Langston Hughes begins this poem with a student who has an assignment to go home and write. HE speaks of how the narrator has grown up in historically black neighborhoods and he must go home to Harlem which is below his college. He talks about how he is not that different from his white counterparts. He is just as much a part of them as they are a part of him. Although they may not want to be linked sometimes, they are linked because they are both Americans.
This poem was written in 1951. Hello civil rights movement. This was published right at the beginning of the civil rights movement. Seperate water fountains, eating places in restaurants, entrances to buildings, and even assigned seats on buses were all a part of every day life. It was rare for black people to be educated during this time, but Hughes was. Despite the seperation in America, he saw the truth that everyone was linked despite their color. They were all Americans. Hughes says that white people are no better than black people. Everyone is equal, although not as equal as in Harrison Bergeron.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Howl- Ginsberg
Instead of beginning with the summary, I am going to begin this blog with some background on Ginsberg himself. He wrote this poem in 1955 at the urging of his therapist. He had spent some time in a mental institution, and his therapist felt that he would benefit from writing poetry full time. He talks in great lenghts about his friend from the institution, Carl Solomon. He sympathizes with Solomon due to his mothers schizophrenia.
The poem is written in three parts, not titled.
Part 1
He begins by saying that he saw the best minds of his generation destroyed by madness. He talks vividly about homosexuality, drug use, suicide. These people are all people he encountered in treatment. In this section, Ginsberg uses the base who. Every other line begins with this word
Part 2
Moloch is definitely the base for part 2. Moloch was a God worshipped by the phoenicians who had associations with child sacrifice. In modern english, it is used to refer to a costly sacrifice. Ginsberg uses Moloch as a god for his characters in Part 1 to be sacrificed to.
Part 3
This is a personal address to his dear friend Carl Solomon. The base in this section is Rockland. Ginsberg says that he is with Solomon in Rockland, the fictional name of the mental hospital that they met each other in. Ginsberg says that he will be there with Solomon through the good and the bad.
Reading this poem, I guess because the background of mental illness, i was reminded of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. She wrote that novel in 1963, only 8 years after Ginsberg wrote Howl. Just like Ginsberg, Plath had her own battle with mental illness. Also like Ginsberg, the characters in her story had mental illnesses as well. The Bell Jar centers around Esther Greenwood. She is a nice girl who is battling depression. The Carl to her Allen is a character named Betsy. These characters did not meet in treatment, but while on an internship in New York. Betsy is Esther's only friend. Plath may have taken some of the ideas from Ginsberg and put them into the Bell Jar.
The poem is written in three parts, not titled.
Part 1
He begins by saying that he saw the best minds of his generation destroyed by madness. He talks vividly about homosexuality, drug use, suicide. These people are all people he encountered in treatment. In this section, Ginsberg uses the base who. Every other line begins with this word
Part 2
Moloch is definitely the base for part 2. Moloch was a God worshipped by the phoenicians who had associations with child sacrifice. In modern english, it is used to refer to a costly sacrifice. Ginsberg uses Moloch as a god for his characters in Part 1 to be sacrificed to.
Part 3
This is a personal address to his dear friend Carl Solomon. The base in this section is Rockland. Ginsberg says that he is with Solomon in Rockland, the fictional name of the mental hospital that they met each other in. Ginsberg says that he will be there with Solomon through the good and the bad.
Reading this poem, I guess because the background of mental illness, i was reminded of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. She wrote that novel in 1963, only 8 years after Ginsberg wrote Howl. Just like Ginsberg, Plath had her own battle with mental illness. Also like Ginsberg, the characters in her story had mental illnesses as well. The Bell Jar centers around Esther Greenwood. She is a nice girl who is battling depression. The Carl to her Allen is a character named Betsy. These characters did not meet in treatment, but while on an internship in New York. Betsy is Esther's only friend. Plath may have taken some of the ideas from Ginsberg and put them into the Bell Jar.
