In Atwood's "Siren Song" she uses allusion to show how women are blamed for the mistakes of men, but in realit men are ar fault for there own demise. This piece is based on the characters of the sirens in Homer's The Oddessey. These's sirens were seen as evil and deadly becuz their voices were sayd to cause shipwrecks. But the sailors who were men had a choice to sail whereever they wanted and needed to. The women have no control over the personal decisions tht these men made. Atwood uses the song that they sing to represent the power of women while depicting the weakness that men have. She writes this piece from the perspective of one of the 3 sirens to help prove this theme.
Atwood is imfamous for her abstract structure. This poem is a perfect example of her style. The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th stanza's contain 3 lines but the 3rd stanza contains 12 lines. In the 3rd stanza Atwood uses the phrase "I don't enjoy it here" to show the reality of the womens lives. This shows that the Siren's don't want to be on the island dressed as birds. The use of "feathered maniacs" provokes a sarcastic and mocking tone. Which is the reason tht I believe Atwood structures the 3rd paragraph to be longer than the rest of the poem. Alwood also writes in free verse. The words dont rhythm and aren't in a typical organiztional format. This controdicts the lives of the Siren's, which is not free. Atwood use of controdiction between the disorganized style of writing to the structured jobs of the sirens shows how the Sirens appear to be pleased with singing the same song, but are really bored with it. This also shows the controdiction in the song itself. The song is alluring and beautiful, yet deadlii.
Atwood also structures the 3rd stanza to be longer than the rest to express the tone of the poem by speaking from the Siren's perspective. In the 3rd stanza Atwood reveals that the speaker is a Siren herself. This particular Siren doesn't wasnt to be bait for the men to crash onto the island. She clearlii wants to define her own job and responsibility.
In conclusion, Margeret Atwood alludes to the story of the Siren's to show that things that are beautiful and "irrestisible" can be "fatal". Everything that glitters isn't gold. But it's the desicions is up to you;whether to fall into the trap of the Siren or to continue on the journey that was meant for you.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The war of writing (From the FRontiER of Writing)
In SEamus Heaney's From the Frontier of writing a conciet comparing fighting a war to writing to show how the role of literature has been reversed from expression of ideas thought, and /or feeling to what the public will prefer to read. The poem begins with the speaker potrayed as a nervous, and scared solider whose vehicle is bein inspected and searched. Then the solider leaves the inspection unconcerned. AS the soldiers travel the drive along the frontier of wrting where violence is prevelent. But in the mist of this violence there are call references to nature to ease the unsettling images of artillery. The natural images are controdictory to the guns and rifles. But this solider continues to ride on the frontier dispite the conflict and controdiction and danger.
In the seventh stanza and the 2nd line Heaney uses the words "Behind a waterfall". WAterfalls are very picturesque and beautify, but one cannot see clearly through a waterfall because the water fall rapidly. But in the 6th stanza and 2nd line the word marksmen is used. Marksmen are snippers that can take someones life swiftly and unexpectingly. Heaney places these images in similar parts of the poem because he wants to show the controdiction that they have. And ironically both of these words are sandwiched between lines that contain end rythm, but the lines containing these words dont rythm with the rest of the stanza. Through this one can conclude that heaney is trying to show the conflicts in being a writer and fighting a war. Literature was created for the openning of minds and souls, but yet writers are being told what to write so that people will acknowledge their work. And soliders are often off fighting wars to solve problems that could be solved by other means.
In conclusion, Heaneys extended metaphor was conveyed through the use of imagery, structure and diction. The title From the Frontier of writing is verii says the most. One the frontier of a war, there is nowhere to hide, because you are faces your opponent directly. And in writing you face your enemy directly as well. The possibilty of defeat is always present, because by allowing people to dictate what should be written and read we loss.
In the seventh stanza and the 2nd line Heaney uses the words "Behind a waterfall". WAterfalls are very picturesque and beautify, but one cannot see clearly through a waterfall because the water fall rapidly. But in the 6th stanza and 2nd line the word marksmen is used. Marksmen are snippers that can take someones life swiftly and unexpectingly. Heaney places these images in similar parts of the poem because he wants to show the controdiction that they have. And ironically both of these words are sandwiched between lines that contain end rythm, but the lines containing these words dont rythm with the rest of the stanza. Through this one can conclude that heaney is trying to show the conflicts in being a writer and fighting a war. Literature was created for the openning of minds and souls, but yet writers are being told what to write so that people will acknowledge their work. And soliders are often off fighting wars to solve problems that could be solved by other means.
