INTRO/THESIS STATEMENT
In the poem, Adolescence-II, by Rita Dove, Dove uses the images of night to and darkness to highlight the dark and emotional times of her childhood. Dove really played with different images of darkness and shadows by consuming the entire setting in darkness. The overall atmosphere and tone of the poem was very dark and heavy, almost like the narrator was engulfed in night. Whatever the narrator was going through, it seemed to torment her.
BODY I: The use of imagery is used to highlight the torment and struggle the narrator is going through.
-"sweat prickles behind my knees, the baby-breasts are alert.": This shows that the narrator is anxious and nervous about something. Its almost like they're expecting something to happen or someone to come.
-"Night rests like a ball of fur on my tongue": Expresses the hashness and intensity of what just happened to the narrator. Having a ball of fur on your tongue cant bevery pleasant so this shows that the narrator is very uncomfortable and overwhelmed by the men who just left.
-"I sit in the bathroom, waiting.": Shows that the narrator is expecting something to happen or to meet/encounter someone.
BODY II: The image and setting of night shows the intensity of the narrator and how they feel throughout the whole poem.
-"And they rise, Glittering like pools of ink under moonlight, And vanish": This gives the visitors an almost sinister feel to them. Their prescence in throughout the whole poem is very dark and mysterious to the narrator.
-"I clutch at the ragged holes they leave behind, here at the edge of darkness.": This shows that these men left some type of impression on the narrator or hurt her in some type of way. Holes connotate that maybe they hurt her in some type of way and they've left her alone in darkness. "At the edge of darkness" could be a reference to how the narrator is feeling after encountering the 3 men. Darkness and "at the edge" kind of tell the reader that the narrator is left alone and they're maybe confused or unaware of something going on.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Character Analysis: Jewel
In the novel "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner, Faulkner uses an interesting twist in his stories. Instead of having the whole story told by one narrator, he decided to use all the characters and made them all narrators. Each character has their own chapter that's self titled and it has that character give their personal thoughts or views on a certain situation. This was a clever way to make the novel because with each chapter, its like the character is revealing more and more about themselves and their personal character. The chapters are like brief journal entries for every character and thats where they reveal their true feelings about whatever's going on in their lives. Another interesting thing about this novel is that all the characters are different and they have their own way of expressing themselves especially when it comes to language and diction.
One of these interesting characters would have to be Jewel. Surprisingly, Jewel is actually a male and he is one of Addie's children. I think he is one of the more interesting characters because his connection with everyone else in the novel is very distant. Jewel really separates himself from the other characters because of previous actions in the story. His relationship with his other siblings isn't very good either. The other siblings seem to be jealous of Jewel at times because Addie, the mother, loved him more than his other brothers and sister. I know it sounds really bad but unfortunately its the truth.
In the novel its clear that Jewel had a better relationship with his mother more than the other siblings. In Darl's section of As I Lay Dying, he and the rest of the family are traveling to Jefferson, which is where Addie wished to buried. During this journey there were alot of obstacles they had to overcome and one of them was working as a team. Jewel was portrayed as being very stubborn and difficult with everyone. For example, Jewel's brother, Cash would try to work with him and direct Jewel but he would ignore him completely. Throughout the novel Jewel would purposely separate himself from other people. For example,when they were all trying to cross the river, Jewel was very attached to the horse and nothing else. He even went as far as to try and carry it across the river himself. Cash would try and tell him just let the horse swim, but Jewel refused to listen to him (p.144-145).
Another characteristic about Jewel is that he loved and adored his horse dearly. Everything he would do involved his horse. Even though Jewel separated himself from everyone in the "river crossing" scene, he stayed attached to his horse. The horse is very important in characterizing Jewel because it represents who he is in so many ways. For example, Jewel and his horse's relationship is an extended metaphor of Jewel and Addie's relationship as a child. Jewel was obviously the favorite of Addie's and she never tried to hide it. Jewel and his horse represent him and his mother because it says that "Ma would sit in the lamp-light, holding him on a pillow on her lap. We would wake and find her so. There would be no sound from them"(p. 144). Then the scene goes on to show Jewel comforting the horse as they crossed the river. Jewel calms the horse by saying" Go on,I aint going to let nothing hurt you. Go on, now" (p. 144). This part truly reflects the loving bond between Jewel and Addie, as well as Jewel and his horse. Also, Jewel ignored Cash's voice, just as Addie would ignore them many times as kids.