Harrison Bergeron
Harrison bergeron is set in the year 2081. By this time, the governement has mandated that everyone is equal, very equal. Those who are good looking must wear masks, those who are smart must wear earpieces that don't allow them to use their brains, those who have good vision must wear glasses, those who are athletic must wear bags of weight around their neck. George and Hazel Bergeron have a son named harriso who is taken away from them by the handicapper general. While they are watching some ballerinas perform on television, a news bulletin begins stating that Harriso Bergeron has escaped from prison. He is wearing thick glasses and a red rubber nose. They warn people not to attempt to reason with him if they see him. He breaks onto the set of the ballerinas dancing and breaks free of all of his handicapps and begins dancing with one of the ballerinas. He removes her mask to reveal her stunning beauty. They dance and he proclaims himself emperor and the ballerina empress. They dance until Diana Moon Glampers, the handicapper general, catches Harrison and kills him. Hazel is sobbing at the sight of this, but George missed it because he went to get a beer from the kitchen. When he comes back, he asks Hazel what is wrong and she can't remember, something sad. So he tells her to forget sad things.
Is this story "1984" set in 2081 instead? I think so. These are both stories about the future. While this story focuses on the equality of everyone on the planet, 1984 focuses on the technology and how it seperates society. In 1984, the characters can't hide. They have to do things according to what the "Thought police" deem appropriate. In HB, if the characters don't comply with what the handicapper general says, they get killed. Reading these stories makes me wonder what is going to come of our world. Will it even have a future. According to the Mayans, it won't. In December 2012, the world is going to end (so they say). So modern day people won't have to worry about this type of unfair future. We have different types of people today because they are good at different things. Everyone doesn't need to be the same amount of pretty or the same level of smart. That is just ridiculous. Everyone has strenghts. For the government to rob people of that is insane. Let people be individuals.
Is this story "1984" set in 2081 instead? I think so. These are both stories about the future. While this story focuses on the equality of everyone on the planet, 1984 focuses on the technology and how it seperates society. In 1984, the characters can't hide. They have to do things according to what the "Thought police" deem appropriate. In HB, if the characters don't comply with what the handicapper general says, they get killed. Reading these stories makes me wonder what is going to come of our world. Will it even have a future. According to the Mayans, it won't. In December 2012, the world is going to end (so they say). So modern day people won't have to worry about this type of unfair future. We have different types of people today because they are good at different things. Everyone doesn't need to be the same amount of pretty or the same level of smart. That is just ridiculous. Everyone has strenghts. For the government to rob people of that is insane. Let people be individuals.
A Good Man is Hard to Find
In this story, the family is going on a road trip to FLorida. The grandmother is very unhappy with this choice and wants to go to Tennessee instead. She complains to her son Bailey over and over again, but the family chooses to go to Florida anyway. On the way, the family stops to have a meal at a diner called the Tower. While here, the grandmother learns of a serial killer known as "the misfit." She talks to the owner Red Sammy about the killer, and they both agree that a good man is hard to find. When back on the road, the grandmother begins telling the children stories of this house she used to visit when she was a little girl that had secret passageways (shes still trying to deter the family from going to florida). She tells the family that this house is in Georgia and it's right on their way. As she directs her son to turn down a deserted path, she realizes that the house she is thinking of is in fact in Tennessee, not Georgia. Bailey gets into a wreck and his car goes into a nearby ditch. A group of men stop and get out of a truck. They all have guns. The leader of the men instructs his menions to inspect the inside of the car. The grandmother realizes that he is the misfit and calls him on it. The menions begin murdering the family one by one. While this is happening, the grandmother pleads with misfit and tries to offer him the word of jesus christ. He believes her to be a phony Christian, and muders her (while she is wearing her sunday best, so she died like a lady)
Misfit reminded me somewhat of the character Jigsaw from the 'saw' movies. Misfit killed his own father and then went on a killing rampage to kill others. Jigsaw was diagnosed with some type of cancer and after a failed suicide attempt, he set out to make others apreciate their lives more. He set up "traps" that they had to escape out of, believing that if they did they would appreciate the value of life more. If they didn't, then they would die. The grandmother set a "trap" of her own, attempting to save Misfit. She felt that if she offered him the word of Jesus then he may see the light and not shoot her. While that does not work, he shoots her 3 times, he does remark that she would have been a good woman if there had been someone there to shoot her everyday.
