I had to read Virginia Woolf’s work The Lady in the Looking-Glass: A Reflection several times before most of it made any sense at all to me. Though I did find it a bit difficult, I really enjoyed reading the work because of the way that each line really builds upon the previous even though they sometimes appear to have nothing to do with one another. At first I did not quite understand the first line “People should not leave looking-glasses hanging in their rooms any more than they should leave open cheque books or letters confessing some hideous crime” because it the comparison seems almost irrelevant. However, after I read the line again and thought about it for a while I began to think of it as meaning that having to face yourself everyday, for some people can be as detrimental as leaving evidence of a murder for someone to stumble upon.
For some, the life that they live is not what they truly want and they know that, therefore it can be difficult for them to look at their own reflection and what they have become. Though I may be getting off topic from the reading, the first line sparked all kinds of thoughts in my head and I started to think about how hard it is to look at yourself in the mirror and be pleased with what you see when you know that you have done something wrong. Though the topics that one could find within Woolf’s poem are very interesting, I was really taken back by the way that one line of this work could make me feel and just how much that one line could make me rethink a simple mirror, or rather the reflection that is shown in that mirror.
Friday, June 29, 2007
T.S. Eliot
Though I read T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock I found that I did not enjoy the work as much as I have many others. I felt this way because I found the poem to be long and difficult to interpret. I did find a parts that I thought were worth a second read because they were something that I could grasp and imagine. For instance, the first few lines of the first stanza of the poem read:
“Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats…”
When I read these lines I thought of someone peacefully drifting off into death and going on to another “world” where things are much simpler and peaceful. Though I took interest in this particular part of the poem, I do not quite understand why there are two people that are experiencing this at the same time. I find this to be confusing, yet I still enjoy trying to interpret the meaning of each line of the poem in the way that Eliot intended, which is often quite difficult to do with poetry because of the abundance of imagery that is present in most poems. This poem has its fair share of imagery that is somewhat farfetched, but the parts that I was able to interpret were very enjoyable to ponder over.
“Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats…”
When I read these lines I thought of someone peacefully drifting off into death and going on to another “world” where things are much simpler and peaceful. Though I took interest in this particular part of the poem, I do not quite understand why there are two people that are experiencing this at the same time. I find this to be confusing, yet I still enjoy trying to interpret the meaning of each line of the poem in the way that Eliot intended, which is often quite difficult to do with poetry because of the abundance of imagery that is present in most poems. This poem has its fair share of imagery that is somewhat farfetched, but the parts that I was able to interpret were very enjoyable to ponder over.
Thomas Hardy
Overall I would say that I enjoyed reading the works of Thomas Hardy, but I really enjoyed reading and thinking about the poem Hap which is a poem about the “chance” that life is. I found some of the writing to be a bit confusing, but for the most part, I found it to be an easy read that was perfect for further examination. One thing that really stood out to me was the fact that Hardy uses the term god not as the singular God that I think of, but rather as a generic term for a higher power that he does not know. Later in the poem Hardy again refers to a higher power, but this time he uses the term “Powerfuller” and though it seems to me to be no more direct than when he used the term god, he feels the need to capitalize this word and make it stand out from the rest.
I also enjoyed this poem because it seems to be presenting an issue that a great deal of people wrestle with in their own lives and that issue is the “why me?” issue. I find that a lot of people ask the question “Why Me?” when tragedy befalls them, but there have been very few if any instances of someone asking “Why Me?” when something good and prosperous happens to them. When there is a death in a family the members of that family will sometimes wonder what they have done to deserve this loss, but when a family wins the lottery they tend not to ask any such questions. I find that this poem is not out-right asking the “Why Me?” question, but it does state that:
“If but some vengeful god would call to me
From up the sky, and laugh: “Thou suffering thing,
Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy,
That thy love’s loss is my hate’s profiting!”
When I read this stanza I felt like Hardy was asking for something greater than he to tell him why he is suffering. I do not agree with the “Why Me?” question because someone once said to me, “People ask ‘Why Me?’, but if you really think about it ‘Why Not Me?” is a better question”. Though it is easy for us, as humans, to think about why we have to suffer it is much more difficult for us to realize “Why Not Me?”.
I also enjoyed this poem because it seems to be presenting an issue that a great deal of people wrestle with in their own lives and that issue is the “why me?” issue. I find that a lot of people ask the question “Why Me?” when tragedy befalls them, but there have been very few if any instances of someone asking “Why Me?” when something good and prosperous happens to them. When there is a death in a family the members of that family will sometimes wonder what they have done to deserve this loss, but when a family wins the lottery they tend not to ask any such questions. I find that this poem is not out-right asking the “Why Me?” question, but it does state that:
“If but some vengeful god would call to me
From up the sky, and laugh: “Thou suffering thing,
Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy,
That thy love’s loss is my hate’s profiting!”
