I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
This poem had a pretty normal and identifiable rhyme scheme, it went A B A B C C. This kept it at a pleasant pace floating and flying over and through clouds and mountains and whatnot. This fits the poem very well as the sound ended up being very lofty and the poem itself is using symbols like waves and mountains and stars, all things that are large and high in the air. This poem is about being a poet and the stanzas stay true to a traditional format, there are no surprises on the way this poem is setup and this reflects an original and standard meaning of poetry.
The theme of this poem is natures elements and wonders, clouds and stars, waves and flowers, all things that make us stand back and admire the power and beauty of nature. Clouds move on their own over many things that live together like fields of flowers and the incredible amount of stars that make up the milky way, the poet is this lonely could and he is looking at all these large groups of people and trying to decide if he fits in with them or if he belongs, but he concludes that these crowds are no place for a poet, he needs his solitude to look inside himself and write, not at the outward world.
This poem was pretty traditional but for its time it is incredibly easy to understand and has a good message. It really has a morale that any of us can relate too, because we have all had times when we feel we need to get out and see people or we think we are lonely, but this tells us to sit back and think about it. Sometimes we can accomplish more on our own then with other, it gives us the time to look at ourselves and maybe find things out about ourselves that we never even knew.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
On Reading Poems to a Senior Class at South High by D.C. Berry
The rhyme and meter in this poem follows no particular order but rather is like a story being told. It builds up and then diminishes at the final line at the end. This is relevant to the meaning of the poem because that is what happens, the water builds up and the students become engrossed in the poems and feel the meaning of them. The stanzas are broken up into small short sections which I feel is done to keep the simplicity of the poem and show the ease of being drawn into a poem.
The poet uses a lot of imagery, symbolism, and theme in the writing of this poem. He uses images of fish and aquariums and water to show the inspiration of the children. How by the water flowing in they are no longer these frozen fish that can only sit and not feel, the water thaws them out and brings them to life. He symbolizes the inspiration as water flowing into the classroom and having it fill up until the bell rings and then they have to leave and the door opens and the inspiration fades and flows away. The water and marine things is the theme that is the poem entirely, it is effective and has many attributes that what he is symbolizing does.
This poem is about an English teacher who while teaching kids who seem not to be interested inspires them without knowing or really meaning to. While many times a teachers job is to settle kids down and make them calm sometimes teachers can bring them to life in what they are discussing and what they are reading. This is the case in this poem, the teacher brings his kids into another world without even knowing it. He himself becomes part of this world and when the water and inspiration flows away from the kids he still has it when he gets home and must relax back into his real life to finally leave the place that the poems brought him.
The rhyme and meter in this poem follows no particular order but rather is like a story being told. It builds up and then diminishes at the final line at the end. This is relevant to the meaning of the poem because that is what happens, the water builds up and the students become engrossed in the poems and feel the meaning of them. The stanzas are broken up into small short sections which I feel is done to keep the simplicity of the poem and show the ease of being drawn into a poem.
The poet uses a lot of imagery, symbolism, and theme in the writing of this poem. He uses images of fish and aquariums and water to show the inspiration of the children. How by the water flowing in they are no longer these frozen fish that can only sit and not feel, the water thaws them out and brings them to life. He symbolizes the inspiration as water flowing into the classroom and having it fill up until the bell rings and then they have to leave and the door opens and the inspiration fades and flows away. The water and marine things is the theme that is the poem entirely, it is effective and has many attributes that what he is symbolizing does.
This poem is about an English teacher who while teaching kids who seem not to be interested inspires them without knowing or really meaning to. While many times a teachers job is to settle kids down and make them calm sometimes teachers can bring them to life in what they are discussing and what they are reading. This is the case in this poem, the teacher brings his kids into another world without even knowing it. He himself becomes part of this world and when the water and inspiration flows away from the kids he still has it when he gets home and must relax back into his real life to finally leave the place that the poems brought him.
Vergissmeinnicht
Three weeks gone and the combatants gone
returning over the nightmare ground
we found the place again, and found
the soldier sprawling in the sun.
The frowning barrel of his gun
overshadowing. As we came on
that day, he hit my tank with one
like the entry of a demon.
Look. Here in the gunpit spoil
the dishonoured picture of his girl
who has put: Steffi. Vergissmeinnicht.
in a copybook gothic script.
We see him almost with content,
abased, and seeming to have paid
and mocked at by his own equipment
that's hard and good when he's decayed.
But she would weep to see today
how on his skin the swart flies move;
the dust upon the paper eye
and the burst stomach like a cave.
For here the lover and killer are mingled
who had one body and one heart.
