Interesting Literature

A Summary and Analysis of Mary Oliver’s ‘The Journey’

‘The Journey’ is a poem by the American poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019), a poet who has perhaps not received as much attention from critics as she deserves. It’s been estimated that she was the bestselling poet in the United States at the time of her death, so a few words of analysis about some of her best-known poems seem appropriate. ‘The Journey’ is a poem about someone who leaves behind their old life and embarks on a journey towards a new one.

You can read ‘The Journey’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Mary Oliver’s poem below. The poem takes around one minute to read.

‘The Journey’: summary

The poem is about the day when someone (addressed as ‘you’ by the poem’s speaker) realised what they had to do, and started to do it, even though there were many people around them who were trying to dissuade the person from doing it.

It seemed that the whole house shook with the import of this person’s decision. Voices cried throughout their house, demanding that this person fix their lives for them. But that person, the person to whom the poem is addressed, didn’t stop doing what they had decided to do, and carried on nonetheless.

This person knew what they had to do, even though the wind seemed to try to uproot the very foundations of the person’s existence, like someone tearing a house from the ground. Many of the people who had demanded that the person addressed in the poem ‘mend’ their life for them experienced terrible sadness at the person’s decision.

It was already late, so the person knew they couldn’t delay any longer, and the road ahead was already strewn with obstacles. But gradually, as the person left the voices of those people behind them, they began to see the stars shining through the clouds, and a new voice – which they came to realise was their own – spoke reassuringly to the person as they made their way deeper into the world.

This person was determined to do the only thing they could: to save themselves.

‘The Journey’: analysis

How should be analyse, or categorise, ‘The Journey’? We could interpret this symbolic and open-ended poem as about a mid-life crisis (it is ‘already late’, remember: suggesting that the person addressed is not in the first flush of youth), and more specifically, as a poem about a woman, a wife and perhaps even a mother, leaving behind the selfish needs of others and seeking self-determination and, indeed, self-salvation.

Mary Oliver Selected Poems Cover

And yet perhaps it would be a mistake to limit the poem in such a way, and suggest it is about a dissatisfied wife and mother who has lost her sense of identity as she has put others first ahead of herself for many years. ‘Mother’, in particular, brings problems given the actions of the person in the poem (of which more below), but even identifying the person as a woman restricts its broader message.

And in this connection, it is worth noting that Oliver’s mode in this poem – having a genderless speaker address a genderless ‘you’ through use of the second-person mode of address – keeps us in the dark about the identities, and genders, of both speaker and addressee.

What we can say, however, is that there is every reason to think that speaker and addressee, whichever gender they might be, are the same person: the speaker is addressing herself, following her long journey towards self-discovery (or rediscovery). This analysis of the poem makes sense when we bear in mind the moment when the speaker tells us that this journeywoman (or man) stopped hearing the selfish voices of those she’d (or he’d) left behind and instead heard his (or her) own voice. The poem, then, is an extension of this dialogue: the journeyperson speaking to themselves following their journey (back) towards themselves.

In the last analysis, then, ‘The Journey’ is a poem about leaving one’s past behind and rediscovering one’s own self, who one really is. And yet if we assume that the speaker/addressee is an adult (in the middle of their life) and the voices they leave behind include those of their children, are we meant to embrace this, or wonder whether such an act of abnegation of one’s duties in the quest for self-discovery is a step too far? Perhaps this is where assumptions about the figure in the poem turn on whether we see them as a frustrated parent walking out on their family duties or, for instance, someone who has merely quit their job and escaped form an oppressive relationship, breaking out on their own.

Put simply, then, ‘The Journey’ is a poem whose message, whilst clear enough, raises some interesting questions. Is it always right to give up on one’s responsibilities to others when we feel they are holding us back? Does it depend on whether they are literally dependent on us, or merely exploiting us, and refusing to give anything back (that one-way ‘mend my life!’ is revealing, certainly, and perhaps is easier to attribute to a selfish partner than to young children, whose lives don’t need ‘mending’ but rather shaping or directing).

‘The Journey’: form

‘The Journey’ comprises one single stanza composed in free verse . Oliver’s use of free verse – no regular rhyme scheme, rhythm or metre, and irregular line lengths – mirrors the journey undertaken by the person in the poem, who is uncertain where their quest of self-discovery will lead, and whose undertaking of such a journey is beset by initial doubts and obstacles.

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  • The Journey

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice – – – though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. ‘Mend my life!’ each voice cried. But you didn’t stop.

You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations – – – though their melancholy was terrible.It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones.

But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do – – – determined to save the only life you could save.

– Mary Oliver

( Mary Oliver Poems )

( Female Poets )       ( Contemporary Poets )      ( American Poets )           

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  • At Great Pond
  • Honey At The Table
  • I Looked Up
  • Mockingbirds
  • Sleeping In The Forest
  • The Chance To Love Everything
  • The Humpbacks
  • When Death Comes

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The journey.