When I read this stanza I felt like Hardy was asking for something greater than he to tell him why he is suffering. I do not agree with the “Why Me?” question because someone once said to me, “People ask ‘Why Me?’, but if you really think about it ‘Why Not Me?” is a better question”. Though it is easy for us, as humans, to think about why we have to suffer it is much more difficult for us to realize “Why Not Me?”.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
After reading the works of Gerard Manley Hopkins, I found myself being drawn back to the poem I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark, Not Day because of the imagery that Hopkins uses in describing the life that he is living. When I read the line “I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day” the image of someone going to sleep at night, dying in their sleep, and not returning to the world immediately came to mind. I interpreted this line to be the way that one would feel if he or she had simply gone to sleep one night and never seen the sun again because he or she had left this world. I also took interest in the lines that read
“With witness I speak this. But where I say
Hours I mean years, mean life.”
because I feel that every hour of our lives is somehow important if for no other reason than all of the hours combined make up the years that in turn, make up our lives. I do find this poem to be a bit strange because of the language that is used, which I find difficult to grasp and also because of some of the punctuation that Hopkins uses such as an exclamation point that I found somewhat out of place. As I read the end of the poem I thought of someone who was disappointed with the way that his or her life had turned out and they were comparing their situation to someone in Hell. I found the end to be difficult to picture in my mind, but overall I really did enjoy reading the poem because it is a beautifully written piece of literature.
“With witness I speak this. But where I say
Hours I mean years, mean life.”
because I feel that every hour of our lives is somehow important if for no other reason than all of the hours combined make up the years that in turn, make up our lives. I do find this poem to be a bit strange because of the language that is used, which I find difficult to grasp and also because of some of the punctuation that Hopkins uses such as an exclamation point that I found somewhat out of place. As I read the end of the poem I thought of someone who was disappointed with the way that his or her life had turned out and they were comparing their situation to someone in Hell. I found the end to be difficult to picture in my mind, but overall I really did enjoy reading the poem because it is a beautifully written piece of literature.
Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen
I actually enjoyed reading the Perspectives section Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen because it describes a world that is vastly different than the world that we, as Americans, live in today. In most households both the mother and father have jobs and are considered to be providers for the family, but in this section the world described is far different. I really took interest in the way that the section talks about the terms “lady” and “gentleman” and how important they were to most people of the Victorian era. I found the part that says:
“The terms “lady” and “gentleman” had enormous significance, particularly for those aspiring to these ranks, or for those in danger of slipping out of them.”
I found this interesting because I have never thought of the terms “lady” and “gentleman” as a rank at all, but rather a term of respect held between people. I found it a bit odd that one could lose the rank of “lady” or “gentleman” because the text states that
“Some social distinctions were obvious: regardless of conduct, people born into the aristocracy and landed gentry were indisputably ladies and gentlemen; people who worked with their hands in home, field, or factory were not.”
The text clearly states that regardless of their conduct, the wealthy were given the titles of ladies and gentlemen so I found myself being very curious of how one would lose his or her rank. Though I still do not understand this peculiar part of the text, I do find it very interesting and I hope to eventually figure it out.
“The terms “lady” and “gentleman” had enormous significance, particularly for those aspiring to these ranks, or for those in danger of slipping out of them.”
I found this interesting because I have never thought of the terms “lady” and “gentleman” as a rank at all, but rather a term of respect held between people. I found it a bit odd that one could lose the rank of “lady” or “gentleman” because the text states that
“Some social distinctions were obvious: regardless of conduct, people born into the aristocracy and landed gentry were indisputably ladies and gentlemen; people who worked with their hands in home, field, or factory were not.”
The text clearly states that regardless of their conduct, the wealthy were given the titles of ladies and gentlemen so I found myself being very curious of how one would lose his or her rank. Though I still do not understand this peculiar part of the text, I do find it very interesting and I hope to eventually figure it out.
Charles Dickens
As has probably been made evident by my other blog postings, I really like to find a couple of lines of each work that I read to analyze in greater detail. I find that by choosing a couple of lines to write about I do not have to completely understand the entire work, which I often do not anyway. After reading the e-text of Charles Dickens A Visit to Newgate I found that the first couple of lines were really interesting to me and they actually made me want to read further into the work which is what the beginning of a work should do. I enjoyed the work overall, but I did find some of it difficult to understand because of the way that it is written. It is something that I found insight in and that is always something that I enjoy. The first sentence of the work is a bit long, but I was really drawn to it even after reading the entire work.
