Patrick Enyart
Nic Donney
Peter Tint
Critical Analysis
AIDS
May Sarton’s emotions are taking control of the tone of this poem. She feels empathetic towards an individual that is suffering from Aids. May is feeling both despair and hope about the individual that is suffering from the infection. She also goes through a state of fear for the person’s life. The author is expressing a sense of passion for the person with Aids. Her words are showing a sense of urgency or care. “Every night at nine I tuck him into bed, And give him a shot of morphine (line 18,19). May is a caring individual, and she illustrates that very well by her feelings and words expressed in the poem.
In the first ten lines May is showing her emotions having to do with fear. When we think of Aids we automatically think about the worst possible outcomes including death. May is also thinking these thoughts. “The raw truth. Death is on the line (line 5).” She is aware of the results and effect that the infection can have. She also doesn’t know anyone specifically that has Aids; she just feels empathetic about the ones who are dealing with such a tragedy. May reverts to love as the poem progresses. It’s a very slow but methodical transition. She does this very well by expressing her hearts deepest emotions. “Every day now we meet face to face. Every day now devotion is a test (line 23,24).” May is aware of the commitment it requires to comfort one who is going through a very difficult time in their life. She feels like love is the conquering hero that will rescue the soul regardless of their current state.
The overall tone of this poem is very emotional. May is expressing fear, and love on a very broad spectrum. She feels empathetic, despair, and hope. Although Aids is a disease without a cure, the poem is conveying an all embracing type of feeling. When we think of Aids we tend to flip over the death card. May illustrates this at the very beginning. When we read the title we all thought of Pedro. He died, but what Judd wanted the reader to know was that Pedro lived. May is along the same lines expressing love, and how love is the one feeling that conquers. There may not be a physical cure, but Aids can never take what matters the most to us and that’s love. “As we learn it again, as we bring it alive: Love. Love. Love. Love (line 36).”
Monday, November 2, 2009
PA 14 Jeremy and Barb Syntax "I Hear America Singing"
Syntax in “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
“I Hear America Singing” attempts to describe the wide variety and diversity of America’s workforce. Whitman’s idea is that this diversity is what makes America special. His use of anaphora with the constant repetition of the word “singing” provides evidence for the importance of this diversity.
In Walt Whitman’s poem “I Hear America Singing”, he uses a literary device of anaphora which is the “repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect” (anaphora). The specific anaphora that the poet uses are the words “the” and “singing” at the beginning of each line. The poet hears varied tones of all the working people who contribute to the life and culture of America. The mechanic singing, the carpenter singing, the mason singing, the boatman singing, and the shoemaker singing individually contributes to the nation as a whole. The singing of the mother, the wife, and the girl expresses their joy and feelings of their daily tasks. Whitman mentions how each individual sings about “what belongs to him or her” (9). From this we can conclude that his is a highly individualistic society of men and women. He also incorporates the use of catalogs consisting of a list of people which symbolizes the diversity of America’s work force and general laborers. The description of people singing simply means that they are happy to be working in a free America. The constant repetition of the word “singing” shows the poets emphasis of the workers being fortunate to have a job that they enjoy along with their basic attitude and love towards America. Whitman shifts from describing the tasks from grown- ups to describing the culture of young individuals. He says that they are beginning a life of partying, singing and dancing. This may indicate a shift from our culture from a more working oriented focus to a culture that focuses more on partying and celebration.
In closing, Whitman uses the word “singing” as a way to celebrate the opportunities that all American’s and immigrants have to achieving the American Dream. He also uses it as a tribute to everyday laborers which sometimes exaggerates the happiness of the 19th century but also reinforces that it is alright to rejoice with song and beverage after a long day of work.
Works Cited
“Anaphora”. Merriam-Webster. Web. 02 Nov. 2009.
Gillespie, Sheena, Tony Pipolo, and Terezinha Fonseca. Literature Across Cultures. New York. Pearson Education Inc. 2008. Print.
“I Hear America Singing” attempts to describe the wide variety and diversity of America’s workforce. Whitman’s idea is that this diversity is what makes America special. His use of anaphora with the constant repetition of the word “singing” provides evidence for the importance of this diversity.