One of these interesting characters would have to be Jewel. Surprisingly, Jewel is actually a male and he is one of Addie's children. I think he is one of the more interesting characters because his connection with everyone else in the novel is very distant. Jewel really separates himself from the other characters because of previous actions in the story. His relationship with his other siblings isn't very good either. The other siblings seem to be jealous of Jewel at times because Addie, the mother, loved him more than his other brothers and sister. I know it sounds really bad but unfortunately its the truth.
In the novel its clear that Jewel had a better relationship with his mother more than the other siblings. In Darl's section of As I Lay Dying, he and the rest of the family are traveling to Jefferson, which is where Addie wished to buried. During this journey there were alot of obstacles they had to overcome and one of them was working as a team. Jewel was portrayed as being very stubborn and difficult with everyone. For example, Jewel's brother, Cash would try to work with him and direct Jewel but he would ignore him completely. Throughout the novel Jewel would purposely separate himself from other people. For example,when they were all trying to cross the river, Jewel was very attached to the horse and nothing else. He even went as far as to try and carry it across the river himself. Cash would try and tell him just let the horse swim, but Jewel refused to listen to him (p.144-145).
Another characteristic about Jewel is that he loved and adored his horse dearly. Everything he would do involved his horse. Even though Jewel separated himself from everyone in the "river crossing" scene, he stayed attached to his horse. The horse is very important in characterizing Jewel because it represents who he is in so many ways. For example, Jewel and his horse's relationship is an extended metaphor of Jewel and Addie's relationship as a child. Jewel was obviously the favorite of Addie's and she never tried to hide it. Jewel and his horse represent him and his mother because it says that "Ma would sit in the lamp-light, holding him on a pillow on her lap. We would wake and find her so. There would be no sound from them"(p. 144). Then the scene goes on to show Jewel comforting the horse as they crossed the river. Jewel calms the horse by saying" Go on,I aint going to let nothing hurt you. Go on, now" (p. 144). This part truly reflects the loving bond between Jewel and Addie, as well as Jewel and his horse. Also, Jewel ignored Cash's voice, just as Addie would ignore them many times as kids.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Red Fox: The Commentary
Throughout our society, there are many different perceptions of women. Some are good and some not so good, but these different perceptions of women are determined by different factors. This can come in the form of movies, music, television, or the media. The most obvious, yet powerful way women are portrayed is through writing. For centuries, men and women have used writing to their advantage as a way to express their feelings and emotions towards certain issues or even people. Margaret Atwood does an excellent job of addressing different issues through writing.
In the poem, "Red Fox", by Margaret Atwood, she uses conceit and oxymorons to highlight the corruption of society and how women must struggle to survive. The interesting thing about this poem is that Atwood basically makes women seem very mischevious and sneaky in order to get want they want. However, she does justify it by giving different scenarios and reasons for their behavior. Atwood uses the extended metaphor of a red fox to describe the actions of women in a corrupt society. "The sly trickster's eyes, filled with longing and desperation" are just one of many words used to describe the behavior of women. Atwood was trying to say that some women are willing to be very deceitful and cunning in order to get what they want in life."Her white knife of a smile" implies that this red fox, or woman may seem very friendly at first, but its just a way for her to use people to get her way in life. Another emotion present in Red Fox is that of pain and emptiness. Words and phrases such as "filled with longing and desperation" show that there is something missing or being taken away from the "red fox". This could easily be interpreted into a way to describe the high rate of poverty and injustice in society.
Atwood pointed out in her poem that red foxes, or women, can be very deceitful and sly. However, she also argues that they are justified in what they do. "Why encourage the notion of virtuous poverty?" is the most evident example of how Atwood uses oxymoron to show the issue of corruption and poverty in society. In "Red Fox",she is also saying that "virtuous poverty" is a philosophy that many wealthy and privileged people use as an excuse NOT to help out the poor. "It's only an excuse for zero charity" is a line that portrays the wealthy as people who believe that it is better to remain poor and suffer rather than fight to survive when in reality, they're just saying this so that they won't have to be concerned about helping the poor and abused people in society. Atwood begins to defend the actions of deceitful and cunning women in society with lines like "Of course there are mothers, squeezing their breasts dry, pawning their bodies". This shows that women only do the things they do in order to survive and give themselves (as well as their families) a chance at living a decent life. "To survive we'd all turn thief" really supports Atwood's overall argument defending struggling women in society. Although what they're doing is wrong, they can be justified in their actions because they're only trying to survive. Also, if we were in their shoes, we all would do the same thing in order to ensure ourselves a chance at survival and a good life.