“‘The force of habit’ is a trite phrase in everybody’s mouth; and it is not a little remarkable that those who use it most as applied to others, unconsciously afford in their own persons singular examples of the power which habit and custom exercise over the minds of men, and of the little reflection they are apt to bestow on subjects with which every day’s experience has rendered them familiar.”
To me, this one line contains a great deal of insight into the way that people often view the world that they see every day. Once you have become familiar with something in your life you will probably give little consideration to how important it is unless it is no longer there one day. Each day those of us with the ability to walk probably do so and may or may not think about just how lucky we are to be able to do so without realizing how lucky we are to be able to do so. We often become oblivious to how wonderful some things that we do everyday actually are and I felt that this one sentence from Charles Dickens’ work was somewhat of a wakeup call to me to think about how fortunate I actually am.
“‘The force of habit’ is a trite phrase in everybody’s mouth; and it is not a little remarkable that those who use it most as applied to others, unconsciously afford in their own persons singular examples of the power which habit and custom exercise over the minds of men, and of the little reflection they are apt to bestow on subjects with which every day’s experience has rendered them familiar.”
To me, this one line contains a great deal of insight into the way that people often view the world that they see every day. Once you have become familiar with something in your life you will probably give little consideration to how important it is unless it is no longer there one day. Each day those of us with the ability to walk probably do so and may or may not think about just how lucky we are to be able to do so without realizing how lucky we are to be able to do so. We often become oblivious to how wonderful some things that we do everyday actually are and I felt that this one sentence from Charles Dickens’ work was somewhat of a wakeup call to me to think about how fortunate I actually am.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Oscar Wilde...Revisited
While reading the works of Oscar Wilde I was immediately drawn to Impression du Matin, but did not really think much about the short poem Symphony in Yellow after I read it once. I decided to read over the poem again and immediately realized that it speaks of topics that are also contained in the longer Impression du Matin such as the Thames, hay, and the color yellow. I guess that because the poem is so short I had not given it as much thought and consideration as I had Wilde’s other works. After reading this poem I felt that there must have been some connection between the two works that runs deeper than the obvious shared topics, but I am not sure what that connection might be.
I noticed that both poems that I read by Oscar Wilde contained the color yellow, but in Impression du Matin yellow is used to describe a creeping fog, which sounds somewhat eerie. While in Symphony in Yellow the color yellow is used to describe several things in a beautiful and glorious manner, as though the color was somehow very special to the world and to Oscar Wilde in particular. I do not really understand the connections that are seen within the two poems, but I do hope to eventually be able to understand them and why they are there.
I noticed that both poems that I read by Oscar Wilde contained the color yellow, but in Impression du Matin yellow is used to describe a creeping fog, which sounds somewhat eerie. While in Symphony in Yellow the color yellow is used to describe several things in a beautiful and glorious manner, as though the color was somehow very special to the world and to Oscar Wilde in particular. I do not really understand the connections that are seen within the two poems, but I do hope to eventually be able to understand them and why they are there.
Oscar Wilde
I am drawn to the works of Oscar Wilde because of the way that he speaks of everyday images and everyday occurrences with such elegance and beauty that it makes me wonder if the things that he and I know are even the same. In particular, I find the language and descriptions that are used in his poem Impression du Matin because everything that he speaks of in the lines of this poem seems to come to life in my mind. I liked the way that he gives human characteristics to things that have no life. One such instance of this is when he speaks of the fog and how it “came creeping down”. I really liked this style because it allowed me to clearly imagine the fog and the way that it was moving and that helped me to remain interested in the rest of the poem.
I also found the lines which state:
The bridges, till the houses’ walls
Seemed changed to shadows and St. Paul’s
Loomed like a bubble o’er the town.
to be very interesting because, again, of the language that Wilde uses and the elegance of his descriptions. I really liked the fact that I was able to wrap my mind around almost every image that Wilde wrote about in this work. I found that when I read the work again, I felt drawn farther into the imagery that Oscar Wilde used in this particular poem. The final stanza of the poem was also something that I took interest in because it starts off very plain and ends beautifully.
But one pale woman all alone,
The daylight kissing her wan hair,
Loitered beneath the gas lamps’ flare,
With lips of flame and heart of stone.
The image that is being created in the beginning of this stanza is of a very plain woman that seems completely ordinary, but in the last two lines of the stanza she is changed into something that is so much more than a plain, ordinary woman that you see every day and never think about after the chance meeting.
I also found the lines which state:
The bridges, till the houses’ walls
Seemed changed to shadows and St. Paul’s
Loomed like a bubble o’er the town.
to be very interesting because, again, of the language that Wilde uses and the elegance of his descriptions. I really liked the fact that I was able to wrap my mind around almost every image that Wilde wrote about in this work. I found that when I read the work again, I felt drawn farther into the imagery that Oscar Wilde used in this particular poem. The final stanza of the poem was also something that I took interest in because it starts off very plain and ends beautifully.