And death who had the soldier singled
has done the lover mortal hurt.
-- Keith Douglas
The rhyme and meter in this poem is very effective to the meaning of the poem. The rhyme scheme flows well and in a sort of weepy tearful way. Some of it also seems to sound very soldier like. You can imagine much of this being read from a soldiers journal or diary entry which could be what it is meant to sound like. The rhyme scheme is also somewhat romantic, especially at the end of the poem when he is talking about mortal hurt and the soldiers lover. This adds a romantic feel to the poem and the drama of it.
There is some vivid imagery in this poem, the poet describes a gun or bullet as a demon which is an accurate description of a battlefield and what the soldiers body went through. "How on his skin the swart of flies move; the dust upon the paper eye and the burst stomach like a cave." A dead body being made of paper is a good description because paper is nothing and now the body has become as dead as paper. You can also see the flies swarming above a trench with this dead body.
I like this poem because it really comes together at the end and shows the connection between a soldier and someone he loves back home. It goes on to say that if love is true then the heart is one and then in one of their deaths the other dies as well. It is a sad poem of young men who lose their lives at war and their bodies become useless on the battlefield, all that is useful to other soldiers is the hard equipment that they leave behind.
Three weeks gone and the combatants gone
returning over the nightmare ground
we found the place again, and found
the soldier sprawling in the sun.
The frowning barrel of his gun
overshadowing. As we came on
that day, he hit my tank with one
like the entry of a demon.
Look. Here in the gunpit spoil
the dishonoured picture of his girl
who has put: Steffi. Vergissmeinnicht.
in a copybook gothic script.
We see him almost with content,
abased, and seeming to have paid
and mocked at by his own equipment
that's hard and good when he's decayed.
But she would weep to see today
how on his skin the swart flies move;
the dust upon the paper eye
and the burst stomach like a cave.
For here the lover and killer are mingled
who had one body and one heart.
And death who had the soldier singled
has done the lover mortal hurt.
-- Keith Douglas
The rhyme and meter in this poem is very effective to the meaning of the poem. The rhyme scheme flows well and in a sort of weepy tearful way. Some of it also seems to sound very soldier like. You can imagine much of this being read from a soldiers journal or diary entry which could be what it is meant to sound like. The rhyme scheme is also somewhat romantic, especially at the end of the poem when he is talking about mortal hurt and the soldiers lover. This adds a romantic feel to the poem and the drama of it.
There is some vivid imagery in this poem, the poet describes a gun or bullet as a demon which is an accurate description of a battlefield and what the soldiers body went through. "How on his skin the swart of flies move; the dust upon the paper eye and the burst stomach like a cave." A dead body being made of paper is a good description because paper is nothing and now the body has become as dead as paper. You can also see the flies swarming above a trench with this dead body.
I like this poem because it really comes together at the end and shows the connection between a soldier and someone he loves back home. It goes on to say that if love is true then the heart is one and then in one of their deaths the other dies as well. It is a sad poem of young men who lose their lives at war and their bodies become useless on the battlefield, all that is useful to other soldiers is the hard equipment that they leave behind.
212. Money
At first it will seem tame,
willing to be domesticated.
It will nest
in your pocket
or curl up in a corner
reciting softly to itself
the names of the presidents.
It will delight your friends,
shake hands with men
like a dog and lick
the legs of women.
But like an amoeba
it makes love
in secret
only to itself.
Fold it frequently;
it needs exercise.
Water it every three days
and it will repay you
with displays of affection.
Then one day when you think
you are its master
it will turn its head
as if for a kiss
and bite you gently
on the hand.
There will be no pain
but in thirty seconds
the poison will reach your heart.
Victor Contoski
The rhyme and meter of this poem is interesting. It starts off flowing very nicely and rolls along like a child singing carelessly. This is also the part of the poem when the meaning is happy and nice, it is showing all these nice things money can do. It well get you friends and women and they will all like you. This shows the good side of money the part that seems tame and domesticated. The scheme after it makes love in secret only to itself is more broken up, and if you read it out loud it is blunt and angry. This is also when money takes its evil turn and greed enters a persons heart. They become blunt and careless, and the poison that is in the money will reach just your heart because that is where people show compassion and love from.
The symbolism in the poem is the most interesting literary element to me. It personifies money as a pet. A nice little puppy that can curl up, but also speak, and also grow if you water it. So money really takes on all these things that we love, like a small child or a flower or a pet. But it grows and it grows out of our control, we can no longer keep the beast tame for it has gotten too big. Money also is poisonous, from a snake perhaps, which could be a biblical illusion to how tempting money is.
