..."Journey of the Magi" is the monologue of a man who has made his own choice, who has achieved belief in the Incarnation, but who is still part of that life which the Redeemer came to sweep away. Like Gerontion, he cannot break loose from the past. Oppressed by a sense of death-in-life (Tiresias' anguish "between two lives"), he is content to submit to "another death" for his final deliverance from the world of old desires and gods, the world of "the silken girls." It is not that the Birth that is also Death has brought him hope of a new life, but that it has revealed to him the hopelessness of the previous life. He is resigned rather than joyous, absorbed in the negation of his former existence but not yet physically liberated from it. Whereas Gerontion is "waiting for rain" in this life, and the hollow men desire the "eyes" in the next life, the speaker here has put behind him both the life of the senses and the affirmative symbol of the Child; he has reached the state of desiring nothing. His negation is partly ignorant, for he does not understand in what way the Birth is a Death; he is not aware of the sacrifice. Instead, he himself has become the sacrifice; he has reached essentially, on a symbolic level true to his emotional, if not to his intellectual, life, the humble, negative stage that in a mystical progress would be prerequisite to union. Although in the literal circumstances his will cannot be fixed upon mystical experience, because of the time and condition of his...
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...Running head: “The Journey of the Magi” “The Journey of the Magi” Tracy Smith October 5, 2012 Liberty University “The Journey of the Magi” “The Journey of the Magi” is a poem dealing with mystical and mysterious, spiritual growth and revival, life and death. This poem also deals with conversion and redemption. Here Eloit show the struggles to explore the different seasons. Eliot shows that the “dead of winter” is a spiritual place of unbelief and isolation. He also shows how the “temperate valley” is a place of non-acceptance. Eliot shows a monologue to convey a sense of difficulty and danger to spiritual conversion. An old man which is one of the Magi’s recollections reviews and reflects on his past. This also highlights that this is a journey to meet Christ before his death. The Magi’s experiences are retold in an intimate conversation that differs from the pretty images associated with Christmas. The poem’s main focus is the sinful nature of the world before Christ’s Birth. T.S. Eliot shows how cruel their journey is because of sin. This poem is in three parts. In the first stanza Eliot presents the hazards of the journey in such a way that they appear to be present day. He starts off talking about the foul weather, “ways deep”. The unreliable transport of the journey; “the camels sore-footed refractory,” He talks about the tourist prices as well. There is an enumeration of problems that Eliot mentions in the beginning of the poem that troubles the...
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...Journey of the Magi Essay Liberty University English 102/Mrs. Brittany Meng T.S. Eliot uses symbolism and a theme of alienation and faith for an uncommon perspective of the journey to see the infant Jesus. 1. T.S. Eliot converted to Christianity 2. Perspective of the Magi 3. The theme is about alienation and faith 4. Journey is not pleasant 5. Statement Birth and Death 6. Eliot makes the comparison about any Christian who deals with trials 7. Symbolic elements – three trees against the lowly sky – crucifixtion and heaven is lowered. 8. Long, hard journey metaphor for his coming to faith 9. Three trees – three crosses on Calvarly 10. Six hands grabbing for silver metaphor for casting of lots for Jesus’s clothes and Judas’s betrayal In the “Journey of the Magi” T.S. Eliot brings a different perspective of how we have normally viewed the story of the Magi recorded in Mathew. As readers of the story in Mathew we can only assume as Christians that the journey had to be one of happiness and joy considering what we know now. Knowing that they were on a journey to see the infant Christ we can see ourselves taking on this quest with excitement and anticipation. T.S. Eliot takes into the mind of one of the Magi as he narrates their journey. Immediately we are told that they are traveling in the dead of winter and that the journey is long. It is the worst time of year and the weather is not cooperating. We forget that these travelers...
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...was to organize an event at the university, it could either be a rock concert, a cultural show, a charity event, or community service. Doing homework and studying course books were part of my academic life whereas joining different organizations and conducting events had become my personal interest. I could relate my life experience with T.S. Elliot’s “The Journey of the Magi”. Just as the Magi went through difficulties of travel, I too have been through quandaries and difficulties in finding a balance between my academic and personal life. I was getting bad grades for my classes, really bad. There was no motivation for me to improve my academics. I was rather enjoying my achievements and recognition that I was gaining by my event management pursuit. I had just successfully organized a rock concert at the university; I was featured in the Tech Talk; and I had earned a two page spread in the yearbook. The quest of the Magi for Jesus is a long arduous journey against the discouragements of nature. This journey was deep and intense. Likewise, the quest to achieve more doing what I like doing was getting intense for me. The Magi were motivated despite the hardships of long and uncomfortable travel, so was I. Three years had passed since I started gaining my degree of bachelors in electrical engineering. My GPA had a significant...