Misfit reminded me somewhat of the character Jigsaw from the 'saw' movies. Misfit killed his own father and then went on a killing rampage to kill others. Jigsaw was diagnosed with some type of cancer and after a failed suicide attempt, he set out to make others apreciate their lives more. He set up "traps" that they had to escape out of, believing that if they did they would appreciate the value of life more. If they didn't, then they would die. The grandmother set a "trap" of her own, attempting to save Misfit. She felt that if she offered him the word of Jesus then he may see the light and not shoot her. While that does not work, he shoots her 3 times, he does remark that she would have been a good woman if there had been someone there to shoot her everyday.
The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber
Well this story was an interesting read to say the least. The story begins with a rich couple that decides to go on a safari in Africa. Their safari guide, Wilson, is very experienced in his job and has done this for many other couples. Margot and Francis are struggling in their marraige and hope that this safari can revitalize what they once had. Wilson and Macomber go hunting for lions, and Macomber becomes afraid when a lion is spotted and runs away leaving Wilson to fight it. That night, MAcomber apologizes to Wilson for his running away, and Margot, embarrassed of her husbands actions runs away herself. She comes back complaing and carrying on. Macomber knows that his marraige is on the rocks with Margot, but he feels that she will not leave him because he is too rich. (We'll talk about this in a bit) In the latter part of the story, all three characters go out in the car in search of Buffalo. When one comes charging at the car, both Macomber and Wilson are out of the car ready to shoot it, but Margot comes around the back of the car shooting her husband in the back of the head and killing him in cold blood.
So first of all, Margot is a classic gold digger. She is clearly with her husband for money. She has a very affluent lifestyle and she has become accustomed to it. I don't know many couples who are able to afford an African safari when they feel that their marraige is on the rocks. I get the feeling that Margot is very dependent on her looks, and doesn't do much else, almost like she is a trophy wife of sorts. When she kisses Wilson, Macomber doesn't over react, infact he pretty much just sat there and looked out the other window as if he hadn't seen it at all. I also think that in the end when she shot him, it was not an accident. If her husband is dead, then she can have all of his money and he won't have any say over how she spends it.
While reading this, I was reminded slightly of "The Most Dangerous Game." Instead of hunting for animals like macomber and Wilson, the characters in that story are hunting each other. However in the beginning of the story, Sanger is traveling to hunt jaguars. Little does he know that General Zaroff has plans to capture and hunt him. There are some parallels between both stories.
So first of all, Margot is a classic gold digger. She is clearly with her husband for money. She has a very affluent lifestyle and she has become accustomed to it. I don't know many couples who are able to afford an African safari when they feel that their marraige is on the rocks. I get the feeling that Margot is very dependent on her looks, and doesn't do much else, almost like she is a trophy wife of sorts. When she kisses Wilson, Macomber doesn't over react, infact he pretty much just sat there and looked out the other window as if he hadn't seen it at all. I also think that in the end when she shot him, it was not an accident. If her husband is dead, then she can have all of his money and he won't have any say over how she spends it.
While reading this, I was reminded slightly of "The Most Dangerous Game." Instead of hunting for animals like macomber and Wilson, the characters in that story are hunting each other. However in the beginning of the story, Sanger is traveling to hunt jaguars. Little does he know that General Zaroff has plans to capture and hunt him. There are some parallels between both stories.
T.S. Eliot The Wasteland
Eliot began his poem, "The Wasteland" with an epigraph that translates to: "I have seen with my own eyes the Sybil hanging in the jar, when the boys asked he what do you want, she answered 'I want to die." What an uplifting way to start your poem!! Just kidding. "The Wasteland" is divided into five sections: 'The Burial of the Dead," "A Game of Chess," "The Fire Sermon," "Death by Water," and " What the Thunder Said." So for this blog I'm just going to take it section by section.