But one pale woman all alone,
The daylight kissing her wan hair,
Loitered beneath the gas lamps’ flare,
With lips of flame and heart of stone.
The image that is being created in the beginning of this stanza is of a very plain woman that seems completely ordinary, but in the last two lines of the stanza she is changed into something that is so much more than a plain, ordinary woman that you see every day and never think about after the chance meeting.
John Stuart Mill
I have read excerpts from the work On Liberty before so I was somewhat familiar with John Stuart Mill prior to reading about him in the text. I do feel strongly that freedom of the press is one of the greatest things about some counties of the modern world, but I also feel that this freedom can be the downfall of so many as well. While reading Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion from On Liberty I was drawn to the very beginning of the material which states:
The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by, when any defence would be necessary of the “liberty of the press” as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government. If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
Reading these lines once was not enough for me, but rather I read them several times and afterwards thought about them for quite some time. I was amazed by the way that Mill phrased this thought because it was so eloquent yet abrasive at the same time. It was beautifully written while still being a flagrant critique of the government and its censorship of the press. It also points out that the right to a free press is somewhat of a last line of defense against a government that has become corrupted because the press would be the main way that the general public would learn of any events that were taking place within the ranks of the government and since the government have power over the people it is important that they are kept in check by that very same public.
The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by, when any defence would be necessary of the “liberty of the press” as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government. If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
Reading these lines once was not enough for me, but rather I read them several times and afterwards thought about them for quite some time. I was amazed by the way that Mill phrased this thought because it was so eloquent yet abrasive at the same time. It was beautifully written while still being a flagrant critique of the government and its censorship of the press. It also points out that the right to a free press is somewhat of a last line of defense against a government that has become corrupted because the press would be the main way that the general public would learn of any events that were taking place within the ranks of the government and since the government have power over the people it is important that they are kept in check by that very same public.
Robert Browning
Though the poem is quite strange upon first reading it, I found Robert Browning’s Porphyria’s Lover to be a wonderful poem about the “God complex” of one man. Although others may interpret this poem differently, after I read over it a couple of times, I felt that the part that stood out the most to me is not really the fact that the man in the poem kills Porphyria, but rather the care and awkward “love” that he puts in to killing her. The man speaks with the deepest sincerity of his actions and how the actions of Porphyria. The way that he describes her shows that he cares about her and loves her. Lines 31 through 36 are the most intriguing lines of the entire work in my eyes.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
It is in the lines that follow these that he kills Porphyria by strangling her with her own yellow hair. The way that I read into this poem is that once he knew that she “worshipped” him and he was sure of it, he developed somewhat of a God-complex and wanted for her to remain that way forever and therefore he felt that he had to kill her. Another reason that I felt this way about what Browning was trying to get at in the poem is because of the last three lines of the poem which state:
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
These lines again make me think of a God-complex because the two of them are sitting in silence together and he says that God has not spoken. Perhaps I am thinking of the poem in a way that others do not, but I find the God-complex to be the deepest issue of this poem.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
It is in the lines that follow these that he kills Porphyria by strangling her with her own yellow hair. The way that I read into this poem is that once he knew that she “worshipped” him and he was sure of it, he developed somewhat of a God-complex and wanted for her to remain that way forever and therefore he felt that he had to kill her. Another reason that I felt this way about what Browning was trying to get at in the poem is because of the last three lines of the poem which state:
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
These lines again make me think of a God-complex because the two of them are sitting in silence together and he says that God has not spoken. Perhaps I am thinking of the poem in a way that others do not, but I find the God-complex to be the deepest issue of this poem.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Though I have a love for poetry, I found Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s work Sonnets from the Portuguese to be a bit lofty and long winded. I really found interest in the imagery that she used and the beauty that fills each line of the excerpt that I read. However, I did not understand the poem completely the first time that I read it, but after reading the work a few more times I found that I was able to understand the work a little better, although still not as well as I would like, and I was also able to appreciate the beauty of Browning’s words. I found the second stanza to be the most intriguing part of this particular work because I can almost feel the difficulty of explaining one’s love for another that is presented in the first few lines.
And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough,
Between our faces, to cast light on each?
When I read theses lines I immediately thought of how difficult it is to find the words to describe how you feel about someone that you love. Telling someone, other than a family member, that you love them is often very difficult to do, especially when those feelings that you are trying to express are completely sincere and genuine and not just a lofty expression of some stupid feeling of lust. I really felt that Browning was describing this situation in near perfect words and that is why I took a great deal of interest in this stanza of her work.
And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough,
Between our faces, to cast light on each?