In conclusion, Heaneys extended metaphor was conveyed through the use of imagery, structure and diction. The title From the Frontier of writing is verii says the most. One the frontier of a war, there is nowhere to hide, because you are faces your opponent directly. And in writing you face your enemy directly as well. The possibilty of defeat is always present, because by allowing people to dictate what should be written and read we loss.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Blackberry Picking
In Seamus Heaney's "Blackberry Picking" he uses diction to show how life begins as a simple journey, but progresses into harsh realities. Literarly, this piece is just a reflextion of a childlike activity. But since this is a typical work of heaney it's much more deep than that. The entire poem is written in free verse except for the 3rd and 4th stanza, when he uses end rythm to excentuate the words "Clot" and "Knot". Heaney begins the piece by making accounts of the specific season and month in which the speaker is participating in blackberry picking, he goes on to discuss the details of blackberry picking, and n those details lives the reality of blackberry picking. And by the end of the work Heaney no longer disguises the truth about blackberry picking, he displays the possiblity of death. The childlike views are depleated by the end of the work, and nothing is left.
The 1st stanza is longer than the last stanza, Heaney does this purposelii to show how the years of adolescence are longer than the elderlii years. In the 1st stanza he uses words such as "sweet" and "glossy" to describe the blackberries. The words "sweet" and "glossy" connote freshness, and beauty. And usually children see everything in nature as beautiful without realizing that everything that glitters isn't gold. But Heaney goes then states those same glossy sweet blackberries leave "stains upon the tongue". Stains are common for children to have because they play and don't think of their exterior appearance until they get home and a mother or older person points it out. Stains are extremely difficult to get out of clothes. But as a child one needs the wrong to be pointed out. This shows the childishness waiting to progress into adulthood. AS the piece progresses to the last paragraph the speaker is now in an adult stage because reflections of the dirty harshness of life. The last line in particular connotes this reality because the speaker wishes that the berries will stay fresh but knows that the berries will spoil.
In conclusion, Heaney plays with the structure of the poems, and words to depict the reality that life is full of beautiful things, but nothing is eternal. Life is a long process but death is short and not always sweet.
The 1st stanza is longer than the last stanza, Heaney does this purposelii to show how the years of adolescence are longer than the elderlii years. In the 1st stanza he uses words such as "sweet" and "glossy" to describe the blackberries. The words "sweet" and "glossy" connote freshness, and beauty. And usually children see everything in nature as beautiful without realizing that everything that glitters isn't gold. But Heaney goes then states those same glossy sweet blackberries leave "stains upon the tongue". Stains are common for children to have because they play and don't think of their exterior appearance until they get home and a mother or older person points it out. Stains are extremely difficult to get out of clothes. But as a child one needs the wrong to be pointed out. This shows the childishness waiting to progress into adulthood. AS the piece progresses to the last paragraph the speaker is now in an adult stage because reflections of the dirty harshness of life. The last line in particular connotes this reality because the speaker wishes that the berries will stay fresh but knows that the berries will spoil.
In conclusion, Heaney plays with the structure of the poems, and words to depict the reality that life is full of beautiful things, but nothing is eternal. Life is a long process but death is short and not always sweet.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Bait!!!
In John DOnne's "The Bait" he uses conciet and diction to show the power that women withhold. Throughout this piece he consistantly shows how the bait has the ability lure in fish because it has alluring characteristics. This bait is not like any other because it is unusally and not average. This bait is uniquely wise...wiser than the speaker. What could be wise, and intelligent yet capivating and suave? The answer to this question is a women and who better to be a fish than a man? This is the conceit that Donne within this poem, he chooses his words very carfully to show exactly how the speaker feels about this particular bait.
In the 1st stanza the speaker is trying to convince this bait to come be with him. But he doesn't approach her as if she was a average person, he approaches her with this very romantic mood. Donne conveys this by using the word"my luver", not my girlfriend or boo, not even his significant other. The word "lover" is an intimate word. The fact that the speaker wants her to be his lover shows the affect this bait has on him, it shows that she has caught his attention. and has manipulated his emotions and is in control of there relationship. She has the ability to decline his offer to be his "lover" or to accept it. In the last stanza it is also shown that the bait controls the speakers emotions because usually men in particular dont admit that they have lost. But Donne's uses the words "Alas, is wiser far than me". The speaker has lost to this bait, she is wiser. He can't win.