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...Introduction I. Explain the authors background II. Introduce the poem Journey of the Magi III. Thesis Statement: The poem, Journey of the Magi, has many different hidden meanings but all have a connection to the Christian faith. Stanza 1 I. Explain interpretation of the poem II. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 1 III. Demonstrate how T.S Eliot captures the senses of the reader Stanza 2 I. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 2 II. Explain how the folly is resembling T.S Eliot’s own battles with finding faith Stanza 3 I. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 3 II. Compare how the poem relates to the Christian faith Conclusion Thomas Stearns Eliot, also known as T.S. Eliot is one of the greatest poets in the 20th century. He was a poet, critic, and a dramatist during the modernism period. T.S Eliot was born in America but later moved to the United Kingdom where he settled and became a British subject. He attended Harvard University, Merton College, and Oxford. One of T.S Eliot’s most intriguing poems is the poem Journey of the Magi is a poem written about the story of the Magi, the three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. T.S. Eliot’s poem is referring to the story that is told in Matthew 2:1-12. The poem, Journey of the Magi, has many different hidden meanings but all have a connection to the Christian faith. Journey of the Magi is written in a perspective form one of the Magi’s that traveled to Bethlehem...
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...Introduction I. Explain the authors background II. Introduce the poem Journey of the Magi III. Thesis Statement: The poem, Journey of the Magi, has many different hidden meanings but all have a connection to the Christian faith. Stanza 1 I. Explain interpretation of the poem II. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 1 III. Demonstrate how T.S Eliot captures the senses of the reader Stanza 2 I. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 2 II. Explain how the folly is resembling T.S Eliot’s own battles with finding faith Stanza 3 I. Explain the interpretations throughout Stanza 3 II. Compare how the poem relates to the Christian faith Conclusion Thomas Stearns Eliot, also known as T.S. Eliot is one of the greatest poets in the 20th century. He was a poet, critic, and a dramatist during the modernism period. T.S Eliot was born in America but later moved to the United Kingdom where he settled and became a British subject. He attended Harvard University, Merton College, and Oxford. One of T.S Eliot’s most intriguing poems is the poem Journey of the Magi is a poem written about the story of the Magi, the three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. T.S. Eliot’s poem is referring to the story that is told in Matthew 2:1-12. The poem, Journey of the Magi, has many different hidden meanings but all have a connection to the Christian faith. Journey of the Magi is written in a perspective form one of the Magi’s that traveled to Bethlehem...
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...Eden’s Draft of essay (without intro and conclusion) Bruce Dawe effectively utilises the poem ‘enter without as much as knocking’ as a tool to explore in depth the not only physical but emotional influences from modern society. Dawes poem is a political and social statement of contemporary culture and the cyclic web of conforming and consumerism that we follow consciously and subliminally. The persona is born into a clinical, inorganic world of ‘Blink, blink. HOSPITAL. SILENCE’, where feelings of isolation and distance are evoked, where loss of connectedness and belonging is created. Dawe comments upon the superficial world we are brought into from the start. Without warning, without consent we are stripped from our innocence and taught what is right and what is “true”. Even from a place of safety, from a haven in a “mothers arms” the allusion of “Bobby Dazzler on channel 7” from the cradle so to speak, introduces the influence of the character and opinions of his modern external world. From the ‘set-up’ of the personas life individuality is robbed as he becomes part of a stereotypical family where reality is superficial and abiding family and society norms begins control. The frame work of this conformed civilization compel the persona to exist as a commodity of a nuclear family that runs all too often on the middle class dictates of consumerism, wealth and keeping up with Jones image. Even as a child, within his family he is introduced into a world of control...