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I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her poc… full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone o…

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All winter the water has crashed over the cold the cold sand. Now it breaks over the thin branch of your body.

the journey poem quizlet

Don’t call this world adorable, or… It’s frisky, and a theater for mor… The eyelash of lightning is neithe… The struck tree burns like a pilla… But the blue rain sinks, straight…

the journey poem quizlet

The river Of my childhood, That tumbled Down a passage of rocks And cut-work ferns,

the journey poem quizlet

Scatterghost, it can’t float away. And the rain, everybody’s brother, won’t help. And the wind all these… flying like ten crazy sisters ever…

the journey poem quizlet

Needing one, I invented her— the great-great-aunt dark as hicko… called Shining-Leaf, or Drifting… or The-Beauty-of-the-Night. Dear aunt, I’d call into the leav…

the journey poem quizlet

I’d seen their hoofprints in the deep needles and knew they ended the long night under the pines, walking

the journey poem quizlet

Every morning the world is created. Under the orange sticks of the sun

the journey poem quizlet

Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who make the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and the nodding morning glories,

the journey poem quizlet

Today again I am hardly myself. It happens over and over. It is heaven-sent. It flows through me like the blue wave.

the journey poem quizlet

You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your kn… for a hundred miles through the de… You only have to let the soft anim… love what it loves.

Fat, black, slick, galloping in the pitch of the waves, in the pearly fields of the sea,

the journey poem quizlet

centerYou are standing at the edge… at twilight when something begins to sing, like a waterfall pouring down

the journey poem quizlet

The feet of the heron, under those bamboo stems, hold the blue body, the great beak above the shallows

the journey poem quizlet

From a single grain they have mult… When you look in the eyes of one you have seen them all. At the edges of highways they pick at limp things.

Best Poems

The Journey

By mary oliver.

Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do— determined to save the only life you could save.

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More Poems Published by this Author

  • How Do I Love You?
  • Except for the Body
  • A Voice from I Don’t Know Where
  • When Did It Happen?
  • Nothing Is Too Small Not to Be Wondered About
  • I Am Pleased to Tell You
  • The World I Live In
  • Walking to Indian River
  • Do Stones Feel?
  • Poem of the One World

Quotes of the Day

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The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) Background

By mary oliver.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by people who wish to remain anonymous

"The Journey" was initially published in 2017 as a part of the final collection of poetry entitled Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver . "The Journey" is one of Oliver's most widely read and well-respected works; it is a significant part of this collection and her work as a whole.

Broadly, "The Journey" is a poem about transformation. It is a poem that talks about how someone's life can change once they dare to dream and once they dare to act. It is a poem that invites readers to do some self-reflection in their life and asks them to consider if they truly know who they are.

For Oliver, "The Journey" was a significant departure from some of her previous work, which was focused primarily on nature and the natural world. But "The Journey" still explores a number of very similar themes to her nature-focused work - primarily related to humans and the human condition.

Mary Oliver was one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th and 21st centuries. She was also one of America's most widely-read poets. In 1984, Oliver was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, perhaps the most coveted prize an author could win. Then, in 1992, Oliver won the prestigious National Book Award.

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The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for The Journey (Mary Oliver poem)

The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) study guide contains a biography of Mary Oliver, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Journey (Mary Oliver poem)
  • The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) Summary
  • Character List

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Patricia Grace

Everything you need for every book you read..

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Patricia Grace's Journey . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Journey: Introduction

Journey: plot summary, journey: detailed summary & analysis, journey: themes, journey: quotes, journey: characters, journey: terms, journey: symbols, journey: theme wheel, brief biography of patricia grace.

Journey PDF

Historical Context of Journey

Other books related to journey.

  • Full Title: Journey
  • When Published: 1980
  • Literary Period: Modern, Māori Renaissance
  • Genre: Fiction, Māori Literature
  • Setting: An unnamed city in New Zealand
  • Climax: The narrator kicks the city planner’s desk.
  • Antagonist: The City Planner
  • Point of View: Third Person

Extra Credit for Journey

Land Theft. The narrator’s struggle in “Journey” to defend his land against development mirrors a real-life legal battle that Patricia Grace fought to protect her own ancestral land in Hongoeka Bay. In 2014, Grace won a suit against the New Zealand government, which was attempting to force her to sell her land in order to construct a highway. Happily, the author’s real-life experience of attempted land theft ends more successfully than the fictionalized land theft she depicts in “Journey.”

