"Crossing the Bar"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In this poem, the speaker talks of how when he sails out to see he wants there to be a quiet tide that will turn him toward home. Then the speaker wishes that no one will be sad when he departs. Though his departure with bring him to a time and place that we as humans cannot truly grasp, his departure should hopefully lead him to his Pilot, or God.
In the first stanza, the speaker calls out the "sunset and evening star" and in the third, he calls out "twilight and evening bell" (Lord Tennyson, 886). I think these times of day, which are close to night, represent the death which is approaching the speaker. In the poem, the speaker accepts death. The sandbar symbolizes the division between life and death that he is about to cross.
A question in the book asks what type of death the speaker was wishing. I thought based on the fact that he was accepting of his death, he wanted a peaceful death. It also says in line 4 "But such a tide as moving seems asleep." The tide is the way by which the speaker is being departed from this life. Therefore, I inferred that the speaker wished for a peaceful quiet sleep, such as dying in their sleep.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Death Unit: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"
Dylan Thomas
This poem addresses old men and tells them to not accept death. "That Good Night" is a metaphor for death. The speaker points out that the wisest people do not just simply accept death but fight it in order to achieve everything they can in this life.The speaker then specifically addresses their father. They tell him to not give up and to not let death win without putting up a fight. They want their father's death to not just be a tragedy but also heroic knowing that he did everything he could to remain with his family.
The paradoxical expressions in the poem relate to how the father's death will seem if the father puts up a fight. "Curse, bless, me now", "the sad height", and "blinding sight" (Thomas, 968) all relate to the tragic but heroic death of the father would be if he fights. Though death is inevitable, the speaker thinks there is pride in fighting for life. For this reason, they stress the importance of fighting for their life.
Dylan Thomas
This poem addresses old men and tells them to not accept death. "That Good Night" is a metaphor for death. The speaker points out that the wisest people do not just simply accept death but fight it in order to achieve everything they can in this life.The speaker then specifically addresses their father. They tell him to not give up and to not let death win without putting up a fight. They want their father's death to not just be a tragedy but also heroic knowing that he did everything he could to remain with his family.
The paradoxical expressions in the poem relate to how the father's death will seem if the father puts up a fight. "Curse, bless, me now", "the sad height", and "blinding sight" (Thomas, 968) all relate to the tragic but heroic death of the father would be if he fights. Though death is inevitable, the speaker thinks there is pride in fighting for life. For this reason, they stress the importance of fighting for their life.
Death Unit: Death, be not proud
"Death, be not proud"
John Donne
A main type of figurative language used in this poem is personification. Throughout the poem the speaker talks to death as if death was something tangible or human. The speaker tells death that he is not powerful or scary. The speaker compares death to sleep when saying, "And poppy charms can make us sleep as well, and better than thy stroke" (Donne, 972). The speaker basically is saying that though many people fear death there is no reason to be afraid to die. Death is just a short rest before we wake for eternity. This poem relates to the Christian belief that once we die in this life, we wake eternally with God. Furthermore, when we are with God, there will be no more death.
Why should death not be proud? Not only is death not all powerful, but death hangs out with things such as poison, war, and sickness, and he is a slave, or does not act on his own accord. The main point behind this poem is that death is not truly scary, and there is nothing to fear about death.
John Donne
A main type of figurative language used in this poem is personification. Throughout the poem the speaker talks to death as if death was something tangible or human. The speaker tells death that he is not powerful or scary. The speaker compares death to sleep when saying, "And poppy charms can make us sleep as well, and better than thy stroke" (Donne, 972). The speaker basically is saying that though many people fear death there is no reason to be afraid to die. Death is just a short rest before we wake for eternity. This poem relates to the Christian belief that once we die in this life, we wake eternally with God. Furthermore, when we are with God, there will be no more death.
Why should death not be proud? Not only is death not all powerful, but death hangs out with things such as poison, war, and sickness, and he is a slave, or does not act on his own accord. The main point behind this poem is that death is not truly scary, and there is nothing to fear about death.
