...Close Reading of a Poem Jason Mobley ENG/125 Oct 26th, 015 Dr. K Close Reading of a Poem “On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City”, is the poem that spoke to me most, of all the poems we went through and read. I found that I could relate to his anger of not being heard or even acknowledged for his history in the America’s. Sherman Alexie is a Spokane Coeur d’Alene Indian and he now writes everything from the point of view from his heritage. I read the poem first and then read the brief biography of the author. I found that after reading the biography, I had a much better understanding and more clear and concise grasp of where the author was coming from when he wrote. In analyzing this poem, it seemed that Sherman Alexie was very angry with the white man. He expresses this throughout the poem, but shows the woman who speaks of Walden Pond respect. Sherman appears to only show her respect and continued to listen to the woman described in his words close to the end of the poem, because of her age, he states very pointedly that “I respect elders of every color” indicating to me the woman who was speaking of Walden Pond to him was in fact an elder. Though he was respectful to her, he shared his frustration and ill feelings in many different ways from beginning to end. In the second stanza he states that he “learned little more about American history” during his few days back east but really it seemed as though he could care less in knowing more. He expresses that everyone...
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...Upon reading the poem “The Names”, a reader would agree that the topic of the September 11th attack is very tragic and possibly hits home for many people in the United States. Some would even consider the topic a tough thing to talk about considering it is one of the most memorable pieces of history for the United States. The speaker Billy Collins, is in an extremely sentimental and heartfelt state of mind considering he shows that he can feel the presence of the ones lost in the attack, he implies he may have lost a loved one in the attack, and how much the tragedy affected him. Furthermore, feeling the presence of the ones lost in the attack is one way the speaker proves his sentimental mindset. Billy Collins explains how he is imagining the names of people no matter where he goes or what he is doing. Seeing the names “printed on the ceiling of the night” (1294) he explains, and “blown over the earth and out to sea” (1295) can prove that this topic and incident is hugely near to his heart. Due to the fact of seeing the names all around him, a reader could imply that Billy Collins could feel the tension and the presence of all of the lives lost during the tragic attack on September 11th....
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...“To my Dear and loving Husband” Poetry Explication The poem “To my Dear and loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet is a heart felt expression of a wife’s marital unconditional love and commitment to her husband. Indirectly, it is also about a puritan woman, who is supposed to be reserved, conveying a message of ever-lasting love and devotion to her husband through vivid imagery and emotions. By reading the poem it seems to be directed to an audience consisting of people who are in love and a person who cherishes their partner’s love. “To my Dear and loving Husband” is classified as a lyrical poem written in couplet form which means in each of the two adjacent lines, it is poetry that rhymes. For example: in the beginning, “If ever two were one, then surely we, If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee;” (1-2) each line ends with a rhyme – we and thee. “To my Dear and loving Husband” is written in iambic pentameter that makes you read the poem with an obvious rhythm. The couplet form is AABBCCDD and so on making the lines come in rhyming pairs. The poem supports the rhythm with the masculine rhymes using the repetition in the final sounds in every last syllable. The poem consists of monosyllabic words such as we, thee, man, can, gold, hold, and pray. When reading the poem out loud the reader will notice there are many open vowel sounds and soft consonants, which adds to the sincere tone and gives the poem a sense of overall simple, unaffected speech. The beginning...
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... 2008, 2006 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course introduces themes in literature and provides guided study and practice in reflecting on themes which describe the human experience across cultural and societal boundaries. The course includes readings from literature in different genres and cultures. Students study the literature in thematic units and are asked to make connections to their own lives and cultures. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Barnet, S., Cain, W.E., & Burto, W. (2011). Literature for composition: Essays, stories, poems, and plays (9th ed.). New York, NY: Longman. All electronic...
