The Oral Tradition: Plot

Plot Summary

“The Oral Tradition” is a poem by Eavan Boland about her mother and their relationship, using invocation of myths and universal symbols.
The poem opens with imagery of her mother grooming herself, “combing the hair from her forehead” in front of the mirror. Boland creates a vivid scene of domestic intimacy using captivating sensory details.
Boland, then, introduces the reader to her mother’s persona, portraying her as a woman with “a craft of loss” who possesses an enduring spirit.
The poem takes a narrator’s childhood memory in the “front room” and from this room, the narrator can hear her mother’s song, declaring it as the song of time.
Boland links her mother’s personal struggle with the mythical Greek heroine, Penelope, who also endured solitude and anxieties while waiting for Odysseus.
The poem concludes with a line from her mother’s song, acting as a haunting reminder of transient nature of life and memories.

The poem’s title, “The Oral Tradition”, indicates Boland’s engagement with folklore, history, and personal remembrances.

The narrative commences with the peaceful domestic scene, then skillfully transitions to the mythical world of Penelope. This shifting landscape reveals Boland’s remarkable word craft.

The mother is portrayed as a strong, patient woman. Her character is empathetically drawn, echoing themes of resilience and fortitude in everyday existence.

Engagement with the classical world, particularly the linking of her mother’s waiting to Penelope’s vigil for Odysseus, demonstrates Boland’s unique blend of myth and reality to convey intense personal experiences.
The poem bridges the realms of the personal and the universal, illustrating the power of oral tradition in linking the present to the past.