Welcome to Your Study Guide for Elizabeth Smither’s ‘Plaits’

Hello IGCSE students! This poem, 'Plaits', takes a close, thoughtful look at something simple: the act of braiding hair. Don't worry if it seems too short or descriptive at first. Smither uses this everyday action to explore big ideas about control, creation, and beauty. By the end of these notes, you’ll be able to confidently analyze how the poet turns a common task into a profound piece of art. Let's get started!

1. Poem Overview and Context

The Poet: Elizabeth Smither

  • Elizabeth Smither (born 1941) is a celebrated New Zealand poet and novelist.
  • Her work is often praised for its precision, careful observation, and ability to find depth and significance in everyday moments and objects.

Summary of 'Plaits' (AO1: Knowledge)

'Plaits' describes the physical process of braiding hair. The speaker (who may be braiding their own hair or observing someone else) focuses intently on the sensory experience—how the loose, flowing hair is transformed into a tight, controlled braid. The poem moves from imagery of water and freedom to the final image of the braid as a solid, practical object.

Structure and Form (AO3: Writer's Methods)

  • Free Verse: The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter (rhythm). This helps give the poem a conversational, natural feel, mimicking the organic flow of the hair and the natural pace of the activity.
  • Stanza Layout: It is composed of short, neat stanzas. This contrasts with the 'wildness' of the initial hair, suggesting the poet is trying to impose order even on the page, mirroring the act of plaiting itself.
  • Enjambment: Smither frequently uses enjambment (lines that run on without punctuation) throughout the poem, particularly when describing the flowing hair. This reinforces the idea of movement and fluidity.

Quick Trick: Think of the poem's structure as the process: Start loose and flowing (enjambment), end neat and controlled (short stanzas).

2. Detailed Analysis of Imagery and Language

Key Sensory Imagery: Hair as Water (AO3)

The most important recurring image is the comparison of hair to water. This is a common metaphor, but Smither uses it specifically to emphasize the contrast between the hair's natural state and its braided state.

  • "like a cold stream parted": The hair, when loose, is described as something flowing, cool, and alive. A stream is natural, moving, and untamed.
  • "The cold stream / is arrested, twisted / into a rope": The word "arrested" is powerful. It suggests the stream's movement has been suddenly stopped or captured. The fluid, wild energy is now confined and made solid—a "rope."
  • Did You Know? This comparison highlights the theme of taming nature. Braiding is a gentle but firm attempt to control natural growth and make it useful or beautiful.

The Process of Transformation (AO1 & AO3)

The middle of the poem focuses on the tactile (touch) experience of braiding. The language here is precise and detailed.

  • "three strands separate": This is the moment order is imposed. The poet uses the verb "separate" to show the deliberate, thoughtful action required.
  • "the tight, slick finish": "Tight" and "slick" convey firmness and control. The hair is no longer soft and wispy, but smooth and secured.
  • Focus on the Sound: Listen to the hard, sharp sounds in words like "tight," "twist," and "secured." These consonants reflect the firmness of the plait being made.

The Final Product: Control and Utility (AO2)

In the concluding lines, the plait is redefined, moving beyond simple decoration.

  • The plait is described as "a thin, firm weapon / against the cold."
  • What does "weapon" mean here? Don't take this literally! It suggests the braid is functional, strong, and useful. It's a tool for protection (against the cold, perhaps, or against disorder).
  • It is "secured with a band / or a bright ribbon": The fastening emphasizes the completion of the task and the success of the imposed order. The "bright ribbon" adds a touch of necessary beauty or feminine adornment to the otherwise stark "weapon."

Quick Review Box (AO1/AO3):
The poem is driven by a central contrast:
1. Fluidity (cold stream, loose)
2. Solidity (rope, weapon, tight, secured)

3. Key Themes in ‘Plaits’ (AO2: Understanding Themes)

The beauty of this poem lies in how Smither uses the small action of braiding to explore universal human concerns.

A. Control vs. Freedom

This is the heart of the poem. Hair, when loose, symbolizes freedom, nature, and lack of constraint (the flowing stream). The act of plaiting is an exercise of control, transforming something chaotic into something manageable.

  • We often seek to control our appearance and our lives. The plait is a metaphor for imposing order on the natural world or on the self.
  • The speaker finds satisfaction in this control, moving from the messy "parted" hair to the "tight, slick finish."

B. Artistry and Creation

The plait is not just a practical way to tie up hair; it is an aesthetic act. It takes skill and patience to create the even, intricate weave.

  • The poet treats the plaiting as a miniature act of creation, similar to weaving or sculpting.
  • It shows how small, repeated, everyday actions can result in something beautiful and structured.

C. The Significance of the Body and Sensation

Smither involves the reader deeply in the physical experience.

  • The focus on the cold, the slickness, and the tightness engages our sense of touch (tactile imagery).
  • This emphasizes how connected we are to our physical selves and how much meaning we derive from physical actions.

Don't worry if this poem feels quiet. Quiet poems often have the deepest themes! It’s asking: How do we find order and beauty in our lives?

4. Preparing for Examination Responses (AO4: Personal Response)

When answering a question on 'Plaits' in the exam, remember to link Smither’s methods directly to the effect she achieves on the reader.

A. How to Write About Methods and Effects

Use this step-by-step process when discussing Smither's language:

  1. Identify the Method: Smither uses a metaphor (e.g., comparing hair to a stream).
  2. Quote the Example: "the cold stream / is arrested."
  3. Explain the Effect/Intention: The word "arrested" highlights the sudden imposition of human control on something naturally flowing. This makes the reader appreciate the firmness of the plait.

B. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Mistake: Thinking "weapon" means the plait is aggressive or dangerous.
  • Correction: Understand "weapon" in this context means strength, resilience, and utility. It is an object built for a purpose.
  • Mistake: Focusing only on the appearance of the plait.
  • Correction: Focus equally on the process—the verbs and tactile imagery (twisting, parting, securing) that describe the effort and focus required.

C. Sample Personal Response Starter (AO4)

"I find Smither's poem deeply satisfying because it transforms a very ordinary chore into an act of meditation. The initial imagery of the 'cold stream' immediately makes me feel the sensory rush of loose hair, which makes the final image of the controlled, functional 'rope' all the more powerful as a statement about finding order."

Key Takeaway for Revision:
‘Plaits’ is a poem of movement and transformation. Focus your analysis on how the language of water (flow, freedom) is subdued by the language of craftsmanship (tight, secured, rope). This simple process is Smither’s way of exploring how we find meaning by organizing the chaos around us.