This women or bait is in control of the fish that she captures. This is shown in the last stanza when Donne uses the words "For thou thyself art thine own bait:". If this women is her own bait that mens she has no competition because she is so powerful. She can't be lured in by anyone else because she can have whatever she wants, no one is like her.
In conclusion, Donne uses this conceit to prove that women are bait for men. They use cunning and trickery to lure in men. Women are very interesting creatures with there own style.
In the 1st stanza the speaker is trying to convince this bait to come be with him. But he doesn't approach her as if she was a average person, he approaches her with this very romantic mood. Donne conveys this by using the word"my luver", not my girlfriend or boo, not even his significant other. The word "lover" is an intimate word. The fact that the speaker wants her to be his lover shows the affect this bait has on him, it shows that she has caught his attention. and has manipulated his emotions and is in control of there relationship. She has the ability to decline his offer to be his "lover" or to accept it. In the last stanza it is also shown that the bait controls the speakers emotions because usually men in particular dont admit that they have lost. But Donne's uses the words "Alas, is wiser far than me". The speaker has lost to this bait, she is wiser. He can't win.
This women or bait is in control of the fish that she captures. This is shown in the last stanza when Donne uses the words "For thou thyself art thine own bait:". If this women is her own bait that mens she has no competition because she is so powerful. She can't be lured in by anyone else because she can have whatever she wants, no one is like her.
In conclusion, Donne uses this conceit to prove that women are bait for men. They use cunning and trickery to lure in men. Women are very interesting creatures with there own style.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Donne-the good morrow
In John Donne's "The Good-Morrow" he uses diction to show how love exceeds the boundaries of time. Each stanza is a representation of a different point in time;past present and future. Throughout time love progresses from nothing, to everlasting. The speakers past that was without love was nothing, and pointless, but currently with love the speaker's soul is now alive with passion. Now tht the speaker has attained love, it is immortal it can't die. This love that the speaker possesses has no ending time, or death because it is just that powerful that it cant be contained by a clock or year. Once this speak found love, he found eternal life.
Donne's language in the 1st stanza shows how life was before love;confused, undeveloped and not awake. When he uses multiple question marks this shows the his confusion. Because the poem is written as if he were speaking to himself, so he is obvioulii asking himself these questions because he he is uncertain and confused. This confusion is also showing the how childlike his life is because he is without love and understanding of love. Donne also uses the words "Sleepers" and "dream" to show the state of his life when he is without love. "Sleepers" and dream"connote sleeping, and donne uses these words to show that life was not lively and awake with out love. And usually when people are dreaming and sleep their eyez r closed so therefor they cannot see the true essence of life with love.
The 2nd and 3rd stanza's are representations of his life in the present and future. In the 2nd stanza he uses the word "waking". "Waking" is a refreshing word, it connotes liveliness and new brighter days. The presence of luv has caused a newness. With love he is brand new, Donne also never questioned himself once in this stanza were he has found love. He is no longer confused he is quite sure that his soul is alive because of this love that he has aquired. In the 3rd stanza donne says "none can die". This shows that this love that he has is not normal or average it is of another species, one of which that cannot die but onlii live. This love can stand the test of time, which is a rarity.
In conclusion, donne expresses his sentiments about love through his language. He uses positive uplifting wrds to describe life with love. the love that is ao rare and genuine that it cannot die. No time limit can bind love once it is found. Without love he was sleep not aware of the endless possibilities that it would bring him. This love that he has discovered is greater than time and exceeds time.
Donne's language in the 1st stanza shows how life was before love;confused, undeveloped and not awake. When he uses multiple question marks this shows the his confusion. Because the poem is written as if he were speaking to himself, so he is obvioulii asking himself these questions because he he is uncertain and confused. This confusion is also showing the how childlike his life is because he is without love and understanding of love. Donne also uses the words "Sleepers" and "dream" to show the state of his life when he is without love. "Sleepers" and dream"connote sleeping, and donne uses these words to show that life was not lively and awake with out love. And usually when people are dreaming and sleep their eyez r closed so therefor they cannot see the true essence of life with love.
The 2nd and 3rd stanza's are representations of his life in the present and future. In the 2nd stanza he uses the word "waking". "Waking" is a refreshing word, it connotes liveliness and new brighter days. The presence of luv has caused a newness. With love he is brand new, Donne also never questioned himself once in this stanza were he has found love. He is no longer confused he is quite sure that his soul is alive because of this love that he has aquired. In the 3rd stanza donne says "none can die". This shows that this love that he has is not normal or average it is of another species, one of which that cannot die but onlii live. This love can stand the test of time, which is a rarity.
