Essay Questions

How does Gioia use “The Angel Statue” to speak to the frailty of beauty?

The narrator of this poem is a marble statue of an angel, sculpted as a representation of ultimate beauty and purity. The statue ponders his existence and concludes that he must have been created for the enjoyment and observation of others—though he does not understand why. The statue understands that he must be perceive as beautiful by others, and yet he does not, himself, feel this beauty that is projected upon him. Rather, he feels that his beauty must be futile, wasted. As war has resulted in the loss of one of the angel statue’s wings, he also believes that his life has become truly meaningless, for he is no longer whole and is therefore no longer able to converse with God. The narrator of this poem is therefore representative of the fact that beauty is not absolute. Beauty can fade; we can be robbed of our beauty. Therefore, to place so much strength and stock in the perceived beauty of oneself is a futile effort—for it, too will fade, and you will be left with nothing but your own consciousness and an intense feeling of self-doubt.

What is unique about Gioia’s portrayal of God and divinity, given that Dana Gioia was a devout Christian?

Gioia approaches Christianity and religion from a unique and perhaps unconventional perspective. His poems pay tribute to God and idolize him as the ultimate Creator and giver of all. And yet, Gioia also suggests that there is an equilibrium that exists between humans and God. He believes that divinity is a give-and-take; power must be shared between God and His creations. Though we are most certainly dependent upon God’s saving grace and ultimate power, He also depends upon our fellowships and following. This perspective of a balanced distribution of power and divinity is rather unusual for those who identify as Christians, as Christianity paints God as the ultimate source of all power and grace. Therefore, Gioia approaches religion from a unique perspective, as a views Christianity as more of a balance between humans and God.

How does Gioia negotiate the difference between passion and love in his poems?

In his poems, Gioia explores the complex and often reciprocal relationship between the emotions of passion and love. Gioia consistently suggests that our passions inform our deepest loves; the two are intrinsically connected and permanently entwined. Passion and love have a symbiotic relationship, for one cannot exist without the other. If one has no passions, one will never love. In “The Apple Orchard,” the narrator suggests that passion is the most heightened emotion, for passion is what inspires us to explore, investigate, and share in our experiences. Gioia explores love more deeply and distinctly in “The Angel With the Broken Wing,” wherein he implies that love truly is blind and that the source of all genuine love is God, our Creator. In this way, Gioia suggests that love and passion are inextricably linked; they cannot exist without each other and will constantly inform one another.