"When butterflies-renounce their 'drams'-
I shall but drink the more!"
In this poem, the speaker is comparing the feeling he or she gets when outside to the feeling of being intoxicated. Since this comparison runs throughout the poem, it is an extended metaphor. Although the speaker uses words such as "Inebriate" and "Debauchee," it is clear that he or she is not actually getting drunk. The liquor that is described is "never brewed," so it cannot be a physical, intoxicating drink. Obviously, the speaker is being metaphorical and uses words such as "Air," "Dew," and "endless summer days," to show the audience that it is in fact the beauty of nature that makes him or her feel drunk. In the fourth stanza, the speaker mentions that even the "Saints" and "Seraphs" approve of this kind of "intoxication." This reminds of the feeling I get when I'm overly tired and completely "slap happy." I feel extremely happy to the point that I can't even think rationally, and I think this is the speaker's point: that the natural beauty of the world around us is beyond our ability to rationally comprehend.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
"The Convergence of the Twain" by Thomas Hardy
"Over the mirrors meant
to glass the opulent
The sea-worm crawls-grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent."
The thing I like most about this poem was the contrast between the images. There is such a strong picture of the elegance and beauty of the Titanic, but then there is the description of the disgusting sea creatures. In general, I really enjoyed reading this poem. The Titanic has always fascinated me because of the time period and because of how invincible the ship was meant to be. The way the author described the collision of the Titanic and the iceberg as imminent is interesting. They are "twin halves" destined to meet on that day in 1912. This collision is due mainly to the "human vanity." If people had not been so pompous and sure of their infallibility, more precautions would have been taken, and thousands of lives could have been saved.
to glass the opulent
The sea-worm crawls-grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent."
The thing I like most about this poem was the contrast between the images. There is such a strong picture of the elegance and beauty of the Titanic, but then there is the description of the disgusting sea creatures. In general, I really enjoyed reading this poem. The Titanic has always fascinated me because of the time period and because of how invincible the ship was meant to be. The way the author described the collision of the Titanic and the iceberg as imminent is interesting. They are "twin halves" destined to meet on that day in 1912. This collision is due mainly to the "human vanity." If people had not been so pompous and sure of their infallibility, more precautions would have been taken, and thousands of lives could have been saved.
"The Panther" by Rainer Maria Rilke
"It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world."
This was one of the most visual poems for me. I actually just went to the zoo a few days ago. The tiger (obviously not the same thing as a panther, but still) was pacing back and forth by the bars. People stood and simply ogled it. This isn't a real, natural tiger. This has been raised in captivity or taken from the wild and caged behind bars. It has none of the wild power that makes a tiger a tiger. Rilke creates the same image of a panther: what should be a magnificent creature but has been subdued.
I think this poem is a symbol. The panther represents something oppressed, and the bars represent the oppressing force. The image is hope, but the panther has been in the cage for so long that it is only a fleeting image. The panther has no chance to escape unless some outside force comes to help it.
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world."
This was one of the most visual poems for me. I actually just went to the zoo a few days ago. The tiger (obviously not the same thing as a panther, but still) was pacing back and forth by the bars. People stood and simply ogled it. This isn't a real, natural tiger. This has been raised in captivity or taken from the wild and caged behind bars. It has none of the wild power that makes a tiger a tiger. Rilke creates the same image of a panther: what should be a magnificent creature but has been subdued.
I think this poem is a symbol. The panther represents something oppressed, and the bars represent the oppressing force. The image is hope, but the panther has been in the cage for so long that it is only a fleeting image. The panther has no chance to escape unless some outside force comes to help it.
"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden- Rhetorical Question
"What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?"
This poem is about the speaker's father, who did a lot for the speaker. The speaker didn't appreciate his father at the time, but now, he realizes how lucky he was to have a father that cared for him so much. Now, the father may be gone or the speaker may have a family of his own, and he understands how hard it is to love and care for someone. The rhetorical question emphasizes the feeling of remorse that the speaker feels because of how unappreciative he was.
I related most easily with this poem. It is difficult for students to understand what our parents are going through as they work to raise us because we haven't been there. We can't associate the events of their day to day lives to ours. Someday, however, we will, and only then will we really be able to appreciate everything they did for us. I think the speaker asked the rhetorical question to invoke that feeling in the reader.
of love's austere and lonely offices?"
This poem is about the speaker's father, who did a lot for the speaker. The speaker didn't appreciate his father at the time, but now, he realizes how lucky he was to have a father that cared for him so much. Now, the father may be gone or the speaker may have a family of his own, and he understands how hard it is to love and care for someone. The rhetorical question emphasizes the feeling of remorse that the speaker feels because of how unappreciative he was.
I related most easily with this poem. It is difficult for students to understand what our parents are going through as they work to raise us because we haven't been there. We can't associate the events of their day to day lives to ours. Someday, however, we will, and only then will we really be able to appreciate everything they did for us. I think the speaker asked the rhetorical question to invoke that feeling in the reader.
"London" by William Blake- Tone
"And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe."
