Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Apparition- John Donne

"When by thy scorn, O murderess, I am dead,/ And that thou thinkst thee free."

I have alot of ideas about this poem but am uncertain in the accuracy of them. This first line of the poem makes me think that someone is escaping something. I also think that the person really is not. I think that someone has been murdered and that the ghost is coming back to haunt the guilty party. It could also be figuratively speaking about the death of an idea. Also, a family or friend of the decesed could be trying to get back at the offender. The majority of the poem seemed to be a plan. It seemed like the speaker was planning on how he was going to attack. The tone was also of warning. He was telling his victim what not to do and what to look out for. I also noticed that the speaker used educated diction. Other than these, I have no ideas. I do not know if any of my ideas are right, but I think I have a start.

My mistress' eyes- William Shakespeare

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" PAGE 885

This poem was relatively easy to follow. The first twelve lines were describing the mistress. The descriptions however, differed from those mostly found in poems. Rather than providing comparisons that are unrealistic and exaggerated, the speaker provides realistic descriptions. The descriptions are also not very direct. The speaker uses indirect references to what the mistress is not. Not only are they indirect, but they somewhat mock the typical comparisons of other poets. The speaker knows that his mistress is not perfect. He recognizes her flaws but loves her anyway. I liked how this poem negated normal comparisons of women. I think it was very bold of the speaker to say that his mistress was not all of those things, but I also think it says something about his personality. It shows that he is accepting and knows that people are not perfect.

Getting Out- Cleopatra Mathis (simile)

"Finally locked into blame, we paced/that short hall, heaving words like furniture." PAGE 896

This poem contained a simile. The comparison is between their verbal argument and furniture. This simile helps to present the attitude of the argument. It was not a calm disagreement. The two were most likely shouting at each other from a distance. The idea of them throwing things makes the argument seem more forceful and impactful. Rather than just saying that it was like they were throwing things, the speaker chooses furniture for a reason. The use of furniture also adds to the poem. Furniture is a large item so the use of the comparison to that implies that the words they were using were heavy. The furniture like complaints would leave a deeper impact on them. The use of the simile in this poem helps establish the tone of their argument. This poem to me was well developed in that the different aspects of it contributed to the tone of the poem and their relationship.

Hazel Tells LaVerne- Katharyn Howd Machon (diction)

"up pops this frog/musta come from the sewer/swimmin aroun an tryin ta/ climb up the sida the bowl/so i goes ta flushm down..."

The use of diction in this poem effectively characterizes the speaker. It is evident from the word choice that the speaker is uneducated. She speaks with short words. The word choice is also informal. The diction also influences the mood. The mood is easy going and lighthearted. The speaker is simply telling a story about what happened to her. She tells the story using words that she would use in conversation. The diction also gives background information about the speaker. In the beginning, it says that she was cleaning out the bathroom which hints that she is a janitor. She does not have a very high-up job. This could mean that she is an immigrant because she speaks in broken English. The diction also provides some exaggeration in that the story is not realistic.

Crossing the Bar-Alfred, Lord Tennyson (quatrain)

"Sunset and evening star,/And one clear call for me!/ And may there be no moaning of the bar/When I put out to sea," PAGE 886

This poem is organized into quatrains. The use of quatrains is effective because it provides the structure for the rhyme scheme. The quatrains also establish the organizational pattern of the poem. In this poem, the four lines of poetry added to the suspense because the stanzas ended mid sentence. It also allowed for breaks in the reading to gather thoughts. I thought this poem also did a good job of inductive reasoning. I do not know if it is because of the way I was reading it or intentionally. When I first was reading and nearing the end, I had no idea what it was talking about or relating to. Once I got to the last few lines, I realized that the poem was all about death. I reread the poem and the details fell into place to follow the idea of death. I liked the way the idea was benign until the end.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

next of course god america i-e.e. cummings

"oh say can you see by the dawn's early"

