What's Ailing You?

In the quietude of literature, one phrase has echoed through time, captivating both seasoned scholars and casual readers alike: 'What's the matter?' In the realm of poetry, this colloquialism transcends its everyday usage, becoming a potent literary device, a poetic prompt, and a metaphorical exploration. Let's delve into the heart of this phrase, explore its various interpretations, and uncover what makes 'What's the matter?' a timeless subject in poetry.

Poetry, since its inception, has been a mirror reflecting societal norms, political climates, and emotional landscapes. It is no surprise then that 'What's the matter?'—a phrase laden with both literal and existential weight—has found a resonant home within the poetic sphere. From rural dialects to urban slangs, from societal queries to personal introspections, this phrase embodies a myriad of human experiences that poetry dives into headfirst.

Literary Interpretations of 'What's the Matter?'

On a literal level, 'What's the matter?' queries the state of things, bodily or otherwise. It's a call to examine the present moment, to understand what ails, what agitates, what disrupts our equilibrium. This straightforward interpretation has been exploited by poets to stir conversation, challenge norms, and voice concerns.

Yet, like the phrase is a question with multiple answers, the literary interpretation of 'What's the matter?' transcends the literal. It becomes a metaphor for existential queries, an invitation to question our existence, our place in the universe, and the nature of our reality.

A Query of Existence

Poets like T.S. Eliot and Sylvia Plath have used 'What's the matter?' to explore existential crises. In Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' the protagonist grapples with the meaninglessness of life, asking, 'How should I know what is the matter?' Here, the question embodies the speaker's existential predicament.

Similarly, Plath's 'Daddy'אל seca-zero'uses the phrase to question identity, heritage, and personal truths. 'Elegy toNumeric Leads' is a 'What's the matter?' poem that explores the decisive moments of lives grappling with identity, belonging, and self-discovery. In these poems, 'What's the matter?' becomes a-access to the inexpressible, a means to voice the unutterable.

Catalyst for Social Commentary

On a societal level, 'What's the matter?' has been employed to spark debate and dialogue. From Civil War era poems bemoaning slavery to modern poems challenging political injustices, this phrase has been a catalyst for social commentary. It has given voice to marginalized communities, fueled protests, and ignited revolutions.

For instance, in R.D. Lang's 'What Matter It a-frot the land?' - a rebuttal to Wordsworth's 'What matter it if the land we breathe?' - Lang boldly queries the political status quo, critiquing the tactful silence of his contemporaries. Here, 'What's the matter?' is indiscriminate, questioning not just personal or existential matters, but societal ones too.

The Art of Poetic Inquiry

The phrase 'What's the matter?' also embodies the art of poetic inquiry, the poetic practice of questioning, provoking, and pondering. From nursery rhymes to epics, poetry has always been prone to questioning. 'What's the matter?' is a quintessential expression of this disposition.

Poetic inquiry allows us to interrogate the norms, challenge the status quo, and explore the unexplored. It's a form of intellectual rebellion, a call to arms for the thinking mind. As a remarkable tool of this art, 'What's the matter?' allowing poets to explore tense situations, probe taboo subjects, and peer into the abyss of human experience.

Interrogating Norms and Expectations

The poetic tradition of questioning is not just about raising questions but about challenging answers, too. 'What's the matter?' has been used to interrogate societal norms and expectations. By querying the obvious, the mundane, the expected, poets have nudged readers out of their comfort zones, prompting them to reevaluate their perceptions of reality.

A perfect example is John Ashbery's 'Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror.' Despite its titular 'matter,' the poem is less about tangible self-portraits and more about musing on the elusive nature of truth and self-identity. Here, 'What's the matter?' is less about finding answers and more about triggering a mental journey.

Exploring the Unexplored

Poetry thrives on the margins, in the dark corners of human experience that other literary forms might shy away from. 'What's the matter?' has been a beacon guiding poets into these unknown territories. It's a lighthouse in the stormy seas of human psyche, illuminating what's normally shrouded, and allowing poets to write what's typically off-limits.

Take Plath's 'Daddy,' which explores her complex relationship with her father. The use of 'What's the matter?' here signals a determination to explore the unspeakable, to give voice to the unutterable. It's a literary exploration of the unexplored, a poetic journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind.

In conclusion, 'What's the matter?' is much more than a casual inquiry. In the realm of poetry, it's a literary device, a query of existence, a social commentary, a poetical practice, and an exploration of the unexplored. It's a phrase that encapsulates the essence of poetry—questioning, provoking, voicing, and venturing. It's a phrase that truly matters in poetry.