In Walt Whitman’s poem “I Hear America Singing”, he uses a literary device of anaphora which is the “repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect” (anaphora). The specific anaphora that the poet uses are the words “the” and “singing” at the beginning of each line. The poet hears varied tones of all the working people who contribute to the life and culture of America. The mechanic singing, the carpenter singing, the mason singing, the boatman singing, and the shoemaker singing individually contributes to the nation as a whole. The singing of the mother, the wife, and the girl expresses their joy and feelings of their daily tasks. Whitman mentions how each individual sings about “what belongs to him or her” (9). From this we can conclude that his is a highly individualistic society of men and women. He also incorporates the use of catalogs consisting of a list of people which symbolizes the diversity of America’s work force and general laborers. The description of people singing simply means that they are happy to be working in a free America. The constant repetition of the word “singing” shows the poets emphasis of the workers being fortunate to have a job that they enjoy along with their basic attitude and love towards America. Whitman shifts from describing the tasks from grown- ups to describing the culture of young individuals. He says that they are beginning a life of partying, singing and dancing. This may indicate a shift from our culture from a more working oriented focus to a culture that focuses more on partying and celebration.
In closing, Whitman uses the word “singing” as a way to celebrate the opportunities that all American’s and immigrants have to achieving the American Dream. He also uses it as a tribute to everyday laborers which sometimes exaggerates the happiness of the 19th century but also reinforces that it is alright to rejoice with song and beverage after a long day of work.
Works Cited
“Anaphora”. Merriam-Webster. Web. 02 Nov. 2009.
Gillespie, Sheena, Tony Pipolo, and Terezinha Fonseca. Literature Across Cultures. New York. Pearson Education Inc. 2008. Print.
blake londons imagery
Jake Perrone
Patrick S, Nicole B
Blake’s London imagery
In the poem London by William Blake the topic of imagery is very obvious. Blake uses imagery to describe how the city has changed since a plague began. He starts out giving you a brief description of where he is in London, England. He talks about how he wanders the streets of London and how they are leased out under patent. From his words you understand these streets happen to be near the Thames River. When he states,” Marks of weakness, marks of woe” it makes me think of how each person has a different look on their face. The look seems to be one of grief, despair, and sadness. As Blake continues in the poem, he continues to describe the looks and feelings you can see on the occupants faces. These looks mainly come from the poverty and hardships that come with having a plague in your community. The final lines are very inevitably writings of sadness. Blake talks about the new-born children crying and how young harlots are cursing. Both of these lines make you visualize that the young men have anger on their face and I believe they are swearing or talking with profanity, while the children are crying with pain because they have acquired the plague. Elsewhere in the poem Blake also talks about the infants fear and the chimney sweeps crying. This just shows you how horrible a plague can be on the community. You’re talking about men who face great heights and fears every day, breaking down and crying from how painful or hard the plague is to watch.
In line 12, you get a very gruesome visual of blood running down palace walls. This means either there is people who are wounded, are dying or who have died atop the palace walls. These words just make me picture a waterfall effect, with how the blood would be running down a stony wall of a London palace. This also shows that even the royalty and their minions were not immune to the plague. The poem in its entirety shows you how in just one street you can see some of the most horrible things you would ever see just because of an illness.
Works CitedBlake, William. *London.* Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 853.Print.
Patrick S, Nicole B
Blake’s London imagery
In the poem London by William Blake the topic of imagery is very obvious. Blake uses imagery to describe how the city has changed since a plague began. He starts out giving you a brief description of where he is in London, England. He talks about how he wanders the streets of London and how they are leased out under patent. From his words you understand these streets happen to be near the Thames River. When he states,” Marks of weakness, marks of woe” it makes me think of how each person has a different look on their face. The look seems to be one of grief, despair, and sadness. As Blake continues in the poem, he continues to describe the looks and feelings you can see on the occupants faces. These looks mainly come from the poverty and hardships that come with having a plague in your community. The final lines are very inevitably writings of sadness. Blake talks about the new-born children crying and how young harlots are cursing. Both of these lines make you visualize that the young men have anger on their face and I believe they are swearing or talking with profanity, while the children are crying with pain because they have acquired the plague. Elsewhere in the poem Blake also talks about the infants fear and the chimney sweeps crying. This just shows you how horrible a plague can be on the community. You’re talking about men who face great heights and fears every day, breaking down and crying from how painful or hard the plague is to watch.
In line 12, you get a very gruesome visual of blood running down palace walls. This means either there is people who are wounded, are dying or who have died atop the palace walls. These words just make me picture a waterfall effect, with how the blood would be running down a stony wall of a London palace. This also shows that even the royalty and their minions were not immune to the plague. The poem in its entirety shows you how in just one street you can see some of the most horrible things you would ever see just because of an illness.
Works CitedBlake, William. *London.* Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 853.Print.