Death Unit: A Rose For Emily
"A Rose for Emily"
William Faulkner
In this short story, there is a crazy old lady who likes to keep dead people in her house. Why would Emily, the old lady, keep Homer, the dead guy who she may or may not have killed, in a room for about forty years? Well the simply answer would be that the woman is crazy, and crazy people to absurd things. This may be true, but there is always more to the story. I think the reasoning the story gives to why Emily may have killed Homer also gives reason to why she kept the body. It says in the story that both her father died and a man believed to marry Emily left her (Faulkner, 283). Therefore, two men within a short period of time were out of her life. Now Homer liked men, so he was not likely to marry Emily, and if Emily believed she would be left again, she had a motive to kill Homer. She did not wish to be alone, and her way of coping with that was to be sure she would never be alone again by making it not possible for Homer to leave. People can do some really weird things when they are lonely.
William Faulkner
In this short story, there is a crazy old lady who likes to keep dead people in her house. Why would Emily, the old lady, keep Homer, the dead guy who she may or may not have killed, in a room for about forty years? Well the simply answer would be that the woman is crazy, and crazy people to absurd things. This may be true, but there is always more to the story. I think the reasoning the story gives to why Emily may have killed Homer also gives reason to why she kept the body. It says in the story that both her father died and a man believed to marry Emily left her (Faulkner, 283). Therefore, two men within a short period of time were out of her life. Now Homer liked men, so he was not likely to marry Emily, and if Emily believed she would be left again, she had a motive to kill Homer. She did not wish to be alone, and her way of coping with that was to be sure she would never be alone again by making it not possible for Homer to leave. People can do some really weird things when they are lonely.
Death Unit: The Lottery
"The Lottery"
Shirley Jackson
The village in the story holds an annual lottery on June 27. In the modern world, the lottery is associated with positivity; people take a chance to earn a great deal of money. In the story, however, the lottery is a ritual stoning, which is definitely a negative thing. The term lottery means that there is a chance taken or there is some usage of odds or probability. In the story, every family takes a chance at drawing the paper with the black circle, while in today's society people take a chance at gaining money.
Why a group of people would nonchalantly kill someone every year does not really make sense. However, based on clues provided in the story, there was originally a purpose to the stoning: "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" (Jackson, 268). Though the community originally had a purpose for continuing the lottery, they now have no real reason to keep having the lottery. A main theme of the story is that it can be dangerous to blindly follow tradition. When following tradition blindly, people can easily be hurt for no reason at all.
Shirley Jackson
The village in the story holds an annual lottery on June 27. In the modern world, the lottery is associated with positivity; people take a chance to earn a great deal of money. In the story, however, the lottery is a ritual stoning, which is definitely a negative thing. The term lottery means that there is a chance taken or there is some usage of odds or probability. In the story, every family takes a chance at drawing the paper with the black circle, while in today's society people take a chance at gaining money.
Why a group of people would nonchalantly kill someone every year does not really make sense. However, based on clues provided in the story, there was originally a purpose to the stoning: "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" (Jackson, 268). Though the community originally had a purpose for continuing the lottery, they now have no real reason to keep having the lottery. A main theme of the story is that it can be dangerous to blindly follow tradition. When following tradition blindly, people can easily be hurt for no reason at all.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Scene 7
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
After dinner is finished, the power goes out; it turns out that Tom forgot to pay the electric bill. Amanda makes Tom help her with dishes, while she sends Jim to assist Laura. The events between Laura and Jim allow for the reader to expect one thing, but there was a great twist. Laura finally begins to relax and open up to someone. Jim gives her reasons to have self-confidence and hearing these things from someone of such importance to her help her to realize that he may be right. Jim says, "A little physical defect is what you have. Hardly noticeable even! Magnified thousands of times by imagination!" (1280). Though these sentences apply strictly to Laura in the play, they relate to a lot of people in today's world. A lot of people have something about them they do not necessarily enjoy, but these things are usually unnoticeable to other people. Like Laura, it is helpful to hear from someone else that our imperfections are hardly noticed by others. Laura's shyness began to dissolve as she got closer to Jim, and as he told her of how beautiful she really is, which can relate to us today. When we find someone that can see past our imperfections, we are able to slowly oversee these imperfections for ourselves.