When I read theses lines I immediately thought of how difficult it is to find the words to describe how you feel about someone that you love. Telling someone, other than a family member, that you love them is often very difficult to do, especially when those feelings that you are trying to express are completely sincere and genuine and not just a lofty expression of some stupid feeling of lust. I really felt that Browning was describing this situation in near perfect words and that is why I took a great deal of interest in this stanza of her work.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
I have a deep love for poetry, but I also love legends and folklore and that is why I was immediately drawn to Tennyson’s poem The Kraken which is about a giant sea creature. I have read other works on the legend of the Kraken and so I knew that it is a large squid or octopus like creature that dwells at the very deepest and darkest depths of the sea and it is also the creature that is spoken of in many old sea tales of ships being destroyed and lives being lost. Throughout this poem, Tennyson speaks of the Kraken so eloquently and makes it sound like it is virtually impossible to learn anything of the creature because it lives so deep and is surrounded by so many other perilous creatures. The poem is a beautiful work that carries out the legend of the Kraken in a different format, other than the frightening tale of a sailor, and makes me really want to explore the legend again in greater detail.
I love this poem, but still find that the ending seems to be somewhat anticlimactic.
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angles to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die
Though this is a great ending for the poem, I feel like there should be more to the death of such a large, legendary creature. I love the fact that Tennyson makes the first time that the Kraken is actually seen is also the last time that it is seen alive. I also liked the fact that the first time that the Kraken is seen is by man and angels at the same time. I love the legend of the Kraken and this poem has brought back the things that I have read before. Tennyson wrote a poem that was short in length, but was beautiful and deep all at the same time.
I love this poem, but still find that the ending seems to be somewhat anticlimactic.
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angles to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die
Though this is a great ending for the poem, I feel like there should be more to the death of such a large, legendary creature. I love the fact that Tennyson makes the first time that the Kraken is actually seen is also the last time that it is seen alive. I also liked the fact that the first time that the Kraken is seen is by man and angels at the same time. I love the legend of the Kraken and this poem has brought back the things that I have read before. Tennyson wrote a poem that was short in length, but was beautiful and deep all at the same time.
The Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution as described by Eric Hobsbawm, a historian, was “The most fundamental transformation of human life in the history of the world”. Though this is a very powerful statement it is arguable that it is also one of the truest statements ever made. The Industrial Revolution changed virtually every aspect of every life in the modern world in some way, shape, or form. The Industrial Revolution’s first wave began in the eighteenth century in the cotton industry. This wave was caused by new innovations in spinning techniques that made the production of cotton products much faster.
The poem The Steam Loom Weaver was strange, yet interesting to me. I found the poem strange, not because of the language used, but rather because of the topic that is spoken of which is steam. I originally thought that this poem was simply one that I would not find interest in, but upon reading the poem a second time I found a deeper meaning that I had not noticed before in my prior reading. The poem speaks of two lovers who are walking together and their only topic of conversation is that of steam. The woman says that she cannot work because her loom has no steam and since the man is an engine driver, she feels that he should be able to right the problem. Once the man agrees to fix her loom other issues arise that were not previously spoken of. The issues that arise refer to additional needs that the woman must have met before she is able to work and the man agrees to supply the articles that she needs in addition to fixing her loom.
I have always heard the saying “No good dead goes unrewarded” but in the case of the man in this particular poem, I would say that he is doing a bit much and is being taken advantage of. Perhaps I do not understand the writer’s intentions, but I feel that the poem shows that sometimes, good people get taken advantage of and I see that being a metaphor for the way that workers were treated in during the industrial revolution. They felt that they were part of something great, but really they were being exploited for their work abilities.
The Industrial Revolution as described by Eric Hobsbawm, a historian, was “The most fundamental transformation of human life in the history of the world”. Though this is a very powerful statement it is arguable that it is also one of the truest statements ever made. The Industrial Revolution changed virtually every aspect of every life in the modern world in some way, shape, or form. The Industrial Revolution’s first wave began in the eighteenth century in the cotton industry. This wave was caused by new innovations in spinning techniques that made the production of cotton products much faster.
The poem The Steam Loom Weaver was strange, yet interesting to me. I found the poem strange, not because of the language used, but rather because of the topic that is spoken of which is steam. I originally thought that this poem was simply one that I would not find interest in, but upon reading the poem a second time I found a deeper meaning that I had not noticed before in my prior reading. The poem speaks of two lovers who are walking together and their only topic of conversation is that of steam. The woman says that she cannot work because her loom has no steam and since the man is an engine driver, she feels that he should be able to right the problem. Once the man agrees to fix her loom other issues arise that were not previously spoken of. The issues that arise refer to additional needs that the woman must have met before she is able to work and the man agrees to supply the articles that she needs in addition to fixing her loom.