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...A Study of Reading Habits: A critical appreciation of the poem; identifying its theme, commenting upon its language, form and relationship to other poems in The Whitsun Weddings. ‘A Study of Reading Habits’ is from Philip Larkin’s collection The Whitsun Weddings, and is presented as more a study of habits than reading. Though the poem can be read as a representation of Larkin’s own early relationship with literature, I believe that it is a persona narrating, perhaps close to the author’s voice but not one and the same. It is this persona, its growth from child to man, and its escapist addiction that form the theme. Reading and books play a necessarily large role in the poem but as example habits, or escapist addictions. As many of his poems, ‘A Study of Reading Habits’ is imbued with subjects current to the time; the collection The Whitsun Weddings was compiled in 1964 and the circulation of cheap paperbacks was very much still a new concept. Though it opened up literature to all classes, both in price and availability, Larkin is adamant in indicating both the opportunity it presents in flawing the character of the reader as well as the inherent defects present in society. This is possibly due to the new wave of cheap literature threatening a librarian’s custodian career. Larkin is recognised for his representation of life at its most mundane, as Jean Hartley put it; “ordinary people doing ordinary things”, and infamous for his unmitigated cynicism of that life. ‘A Study...
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...Kiss British Literary Seminar 05 May 2013 Ditti Kovács Boglárka Kiss British Literary Seminar 2013.05.05. Love and Death in Keats’ “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” In poetry the most important things are to express feelings and to tell a story. Obviously most of the time these poems are about life, death, the meaning of life, love, but it can also tell a complete story. Throughout the history, basically every poet has written about love and death. Because of the fact that these themes surround our whole life, it is not surprising that these topics have an impact on people’s mind, and they have to deal with these in a way, and poetry is perfect for this. People have always been interested in the question of death, the unfulfilled love and suffering, and because of the fact that these feelings are related to every people in the world somehow, these poems, which deal with these themes, are considered to be the most beautiful ones. These works can be understood easily, and readers can feel close to the poet’s feelings. In the early 19th century, in Europe, people became interested in the folk roots of literature. Poets want to show the natural, ancient state of the people, which is relatively close to the nature, not the modern personalities. In the romanticism adventurous, tragic, hopeless love stories and the expression of the individual’s feelings and emotions became popular. Turning to the past, mainly to the gothic and medieval history and literature was essential in that...
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...A READING LESSON PLAN for Secondary Students Prepared by: Faith G. Brillantes Jayah Jay J. Carcedo I. Objectives 1. To appreciate the father’s acceptance of death 2. To understand people’s natural resistance of death 3. To recognize the structure of villanelles II. Subject Matter: A Poem: “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” III. Unlocking of Difficulty A. Vocabulary: Context Clues 1. Old age should burn and rave at close of day; a. Poor b. glow c. admire 2. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. a. Be angry b. calm c. exile 3. Because their words had forked no lightning a. Left b. restored c. split 4. Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay a. Weak b. robust c. strong 5. Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay a. Dim b. glare c. fly B. Background information (through pictures and illustrations) 1. Picture of a family. Explain the relationship of the parents to their children and vice versa in dealing with death. 2. Show video clips that portrays people’s survival against death. IV. Motivation Questions: Have you ever given your best when you knew it was useless? Do you know someone who has? Do you know someone who has been disturbed and frustrated by the way that death comes to everyone? Motive Questions: How did the speaker urge his father to fight against death? How did the speaker use the four different types of men to express his frustration towards...
