The gift of the bee-Poet: Bee Symbolism in H.D.'s Poetry and Prose

The bee has played a significant role in human cultures and religions since before the time of the ancient Egyptians and, as a result, has become a well-known symbol in world mythologies and literature. In this thesis, I explore the ways in which H.D. participates in this literary tradition by drawing on these ancient associations when she employs the bee symbol in her poetry and prose. Using two of her novels, HERmione and The Gift, as interpretive keys for understanding her use of the bee symbol in two of her most important works of poetry, Sea Garden and Trilogy, I trace H.D.'s use of the bee through the course of her career and argue that she employed it as a symbol for herself as a poet and as a reflection of her ongoing creative investments