In the poem, "Red Fox", by Margaret Atwood, she uses conceit and oxymorons to highlight the corruption of society and how women must struggle to survive. The interesting thing about this poem is that Atwood basically makes women seem very mischevious and sneaky in order to get want they want. However, she does justify it by giving different scenarios and reasons for their behavior. Atwood uses the extended metaphor of a red fox to describe the actions of women in a corrupt society. "The sly trickster's eyes, filled with longing and desperation" are just one of many words used to describe the behavior of women. Atwood was trying to say that some women are willing to be very deceitful and cunning in order to get what they want in life."Her white knife of a smile" implies that this red fox, or woman may seem very friendly at first, but its just a way for her to use people to get her way in life. Another emotion present in Red Fox is that of pain and emptiness. Words and phrases such as "filled with longing and desperation" show that there is something missing or being taken away from the "red fox". This could easily be interpreted into a way to describe the high rate of poverty and injustice in society.
Atwood pointed out in her poem that red foxes, or women, can be very deceitful and sly. However, she also argues that they are justified in what they do. "Why encourage the notion of virtuous poverty?" is the most evident example of how Atwood uses oxymoron to show the issue of corruption and poverty in society. In "Red Fox",she is also saying that "virtuous poverty" is a philosophy that many wealthy and privileged people use as an excuse NOT to help out the poor. "It's only an excuse for zero charity" is a line that portrays the wealthy as people who believe that it is better to remain poor and suffer rather than fight to survive when in reality, they're just saying this so that they won't have to be concerned about helping the poor and abused people in society. Atwood begins to defend the actions of deceitful and cunning women in society with lines like "Of course there are mothers, squeezing their breasts dry, pawning their bodies". This shows that women only do the things they do in order to survive and give themselves (as well as their families) a chance at living a decent life. "To survive we'd all turn thief" really supports Atwood's overall argument defending struggling women in society. Although what they're doing is wrong, they can be justified in their actions because they're only trying to survive. Also, if we were in their shoes, we all would do the same thing in order to ensure ourselves a chance at survival and a good life.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
From The Frontier Of Writing: Commentary
In "From The Frontier Of Writing" by Seamus Heaney, Heaney uses imagery and the extended metaphor of driving down a road to show the stress and anxiety writers face dealing with critics and editors. Heaney compares criticism as a writer to driving down a road to show that there are many obstacles and problems you run into. Writers are often criticized for th things they write about or the type of writing style they have and thats the issue that Heaney was trying to address through this poem.
In the poem there are alot of symbols and metahphors used to describe the feeling of being a writer criticized and watched by others. For example, one line says "the car stops in the road, the troops inspect its make and number" and this shows that people are constantly looking at your works and trying to catergorize it under a certain label. Also, I think that cars represented like the speaker's pen and the road was his canvas or writing surface. It makes sense that Heaney would use a car to relate to writing bcuz they have so much in common. with a car ur able to move as freely as you want to. ALso, you can go in any direction that you desire to go in. It the same with writing, the pen is your vehicle and you can allow it to take you where ever your mind desires to go. The troops and inspectors in this poem represent the critics and editors in the world. They always have something to say pertaining to different types of art such as writing. This can be discouraging at times bcuz they're known for putting people's work down and trying to change it. But I think the whole point of this poem was to show that you can never limit the creativity or thinking process of a writer.
There is an overall tone of insecurity and caution. The speaker doesn't really address a certain person but instead, its almost as if He or she is making it public for everyone to hear. Its like they're tryin to warn us about the different critics and things out there that try to limitor censor our true thoughts and ways of expressing it. They saying that writing is one of those few liberties that no one can take away from us.