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...“The Gift of the Magi” Milton Wiscovitch Jr. ENG 125 Prof. Jennifer Chunn November 26, 2012 Theme and Narrative Elements of “The Gift of the Magi” O Henry’s short story written in 1906 “The Gift of the Magi” identifies the theme elements as poverty and love. The lack of money and living in a poor neighborhood affected both Della and Jim. They expressed their unconditional love for each other by sacrificing their most prized possessions in order to buy a Christmas gift. Through this act of love both Della and Jim saw how much they really loved each other by wanting to make their partner happy. This short story identifies that love has no boundaries over having money through self sacrifice when it comes to giving all you have for the one you love. The couple sacrificed items that brought them joy such as Della’s hair and Jim’s watch which was important to the both of them but wasn’t worth much financially (Clugston, 2010). The plot’s analysis centers around the initial situation which states that Della only has $1.87 to purchase her husband Jim a gift on Christmas Eve. Both Della and Jim are poor and love her husband more than in the whole world. Della’s long hair and Jim’s gold watch were the only things they had and gave them up for one another. In the conflict, Della sells her hair to get the money in order to purchase her husband Jim a gift. This solves the problem of not having enough money and later she finds the perfect present for her husband. This opposes...
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...“The Gift of the Magi” – Deciphering the Theme Scott Cole ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Professor Patricia Vineski 6 Oct 2013 The theme of a story, as I’ve learned, is much more than what happened; this is the plot. Instead, the theme is much more; it “tells you what the story is about” (Clugston, 2010, para. 7.1). In order to decipher what the theme is, our text tells us to ask the question “how” a few different ways in order to come to a final conclusion. “How does the writer use setting to narrow the underlying idea? How do characters make particular aspects of the underlying idea clear? How does conflict reveal the strength or worth of the underlying idea?” (Clugston, 2010, para. 7.1). So, throughout this essay, I will be asking these questions, in order to come to a final conclusion as to what the theme of “The Gift of the Magi” really is. I will also discuss the plot, as well as some symbolism in the story that expands on the theme of the story. The plot, for The Gift of the Magi, is a short story about a couple, housed in a tiny apartment, living paycheck to paycheck. Christmas is just a few days away, and the Della, whom is the wife in the story, is struggling to find the perfect gift for her husband. Finally, after searching all over town, she comes across a fancy watch chain that is $20, and decides she must have it; the dilemma is she only has $1.87 to spend. After careful thought, she decides she will cut off her long, beautiful hair...
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...Gift of the Magi and The Necklace Deanna Pennington Eng125 Journey into Literature Instructor Carter September 28, 2014 There are many differences in The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry and The Diamond Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant, there are also various similarities. Some of the similarities include being set around the same time of year, winter, both set at the turn of century, both couples have the same economic situation, both couples love each other, both couples made sacrifices and the pride shown in both stories. The differences are what stands out the most, Mathilde is selfish and only thinks of herself, Della and instead of just bemoaning their lack of funds figure out a ways to get each other a gift for Christmas, Mathilde lies to her friend about the necklace. Although there are many similarities and differences, these are just a few. Both stories are set in the winter, this is made obvious in both stories by certain passages. In The Gift of the Magi we know that Della is trying to by a Christmas gift for Jim. “One dollar and eighty seven cent. And the next day would be Christmas” (Henry, 1906). In The Diamond Necklace, we are left to draw the conclusion that it is winter with the date of the ball being January 18th. “The Minister of Public Instruction and Madame Ramponneau request the honor of M. and Madame Loisel at the palace of the Ministry on Monday evening January 18th” (de Maupassant, 1884). The time of year in The Gift of the Magi is told to...
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...Analysis of The Gift of the Magi ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Analysis of The Gift of the Magi Love is a powerful feeling and when you are in love there is not anything you would not do or sacrifice to see a smile on their face and happiness in their eyes. Almost everyone can relate to the main characters wanting to find that perfect present. O. Henry’s short story The Gift of the Magi is about love and reveals to the reader the sacrifices one will make for the one they love. The story shows its readers the true meaning of love. O. Henry’s story The Gift of the Magi tells the story of a poor couple in love, Della and Jim. They live in a shabby, little flat. The story starts with Della wanting to buy Jim a present but doesn’t have enough money. She loves her long hair. It is one of the two things that the couple prides themselves on, the other is Jim’s watch. Della decides to sell her hair to pay for a watch chain for Jim’s watch. Jim comes home later and sees Della’s short hair and is puzzled by the change in her appearance. He then shows her the present he bought her, the hair combs she had wanted for her long hair. He sold his watch earlier to pay for the combs. Della then gives him his present, the chain for his watch. They decided to put their presents away and eat. There are several themes that radiate throughout the story love, wealth, and sacrifice. The theme represents the idea of the story (Clugston, 2010). The first theme would...
