O the Chimneys on Reading Nelly Sachs
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Nelly Sachs's poetry systematically dismantles conventional language to confront an incomprehensible historical trauma, forging new forms of poetic expression from the ruins of traditional communication. Through close textual analysis of "O the Chimneys" and the verse play "Eli," her distinctive techniques—incomplete sentences, elaborate metaphors, and non-traditional punctuation—emerge as deliberate strategies for expressing the inexpressible nature of Holocaust experience. The methodology examines grammatical structure, imagery patterns, and mystical elements, revealing how Sachs constructs a poetic language characterized by fragmented syntax, recurring motifs of chimneys and butterflies, and color symbolism. Her work transcends personal expression to become collective testimony, giving voice not only to victims and survivors but also to inanimate objects touched by catastrophe. The analysis demonstrates that Sachs's enigmatic style serves dual purposes: artistic response to historical trauma and attempted transcendence of it, transforming traditional poetic forms to accommodate experiences that defy conventional expression and understanding.

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Published 1968
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Ruth Waxman