"Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care;"
A disturbing story to say the least, this fits in perfectly with Halloween today. Faulkner cleverly distorted the chronological order of the story in order to create suspense for the reader. Had he simply gone in order, the reader would not have been on edge near as much. In fact, the story's tone would not have been eerie and mysterious. Part of the surprise in the last paragraph stems from the fact that we discover the corpse of Homer as the people of the town do. Faulkner effectively puts the climax of the story at the very end, in the last paragraph. In fact, I found myself turning the page, expecting more, and being disappointed to find that the story was over. No linear story could have created such a tone in a single suspenseful and revealing paragraph.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
"Delight In Disorder" by Robert Herrick
"A sweet disorder in the dress..." Line 1
Herrick is writing this about a woman. He is admiring her dress. This too is very relatable to us in the modern day. However I am once again uncertain in the actual meaning of the poetry. He calls her dress "disorderly", but does that means mismatched and sloppy or perhaps promiscuous? Again he calls her dress "wantonness", which according to my online dictionary means carefree. Carefree with her sexuality? Or just sloppy? Either way, this man seems to find this woman incredibly attractive, despite her not being dressed properly as most women are. It is an ode to expressing one's individuality and the good in it.
Herrick is writing this about a woman. He is admiring her dress. This too is very relatable to us in the modern day. However I am once again uncertain in the actual meaning of the poetry. He calls her dress "disorderly", but does that means mismatched and sloppy or perhaps promiscuous? Again he calls her dress "wantonness", which according to my online dictionary means carefree. Carefree with her sexuality? Or just sloppy? Either way, this man seems to find this woman incredibly attractive, despite her not being dressed properly as most women are. It is an ode to expressing one's individuality and the good in it.
"That Time of Year" by William Shakespeare
"In me thoust seest the twighlight of such a day" Line 5
Death. Death in every single poem we have read this unit. I like it thou. It's a good change of pace. Anyways, about Shakespeare. In this poem, the speaker is a man coming upon the end of his life. Again, it is compared to autumn, a very common theme in poetry it seems to me. He compares his life to the bare trees and cold and lonely weather. He also compares himself to a dying fire. However this is the confusing part. Is he talking to a lover? Or is he talking to his youth? Either way, the companion is loved even more because of the condition of the speaker. It is an unfortunate truth, that as humans we take things for granted until they are gone.
Death. Death in every single poem we have read this unit. I like it thou. It's a good change of pace. Anyways, about Shakespeare. In this poem, the speaker is a man coming upon the end of his life. Again, it is compared to autumn, a very common theme in poetry it seems to me. He compares his life to the bare trees and cold and lonely weather. He also compares himself to a dying fire. However this is the confusing part. Is he talking to a lover? Or is he talking to his youth? Either way, the companion is loved even more because of the condition of the speaker. It is an unfortunate truth, that as humans we take things for granted until they are gone.
"Edward", by Anonymous
"And I had none but he, O." Line 8
Edward is an idiot. This poem is incredibly unusual in my opinion. The author doesn't even attempt to help the reader relate to or understand Edward's actions. He starts off saying he killed his hawk. His stupid mother attempts to comfort him. However he then tells her it was his horse that he killed. Again, she readily forgives him for his actions and comforts him. Finally, the truth comes out and his mother discovers that it was his father, her own spouse, that he killed. Yet again, the crazy hag simply asks what penance he will serve for his actions. Later on, Ed tells his mother that he will readily abandon his family to a horrible life. What a guy! And finally, the only good part of this work, he tells his mother she is cursed for trying to comfort him after all the horrible things he did and raising such a grotesque human being. :)
Edward is an idiot. This poem is incredibly unusual in my opinion. The author doesn't even attempt to help the reader relate to or understand Edward's actions. He starts off saying he killed his hawk. His stupid mother attempts to comfort him. However he then tells her it was his horse that he killed. Again, she readily forgives him for his actions and comforts him. Finally, the truth comes out and his mother discovers that it was his father, her own spouse, that he killed. Yet again, the crazy hag simply asks what penance he will serve for his actions. Later on, Ed tells his mother that he will readily abandon his family to a horrible life. What a guy! And finally, the only good part of this work, he tells his mother she is cursed for trying to comfort him after all the horrible things he did and raising such a grotesque human being. :)
"Lonely Hearts" by Wendy Cope
"Can someone make my simple wish come true?" Line 1
There are many lonely people in this world. In fact, the Beatles wrote a song about it. Cope's poem is just another example of the sad irony of the world today. In the poem, a man is putting a personal ad in a newspaper, desperately trying to find the love of his life. The irony lies in the question he asks repeatedly. His wish to find love is all but simple. In fact, he later in the poem has very specific things he wants in a woman. If this man had a more open heart and weren't so picky, he would most likely be happy with a woman. This lonely heart is attempting to reach out to the world, frantically calling out to find a significant other to be his companion.
There are many lonely people in this world. In fact, the Beatles wrote a song about it. Cope's poem is just another example of the sad irony of the world today. In the poem, a man is putting a personal ad in a newspaper, desperately trying to find the love of his life. The irony lies in the question he asks repeatedly. His wish to find love is all but simple. In fact, he later in the poem has very specific things he wants in a woman. If this man had a more open heart and weren't so picky, he would most likely be happy with a woman. This lonely heart is attempting to reach out to the world, frantically calling out to find a significant other to be his companion.
"Death, Be Not Proud" by John Donne
"...nor yet canst thou kill me." Line 4
I believe Donne was really onto something when he wrote this poem. He was clever in the tone he used in this particular work. On first glance, it appears he is unafraid, even to the point of jovially provoking death. However, if one looks deeper, they can see it is all just a face he puts on to mask his fear. This is very relate able, as many people nowadays have pep talks with themselves. Personally, before my lacrosse games, I talk to myself like this, telling myself that the other team is far below my level, and that they are no better than any players on my team. Donne's false bravado is simply a disguise for his fear of death. The underlying tone is one of desperation in reality. It is sort of like he is saying, "Death isn't scary. I'm not afraid of it. Right?"
I believe Donne was really onto something when he wrote this poem. He was clever in the tone he used in this particular work. On first glance, it appears he is unafraid, even to the point of jovially provoking death. However, if one looks deeper, they can see it is all just a face he puts on to mask his fear. This is very relate able, as many people nowadays have pep talks with themselves. Personally, before my lacrosse games, I talk to myself like this, telling myself that the other team is far below my level, and that they are no better than any players on my team. Donne's false bravado is simply a disguise for his fear of death. The underlying tone is one of desperation in reality. It is sort of like he is saying, "Death isn't scary. I'm not afraid of it. Right?"
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