Tennessee Williams
After dinner is finished, the power goes out; it turns out that Tom forgot to pay the electric bill. Amanda makes Tom help her with dishes, while she sends Jim to assist Laura. The events between Laura and Jim allow for the reader to expect one thing, but there was a great twist. Laura finally begins to relax and open up to someone. Jim gives her reasons to have self-confidence and hearing these things from someone of such importance to her help her to realize that he may be right. Jim says, "A little physical defect is what you have. Hardly noticeable even! Magnified thousands of times by imagination!" (1280). Though these sentences apply strictly to Laura in the play, they relate to a lot of people in today's world. A lot of people have something about them they do not necessarily enjoy, but these things are usually unnoticeable to other people. Like Laura, it is helpful to hear from someone else that our imperfections are hardly noticed by others. Laura's shyness began to dissolve as she got closer to Jim, and as he told her of how beautiful she really is, which can relate to us today. When we find someone that can see past our imperfections, we are able to slowly oversee these imperfections for ourselves.
Scene 6
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
It is a very small world. What are the odds of Jim being Laura's old crush from high school? Tom knew Jim in high school, and Laura is very nervous about the gentleman caller being the Jim; therefore, it of course had to be him. Laura reveals her timid side again by her freak out when Jim was coming. Laura decides to hide herself once she lets them in the door. It is hard to imagine people being that shy! "She is like a piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance, not actual, not lasting" (1263). This description of Laura relates her to her glass menagerie which is used to symbolize her. Laura is fragile; she breaks easily. However, like glass held over a light is given momentary brilliance, as Laura had momentary, special beauty that night.
Now Amanda gets all dolled up for this great occasion and does not waste a second to tell Jim her life story. (that would be embarrassing) It is a good thing Jim was a kind fellow because if I was him I probably would have been a little apprehensive.
Tennessee Williams
It is a very small world. What are the odds of Jim being Laura's old crush from high school? Tom knew Jim in high school, and Laura is very nervous about the gentleman caller being the Jim; therefore, it of course had to be him. Laura reveals her timid side again by her freak out when Jim was coming. Laura decides to hide herself once she lets them in the door. It is hard to imagine people being that shy! "She is like a piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance, not actual, not lasting" (1263). This description of Laura relates her to her glass menagerie which is used to symbolize her. Laura is fragile; she breaks easily. However, like glass held over a light is given momentary brilliance, as Laura had momentary, special beauty that night.
Now Amanda gets all dolled up for this great occasion and does not waste a second to tell Jim her life story. (that would be embarrassing) It is a good thing Jim was a kind fellow because if I was him I probably would have been a little apprehensive.
Scene 5
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Wishing on the moon, Tom reveals that he has found a gentleman caller for Laura. However, there is a catch (there is always a catch), the caller does not know about Laura. Now that Amanda got her wish of a gentleman caller for Laura, she asks all of these questions to make sure this man is acceptable. Laura cannot have a man that drinks, because men that drink are no good. Well if she was really that concerned about it she would have found her own gentleman caller for Laura. Beggars cannot be choosers!
I noticed that Amanda says, "It simply means I'll have to work like a Turk" (1258). This is an allusion to The Hobbit, at least I believe it is. I thought this was a rather odd allusion; simply alluding to working well and very quickly. Amanda is very overwhelmed with the idea of this guest, but she is overwhelmed with excited emotions. Why would a mother get that excited for a gentleman caller for her daughter?
Tennessee Williams
Wishing on the moon, Tom reveals that he has found a gentleman caller for Laura. However, there is a catch (there is always a catch), the caller does not know about Laura. Now that Amanda got her wish of a gentleman caller for Laura, she asks all of these questions to make sure this man is acceptable. Laura cannot have a man that drinks, because men that drink are no good. Well if she was really that concerned about it she would have found her own gentleman caller for Laura. Beggars cannot be choosers!