Wow! This poem was confusing to say the least. It seemed like the author did not finish his thoughts. Because I have no idea what this poem is really about, I am going to stick with the question..."What did you notice?" I noticed that some patriotic songs were partially quoted in the beginning. It also used "thy" and normal pronouns. Usually authors use one or the other. Also, the end? I thought it was really weird that it had this part that seemed to say nothing and then oh by the way he was thirsty. I have no idea what the purpose of that was. These was also a simile between the dead (soldiers?) and lions. I think maybe possibly it has to do with war but that might be too literal of an interpretation.? It was definitely hard to tell the ends of the different sentences because of the lack of punctuation. So as you might be able to tell, I have no idea what is going on. When I answered the question, I think the dead are not admired because I think he is implying they are foolish for not thinking as they run into battle. Well, hopefully this will get cleared up in discussion in the next few days.

Barbie Doll- Marge Piercy

"Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs." -PAGE 835

I found this poem rather interesting and relatable. In our society, like in this poem, everyone judges people by their outward appearance. The girl in the poem felt pretty, like a Barbie. She did not see any flaws in herself until someone pointed them out. After someone pointed it out, that was all she could think about. She thought that was all anyone noticed and she became preoccupied with the idea. She did what she did to try and fix and hide her flaws. With the girl going to extreme measures in the end, I think the author was trying to warn us. She does not want us judging people because we don't know how far or seriously they will take it. Even if they seem fine, they might not be. When I was little, I played with Barbies and never really thought about the message they were spreading about body image. They portrayed what society views as a perfect body. Even as children, judgement was inevitable because of the things we had.

Sorting Laundry- Elisavietta Ritchie (overstatement)

"a mountain of unsorted wash/could not fill/the empty side of the bed" -PAGE 842

The overstatement contained in this part is supported by the length of the poem. The laundry piled up would not literally be a mountain or the size of a mountain. The length adds to the overstatement because it explains the details about the laundry. It mentions different kinds of laundry and the different things that end up in it. Because it talks about the multiple different things, it makes it seem like if he took all of his things it would pile up. The poem itself is also an extended metaphor. Their life together is consistently compared to the laundry. The different aspects found in the laundry indicate different parts of their lives together. I think the extended metaphor was effective because everyone can relate to doing laundry. Everyone can also relate to the different things found in the laundry because most people have experienced something similar. The metaphor and the different details add significance to small activities like simply doing laundry.

APO 96225- Larry Rottmann (irony)

"So, after a while,/ the young man wrote,/ "Dear Mom, sure rains alot here." PAGE 846

The poem contained ironic situations. The irony was that the soldier knew what war was really like because he was experiencing it. It was also ironic that his mother wanted to know what was really happening in the war. When she actually heard, she did not want to know. I think that this irony provides a truth about war. As Americans at home, we have a glorified view of war. We think about soldiers fighting for our freedom, but we do not consider what that actually entails. The irony in this poem points out that most people do not know what war really is. The irony also reveals another truth related to other parts of life. I think that it is a similar stuation to when people ask a question but do not want to hear the truth, like "How does my hair look?" when you just want everyone to say "good." The irony puts the idea into perspective however, because being at war is more serious than the everyday questions we pose to those around us.

Mr. Z- M. Carl Holman (satire)

"Faced up to the dilemma, firmly seized/whatever ground was Anglo-Saxonized." PAGE 848

The poem is a satire of society. It is satirizing the prevalence of racism among white people. The speaker knew that his skin color could change who he was able to be. He acted like the perfect white person so he would not draw attention to himself. The satire is effective because it is portrayed through an experience of a person. The person is vague because that way it seems like Mr. Z could be any person of a different race. The satire points out that white people stereotype people because of race. This is effectively displayed because he was really black but because of his lifestyle, people thought he was white. People even remarked about him that he was a distinguished member of his race. He was not even the race people thought; he just acted the race. He was not proud of his race, but I think the author was trying to point out that we should be.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Pink Dog- Elizabeth Bishop

