“One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop

In her verse, "One Art," Elizabeth Bishop constructs poem that discloses labor with mastering issue of loss. Through use of villanelle, Bishop utilizes significance of structure and phrase alternative to farther significance of her work. Bishop crescendos each stanza to create firm foundation for dramatic conclusion, and incorporates expressive words throughout poem to illuminate last stanza's attitude shift from that of carelessness to seriousness (Giroux, 07).

Bishop's phrase alternative furthers implication of loss and love all through poem. Since first and third lines replicate inside text middle lines of each stanza stay distinct from each other. The endings ...