This poem is pretty straightforward, it is clearly about daniel plainview and his greed. It shows the transformation from someone who first gets their taste of money and what it can do for someone and how they fall into its traps that force them to live cold loveless lives. This poem is broad in the fact that it shows that greed can take over anyone, not just an oil tycoon. Money is something that everyone wants and every one is a potential victim to its power.
At first it will seem tame,
willing to be domesticated.
It will nest
in your pocket
or curl up in a corner
reciting softly to itself
the names of the presidents.
It will delight your friends,
shake hands with men
like a dog and lick
the legs of women.
But like an amoeba
it makes love
in secret
only to itself.
Fold it frequently;
it needs exercise.
Water it every three days
and it will repay you
with displays of affection.
Then one day when you think
you are its master
it will turn its head
as if for a kiss
and bite you gently
on the hand.
There will be no pain
but in thirty seconds
the poison will reach your heart.
Victor Contoski
The rhyme and meter of this poem is interesting. It starts off flowing very nicely and rolls along like a child singing carelessly. This is also the part of the poem when the meaning is happy and nice, it is showing all these nice things money can do. It well get you friends and women and they will all like you. This shows the good side of money the part that seems tame and domesticated. The scheme after it makes love in secret only to itself is more broken up, and if you read it out loud it is blunt and angry. This is also when money takes its evil turn and greed enters a persons heart. They become blunt and careless, and the poison that is in the money will reach just your heart because that is where people show compassion and love from.
The symbolism in the poem is the most interesting literary element to me. It personifies money as a pet. A nice little puppy that can curl up, but also speak, and also grow if you water it. So money really takes on all these things that we love, like a small child or a flower or a pet. But it grows and it grows out of our control, we can no longer keep the beast tame for it has gotten too big. Money also is poisonous, from a snake perhaps, which could be a biblical illusion to how tempting money is.
This poem is pretty straightforward, it is clearly about daniel plainview and his greed. It shows the transformation from someone who first gets their taste of money and what it can do for someone and how they fall into its traps that force them to live cold loveless lives. This poem is broad in the fact that it shows that greed can take over anyone, not just an oil tycoon. Money is something that everyone wants and every one is a potential victim to its power.
Portrait Opinion
I enjoyed discussing this novel in class rather then reading it on my own. The best part of this was trying to figure things out, the confusions that Joyce puts into the work and the fun is working it all out. I think if I read this book again on my own I would appreciate it much more and enjoy it much more.
There were many themes within the novel thought that I really liked reading and talking about. For one, when Stephen is in the midst of inspiration and is working on a poem, I could relate to that whether it be in creative writing or if Im working on a song at home. You get in a frenzy of inspiration but then you could possibly lose it, and it is something that comes and goes without warning or cause and Joyce got this feeling across very well.
The guilt was also something that was intense and interesting to read about. Im sure most people have done something that they have been guilty for, probably not as drastic at the age of what Stephen did, but they still felt guilt. Joyce went into incredible detail in describing this feeling and putting guilt into words.
This novel reminded me a lot of Demian by Hermann Hesse, that book goes through a boys life but rather the guilt and emotions and idols that lead up to his finding of a God. He has the image of a pure women and the terrible guilt as well. Also nothing extremely exciting happens, it is mostly just him thinking to himself.
There were many themes within the novel thought that I really liked reading and talking about. For one, when Stephen is in the midst of inspiration and is working on a poem, I could relate to that whether it be in creative writing or if Im working on a song at home. You get in a frenzy of inspiration but then you could possibly lose it, and it is something that comes and goes without warning or cause and Joyce got this feeling across very well.
The guilt was also something that was intense and interesting to read about. Im sure most people have done something that they have been guilty for, probably not as drastic at the age of what Stephen did, but they still felt guilt. Joyce went into incredible detail in describing this feeling and putting guilt into words.
This novel reminded me a lot of Demian by Hermann Hesse, that book goes through a boys life but rather the guilt and emotions and idols that lead up to his finding of a God. He has the image of a pure women and the terrible guilt as well. Also nothing extremely exciting happens, it is mostly just him thinking to himself.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Portrait Themes and Symbols
Religion throughout Stephens life has been a means of imprisonment. It kept him from experience and tied him down from expressing his true beliefs. Many times and escpecially towards the end of the novel Stephen chooses to use quotes about birds to represent himself and how he needs to flee Ireland because there is nothing inspiring for him there.