"If they do this to anyone who begs,
drugged, drunk, or sober, with or without legs,
what would they do to sick, four-legged dogs?" PAGE 799

This poem was a little confusing to me. At first I was sure that it was meant to be read literally, but as I continued I started to doubt that idea. I think that the pink dog should be interpretted in a more general light. I do not think that it was meant to be just literally a hairless dog, but rather a symbol for something. I think the speaker was trying to make a statement about society and how it treats the people. It was not solely saying that a hairless dog would not be treated well. I think it was saying that the lowest of the low or those in poverty are sometimes viewed like dogs. I think the speaker was implying a comparison in the way that they beg on the streets for food. The idea presented at the end of putting on a mask or a costume for Carnival made me think of people who put on an act. Sometimes people try to pretend they are something they are not and I think this poem called them out on it because they think that just because they change their clothes they are suddenly a different person who does not deserve to be in the situation they are in. The more I read, I think that their is a deeper meaning than the surface literal one.

Bright Star- John Keats

"Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art-" PAGE 792

The theme of the poem was to be unchanging like the star. The first line is an apostrophe in which the speaker addresses the star. The speaker wants to be like a star in that it does not change with what goes on. The speaker wants to be able to watch and experience life from afar rather than actively participate in it. Personification is used to give the star human characteristics as it watches from a distance. The speaker however, does recognize the drawbacks of being a star such as lonely. He feels that life as a star would be worth the sacrifice. I think that the speaker realizes that he cannot be like a star but still wishes to be. The fact that in the last lines he says he wants to live like a star, "or else swoon to death," to me solidifies the fact that he truly wants to live like a star. The speaker must be significantly unhappy in his current life and the changes in it or else he would not express such a desire to live alone in the distance.

February- Margaret Atwood (motif)

"Winter. Time to eat fat and watch hockey."

This idea is repeated throughout the poem as a motif. References to food and eating are consistently used. First, the cat is described with food words, "a black fur sausage." Then the cat's breath is scented like meat. Also, the speaker suggests eating our young "if we were sensible." This furthers the idea that winter is a time for eating. The motif is furthered when the speaker talks of famine and a skewered heart. The idea that winter is a time to eat is emphasized through the motif of food being repeated throughout. In addition, the idea of hockey is repeated. The idea of war and territory are mentioned. In hockey, the games are sort of like battles and the different sides of the rink are considered the opponent's territory. "He shoots, he scores" is inserted in the middle of the poem. This could be interpreted literally like hockey or in the context of the poem. The motifs of eating and hockey are repeated throughout the work in a way that contributes to the idea that winter is a "time to eat fat and watch hockey."

The Joy of Cooking- Elaine Magarrell (diction)

"I could also have braised it and served in sour sauce."

The diction of the poem is relevant to the subject of it. The majority of the words reflect the idea of cooking. The author successfully uses appropriate words that deal with cooking to present a familiarity with cooking. Also, the diction makes the speaker appear to be a seasoned cook because she knows the terms. The diction used to describe the tongue and heart are also multifaceted in that they reflect both the personality of the person and the cooking aspect. The idea that the tongue of her sister will probably grow back implies that she uses it alot. From this, we can gather that she is a talker. From the adjectives used to describe the heart of her brother we can infer that she views him as not very kind, almost cold hearted. She uses words such as firm and dry which I took to mean that he did not use it much. Also she mentions that it would barely serve to which makes me assume it is small. The connection I can make to this is that the Grinch's heart was very small when he did not care and when he became nice, it grew. I think that the author is implying that her brother does not care.