In the poem there are alot of symbols and metahphors used to describe the feeling of being a writer criticized and watched by others. For example, one line says "the car stops in the road, the troops inspect its make and number" and this shows that people are constantly looking at your works and trying to catergorize it under a certain label. Also, I think that cars represented like the speaker's pen and the road was his canvas or writing surface. It makes sense that Heaney would use a car to relate to writing bcuz they have so much in common. with a car ur able to move as freely as you want to. ALso, you can go in any direction that you desire to go in. It the same with writing, the pen is your vehicle and you can allow it to take you where ever your mind desires to go. The troops and inspectors in this poem represent the critics and editors in the world. They always have something to say pertaining to different types of art such as writing. This can be discouraging at times bcuz they're known for putting people's work down and trying to change it. But I think the whole point of this poem was to show that you can never limit the creativity or thinking process of a writer.
There is an overall tone of insecurity and caution. The speaker doesn't really address a certain person but instead, its almost as if He or she is making it public for everyone to hear. Its like they're tryin to warn us about the different critics and things out there that try to limitor censor our true thoughts and ways of expressing it. They saying that writing is one of those few liberties that no one can take away from us.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Blackberry-Picking: The Commentary
In Blackberry-Picking, by Seamus Heaney, Heaney uses Imagery and Blackberries as a metaphor for the speaker's transition from adolecence to maturity. Imagery is used to show the natural or physical action of picking berries but, it also show the speaker's loss of innocence transtion into realization. These effects are used to highlight the speaker's vivid memories of a favorite pastime of his or hers- Blackberry picking! This not only shows a chilhood memory of the speaker, but it also shows the speaker's transition from loss of innocence into adulthood or reality. The overall structure and tone really contribute to the whole meaning of the poem as well because its very different from most poetry. For example, the poem isn't really broken up into stanzas, they're all clumped together somewhat like a short story or maybe even a journal entry. Because it is structured like a journal or diary entry, it kinda shows that this poem is very important to the creator and perhaps it could be even personal to him as well. Also, the 1st "stanza" is much longer than the 2nd one and the 1st one happens to be very positive and colorful, whereas the 2nd one is much shorter and its very dark and depressing as far as tone and mood.
In Blackberry-Picking, Heaney uses imagery to describe his childhood memories of picking berries. This was something that was very precious and important to him because in the natural, blackberry picking was a tradition for the speaker as a child but it has a more significant meaning to it. Blackberry picking represents the speaker's adolecence and innocence and throughout the 1st stanza, the whole mood and tone of the poem is very peaceful and pleasurable. For example, it says "we trekked and picked until the cans were full" and this shows the speaker's carelessness and free spirit. Berries are used to show the speaker's transtion from innocence to adulthood and this is evident in lines like"one glossy purple clot among others, red, green, hard as a knot" and this shows the growth and change the berries go through as they begin to ripen.
Also, the word "ripen" is very important to the poem and my thesis because it represents change and growth to fruits. I think the word "ripen" also signifies the change the speaker is going through in the poem. Usually when a fruit is ripening, its beginning to develop and change into a state in which its able to be eaten, and thats exactly what the speaker is going through. In the 1st stanza, the overall mood and tone is very innocent, careless, and free. But in the 2nd stanza, its much shorter and the whole mood and tone is very dark and depressing. I think the stanzas are so different in length because the reader obviously enjoyed the blackberry picking more and he or she liked the feeling of being care-free and playful. The 2nd stanza is much shorter in length compared to the 1st because this is the point in the poem where the speaker realizes that good things don't last forever. For example, it says"The juice was stinking too....the sweet flesh would turn sour" and this shows that those sweet berries are all beginning to go bad and they've lost their flavor and sweetness. This is the point where the speaker loses his or her innocence and begins to see reality. Finally, the speaker realizes that everything isn't sweet (lol no pun intended) and at some point all things, good and bad, must come to end.
In Blackberry-Picking, Heaney uses imagery to describe his childhood memories of picking berries. This was something that was very precious and important to him because in the natural, blackberry picking was a tradition for the speaker as a child but it has a more significant meaning to it. Blackberry picking represents the speaker's adolecence and innocence and throughout the 1st stanza, the whole mood and tone of the poem is very peaceful and pleasurable. For example, it says "we trekked and picked until the cans were full" and this shows the speaker's carelessness and free spirit. Berries are used to show the speaker's transtion from innocence to adulthood and this is evident in lines like"one glossy purple clot among others, red, green, hard as a knot" and this shows the growth and change the berries go through as they begin to ripen.