Religion symbolizes a part of the bars the were keeping Stephen back. The Church filled Stephen with obligation and with guilt, all things that held him back from becoming the artist that he at heart was. Because of religion Stephen is filled with a terrible guilt for what he later realizes where just experiences that would be important cornerstones within his life. The religious life also obligates Stephen in a way to lead a life as a priest. He struggles with this because he does feel drawn to that life at first but realizes that there is nothing in it for him. That his true passion is words, not being this false image of purity that he has in his mind. Stephen's parents also make a barrier keeping him back from his calling. They alienate him because of his detachment from his religion, just set up another barricade against Stephen.
Another continuing symbol I saw throughout the book was the flame on the cheek. I don't know if this is just an expression or something unique to Joyce's writing. It seems like when something good happened that brought Stephen a step further towards his "enlightenment" as an artist the flame on his cheek appeared or it glowed brighter. But if something happened that discouraged him the flame would have dissipeared.
Joyce also continuously brings in an image of female purity which contributes to Stephen's poetic thinking and gives him something to throw his passion at. There is the girl in the beginning when Stephen is feeling guilty and then the one he sees across the river towards the end. They are also crucial points in showing Stephen's growth and in his descriptions of female beauty.
Religion throughout Stephens life has been a means of imprisonment. It kept him from experience and tied him down from expressing his true beliefs. Many times and escpecially towards the end of the novel Stephen chooses to use quotes about birds to represent himself and how he needs to flee Ireland because there is nothing inspiring for him there.
Religion symbolizes a part of the bars the were keeping Stephen back. The Church filled Stephen with obligation and with guilt, all things that held him back from becoming the artist that he at heart was. Because of religion Stephen is filled with a terrible guilt for what he later realizes where just experiences that would be important cornerstones within his life. The religious life also obligates Stephen in a way to lead a life as a priest. He struggles with this because he does feel drawn to that life at first but realizes that there is nothing in it for him. That his true passion is words, not being this false image of purity that he has in his mind. Stephen's parents also make a barrier keeping him back from his calling. They alienate him because of his detachment from his religion, just set up another barricade against Stephen.
Another continuing symbol I saw throughout the book was the flame on the cheek. I don't know if this is just an expression or something unique to Joyce's writing. It seems like when something good happened that brought Stephen a step further towards his "enlightenment" as an artist the flame on his cheek appeared or it glowed brighter. But if something happened that discouraged him the flame would have dissipeared.
Joyce also continuously brings in an image of female purity which contributes to Stephen's poetic thinking and gives him something to throw his passion at. There is the girl in the beginning when Stephen is feeling guilty and then the one he sees across the river towards the end. They are also crucial points in showing Stephen's growth and in his descriptions of female beauty.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Quote analysis.
"Is a chair finely made tragic or comic? Is the portrait of Mona Lisa good if I desire to see it? Is the bust of Sir Philip Crampton lyrical, epical, or dramatic? Can excrement or a child or a louse be a work of art? If not,why not?" Page 232
This to me is the point in the novel where Stephen is really reaching his enlightenment as an artist. He had a mentally challenging childhood in which he questioned many things that most people would just accept without second thought. He was challenged with accepting his loss of innocence and his alienation from his country, family, and church. He questioned did any of this really matter, and now he is looking at the aesthetics of things. If a chair can be categorized as art much like a painting or a play. He pulls out the question of what the maker may have gone through to create the chair, if it was just quickly done without a thought or if passion was put into it, does that determine it comic or tragic? Is art something that makes you feel, something you want to see, something that maybe you don't want to see. Is excrement or a child or a louse a work of art? We do not usually say these things are but why? An image of a child may be beautiful or a louse may be tragic and show squalor and poverty. This quote embodies the issue that Joyce works up to address, the true meaning of art and the thought process that goes with.
"Is a chair finely made tragic or comic? Is the portrait of Mona Lisa good if I desire to see it? Is the bust of Sir Philip Crampton lyrical, epical, or dramatic? Can excrement or a child or a louse be a work of art? If not,why not?" Page 232
This to me is the point in the novel where Stephen is really reaching his enlightenment as an artist. He had a mentally challenging childhood in which he questioned many things that most people would just accept without second thought. He was challenged with accepting his loss of innocence and his alienation from his country, family, and church. He questioned did any of this really matter, and now he is looking at the aesthetics of things. If a chair can be categorized as art much like a painting or a play. He pulls out the question of what the maker may have gone through to create the chair, if it was just quickly done without a thought or if passion was put into it, does that determine it comic or tragic? Is art something that makes you feel, something you want to see, something that maybe you don't want to see. Is excrement or a child or a louse a work of art? We do not usually say these things are but why? An image of a child may be beautiful or a louse may be tragic and show squalor and poverty. This quote embodies the issue that Joyce works up to address, the true meaning of art and the thought process that goes with.
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