Italics. When Patricia Grace was writing the novel Potiki in 1986, one year after the Māori language, te reo Māori, became an official language of New Zealand, she decided not to italicize words written in te reo Māori. This was both a stylistic choice, in that she wanted her characters to speak on the page as they would naturally, and a political choice, in that she did not want to falsely represent te reo Māori as a foreign language by italicizing it. For these reasons, no te reo Māori words are italicized in “Journey.”

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How do the changes in the speaker throughout the poem support the theme?

A. They highlight the speaker’s persistence during the journey.

B. They emphasize the speaker’s positive attitude toward the journey.

C. They describe how the speaker has become lackadaisical toward the journey.

D. They explain why the speaker develops a negative attitude about the journey.

What is meant by the figurative language, “Following Care along the dusty road,” used in line 5?

A. The speaker has lived life preoccupied with her worries.

B. The speaker has been careless about the path she has taken in life.

C. The speaker wishes she had spent more time preparing for growing up.

D. The speaker is overly concerned with what other people think about her.

How does the action in the poem differ from the speaker’s point of view?

A The poem describes a journey, but the speaker hopes the reader can delay her progress.

B. The poem describes a journey, but the speaker provides a picture of its halting progress.

C. The speaker describes her progress but demonstrates a longing to linger on the details of life.

D. The speaker describes the stopping of her heartbeat, and there are pauses in the poem to emphasize this condition.

Based on the use of the contrasting word Yet before the word onward in line 12, what is the meaning of the word fain in line 10?

A. forcefully

B. intimately

C. methodically

D. enthusiastically

How does the poet create tension in the poem?

A. by means of the speaker’s disdain for nature

B. through conflict between the speaker and self

C. through conflict between the speaker and nature

D. by means of the speaker’s uncontrollable emotions

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Embrace the Journey of Emotions: Introducing “Love, Hope, Heartbreak” – Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about “Love, Hope, Heartbreak” – A Poetry Collection

Dive into the depths of human emotion with the Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection, an exquisite poetry collection that transcends boundaries and touches the soul. Authored by the talented Author Brandon Reta Cantu, this book invites readers on a poignant exploration of love, hope, and heartbreak through the following key points:

  • Emotional Authenticity: In Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection, Brandon Reta Cantu delves fearlessly into the heart of human emotion, crafting each poem with raw honesty and authenticity. From the euphoria of love's embrace to the piercing ache of heartbreak, readers will resonate deeply with the emotions laid bare on the pages.
  • Universal Themes: Through evocative verse, this collection navigates the universal themes that connect us all: Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection. With exquisite imagery and profound insights, Brandon Reta Cantu captures the essence of the human experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own journey through life's triumphs and tribulations.
  • Poetic Mastery: With lyrical finesse and a keen eye for detail, Brandon Reta Cantu demonstrates a mastery of the poetic craft. Each poem is a masterpiece in its own right, weaving together language and emotion to create a symphony of words that resonates with readers long after the final page is turned.
  • A Journey of Resilience: Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection is more than just a poetry collection; it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through moments of joy, longing, and heartbreak, Brandon Reta Cantu reminds us of the beauty found in vulnerability and the strength that emerges from embracing our emotions fully.
  • Accessible and Inspirational: Whether you're a seasoned poetry enthusiast or new to the genre, Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection offers something for everyone. Its accessible language and universal themes make it a compelling read for anyone seeking inspiration, solace, or simply a deeper connection to the human experience.

Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection is now available for purchase in paperback and e-book formats on Retailer and Brandon Reta Cantu's Website. Join Brandon Reta Cantu on this unforgettable journey through the tapestry of human emotion and discover the power of poetry to illuminate the depths of the soul.

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IMAGES

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  2. the journey mary oliver

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  3. "The Journey" Poem Analysis by Joe Li

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  4. The Journey Poem by Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

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  5. Your Journey

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  6. One of my most favorite poems

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COMMENTS

  1. "The Journey" by Mary Oliver Flashcards

    what is "The Journey" written in? free verse. what moment does this poem capture? when we decide that we must listen to our own voices in order to live an authentic life. what fundamental human experience does this poem address? leaving behind the old and entering the new. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like "The ...

  2. The Journey poem Flashcards

    Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by gabbylernerr Terms in this set (5) Paraphrase leaving on a journey and facing obstacles on the way. Not listening to the voices in their head. Keep moving on and trusting themselves. connotation whole poem is a metaphor last too sentences is repetition (though) is introduced as a new obstacle

  3. Poem: the journey Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Summary, How is this poem presented to the reader?, Form and more.

  4. The Journey: StudySync Flashcards

    Order the events chronologically as they take place in the poem. The traveler decides to leave a house and the voices there. The traveler hears her own voice. The traveler feels determined to save her own life. The answers to The Journey on StudySync. Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.

