, existing without sympathy from either the sea or the poet herself. The poet acknowledges her connection to this group of the hopeless dead, suggesting a shared despair.

Stanza three

A mysterious female figure dominates the third stanza - "Our Lady of the Shipwrecked". This apparition appears to be a guardian spirit of the place, but she remains ignorant of human suffering. Men pray at her feet for salvation, but she offers no response to their pleas. Though described as having lips "sweet with divinity," she shows no inclination to help them.

The lady represents the sea's indifference to human prayers and suffering. She has become disgusted with the wars and violence she has witnessed, which has made her passive and unresponsive to human needs. Her love now belongs only to the sea that has remained constant throughout history.

Stanza four

The final stanza brings the poem back to the present moment and human connection. The poet finds herself among a group of pilgrims who have journeyed to the cape with hope and religious purpose. They speak of small shells and necklaces that have risen from the sea bottom, suggesting that the ocean occasionally returns tokens from "another place."

The pilgrims offer the poet crêpes (thin pancakes) and encourage her to eat them before they grow cold. This simple act of human kindness and sharing creates a moment of warmth that contrasts sharply with the cold indifference of the sea and the mysterious lady. The gesture suggests that human companionship can provide comfort even in the face of nature's harshness and life's ultimate mysteries.

Historical and geographical context

Cape Finisterre holds significant historical and cultural importance that enriches our understanding of Plath's poem. Located on Spain's western coast in Galicia, this rocky peninsula was believed by ancient Romans to be "the end of the world" - which is exactly what "Finisterre" means in Latin.

The cape has served as a crucial destination for pilgrims travelling the Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James), making it a place of spiritual significance for centuries. This pilgrimage tradition connects directly to the poem's references to pilgrims and religious seeking.

The "dark sea" mentioned in the poem refers to mediaeval names for the Atlantic Ocean, while the "Lady of the Shipwrecked" may allude to Celtic sea goddesses or the Virgin Mary in her role as protector of sailors. The cape's history includes numerous shipwrecks and naval battles, giving concrete historical foundation to Plath's imagery of drowned soldiers and maritime tragedy.