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What Is The Structure Of The Bean Eaters

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Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “The Bean Eaters” utilizes imagery, repetition, and structure to explore themes of old age and financial struggle through the lense of an elderly couple. The imagery used in this poem helps to define the couple and the lives that they have led up until the point of time shown in the poem. “Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood, /Tin flatware.” (Line 3-4) suggests that their daily dining is done on the same dishes that have been used for several years. This could allude to a lack of ability or need to purchase more which can lead to the conclusion that this couple is both poor and alone. “As they lean over the beans in their rented back room that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and/ cloths, tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.” (Line 11-12) is another line made …show more content…

“Two who are Mostly Good./ Two who have lived their day,” (Line 5-6) This instance of repetition illustrates a sense of monotony; that this is the same routine that the couple has been replaying for a while now. But the use of the specific words repeated draws focus to the couple themselves. “But keep on putting on their clothes/ And putting things away.” (Line 7-8) uses the word “putting” to show the different ways they are carrying on with life. They put on their clothes as another part of their routine, but the putting things away adds to this clutter element we see towards the end of the poem. They continue to save pieces of their lives to hold close and remember. “And remembering …/ Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,” (Line 9-10) provides two instances of repetition. The first is the word “remembering”. The couple is reminiscing about their lives and all of these items in this room. For whatever reason, that is all they can do. Their apparent alienation leads them to rely on memory. As family visits them less, the couple must rely on other comforts. Their memory is aided by these

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