  5. The Journey Flashcards

    1 / 2 What is the author comparing to "the sheets of clouds"? Which lines of the poem tell you this? Click the card to flip 👆 Definition 1 / 2 Doubt, line 29 Click the card to flip 👆 Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by Luis_Gtz Luis Gutierrez Terms in this set (2) What is the author comparing to "the sheets of clouds"?

  6. The Journey Poem Vocab Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like enable, fundamentally, Impress and more.

  7. The Journey Poem Summary and Analysis

    LitCharts Get the entire guide to "The Journey" as a printable PDF. Download The Full Text of "The Journey" "The Journey" Summary "The Journey" Themes The Importance of Self-Reliance

  8. The Journey by Mary Oliver

    1 Summary 2 Themes 3 Structure 4 Poetic Techniques 5 Analysis of The Journey Summary ' The Journey ' by Mary Oliver tells of the emotional and mental turmoil someone endured to end one unhealthy life and begin anew in a different world. In the first lines of this piece the speaker addresses "you".

  9. A Summary and Analysis of Mary Oliver's 'The Journey'

    'The Journey' is a poem about someone who leaves behind their old life and embarks on a journey towards a new one. You can read 'The Journey' here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Mary Oliver's poem below. The poem takes around one minute to read. 'The Journey': summary

  10. The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) Study Guide: Analysis

    Written by Timothy Sexton Mary Oliver 's poem "The Journey" is an exercise in pure symbolism in which nothing is intended to be interpreted literally even it is a composed in a way that allows everything to be interpreted literally.

  11. Analysis of Poem 'The Journey' by Mary Oliver

    'The Journey' is a poem that focuses on the need to leave behind what is bad and wrong and harmful and start out on a new path. It has become a popular poem for those seeking guidance and strength in their lives. 'Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?' Mary Oliver is best known for her poems on nature.

  12. Poet Seers » The Journey

    The Journey One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice - - - though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. 'Mend my life!' each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers

  13. The Journey, by Mary Oliver

    But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn. through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice. which you slowly. recognized as your own, that kept you company. as you strode deeper and deeper.

  14. Mary Oliver

    The Journey Lyrics One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice - - - though the whole house began to tremble and you felt...

  15. The Journey poem

    The Journey by Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried

  16. The Journey

    The Journey by Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried

  17. The Journey (Mary Oliver poem) Background

    Written by people who wish to remain anonymous "The Journey" was initially published in 2017 as a part of the final collection of poetry entitled Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver. "The Journey" is one of Oliver's most widely read and well-respected works; it is a significant part of this collection and her work as a whole.

  18. "THE JOURNEY" by Mary Oliver

    A journey is compared to making and carrying out a decision. A journey is compared to a road full of broken branches and stones. 3. Multiple Choice. Edit. 15 minutes. 1 pt. In this poem, "the voices" are a metaphor for. people who cling.

  19. What figurative language is used in the poem "The Journey" b

    What figurative language is used in the poem "The Journey" b | Quizlet Related questions with answers Describe the long-term effects and the short-term effects of air pollution on health. Define the term temperature inversion. Explain how temperature inversion traps pollutants near Earth's surface

  20. Journey Study Guide

    Historical Context of Journey. "Journey" is written within the context of Māori resistance to white New Zealanders' ongoing colonization of Māori land. Beginning in the early 1800s, Māori people, who had been living on the islands of Aotearoa (or New Zealand) for centuries, experienced a dramatic increase in the number of Europeans ...

  21. "The Journey" by David Whyte

    Two of my favorite poems in the world are both titled "The Journey." ... It's a wonderful poem. I've shared it with all my close friends who've gone through a bad time. Like Liked by 1 person. August 16, 2015 at 1:48 am Christina's Words. I'm glad you like it, Matti. Whyte's work is so inspiring.

  22. Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot (Poem + Analysis)

    Journey of the Magi By T.S. Eliot 'Journey of the Magi' shows the Magi's transformative spiritual journey as he grapples with a new spiritual reality. Read Poem PDF Guide Share Cite T.S. Eliot Nationality: English Poet Guide T.S. Eliot, originally American turned British citizen, is remembered today as a literary critic, poet, and editor.

  23. Journey Poem

    B. The poem describes a journey, but the speaker provides a picture of its halting progress. C. The speaker describes her progress but demonstrates a longing to linger on the details of life. D. The speaker describes the stopping of her heartbeat, and there are pauses in the poem to emphasize this condition. 4. Multiple Choice.

  24. Embrace the Journey of Emotions: Introducing "Love, Hope, Heartbreak

    A Journey of Resilience: Book: Echoes of Solitude: Poems of Love and Loss about "Love, Hope, Heartbreak" - A Poetry Collection is more than just a poetry collection; it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through moments of joy, longing, and heartbreak, Brandon Reta Cantu reminds us of the beauty found in vulnerability and the ...