Dream Deffered- Langston Hughes

"Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" PAGE 805

This quote is one of the six images presented in the poem. It contains a simile comparing a deferred dream to a raisin drying up in the sun. Five of the images contain similes similar to this in which the dream is compared to something usually thought of as unpleasant. The image that does not contain a simile contains a metaphor. The use of similes and metaphors in this poem are effective because they provide visuals for the reader. The things that the dream is compared to are all things that the reader has experienced or would understand. Rather than use abstract ideas, the author uses direct examples to express his point. I think he is trying to say that people should not give up on their dreams. It seems like he views unachieved dreams as a waste and useless. I agree because what is the point in dreaming if one is not going to do everything he can to achieve it. The use of similes in this poem support the authors point and make the poem easy to read in a literal sense.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Those Winter Sundays- Robert Hayden

"No one ever thanked him." page 781

This line of this poem struck me the most. It just made me think of all the times that other people have helped me or done something for me and I have taken it for granted. Why didn't I say thank you?" I think sometimes we all just assume that people know we are thankful for what they do know, but I do not think that is always the case. The poem presented an excellent example of people taking someone's work for granted. The father of the family worked hard every day, even Sunday for his family and did not receive the gratification that he deserved. The poem goes into detail as to what the man went through for his family and the struggles and hardships he endured. The speaker reaped the benefits of his father's work but never understood the actual gravity of the situation. He is just now looking back and realizing what his father did for him. In my opinion the reason that the speaker's view of the past has changed is that he became a father himself. He now realizes the love and sacrifices that come with being a father. He did not understand the responsibility and role in the past, but now he is aware of what his father did for him. I think the tone is a warning and also gives advice. The speaker does not want the reader to forget to thank people for what they do for us.

The Panther- Rainer Maria Rilke

"As he paces in cramped circles, over and over, the movement... in which a mighty will stands paralyzed."

The diction throughout the poem indicates confinement. The fact that the animal is not only pacing in circles, but that those circles are cramped within a small area. The mighty will is paralyzed because it does not have enough space to release itself. The animal's potential is being held back by the limited amount of space. He is confined within the bars. Another phrase that indicates confinement is that behind the bars, there is no world. The "panther" has been confined in the cage for so long that it cannot even imagine the world outside the bars. The living are it must occupy is too small for it to know the world for what it is. The verb plunges also seems to have a negative connotation. Rather than just saying that the image entered the heart the author used a vivid verb to describe the negative effect it had. Also, I think the use of the word curtain in line 9 is significant because usually a closed curtain happens at the end of a scene or play. It usually signifies an end. I think the fact that the "curtain" lifts occasionally and quietly indicates that the end is near. My interpretation of the poem could possibly be that the panther is a prisoner on death row, constantly staring at the bars of his cell. In the end, the fatal injection is what causes the heart to stop.

To Autumn- John Keats

"Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-" page 783

I think this quote highlights the central purpose of the poem. I believe that the author was trying to present the positives of fall rather than focusing on the negatives. People always think that spring is such a pretty season and full of new life. The weather starts to get warmer and most people enjoy it whereas fall seems to be the opposite for some people. They think of the plants dying and the animals preparing for hibernation and the coming of winter and cold. The author points out that fall is a significant season too. The stanzas provide a progression through the different stages of the season. First, in stanza 1, the poem talks about the transition from summer to fall. Lines 10 and 11 create the visual of honey over filling the honeycomb cells because the warm weather has carried over so there are more flowers for the bees. This presents the positive that life can still flourish in autumn. The first paragraph also discusses the sun and autumn working together to get people what they need. The second stanza focuses on the harvest that takes place in the autumn season and the production of the goods. The third and final stanza is about the end of the season and the sadness that comes with it. The author tries to create the feeling that autumn is as good as spring because autumn has its own songs. It presents different animals that have benefited from the season. The author effectively fulfilled his purpose in presenting autumn as a prosperous season because he was able to account for the typical downfalls of the season and present the positive side of things.