I have always heard the saying “No good dead goes unrewarded” but in the case of the man in this particular poem, I would say that he is doing a bit much and is being taken advantage of. Perhaps I do not understand the writer’s intentions, but I feel that the poem shows that sometimes, good people get taken advantage of and I see that being a metaphor for the way that workers were treated in during the industrial revolution. They felt that they were part of something great, but really they were being exploited for their work abilities.
Dorothy Wordsworth
After reading the works of Dorothy Wordsworth several times each, I actually found the most depth in the short poem When Shall I Tread Your Garden Path?. I enjoyed this poem because even though it is quite short, it seems to be so meaningful to me. The way that Dorothy Wordsworth describes the activities that she wants to do makes them seem so wonderful even though they are simple things like walking up a hill.
I really enjoyed the image that she painted with her words in the beginning of the second stanza in which she states:
A prisoner on my pillowed couch
Five years in feebleness I’ve lain,
Oh! Shall I e’er with vigorous step
Travel the hills again?
I enjoyed the first line of this stanza most of all because Wordsworth makes the simple image of the couch and so elegantly makes me see someone who is confined to this object like a person held in a prison. I like the way that she speaks of these normal, everyday activities and common images in such a way that it makes each thing so much more than what one commonly thinks of it as and that is why I enjoyed this short poem so much.
I really enjoyed the image that she painted with her words in the beginning of the second stanza in which she states:
A prisoner on my pillowed couch
Five years in feebleness I’ve lain,
Oh! Shall I e’er with vigorous step
Travel the hills again?
I enjoyed the first line of this stanza most of all because Wordsworth makes the simple image of the couch and so elegantly makes me see someone who is confined to this object like a person held in a prison. I like the way that she speaks of these normal, everyday activities and common images in such a way that it makes each thing so much more than what one commonly thinks of it as and that is why I enjoyed this short poem so much.
William Wordsworth
I recently had quite a lot of time in which I was sitting around, so I decided to read over some of the earlier writers that we discussed. One of the writers that caught my eye was William Wordsworth. In particular, I found his poem We Are Seven to be the most intriguing his works that I read. I found that this poem was easy to read and follow along with because of the rhyme scheme that is used by Wordsworth. I like the fact that even though the poem is actually about the death of two children as viewed through the eyes of their sister. I really found the first stanza to be very interesting.
A simple child, dear brother Jim,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
I liked the way that Wordsworth speaks of the innocence of a child as it relates to the idea of death. I also enjoyed the way that William Wordsworth continues the idea that death has a different effect on children throughout each stanza. The girl in the poem seems to refuse to acknowledge that her brother and sister are gone from her, but she is not in denial. Rather, the small girl knows that her siblings are deceased, but she holds on to the fond memories that she has of each of them and therefore it seems to me that her brother and sister are still very much “alive” to her.
A simple child, dear brother Jim,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
I liked the way that Wordsworth speaks of the innocence of a child as it relates to the idea of death. I also enjoyed the way that William Wordsworth continues the idea that death has a different effect on children throughout each stanza. The girl in the poem seems to refuse to acknowledge that her brother and sister are gone from her, but she is not in denial. Rather, the small girl knows that her siblings are deceased, but she holds on to the fond memories that she has of each of them and therefore it seems to me that her brother and sister are still very much “alive” to her.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
John Keats
After reading over the works of John Keats, most of them a couple of times, I have taken the most interest in the poem Sonnet: When I have fears. I liked the fact that even though Keats is clearly contemplating his own mortality, each line is beautifully written and each word is heartfelt. The last two lines of the poem strike me as interesting because even though the poem is expressing the idea of death, those lines seem to be still looking toward the future. When Keats says,
[then on the shore]
Of the wide world I stand alone and think,
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
it gives me the feeling that he understands that death is before him and though that is a difficult subject, he is anxious to see what is still to come. Everyone has fears that affect them every day, but it seems to me that Keats realizes that the fear of death is unnecessary and will only hinder one’s life, possibly in a negative way. There are many more relevant topics that face us on a daily basis that we must confront, such as not performing to our highest potential at everything that we do. Keats seems to realize that when death is immanent one will slow down and take on a new perspective. When things appear to be at their darkest, there is always some ray of light, no matter how insignificant you may think that it is, it is still there. Keats speaks of the clouds that we see almost everyday as “symbols of a high romance” and in doing so reveals how he feels that unavoidable death will change his perspective on the life that he is living. The most important thing that I felt after reading this poem is, when we feel that we are losing our grip on life and death is approaching, we should all stop, and take a look at what has always been right there in front of our faces.