Also, the word "ripen" is very important to the poem and my thesis because it represents change and growth to fruits. I think the word "ripen" also signifies the change the speaker is going through in the poem. Usually when a fruit is ripening, its beginning to develop and change into a state in which its able to be eaten, and thats exactly what the speaker is going through. In the 1st stanza, the overall mood and tone is very innocent, careless, and free. But in the 2nd stanza, its much shorter and the whole mood and tone is very dark and depressing. I think the stanzas are so different in length because the reader obviously enjoyed the blackberry picking more and he or she liked the feeling of being care-free and playful. The 2nd stanza is much shorter in length compared to the 1st because this is the point in the poem where the speaker realizes that good things don't last forever. For example, it says"The juice was stinking too....the sweet flesh would turn sour" and this shows that those sweet berries are all beginning to go bad and they've lost their flavor and sweetness. This is the point where the speaker loses his or her innocence and begins to see reality. Finally, the speaker realizes that everything isn't sweet (lol no pun intended) and at some point all things, good and bad, must come to end.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Woman's Constancy- The Commentary! mewmewmewmew!!!!
In Woman's Constancy, by John Donne, the writer uses diction and catalogue to show his or her uncertainty and instability of their marriage. From the beginning of the poem, there is a hint of irony and satire from the 1st line to the actual title of the poem. When you first see the title of the poem, you might automatically think that it'll be something nice and romantic towards women, but its actually the complete opposite. Personally, I thats what I thought of when I first read the title because I know that John Donne is considered a metaphysical and romantic poet but I was completely surprised by the actual poem.
In Woman's Constancy, Donne uses a lot of diction in the poem to describe the confusion the speaker has about the condition of his or her marriage. Throghout the poem, there is a tone of anger and uncertainty bcuz the speaker feels as if their lover/spouse isn't fully committed or faithful. The diction also reveals that the speaker doesn't really believe in the true power or spiritual aspect of marriage.
In my opinion, I feel that the speaker really wanted to have a good marriage but they didnt really believe in the true meaning of marriage. When I look at the diction, I feel that the speaker saw his or her marriage as more of a legal agreement than a spiritual connection. For example, Donne uses words like oaths, contracts, and vow and, this shows that the speaker sees the legal component to marriage but they arent really seeing it from a spiritual or romantic aspect. Also, the speaker uses words like fear, wrath, untie, death, unloose, and dispute. These words show that the speaker has no connection with their spouse and there is a feeling of separation because the words untie and unloose show that theres no type of unity or trust within their marriage or relationship.
In Woman's Constancy, Donne uses a lot of diction in the poem to describe the confusion the speaker has about the condition of his or her marriage. Throghout the poem, there is a tone of anger and uncertainty bcuz the speaker feels as if their lover/spouse isn't fully committed or faithful. The diction also reveals that the speaker doesn't really believe in the true power or spiritual aspect of marriage.
In my opinion, I feel that the speaker really wanted to have a good marriage but they didnt really believe in the true meaning of marriage. When I look at the diction, I feel that the speaker saw his or her marriage as more of a legal agreement than a spiritual connection. For example, Donne uses words like oaths, contracts, and vow and, this shows that the speaker sees the legal component to marriage but they arent really seeing it from a spiritual or romantic aspect. Also, the speaker uses words like fear, wrath, untie, death, unloose, and dispute. These words show that the speaker has no connection with their spouse and there is a feeling of separation because the words untie and unloose show that theres no type of unity or trust within their marriage or relationship.
Woman's Constancy
Now thou hast loved me one whole day,
Tomorrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were?
Or, that oaths made in reverential fear
Of love, and his wrath, any may forswear?
Or, as true deaths, true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change, and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would,
Which I abstain to do,
For by tomorrow, I may think so too.
Tomorrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were?
Or, that oaths made in reverential fear
Of love, and his wrath, any may forswear?
Or, as true deaths, true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change, and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would,
Which I abstain to do,
For by tomorrow, I may think so too.
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