Spring

"Nothing is so beautiful as spring-" page 774

This first line effectively introduces the first eight lines by basically summarizing what they are about. The first paragraph uses imagery to create different pictures of the many aspects associated with spring. "Weeds, in wheels," and, "Thrush's eggs," and others create images of the beauteous parts of the season of spring. In line 2, weeds are growing through the spokes of a wheel. In line 3, presents the speckled eggs of a bird. Lines 4 and 5 focus on the songs of the birds. Lines 6 and 7 portray a beautiful tree and the sky respectively. In line 8, the author describes lovely lambs. The effect this imagery plays as it is presented throughout the work is that the tone is innocent and carefree. The theme to this point is not very deep, it is rather basic and focuses mainly on surface views. The theme is the wonder and beauty of spring.

The tone then shifts from admiration of the beauty to a religious prayer type writing. The second stanza presents the allusion to Eden in a comparison with spring and the innocence both possessed. The third stanza seems to be a prayer, but not the average form of prayer for something that has already happened. This prayer is for the innocent and for the deeds that children have not yet committed. Usually prayers are said after one has sinned, but the boy and girl have not sinned to this point and yet are being prayed for. This adds to the theme and connects the beginning in which the spring visuals seemed innocent. The author wants the children to remain innocent, like the eggs and trees and songs described in the onset.

I Felt a Funeral in My Brain

"A Service, like a Drum-
Kept beating-beating-till I thought
My Mind was going numb-" page 776

This poem relied heavily on the sense of sound. The sense of sight however, is missing. Throughout the poem, sounds are revealed that had an effect on the way I read it. As I read, I was hearing the beating and the bells in the background behind me. I felt a part of the setting, even though putting oneself into the poem is perhaps the worst thing to do. I read the poem rather literally, viewing the box as a casket. I feel like the subject was mentally dying, like in a hospital bed going insane and losing mental capacity but accepting her coffin and death. In the end, it seems like she finally loses it. I think the end symbolizes death because her lines had previously rhymed, but the last stanza did not rhyme. Another form of style that I noticed was that random words, mostly nouns were capitalized. My initial connection was to the German lanuage in which all nouns are capitalized.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Perrine's Approach to Poetry

Perrine's approach to correctly determining the interpretations of poetry is a very logical one. The two conditions for finding the meaning of poetry seem very sensible, but I am not sure how practical. His comparison to a scientific hypothesis made his process easier to understand and grasp, but I do not know if I agree that poetry should be interpreted in the same way as science. To me, poetry seems like it should allow for more free interpretation. I realize that not all views can be considered correct, but is it absolutely necessary to deny any interpretation that has a single detail out of place? Just as writing poetry can provide insights into a person's mind and feelings, I think different interpretations can also lend themselves to finding out more about a person. I also understand where Perrine is coming from though when he says that there are incorrect ways of reading and interpreting poetry though. When the author writes poetry, he has a specific meaning in mind, but sometimes I wonder if the point of not directly stating the meaning is so that the reader can connect the poem to his own life and what it means to him. I agree with some of Perrine's ideas but not to the extent that he depicts.
After reading this article, I was able to see that my interpretations of these poems were way off. I, like most people as mentioned in this article, thought the Emily Dickinson poem was about a garden or field of flowers. Once I read Perrine's view of it, I felt like his was more accurate than mine and also made sense, but I was still not convinced that mine was a wrong interpretation. Yes, Perrine negated the truth behind that interpretation, but I still think that it could have some accuracy. My interpretation of Melville's poem was way too literal. I thought it was about the army and it was apparently about stars. Looking back at the poem, stars seems to fit much better. I think in this case, my interpretation was wrong. Throughout the reading, the concept that has stuck with me to the greatest extent is the one about a symbol in comparison to a ripple in a pool. I find the comparison to be relevant and meaningful. I feel that it provides an accurate description for how a symbol can and should be interpreted. I think Perrine's two conditions for true interpretations of poetry will halp me the most in studying poetry because I will try to remember to make sure all the details are true and accounted for.