32 pages 1 hour read

William Carlos Williams

Paterson

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Adult | Published in 1946

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book 5

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 5 Summary

At the beginning of this Book, a March spring comes to Paterson the city as Paterson the man ages. Paterson considers the role of virginity in marriage. An interlude of a letter to Paterson describes the beauty of flowers, which are named in detail, and memories of nights at a friend’s house together. A verse section describes the naturalist John James Audubon’s journey through Kentucky by boat. The poet A.G. writes to thank Dr. Williams, the author, for an introduction to a book of poems.

An interlude signed G.S. describes a drunken night negotiating price with a young woman sex worker in a Spanish-speaking country. A section narrated by a man’s lover describes the physical sensation of attraction. A dated journal entry focuses on President FDR’s financial policies and the details of treasury reports. The narrator sees a woman dressed in men’s clothes on the streets of Paterson—he seeks her, though she disappears into the crowd; he says “have you read anything that I have written? / It is all for you / or the birds / or Mezz Mezzrow” (220). A prose section describes listening to the blues, especially the tenor saxophone and the vocals of Bessie Smith.

Related Titles

By William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

Approach of Winter

William Carlos Williams

Approach of Winter

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

Between Walls

William Carlos Williams

Between Walls

William Carlos Williams

Plot Summary

logo

In the American Grain

William Carlos Williams

In the American Grain

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

William Carlos Williams

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

Spring and All

William Carlos Williams

Spring and All

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

Spring Storm

William Carlos Williams

Spring Storm

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

The Red Wheelbarrow

William Carlos Williams

The Red Wheelbarrow

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

The Young Housewife

William Carlos Williams

The Young Housewife

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

This Is Just to Say

William Carlos Williams

This Is Just to Say

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

To Elsie

William Carlos Williams

To Elsie

William Carlos Williams

Study Guide

logo

To Waken An Old Lady

William Carlos Williams

To Waken An Old Lady

William Carlos Williams