The tone of this poem is definitely negative and depressing. Every line describes some terrible aspect of London. It seems very hopeless. The author offers no alternative image to balance out the negative imagery. The repeated crying surrounds the reader in the sound and amplifies the tone.
I was really struck by the image of the "mind-forged manacles." These people are not physically in chains, yet they are still imprisoned in their life. Because of the social and cultural "chains" they can not increase their standard of living. These chains seem to come from the "Palace" and the "Church" the only institutions of the time with any power.
Marks of weakness, marks of woe."
The tone of this poem is definitely negative and depressing. Every line describes some terrible aspect of London. It seems very hopeless. The author offers no alternative image to balance out the negative imagery. The repeated crying surrounds the reader in the sound and amplifies the tone.
I was really struck by the image of the "mind-forged manacles." These people are not physically in chains, yet they are still imprisoned in their life. Because of the social and cultural "chains" they can not increase their standard of living. These chains seem to come from the "Palace" and the "Church" the only institutions of the time with any power.
"They Widow's Lament in Springtime" by William Carlos Williams- Imagery
"The plum tree is white today
with masses of flowers."
The strongest image for me was the beauty of spring. Spring is a time traditionally described as joyous, beautiful, and full of life. However, because of the widow's pain, she cannot appreciate the season. This is especially highlighted by the line, "the grief in my heart is stronger than they" ("they" referring to the beauty of the flowers). This is a very powerful image since the renewed life in spring is such a powerful feeling. The author describes spring primarily with colors. The color white, which usually represents purity or innocence, is mentioned twice, which I think is significant. Before the loss of her husband, the woman feels pain that were previously unknown to her. His death destroyed her innocence to how painful life and loss could be. She mentions that her son "saw trees of white flowers" in the distance. She wants to go to these flowers, to this innocence, and forget her pain.
with masses of flowers."
The strongest image for me was the beauty of spring. Spring is a time traditionally described as joyous, beautiful, and full of life. However, because of the widow's pain, she cannot appreciate the season. This is especially highlighted by the line, "the grief in my heart is stronger than they" ("they" referring to the beauty of the flowers). This is a very powerful image since the renewed life in spring is such a powerful feeling. The author describes spring primarily with colors. The color white, which usually represents purity or innocence, is mentioned twice, which I think is significant. Before the loss of her husband, the woman feels pain that were previously unknown to her. His death destroyed her innocence to how painful life and loss could be. She mentions that her son "saw trees of white flowers" in the distance. She wants to go to these flowers, to this innocence, and forget her pain.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Perrine
"That all interpretations of a poem are equally valid is a critical heresy, but one which perennially makes its reappearance in the classroom." ("The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry," 1)
I've always believed that poetry should be open to interpretation. My first reaction to Perrine's theory was disagreement. To me, all literature, prose and poetry, is for the reader. The writer writes with a specific purpose, whether to entertain or prove a point, but in the end, the meaning of a work should be determined by the reader. However, that being said, I do see his point. This is a class about analyzing literature and getting down to what the author wants the reader to see in the work. From that perspective, Perrine's criteria is very accurate, and will be helpful getting down to the "facts." In a class, it's important to come to some kind of conclusion, but for people who read poetry for enjoyment what matters isn't the "real meaning," but what the poem means to them personally.
The last section of Perrine's essay about symbolism seems to contradict the rest of it. With the first three poems, there is one answer, and that's it. However, with Blake's poem, because it is symbolic, there can be multiple, correct meanings. He still puts parameters on the interpretations, but there is more than one interpretation. In the end though, who says what the writer was thinking about. Blake's poem is interpreted to be symbolic, but maybe it's not supposed to be. For all we know, Blake was just writing about worms and roses in a really romantic way. Again, I see Perrine's point. I understand that this class isn't about feeling, it's about analysis. I just don't like having limits placed on how I can analyze a work.
I've always believed that poetry should be open to interpretation. My first reaction to Perrine's theory was disagreement. To me, all literature, prose and poetry, is for the reader. The writer writes with a specific purpose, whether to entertain or prove a point, but in the end, the meaning of a work should be determined by the reader. However, that being said, I do see his point. This is a class about analyzing literature and getting down to what the author wants the reader to see in the work. From that perspective, Perrine's criteria is very accurate, and will be helpful getting down to the "facts." In a class, it's important to come to some kind of conclusion, but for people who read poetry for enjoyment what matters isn't the "real meaning," but what the poem means to them personally.
The last section of Perrine's essay about symbolism seems to contradict the rest of it. With the first three poems, there is one answer, and that's it. However, with Blake's poem, because it is symbolic, there can be multiple, correct meanings. He still puts parameters on the interpretations, but there is more than one interpretation. In the end though, who says what the writer was thinking about. Blake's poem is interpreted to be symbolic, but maybe it's not supposed to be. For all we know, Blake was just writing about worms and roses in a really romantic way. Again, I see Perrine's point. I understand that this class isn't about feeling, it's about analysis. I just don't like having limits placed on how I can analyze a work.
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