[then on the shore]
Of the wide world I stand alone and think,
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
it gives me the feeling that he understands that death is before him and though that is a difficult subject, he is anxious to see what is still to come. Everyone has fears that affect them every day, but it seems to me that Keats realizes that the fear of death is unnecessary and will only hinder one’s life, possibly in a negative way. There are many more relevant topics that face us on a daily basis that we must confront, such as not performing to our highest potential at everything that we do. Keats seems to realize that when death is immanent one will slow down and take on a new perspective. When things appear to be at their darkest, there is always some ray of light, no matter how insignificant you may think that it is, it is still there. Keats speaks of the clouds that we see almost everyday as “symbols of a high romance” and in doing so reveals how he feels that unavoidable death will change his perspective on the life that he is living. The most important thing that I felt after reading this poem is, when we feel that we are losing our grip on life and death is approaching, we should all stop, and take a look at what has always been right there in front of our faces.
Felicia Hemans
I have found that I take a great deal of interest in Felicia Hemans’ work, The Homes of England because I see it as somewhat parallel to the feelings that have been present in more modern times of war. I find the quote that precedes the work very interesting because I feel that there are a great deal of people who, when facing difficult times with their country, share the sentiments “Where’s the coward that would not dare...To fight for such a land?”-Marmion.
I enjoyed the way that Hemans described “The Homes of England” because she seems to place the same amount of thoughtful love into the descriptions that she provides within each of the stanzas. Hemans speaks, with great care, of “The stately Homes of England...The merry Homes of England...The blessed Homes of England…The Cottage Homes of England…The free, fair Homes of England”. She provides such warm, comforting images in each stanza that I found myself reading over each line with great care, and I also found myself giving each word careful examination and consideration. I really enjoyed the images that Hemans painted with her words, especially the last stanza:
The free, fair Homes of England!
Long, long, in hut and hall,
May hearts of native proof be rear’d
To guard each hallowed wall!
And green for ever be the groves,
And bright the flowery sod,
Where first the child’s glad spirit loves
Its country and its God!
I feel that I took so much interest in this stanza because of the patriotic feel of each line. I am very proud to be an American and I hold a great deal of respect for others who also hold patriotic values about their country. After reading The Homes of England I feel that Felicia Hemans was proud of her country, even if she was not particularly proud of the government, and she felt that it is important to fight for what one believes in worth while.
I enjoyed the way that Hemans described “The Homes of England” because she seems to place the same amount of thoughtful love into the descriptions that she provides within each of the stanzas. Hemans speaks, with great care, of “The stately Homes of England...The merry Homes of England...The blessed Homes of England…The Cottage Homes of England…The free, fair Homes of England”. She provides such warm, comforting images in each stanza that I found myself reading over each line with great care, and I also found myself giving each word careful examination and consideration. I really enjoyed the images that Hemans painted with her words, especially the last stanza:
The free, fair Homes of England!
Long, long, in hut and hall,
May hearts of native proof be rear’d
To guard each hallowed wall!
And green for ever be the groves,
And bright the flowery sod,
Where first the child’s glad spirit loves
Its country and its God!
I feel that I took so much interest in this stanza because of the patriotic feel of each line. I am very proud to be an American and I hold a great deal of respect for others who also hold patriotic values about their country. After reading The Homes of England I feel that Felicia Hemans was proud of her country, even if she was not particularly proud of the government, and she felt that it is important to fight for what one believes in worth while.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
After reading Mont Blanc by Percy Bysshe Shelley several times, I found that I was taken back by the profundity of this work in particular. Though I love poetry, I do not find myself taking a great deal of interest in most of Shelley’s works because I often find them to be a bit “out there” with the imagery that he uses. I feel that Shelley is a very intelligent person whose work is often difficult to understand because of his intelligence, but like most writers there are things that are less difficult to grasp. I think that because of my love for poetry I am able to appreciate certain things about each of Shelley’s, but I find myself drawn to Mont Blanc more than any of the other works mostly because of lines 1 through 11 and the image that Shelley creates about the universe and the way that it flows.
Percy Shelley opens Mont Blanc by saying:
The everlasting universe of things
Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves
Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom—
From these three lines I begin to create my own image of human life and mortality. To me, line 3, “Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom” clearly illustrates the average human life. I feel this way because everyone has dark times in their life, everyone has great times and memories in their life, and there is constant gloom that surrounds every single life, and that gloom is the ever-present knowledge of death or human mortality. From the very moment that our heart starts to beat as a child still in the womb, we begin our journey of life that will eventually result in death at some point; no matter what we do in our lifetime, we are know that we will eventually pass away into death. I feel that Mont Blanc is in a way Percy Shelley’s illustration of life and mortality. In my eyes, it is not the way that we die, but rather the way that we live that is truly important.