I noticed that Amanda says, "It simply means I'll have to work like a Turk" (1258). This is an allusion to The Hobbit, at least I believe it is. I thought this was a rather odd allusion; simply alluding to working well and very quickly. Amanda is very overwhelmed with the idea of this guest, but she is overwhelmed with excited emotions. Why would a mother get that excited for a gentleman caller for her daughter?
Scenes 3 & 4
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Tom's character becomes more present in the external conflict between him and his mother. Tom has a dream to be a writer and points out to his mother that he goes to work everyday to do a job he hates. I think to a certain extent Amanda has a point to say he is disrespectful. However, Tom is disrespectful in his treatment of his mother, not for the reasons Amanda says he is disrespectful. Amanda, as Tom's mother should be more aware of her son's dreams.
Amanda's main concern with Laura is to find her a gentleman caller. She even brings Tom into helping her find a caller for Laura. She makes a deal with Tom when she says, "I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a home of her own, independent - why, then you'll be free to go wherever you please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you!" (1253). I cannot even imagine how Laura feels about her family so set on setting her up with a man. Her confidence is already fairly low, would this not make her feel worse about herself? I would think that knowing her family has to set her up to get a man would make her feel worse, but time will tell.
Tennessee Williams
Tom's character becomes more present in the external conflict between him and his mother. Tom has a dream to be a writer and points out to his mother that he goes to work everyday to do a job he hates. I think to a certain extent Amanda has a point to say he is disrespectful. However, Tom is disrespectful in his treatment of his mother, not for the reasons Amanda says he is disrespectful. Amanda, as Tom's mother should be more aware of her son's dreams.
Amanda's main concern with Laura is to find her a gentleman caller. She even brings Tom into helping her find a caller for Laura. She makes a deal with Tom when she says, "I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a home of her own, independent - why, then you'll be free to go wherever you please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you!" (1253). I cannot even imagine how Laura feels about her family so set on setting her up with a man. Her confidence is already fairly low, would this not make her feel worse about herself? I would think that knowing her family has to set her up to get a man would make her feel worse, but time will tell.
Scenes 1 & 2
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
From the beginning of the play, Tom tells us that the play will be nonrealistic. Though he states that the play is nonrealistic, we know this due to the play having a narrator, the background music, and the stage set up. Also from Tom's opening speech, it is known of the play being a memory play. So far I am having trouble recognizing what about the play make it different than a play that is not a memory play. There are points in the play such as when Laura says, "Oh..." (1241); this usage of ellipses makes me wonder if he just did not include the rest, or if it signals Laura's difficulty of communicating her thoughts.
The mother, Amanda, is very concerned about Laura finding a gentleman caller. Laura's personality is that of an insanely shy girl, and she does not enjoy communicating with others. Her internal struggle caused her to drop out of business school. Amanda seems to be the type of parent that tries to relieve her glory days through her children, and it is possible that Amanda's talk of all of these gentleman callers she had lower Laura's self-confidence even more. Furthermore, the only guy that Laura said she liked was always too busy for her which may have also contributed to her lack of confidence.
Tennessee Williams
From the beginning of the play, Tom tells us that the play will be nonrealistic. Though he states that the play is nonrealistic, we know this due to the play having a narrator, the background music, and the stage set up. Also from Tom's opening speech, it is known of the play being a memory play. So far I am having trouble recognizing what about the play make it different than a play that is not a memory play. There are points in the play such as when Laura says, "Oh..." (1241); this usage of ellipses makes me wonder if he just did not include the rest, or if it signals Laura's difficulty of communicating her thoughts.
The mother, Amanda, is very concerned about Laura finding a gentleman caller. Laura's personality is that of an insanely shy girl, and she does not enjoy communicating with others. Her internal struggle caused her to drop out of business school. Amanda seems to be the type of parent that tries to relieve her glory days through her children, and it is possible that Amanda's talk of all of these gentleman callers she had lower Laura's self-confidence even more. Furthermore, the only guy that Laura said she liked was always too busy for her which may have also contributed to her lack of confidence.
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