2. Background
-Born in Newton,
Massachusetts and
raised in Weston,
Massachusetts
-At age 19, she
married Alfred
“Kayo” Sexton II
-In 1953, she gave
birth to her first
child and in 1955,
her second
-Struggled with
depression
-Committed
suicide at the age
of 46
-Labeled a
confessional poet
3. Anne Sexton as a Storyteller
"I do have a feeling for
stories, for plot and
maybe the dramatic
situation" (Anne Sexton,
1959)
"Most poets have a
thought that they dress in
imagery...but I prefer
people in a situation, a
doing, a losing or a
gain...."
4. Relationship to
Women's
Movement
-Seen as the modern female poet that
first gave an extended voice to issues
relating to female identity
-Proposed a revolution of intellect
and spirit for women
-Promoted the idea of 20th century
women taking charge, acting as
artists, and so on
5. Using Writing as
an Outlet
Prompt: Adopt the style of
Anne Sexton by creating a
persona. Then, write a
confessional style poem
where you speak in first
person from the POV of
that character.
