Cinderella
What kinds of modern stories does Sexton list at the start, and what do they show?
Stories like “the plumber... who wins the Irish Sweepstakes” and “the nursemaid... from diapers to Dior” show society’s obsession with luck and sudden wealth.
Where is the brother going at the start of the poem?
He’s walking “to the field at the end of the street,” called Hangers Hideout, after running away from home.
Who is Michael, and how does he appear in the poem?
Michael is a student who first comes “as a man (dressed in men’s clothes)” and later “as a woman (dressed in women’s clothes).”
What emotion does the singer hide throughout the song?
He hides his sadness and heartbreak, “hiding the tears in my eyes.”
What days and times is our class
M-W 9:30
What does the dove symbolize in the poem?
Cinderella’s mother’s spirit and the magical help she receives
Why does the brother run away?
because “our father wants to cut his hair.”
How do the people at the poetry reading react to Michael?
They are “shocked—the young, seen-it-all MTV crowd—into silence.”
Why doesn’t the singer apologize or say he loves the person?
He believes it’s “too late” and that “it would change [nothing].”
What building is English class in?
Hiede Hall
How does Sexton describe the stepsisters trying on the slipper?
She makes it violent and realistic: “sliced it off... the blood told as blood will,” turning the scene gruesome instead of magical.
What happens when the brother finally comes home?
The father “will shave his head bald,” and afterward, the brother “will not speak to anyone the next month.”
What symbol does Michael carry to the podium?
He carries “a single, living, red rose, in a vase.”
What phrase is repeated as the main message of the song?
“Boys don’t cry.”
What is the "Warhawk Mascots" name?
Willie Warhawk
How does Sexton describe Cinderella and the prince’s married life?
They live “like two dolls in a museum case,” suggesting lifeless, fake happiness.
What lesson does the speaker say her brothers learned?
They learned “how to leave, how to walk down a sidewalk without looking back.”
What quality does the speaker admire most about Michael?
His “perfect dignity” and “crazy courage to be whole.”
What mistake does the singer admit to in the bridge?
He says he “misjudged your limit, pushed you too far, took you for granted.”
What does the chancellor love to do with students?
Take selfies
What is the effect of the poem’s final phrase, “That story”?
It shows Sexton’s sarcasm. Dismissing the fairy tale as just another false, repeated fantasy.
What did the speaker herself learn?
She learned “to follow him, whoever he was, / calling and calling his name.”
What does the poem suggest about innocence and wholeness?
It says a person is “whole before they’re punished for including everything in their innocence,” meaning true self-acceptance is natural but often condemned.
What theme does the song explore?
It explores emotional repression and regret, showing how men are pressured to hide feelings of love and pain.
When was UWW founded?
1868