The Burial of the Dead
To begin this section, Eliot talks about the seasons and how they change. He speaks of April and how it is the cruelest month. His speaking of lilacs and showers made me think of the saying we all know, "April Showers bring May flowers." Winter keeps us warm by blanketing the world in a thick snow. I disagree with that but then again, I'm very much a fan of warm weather. When he was talking about the Summer, there were two words that threw me for a complete loop: Starnbergersee and Hofgarten. Upon more reasearch, I found out that the first was a body of water (a sea) near Munich and the second was a court garden, Munich as well. After that, he starts talking about a fortune teller, maybe? I think she is reading tarot cards for him. Apparently, he doesn't draw great cards because he says he needs to be careful these days.
A Game of Chess
I think that Eliot may first be talking about a very rich woman because he mentions that it is a woman. Then he talks about her sparkling jewels and her ivory and coloured glass. I get the sense that this woman is the type that sits on her rumpus and shows off her riches. She seems to have it all, so why not show it off? Then I think Eliot starts talking about some type of bar or pub. The women he mentions here don't strike me as being really pretty either. One doesn't have any teeth. There's a big difference from the rich lady from the beginning of this section. The two women in the bar are talking about the possiblity of one being pregnant and having an abortion. She spent the money that her husband gave her for teeth on a abortion; that's classy. They stay at the bar until last call.
The Fire Sermon
Eliot begins this section talking about a river. The narrator of the poem basically sits thinking of how the world's situation has gone so badly. He sits and muses. Eliot continuously mentions Tiresius throughout this section of the poem. Tiresias was a blind prophet, often mentioned in Greek Mythology. He was famous for his clairvoyance and being transformed into a woman for several years. Knowing the background allows me to make sense of the "old man with wrinkled breasts" line from Eliot. The narrator sees a man and a woman basically hook up and then the man leaves right after they are done. The woman even goes so far to say that she is glad that's done.
Death by Water
This was my favorite section of the poem, because it was hands down the shortest! Eliot talks of Phlebas the phoenician. He apparently died at sea, maybe drowned? The fish and sea creatures pick at his bones and take his posessions to the sea floor. Eliot says to consider his story because he was once handsome and tall. I think Eliot is just making a point not to count your eggs before they hatch because you never know what may happen to you .
What the Thunder Said
Eliot begins this section with images of hot sweaty faces. He talks of fire and hard ground, but there is no water. He says that those who were living were now dead and those who are living are now dying. I get the impression in the first half of this section that there is some type of struggle going on, perhaps some type of battle even. That would explain the dying. He says that there are cracks and reforms in the violet air. Upside down in the air were towers. Again, this sounds like modern day depictions of war. Eliot changes his descriptions to a thunder storm and tells the reader what it is saying.
The Burial of the Dead
To begin this section, Eliot talks about the seasons and how they change. He speaks of April and how it is the cruelest month. His speaking of lilacs and showers made me think of the saying we all know, "April Showers bring May flowers." Winter keeps us warm by blanketing the world in a thick snow. I disagree with that but then again, I'm very much a fan of warm weather. When he was talking about the Summer, there were two words that threw me for a complete loop: Starnbergersee and Hofgarten. Upon more reasearch, I found out that the first was a body of water (a sea) near Munich and the second was a court garden, Munich as well. After that, he starts talking about a fortune teller, maybe? I think she is reading tarot cards for him. Apparently, he doesn't draw great cards because he says he needs to be careful these days.
A Game of Chess
I think that Eliot may first be talking about a very rich woman because he mentions that it is a woman. Then he talks about her sparkling jewels and her ivory and coloured glass. I get the sense that this woman is the type that sits on her rumpus and shows off her riches. She seems to have it all, so why not show it off? Then I think Eliot starts talking about some type of bar or pub. The women he mentions here don't strike me as being really pretty either. One doesn't have any teeth. There's a big difference from the rich lady from the beginning of this section. The two women in the bar are talking about the possiblity of one being pregnant and having an abortion. She spent the money that her husband gave her for teeth on a abortion; that's classy. They stay at the bar until last call.
The Fire Sermon
Eliot begins this section talking about a river. The narrator of the poem basically sits thinking of how the world's situation has gone so badly. He sits and muses. Eliot continuously mentions Tiresius throughout this section of the poem. Tiresias was a blind prophet, often mentioned in Greek Mythology. He was famous for his clairvoyance and being transformed into a woman for several years. Knowing the background allows me to make sense of the "old man with wrinkled breasts" line from Eliot. The narrator sees a man and a woman basically hook up and then the man leaves right after they are done. The woman even goes so far to say that she is glad that's done.