Ozymandias
Phong Vang
Adam Gorz
Ozymandias
In line 10-11, he writes “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair,” there’s irony in this because Shelley says that “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay. / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare (l. 12-13).” Ozymandias talks about his creations and brags about being king of kings, but there’s nothing to show for his work. It’s empty and desolate around his statue. Ozymandias in Greek means Ruler of Air. This Ruler of Air has created nothing at all and he makes it seem like he’s mighty and has created something great. But according to the description of the traveler from Egypt, the statue of Ozymandias is “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies… (l. 4).”
Adam Gorz
Ozymandias
In line 10-11, he writes “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair,” there’s irony in this because Shelley says that “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay. / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare (l. 12-13).” Ozymandias talks about his creations and brags about being king of kings, but there’s nothing to show for his work. It’s empty and desolate around his statue. Ozymandias in Greek means Ruler of Air. This Ruler of Air has created nothing at all and he makes it seem like he’s mighty and has created something great. But according to the description of the traveler from Egypt, the statue of Ozymandias is “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies… (l. 4).”
Much Madness is divinest sense
Theresa Tegdesch
Saba Khan
Dana Oslin
“Much Madness is divinest sense”
The theme of “Much Madness is divinest sense-“by Emily Dickinson is experiencing things that the majority may consider madness. The poem says “Much Madness is divinest Sense- To a discerning Eye-“, Dickinson is telling us here that what some people may see as madness, a discerning person who looks closely will see that it really does make sense. The next line reads “Much Sense-the starkest Madness-‘Tis the Majority.” Dickinson is saying that living by the rules, and only doing things that “, make sense”, according to the majority, is boring and actually does not make sense. Why should we live our lives only doing things that the majority says are okay? It makes more sense to get out of the box and experience some new things. Also, this poem causes it’s readers to question why the majority is who defines sanity and madness. Each of us need to decide for ourselves what is sane, and what it not, instead of going along with the majority and never considering things for ourselves. She goes on to say that those who do agree with her idea of getting out and experiencing “madness” are really the sane ones. As the opposite, those who disagree with her idea are really the dangerous ones who will live their lives on a chain, only experiencing life as far as their “sanity” will allow. Emily Dickinson wrote this poem in 1862 which was the time when women weren’t given as many privileges as men were. Women had few rights; it was presumed that the men would handle everything. It seems like Dickinson was struggling, and she is going against what the majority thinks and she is rebelling against what was accepted. This may have been the reason why the theme of this poem is madness versus sanity.
Works Cited
Dickinson, Emily. "Much Madness is diviniest sense." Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 866.
Print.
Saba Khan
Dana Oslin
“Much Madness is divinest sense”
The theme of “Much Madness is divinest sense-“by Emily Dickinson is experiencing things that the majority may consider madness. The poem says “Much Madness is divinest Sense- To a discerning Eye-“, Dickinson is telling us here that what some people may see as madness, a discerning person who looks closely will see that it really does make sense. The next line reads “Much Sense-the starkest Madness-‘Tis the Majority.” Dickinson is saying that living by the rules, and only doing things that “, make sense”, according to the majority, is boring and actually does not make sense. Why should we live our lives only doing things that the majority says are okay? It makes more sense to get out of the box and experience some new things. Also, this poem causes it’s readers to question why the majority is who defines sanity and madness. Each of us need to decide for ourselves what is sane, and what it not, instead of going along with the majority and never considering things for ourselves. She goes on to say that those who do agree with her idea of getting out and experiencing “madness” are really the sane ones. As the opposite, those who disagree with her idea are really the dangerous ones who will live their lives on a chain, only experiencing life as far as their “sanity” will allow. Emily Dickinson wrote this poem in 1862 which was the time when women weren’t given as many privileges as men were. Women had few rights; it was presumed that the men would handle everything. It seems like Dickinson was struggling, and she is going against what the majority thinks and she is rebelling against what was accepted. This may have been the reason why the theme of this poem is madness versus sanity.
Works Cited
Dickinson, Emily. "Much Madness is diviniest sense." Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 866.
Print.
Hanna Hudson
Morgan Marcotte
Jim Roush
Speaker: How to Watch Your Brother Die
In the narrative poem, “How to Watch Your Brother Die” by Michael Lassell, it tells a story about a man’s journey dealing with his brother’s impending death from AIDS.