Percy Shelley opens Mont Blanc by saying:
The everlasting universe of things
Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves
Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom—
From these three lines I begin to create my own image of human life and mortality. To me, line 3, “Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom” clearly illustrates the average human life. I feel this way because everyone has dark times in their life, everyone has great times and memories in their life, and there is constant gloom that surrounds every single life, and that gloom is the ever-present knowledge of death or human mortality. From the very moment that our heart starts to beat as a child still in the womb, we begin our journey of life that will eventually result in death at some point; no matter what we do in our lifetime, we are know that we will eventually pass away into death. I feel that Mont Blanc is in a way Percy Shelley’s illustration of life and mortality. In my eyes, it is not the way that we die, but rather the way that we live that is truly important.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Lord Byron
After reading the assigned texts and going back over it a few times I find myself drawn to the poem So, we'll go no more a-roving. I really enjoyed this poem because of its simplicity and how easily I was able to relate to it. Yet, I find the end of the poem somewhat confusing, but I find that most poetry is just that way. I enjoyed the way that Byron speaks of the eternity of the human spirit and the way that some things are almost everlasting. I feel that Byron conveys this when he says,
"For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast.
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest."
I really enjoyed this particular stanza because, to me, it clearly shows that the soul that is contained within us all will continue into eternity even after our bodies have gone. I liked the way that Byron used the image of the sword outlasting its sheath to help illustrate his point as well. The only real issue that I have trouble understanding is why in the end he seems to be saying that he will take no more risks in life by saying "Yet we'll go no more a roving...By the light of the moon." I feel that Byron is saying that even though there is eternity for the soul he will not take risks that he does not view necessary.
"For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast.
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest."
I really enjoyed this particular stanza because, to me, it clearly shows that the soul that is contained within us all will continue into eternity even after our bodies have gone. I liked the way that Byron used the image of the sword outlasting its sheath to help illustrate his point as well. The only real issue that I have trouble understanding is why in the end he seems to be saying that he will take no more risks in life by saying "Yet we'll go no more a roving...By the light of the moon." I feel that Byron is saying that even though there is eternity for the soul he will not take risks that he does not view necessary.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The French Revolution and Edmund Burke
On the topic of the French Revolution, I found the background information that was provided to be very interesting. The French Revolution completely changed French society, though only for a brief period of time. I found it interesting how much the French Revolution and the American Revolution had in common. The American Revolution was over taxation without representation and likewise the French Revolution was over harsh taxation and the social inequalities that were present in France. I had no idea that France was a country of such injustice during that period of time and now I see the reason for the revolution. Revolution moves things in a society along, it forces change, but that may not always be a good thing. The French Revolution overthrew the hierarchy, the monarchy, and the aristocracy almost entirely and out of that came great change such as a new government, new street names, and even a new calendar. All of this change seemed to be for the betterment of French society, but things took a drastic turn when King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were put to death. William Wordsworth said of the time before these executions "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive!" (p. 36) After the executions of the King and Queen, France plunged into to turmoil. In a retrospective writing Wordsworth said of this period of the revolution "The scenes that I witnessed during the earlier years of the French Revolution when I was resident in France...come back on me with appalling violence" (p. 36)
Edmund Burke had his own ideas about the French Revolution as well as French society in general. Burke was a member of Parliament for nearly thirty years and was probably best known for his oratory skills. Burke, though allied with the Whigs, was essentially very liberal in his views of society. He was against the slave trade and was a strong supporter for the emancipation of Irish trade, Irish Parliament, and Irish Catholics. Though Burke was liberal in most views, he was a strong supporter of taxation of those in France, whether they felt it was fair and just or not. I feel that Burke supported this taxation and was an opponent of the revolution for one reason, he was a member of Parliament. He saw all of the benefits of the taxation and he also stood to lose a great deal if the French Revolution brought about too much extreme change.
Edmund Burke had his own ideas about the French Revolution as well as French society in general. Burke was a member of Parliament for nearly thirty years and was probably best known for his oratory skills. Burke, though allied with the Whigs, was essentially very liberal in his views of society. He was against the slave trade and was a strong supporter for the emancipation of Irish trade, Irish Parliament, and Irish Catholics. Though Burke was liberal in most views, he was a strong supporter of taxation of those in France, whether they felt it was fair and just or not. I feel that Burke supported this taxation and was an opponent of the revolution for one reason, he was a member of Parliament. He saw all of the benefits of the taxation and he also stood to lose a great deal if the French Revolution brought about too much extreme change.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Introduction
My name is Jared Hall and I am a junior. I am taking this english course because I wanted to continue with my credits through the summer and I also needed an english, so I figured that this would be perfect for me. I really do not have any major concerns about the class other than making sure that I keep up to date with the readings and assignments.
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