An analysis of “Skunk Hour” by Robert Lowell

The "hermit heiress", "summer millionaire" and "fairy decorator"

Term Paper , 2020 , 10 Pages , Grade: 1,3

American Studies - Literature

Searching for couples in the middle of the night next to a graveyard is not the usual night out for everybody. The verses 27onwards in the poem “Skunk Hour” by Robert Lowell, written in 1957, mark a change, a volta, from a colourful scheme to a dark tone. The poem has elements of setting up three specific people who are characterized through loneliness, isolation and showiness against skunks. The “hermit heiress”, “summer millionaire” and the “fairy decorator” are introduced in different stanzas. The speaker gives a short and unique glimpse into their life. This unusual comparison and dramatic change of events will be further analysed in this essay.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Hermit Heiress
• The Summer Millionaire
• The Fairy Decorator
• The Speaker
• The Skunk Family
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay aims to analyze Robert Lowell's poem "Skunk Hour" and its themes of loneliness, isolation, and social change. The poem presents a series of vignettes featuring different characters, all struggling with their place in society. By exploring their individual stories and the setting of Nautilus Island, the essay seeks to understand Lowell's representation of American society in the late 1950s.

• Loneliness and Isolation
• Social Class and Inequality
• The Changing Landscape of American Society
• The Conflict Between Public and Private Personas
• The Role of Nature and the Natural World

Chapter Summaries

• The essay begins with an introduction to the poem "Skunk Hour" and its setting on Nautilus Island. The speaker introduces the first character, the "hermit heiress," who lives a secluded life despite her wealth and lineage. This character represents the conflict between tradition and modernity, highlighting the complexities of American society.
• The second chapter focuses on the "summer millionaire," a wealthy figure who appears to have disappeared from the island. His story raises questions about the transient nature of wealth and the potential for decline. The use of the term "red fox stain" introduces a visual image of change and decay.
• The third chapter introduces the "fairy decorator," a struggling shop owner who expresses his desire to marry as a way to escape his financial struggles. This character confronts the social stigma surrounding homosexuality in the 1950s and reveals the pressure individuals face to conform to societal norms.
• The fourth chapter shifts the focus to the speaker, who drives up the hill to observe couples in other cars. The speaker's internal monologue reveals his feelings of loneliness and alienation, highlighting the struggle for connection in a seemingly indifferent world.
• The final chapter explores the encounter with a skunk family searching for food in a trash bin. This encounter serves as a metaphor for the search for survival in a harsh environment. The mother skunk's determination to protect her kittens represents a primal instinct for survival.

Keywords

The main keywords and focus topics of the essay include "Skunk Hour," Robert Lowell, Nautilus Island, loneliness, isolation, social class, American society, 1950s, public and private, nature, decay, and the search for connection.

• College: University of Tubingen (Englisches Seminar)
• Course: Seminar
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Eda Kurtgöz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V1194035
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346635464
• Language: English
• Tags: Robert Lowell, Gedichtsanalyse, Englisch, Poem, Poem analysis, British Poetry, Poetry