In the beginning of the poem, the speaker is trying to prepare himself to be strong, not only for himself, but for his brother too. On arrival at the hospital, however, he realizes that there is one more person depending on his strength as well; his brother’s male lover whom he has never met before. He tries very hard to appear accepting of him by breaking the ice with, “‘You’re an extremely good-looking young man’” (l. 24-25). The speaker appears accepting of the lover, even though throughout the poem, it is apparent that he is coaching himself, drilling into his mind the noble things to say, in fear that he may say the wrong thing. He maintains the act of mentally telling himself what to do. “Feel,” “Say,” and “Think” are some of the commands he gives himself (l. 44, 47, 49). These actions imply that the speaker feels uncomfortable in the situation he is in, enough so that he needs to remind himself how to feel and what to think.
Throughout the poem it is clear that the narrator has had a difficult time accepting his brother in the past. It seems as though they have had many differences in their lives, which is part of the reason they have grown so far apart. The speaker really does not understand why his brother could love another man, such as a husband would love his wife, but he forces himself to put this confusion aside and focus only on positive dialog so as not to spoil the farewell meeting with his brother.
Next, the speaker goes through his mental laundry list of thing that he might be able to do to help save his brother’s life. “Drive to Mexico for unapproved drugs that might help him live longer” (l. 38-39) is one example.
As the poem continues, the speaker reveals that no matter what he does to not make a scene throughout this emotional series of events, he really wants nothing to do with anything beyond the brotherly love he has for his brother. This sentiment is exemplified by the authors description of the speaker’s trip to the airport when his brother’s lover says, “‘Forgive yourself for not wanting to know him after he told you. He did’” (l. 84-85). Upon hearing this, the speaker makes a dramatic turnabout in his perspective. He now feels that the barriers have come down and that he has made peace with the now departed brother.
Going forward, he will be open to the male-to-male-affection, such as a father and son might share with a hug, or goodnight kiss on the cheek. As the speaker flies home, he thinks about this future relationship with his children and “how your children will feel in your arms, warm and friendly and without challenge” (l.98-99). Had the speaker not been so closed minded earlier in his relationship with his brother, he would have seen that he himself was actually more accepting to the situation than he would have originally believed, because his brother had already forgiven him.
Works Cited
Lassell, Michael. "How to Watch Your Brother Die." Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 370-372. Print.
Morgan Marcotte
Jim Roush
Speaker: How to Watch Your Brother Die
In the narrative poem, “How to Watch Your Brother Die” by Michael Lassell, it tells a story about a man’s journey dealing with his brother’s impending death from AIDS.
In the beginning of the poem, the speaker is trying to prepare himself to be strong, not only for himself, but for his brother too. On arrival at the hospital, however, he realizes that there is one more person depending on his strength as well; his brother’s male lover whom he has never met before. He tries very hard to appear accepting of him by breaking the ice with, “‘You’re an extremely good-looking young man’” (l. 24-25). The speaker appears accepting of the lover, even though throughout the poem, it is apparent that he is coaching himself, drilling into his mind the noble things to say, in fear that he may say the wrong thing. He maintains the act of mentally telling himself what to do. “Feel,” “Say,” and “Think” are some of the commands he gives himself (l. 44, 47, 49). These actions imply that the speaker feels uncomfortable in the situation he is in, enough so that he needs to remind himself how to feel and what to think.
Throughout the poem it is clear that the narrator has had a difficult time accepting his brother in the past. It seems as though they have had many differences in their lives, which is part of the reason they have grown so far apart. The speaker really does not understand why his brother could love another man, such as a husband would love his wife, but he forces himself to put this confusion aside and focus only on positive dialog so as not to spoil the farewell meeting with his brother.
Next, the speaker goes through his mental laundry list of thing that he might be able to do to help save his brother’s life. “Drive to Mexico for unapproved drugs that might help him live longer” (l. 38-39) is one example.
As the poem continues, the speaker reveals that no matter what he does to not make a scene throughout this emotional series of events, he really wants nothing to do with anything beyond the brotherly love he has for his brother. This sentiment is exemplified by the authors description of the speaker’s trip to the airport when his brother’s lover says, “‘Forgive yourself for not wanting to know him after he told you. He did’” (l. 84-85). Upon hearing this, the speaker makes a dramatic turnabout in his perspective. He now feels that the barriers have come down and that he has made peace with the now departed brother.
Going forward, he will be open to the male-to-male-affection, such as a father and son might share with a hug, or goodnight kiss on the cheek. As the speaker flies home, he thinks about this future relationship with his children and “how your children will feel in your arms, warm and friendly and without challenge” (l.98-99). Had the speaker not been so closed minded earlier in his relationship with his brother, he would have seen that he himself was actually more accepting to the situation than he would have originally believed, because his brother had already forgiven him.