In conclusion, donne expresses his sentiments about love through his language. He uses positive uplifting wrds to describe life with love. the love that is ao rare and genuine that it cannot die. No time limit can bind love once it is found. Without love he was sleep not aware of the endless possibilities that it would bring him. This love that he has discovered is greater than time and exceeds time.
Monday, December 1, 2008
MY PURITY IZ MY SANITY
Today my act of resistance was wearing a sign that said "MY PURITY IZ MY SANITY". Surprisingly i didn't get any negative reactions from it... And I don't think ALiyya or Montrell did either. With this sign I wanted to express how important purity actually is... In this day in age a lot of teen girls and boys are pressured into having sex before marriage becuz some ppl think that ABSTAINANCE is LAME ... But 2 me its kind of kool bcuz that shows how much obedience and respect you have for yourself and your body... It also shows patience and self control. I feel that remaining pure is one of the most difficult tasks but its one of the most safe resorts. Think about it... Staying pure protects you from aids, the life threating disease that is killing our youth... Pregnancy... and For the ladies staying pure can save you from heart ache... Sex is a powerful thing, when u sleep with sumone u r giving them a part of your soul... And what if you give urself 2 sum1 and you figure out that they were a jerk aftawrds... That has 2 b one of the worst feeling ever...!!! sum of my friends have experienced that and they all regret it... SAVE URSELF... IF HE LOVES U 4REAL HE WILL WAIT!!! UR WORTH WAITING FOR!!! neva let anyone tell u tht ur not...
When ppl figured out wht the sign i wore sayd they were pleased especially teachers, and my mommy, and current "boo". His reaction was the most shocking becuz we neva discussed anything like that and this was mi chance 2 tell him how i truely felt about it... and he knew that the bible sayd for all of God's children to remain pure... but it had neva bn verbally stated that sex wasn't an option... He didn't realize how important this topic was to mi and to him as well... He said and I quote "bae, it's wheneva u readii... im not finna force it, I think that its pretty hott how u save'n yaself... I dn't disagree with yo choice, im behind u 100%" AWWWZ lolz
But over all i was very excited about all of the reactions of my peers, and their approval of my silent protest. Its amazing how words on a shirt can impact a community. I really didn't have to say much to anyone about the meaning of the sign, or why I was an advocate of abstinence. Most just gave thumbs ups... And i feel that I have accomplished my goal which was to show my peers that it is ok to be comfortable with waiting, and that we should wait. I know that some don't practice abstinence, but if that the case then all I have to say is WRAP IT UP...
Like the women of lysistrata I protested something that I believed in and accomplished what I wanted to, and needed to.
When ppl figured out wht the sign i wore sayd they were pleased especially teachers, and my mommy, and current "boo". His reaction was the most shocking becuz we neva discussed anything like that and this was mi chance 2 tell him how i truely felt about it... and he knew that the bible sayd for all of God's children to remain pure... but it had neva bn verbally stated that sex wasn't an option... He didn't realize how important this topic was to mi and to him as well... He said and I quote "bae, it's wheneva u readii... im not finna force it, I think that its pretty hott how u save'n yaself... I dn't disagree with yo choice, im behind u 100%" AWWWZ lolz
But over all i was very excited about all of the reactions of my peers, and their approval of my silent protest. Its amazing how words on a shirt can impact a community. I really didn't have to say much to anyone about the meaning of the sign, or why I was an advocate of abstinence. Most just gave thumbs ups... And i feel that I have accomplished my goal which was to show my peers that it is ok to be comfortable with waiting, and that we should wait. I know that some don't practice abstinence, but if that the case then all I have to say is WRAP IT UP...
Like the women of lysistrata I protested something that I believed in and accomplished what I wanted to, and needed to.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Lysistrata=the Man no the WOMAN
Lysistrata was a awesum play... the plot was interestingly smooth if you ask me... I enjoyed it a lot becuz this play wasn't the vessel of confussion, lik the others plays...and there were no sudden tragedy. I think aristophanes wrote Lysistrata that way becuz the play is all about women's power. And if you think about it baq in Aristophanes tyme women were verii smooth creaters, they didn't have to much drama and they weren't made for all the up's and downs. And 2 name the play after the main character was genius, bcuz she deserves that much credit!!!! She shamed the commissioner, desciplined the women of her community by making them strong against the men, and was the main cause behing the ending of the war.She's superwomen, xcept not... lolz...
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