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...Formative Discussion: Case Studies – Formative Activity 4 – Essay Structure Dropbox: Reorganizing the Essay - (2.5%) Activity 5 – Statement of Intent and Initial List of Works Cited Dropbox: Statement of Intent and Initial List of Works Cited - Formative Activity 6 – Editing the Essay Discussion: Shakespeare Essay – Formative Dropbox: Literature Essay Rewrite (2.5%) Unit 2 – 15% Activity 1 – Imagery and Symbolism Discussion: Symbols and Images - Formative Dropbox: Poetic Verbal-Visual Collage (5%) Activity 2 – Diction Dropbox: Event Poem/Reflection - Formative Activity 3 – Form Discussion: Forms - Formative Activity 4 – Sound and Sense Dropbox: Poetry Analysis – Formative (5%) Activity 5 – Theme and Understanding Discussion: Battle of the Critics - Formative Activity 6 – ISP Reflective Journal Dropbox: Reflective Journal - Formative Activity 7 – Culminating Activity Dropbox: Best Poem in the World (5%) Discussion: Best Poem - Formative Unit 3 – 25% Activity 1 – Culminating Assignment Essay Module Discussion: Integrated Quotations - Formative Discussion: Elaboration of Evidence - Formative Activity 2 – Worldviews and Interpretations Dropbox: “The Return” Response (Parts A, B, and C) - Formative Activity 3 – Text Attack Discussion: The 5 ‘W’’s - Formative Activity 4 – Dramatic Irony Dropbox: Incidents of Dramatic Irony – 2.5% Activity 5 – Target the Audience Discussion: Cultural/Political Passage - Formative Activity 6 – Allusions in Hamlet ...
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...Apology “An Apology for Using the Word 'Heart' in Too Many Poems” is a poem whose theme circles around how the author, Hayden Carruth, attempts to persuade people to use the word heart with emotion behind it. The title is what captures the reader's attention to this poem. When first reading the word apology, people usually think of it as a regretful acknowledgment which is along the lines of saying, “I'm sorry.” But not this particular apology. Also, when reading the words “heart” or thinking of “love”, the first thought is usually a great feeling and happiness. The author uses his apology as more of a defense and explanation as to what he thinks of the heart. He also gives his viewpoint on how people use the ideal of love so freely. Carruth's writing style stands out the most throughout this poem. He opens and ends the poem with a question, refers to the hear as 'it' in the first stanza, and displays a strong uncertainty of the importance of the heart in the first stanza to dehumanize the value of the word “heart”. In the poem, the author opens and closes the poem with a question. The first line of the poem says, “What does it mean? Lord knows; least of all I.”(Carruth 1). Carruth is asking the reader what does love mean and acknowledges that he is the last one to know. Being that all three of his marriages ended in divorce could be a reason that Carruth has this uncertainty of the heart, but he still continues on with the poem to give the reader his outlook on what he feels about...
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...of contemporary poems leading voices. Olds is known for writing intensely personal, emotionally scathing poetry which graphically depicts family life as well as global political events (Foundation). Sharon Olds is known for writing poetry in which she utilizes a strongly individual voice to investigate topics of abusive behavior at home, sexuality, and family connections. In some of her writing, she analyzes her parts as little girl and mother, rendering horrendously undecided recollections of her folks in unsentimental, fiercely legit, and frequently sexually unequivocal dialect. When Olds writes, she has a tendency to be passionate and emotionally connected to her writings and most of her poems are expressed by intimacy,...
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...furthers that end: promotes tolerance, social justice, sensitivity to individual wishes and talents, etc. 2. Topical/Historical/Biographical - Critics see works as the reflection of an author's life and times (or of the characters' life and times). They believe it is necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand his works. - Poems are placed in their historical context — to explain not only their allusions and particular use of words, but the conventions and expectations of the times. The approach may be evaluative (i.e. the critic may suggest ways of responding to the poem once the perspective is corrected), or may simply use it as historical data. - a poem may be used to illuminate the writer's psychology, or as biographic data. No less than the correspondence, remembered conversations, choice of reading matter, the poem is analyzed for relevance to its author. 3. New Critical Formalist - A formalistic approach to literature, once called New Criticism, involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic critics believe that all information essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to bring in outside information about the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author's life. Formalistic critics (presumably) do not view works through the lens of feminism, psychology, mythology, or any other such standpoint, and they...