Works Cited
Lassell, Michael. "How to Watch Your Brother Die." Literature Across Cultures. 5th ed. Gillespie, Sheena, et. al. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 370-372. Print.
PA 16 Dickenson "The Soul selects her own society"
Symbolism is a matter of opinion in translation. In the poem The Soul selects her own society. There are many different symbols portrayed in, and can be translated in many different ways. To each person this entire poem could translate differently with different meaning. Each symbol turns the meaning another direction based on the reader who is reading it. Deriving their own conclusions that may not be exactly what the author intended.
There are many symbols throughout this poem; none are more outstanding than the main word in the title, the soul. To some the soul may represent a person following a certain course of action, or even selecting their place in this world. The majority is shutting the door and choosing not to be surrounded by the others. Then confronted by another who sees things a bit different, theorizing that the soul and the emperor are two ways of viewing life and the others around them. One sees the others in life as chariots of fire while the emperor sees nothing, shutting off the valves meaning turning off their own personality or emotions hence being “like a stone.”
Some in their thoughts may believe that this poem is about how the soul is searching for its goal. Some people believing that there is after life when people die, their soul will be reborn and search for its own kind. This poem by Emily Dickinson, some may thing that the soul itself is looking and searching for its way through the second journey of life. The soul could perhaps be on a path to its final destination. The soul could even possibly be searching to be reborn, and it needs to way to heaven. One may believe Emily is connecting her poem of the soul, perhaps talking about the way to heaven. She mentions the emperor or god, the chariot or transportation, and the gate. Most of all these sounds like the goal to reach heaven after death. The soul is searching to heaven for reincarnation. Finally in the end of the poem the soul found its way to reunite with its goal.
In a third thought each persons place in life is determined by decision making. The soul could be referring to each individual as a single person within the greater whole of humanity. When you choose your place in the world and who you best fit in with, you separate yourself and close the door to the rest. The door being what separates you from the rest of the societies you chose not to be a part of. The divine majority again is the entire human populace as a whole. Now that the soul has made its decisions it sees where the rest of life is, and sees others such as the emperor who has made their own decision in life as well.
It is interesting that any word in the poem “The soul selects her own society” that could be used as a symbol in this poem is capitalized. The words Soul, Society, Door, Majority, Chariots, Gate, Emperor, Met, Valves, and Stone, are all words used in the strategically capitalized and none of them start the sentences. This is obviously to bring light to those words and thought to their meaning and representation. Each word brings many different ways of representing and translating their meanings as symbols and concepts.
Nick Sampson
Andrew Lor
Palee Xion
There are many symbols throughout this poem; none are more outstanding than the main word in the title, the soul. To some the soul may represent a person following a certain course of action, or even selecting their place in this world. The majority is shutting the door and choosing not to be surrounded by the others. Then confronted by another who sees things a bit different, theorizing that the soul and the emperor are two ways of viewing life and the others around them. One sees the others in life as chariots of fire while the emperor sees nothing, shutting off the valves meaning turning off their own personality or emotions hence being “like a stone.”
Some in their thoughts may believe that this poem is about how the soul is searching for its goal. Some people believing that there is after life when people die, their soul will be reborn and search for its own kind. This poem by Emily Dickinson, some may thing that the soul itself is looking and searching for its way through the second journey of life. The soul could perhaps be on a path to its final destination. The soul could even possibly be searching to be reborn, and it needs to way to heaven. One may believe Emily is connecting her poem of the soul, perhaps talking about the way to heaven. She mentions the emperor or god, the chariot or transportation, and the gate. Most of all these sounds like the goal to reach heaven after death. The soul is searching to heaven for reincarnation. Finally in the end of the poem the soul found its way to reunite with its goal.
In a third thought each persons place in life is determined by decision making. The soul could be referring to each individual as a single person within the greater whole of humanity. When you choose your place in the world and who you best fit in with, you separate yourself and close the door to the rest. The door being what separates you from the rest of the societies you chose not to be a part of. The divine majority again is the entire human populace as a whole. Now that the soul has made its decisions it sees where the rest of life is, and sees others such as the emperor who has made their own decision in life as well.
It is interesting that any word in the poem “The soul selects her own society” that could be used as a symbol in this poem is capitalized. The words Soul, Society, Door, Majority, Chariots, Gate, Emperor, Met, Valves, and Stone, are all words used in the strategically capitalized and none of them start the sentences. This is obviously to bring light to those words and thought to their meaning and representation. Each word brings many different ways of representing and translating their meanings as symbols and concepts.
Nick Sampson
Andrew Lor
Palee Xion
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