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...In the short story “The Gift of the Magi”, which is written by O. Henry, the point of view of the story is told in the third-person point of view and is in the omniscient point of view. The third-person omniscient point of view seems to be seems to be constant throughout the story. The only time this point of view changes is in the last paragraph of the story. The point of view goes to first person as the narrator speaks directly to the reader “The magi, as you know, were wise men” (Henry, O. 1906) then the narrator uses I in this part “And here I have lamely related to you the unevent¬ful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house” (Henry, O., 1906). I felt the way in which the story was told by its point of view we were able to see several details about the couple. We were able to see where they lived, their lifestyle and how much they loved one another. The theme of the story is about love and sacrifice. The characters of the story are both unselfish and gave up something that they treasured in order to give a gift to the other. They were not well off and did not have the money to buy Christmas presents but they found a way by selling something that they treasured in order to buy something for the other that they knew they would love. References: Clugston, R. W. (2014). Journey into literature (2nd ed.). San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Henry, O., 1906, “The Gift of the...
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...The Gift of the Magi Ashlee Stevens ENG125: Introduction to Literature Amy Sloan September 10, 2012 Ashford University The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi was about sacrificial love. The story explained how important it is to be willing to sacrifice for the one that you love. No matter what the circumstance, if a person can unselfishly give of themselves for another, they can experience life in a whole new way. Many people give what is not important to them and makes no difference. I think the term “it’s the thought that counts” has been used to justify just giving anything to a person without actually put your heart and soul into the gift you are giving. O. Henry uses The Gift of the Magi to demonstrate the importance of expressing your love through sacrifice. O. Henry uses setting throughout the whole story to show the reader how little Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young have. In the first paragraph the reader already has a sense of how meager their living conditions are when Della has counted the one dollar and eighty-seven cents three times. He explains the lengths she went through to save that much money, and sixty cents of it was all pennies. He does not immediately describe their way of living all at once. He draws it out through the whole story so the reader never loses the sense of the struggle that Della and James are living in. In the second paragraph he says that she flopped down on the “shabby little couch”. (Clugston...
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...The short story “The Gift of the Magi” was written by O. Henry in 1906. The story is about a husband and wife who did not have enough finances to buy each other gifts at Christmas time. So the couple sacrificed two precious items to show their love for one another. This theme and narrative essay will explain O. Henry use symbolism and characters to contribute to the themes of poverty, generosity, and selfless love. The main symbolism was use in the title of the short story. In the biblical story of the birth of Jesus three men came in on camels bringing precious gifts to the son of Mary and Joseph. “These three represent the Three Wise Men or Kings, also called the Magi (Jesus, 2007).” The wise men brought Jesus three gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh. They gave them freely and unselfish because they believed Jesus was “the promise one”. The symbolization in “The Gift of the Magi” was that Jim and Della gave three gifts to each other freely and unselfish. Jim’s watch, Della’s hair and selfless love for each other were the three distinct gifts given in this short story. Three themes was basically portrayed in “the Gift of the Magi. One theme was poverty. One dollar and eighty-seven cent was all Della had on Christmas Eve. Della begins to cry over the fact she did not have enough funds to buy Jim a Christmas gift. “In the vestibule below was a letter box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring (Clugston, 2010).”...
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...biblical retellings and medieval reimaginings created a wiki-bible for the masses. This wiki-bible acted as the Bible for those poor and illiterate within the medieval society. By simplifying, summarizing, and contemporizing the Bible, it was made more accessible to the common man. Besides literature, art was the main medium of translating and depicting the Bible. Paintings and sculptures brought to life major scenes within the Bible. Some depicted the crucifixion of Christ, Mary the mother of Christ, various events of the Old Testament, and so on. One such work within the medieval period focused on Jesus' birth. The Nativity, by Rogier van der Weyden, depicts the visitation between Mary and Elizabeth, the annunciation to both Augustus and the Magi, the birth of Christ, and the Magi's visit. This painting was created in Brussels, Belgium during the mid-15th century. Brussels was known as "the capital city of the...
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