Nature and Art
In “The Monument,” Bishop is in constant dialogue with the relationship between nature and art. According to Bishop, artwork can be a part of nature. When art is used to describe the natural world and vice versa, the two entities exist as one. However, art can also prevail on its own. Every so often, the purpose and significance of art do not depend on its relationship with nature, rather it exists on its own.
Minimalism
Unlike many poets, Bishop believed in the idea of stripping her work to its bare minimum. Most of her poems, including “The Monument,” are short and direct. Every so often, the purpose and significance of art do not depend on its relationship with nature, rather it exists on its own. Bishop devoted months working on a particular poem.
Precision
Cultivated by her minimalistic ideals, precision was at the heart of Bishop's poems. She concentrated most of her time working on a single project trying to achieve perfection. According to Bishop, every word, punctuation, and sentence in her poems bore meaning.
Mysteriousness
Despite her minimalistic approach, Bishop also evoked a sense of mystery in her poem. In “The Monument,” the reader is introduced to the monument. As the poem progresses, the meaning of the monument shifts completely leaving the reader’s mind tangled.