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...Approaches to Literature Assignment 2. Situation and Setting I. Read the following poems carefully several times. A. Situations i. “To a Daughter Leaving Home” (p. 736) ii. “On My First Son” (p. 1096) II. Examine one group of poems that interests you the most and answer the following questions. B. Group A iii. Who is speaking? To whom is the speaker speaking? Is there an auditor in the poem, or simply an audience outside of it? What is happening? The title of the first poem, “To a Daughter Leaving Home,” reveals some information of the setting and the situation. We can see that it might be a parent saying something or even writing a letter to his or hers daughter who is about to leave their family. In addition, according to the poet’s gender, it isn’t hard for us to assume that “a parent” is actually a mother. In this poem, it seems like the mother is speaking to her daughter, but to me, I think it’s more like a mother’s monologue, trying to express her love and blessing to her daughter, since her daughter has been “pumping, pumping / for your[her] life.”(line 18-19) As for the other poem “On My First Son,” apparently the speaker is a grieving father and in some ways, we can even tell that the speaker is not any other father who also lose their kids. The poem is autobiographical and the speaker is actually Ben Jonson himself. In the poem, lines like “Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy; / My sin was too much...
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...Funny Face by Rozanna Lilley – Poem Analysis Title: At first the title “Funny Face”, gives us the impression of a poem full of fun and humour. But after reading the poem, we get a totally different way of seeing the titel. We get a sens of the funny face being something the girls of the pageant put on to satisfying the judgeses and the mothers. It is the only way these young girls can stand to do the pageants for the sake of their mothers. Settings: Funny face mainly takes place in a place called Garden City, I think that Garden City is what they call a special place in their backyard, since it is called ‘Garden’ City, it a place where they come to have fun. It is what would be considered the perfect place to be, since everyone seem very happy, for instance “She said I was beautiful and my mother, laughing, agreed” they really seem to be having a great time in Garden City. The poem switches between several places, but the main story takes place in Garden City. They go from being in Garden city to a stage where the girl has to perform and put on her funny face. Narration: The poem is written with a first person narrator. The writer is a young girl who is being forced to enter this Beauty pageant. It is propebly the mother of the child who is making her go. She do not really want to go to these pageant and she does not like being there. The girl finds it very shallow and fake in some sort of way. Form and structure: In the poem there is five verses, the verses is...
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...DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE College of Arts and Sciences San Beda College COURSESYLLABUS First Semester, AY2014-2015 San Beda College, a Catholic educational institution, is committed to the Christian formation of the Bedan Community as its service to the Church, the Philippine society, and the world. Vision : San Beda College envisions a community that is Fully Human, Wholly Christian, Truly Filipino, and Globally Competitive. Mission : San Beda College aims to form its members in Faith, Knowledge, and Virtue Core Values : Inculcate in the students the Benedictine core values of Study, Community, and Pursuit of Peace ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Course Title Course Code Pre- requisite Credits : : : : World Literature Lit 02 Lit 01 3 Units Vision-Mission Statement : Instructor : Email : Office : Consultation Hours: MWF Venue : Consultation Rm. I. Course Description: Socorro D. De Jesus, Ph.D. Associate Professor 1 socorro_dejesus@hotmail.com General Education Faculty Rm, 2 nd floor, St. Anselm's Building 1 The course will introduce students to the writings of persons from selected countries across the different continents of the world. Students will gain an understanding of literary concepts to be able to interpret, analyze and evaluate various genres. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity...
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...contemporary poems covering formal, social, and creative concerns. Although The New Census includes multiple poems from forty poets, there were two poems that both employ aesthetic traits and were the most engaging. The most intriguing literary piece presented in The New Census is “Coon Songs Must Go! Coon Songs Must Go on” by Tyehimba Jess. The second poem that wasn’t as engaging as “Coon Songs Must Go! Coon Songs Must Go on” but still possess interesting elements is “Tin Man” by Jericho Brown. Unlike “Tin Man,” the speaker of “Coon Songs Must Go! Coon Songs Must Go...
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