Death by Water
This was my favorite section of the poem, because it was hands down the shortest! Eliot talks of Phlebas the phoenician. He apparently died at sea, maybe drowned? The fish and sea creatures pick at his bones and take his posessions to the sea floor. Eliot says to consider his story because he was once handsome and tall. I think Eliot is just making a point not to count your eggs before they hatch because you never know what may happen to you .
What the Thunder Said
Eliot begins this section with images of hot sweaty faces. He talks of fire and hard ground, but there is no water. He says that those who were living were now dead and those who are living are now dying. I get the impression in the first half of this section that there is some type of struggle going on, perhaps some type of battle even. That would explain the dying. He says that there are cracks and reforms in the violet air. Upside down in the air were towers. Again, this sounds like modern day depictions of war. Eliot changes his descriptions to a thunder storm and tells the reader what it is saying.
Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock
Eliot begins this poem with a quote from Dante which translates to mean: If but I thought that my response were made/ to one perhaps returning the world/ this tongue of flame would sense to flicker/ But since from these depths no one has yet/ returned alive if what I hear is true/ I answer without fear of being shamed. Prufrock, the narrator in this poem, is talking of a woman. You get the sense throughout the poem that Prufrock wants to be with this woman and possibly have a relationship, but he does not have the nerve to ask her. Instead, he sits in room where women are constantly coming and going talking about Michaelangelo. Instead of ever saying anythin, Prufrock just sits and watches. As he sits and watches, he gets older and farther away from the possibility of finding love himself. This poem was written in free verse and had a randomly scattered rhyme scheme.
Eliot used some intersting allusions throughout this poem. One of the ones used frequently was the women talking about Michaelangelo. Michaelangelo was a renaissance painter, most widely known for his painting on the ceiling of the sistine chapel. He was one of the most widely known painters of his time. Eliot mentioned him because of his status. The women are all in love with Michaelangelo, not Prufrock. Another person mentioned in this poem was Lazarus.Lazarus is a character from the bible who is first mentioned in the gospel of John. He was the brother of Mary and Martha. He is famous for being risen from the dead by Jesus Christ himself. I think that Eliot uses the story of Lazarus to tell the readers that Prufrock is the kind of character who may wait around until he dies, but he may not have the chance to be risen again. Lastly, Eliot uses the immagery of Hamlet. We all know the story of Hamlet, the prince who set out to take revenge on his uncle for the murder of his own father. Prufrock says that he is no prince Hamlet. I didn't take this literally to mean that he was going to take revenge on his uncle, but I took it to mean that he doesn't believe himself to be worthy, such as a prince may be. He doesn't hold himself to those high standards that a pince may.
Prufrock was a character who didn't have the confidence in himself to act on any of his whims. Instead, he sat, as he got older, and waited for nothing to happen.
Eliot used some intersting allusions throughout this poem. One of the ones used frequently was the women talking about Michaelangelo. Michaelangelo was a renaissance painter, most widely known for his painting on the ceiling of the sistine chapel. He was one of the most widely known painters of his time. Eliot mentioned him because of his status. The women are all in love with Michaelangelo, not Prufrock. Another person mentioned in this poem was Lazarus.Lazarus is a character from the bible who is first mentioned in the gospel of John. He was the brother of Mary and Martha. He is famous for being risen from the dead by Jesus Christ himself. I think that Eliot uses the story of Lazarus to tell the readers that Prufrock is the kind of character who may wait around until he dies, but he may not have the chance to be risen again. Lastly, Eliot uses the immagery of Hamlet. We all know the story of Hamlet, the prince who set out to take revenge on his uncle for the murder of his own father. Prufrock says that he is no prince Hamlet. I didn't take this literally to mean that he was going to take revenge on his uncle, but I took it to mean that he doesn't believe himself to be worthy, such as a prince may be. He doesn't hold himself to those high standards that a pince may.
Prufrock was a character who didn't have the confidence in himself to act on any of his whims. Instead, he sat, as he got older, and waited for nothing to happen.
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