William Butler Yeats
William Yeats is a little difficult to understand. After reading his poem “The Second Coming”, I was lost with the specifics. I’m sure if he even had specifics, but it felt like there more points he was trying to make evident than there were. One of the first things I gathered was he was referring to the second coming of Christ. He mentions anarchy and the “blood tide” and innocence being drowned, which to me sounds like the chaos mentioned in the book of Revelation. In a sense, all of the tragedies that have been going on in our world today could be seen as the chaos mentioned in the Bible. But as for Yeats, he does a good job painting the picture of what he feels this will be like during the Second Coming, but his last two lines…
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
Don’t really seem to fit the rest of it. Again, maybe he was going for more than just a visual in the first stanza, but it could have ended with the 6th line and still had a strong ending.
In the last stanza, he mentions the second coming repeatedly, for emphasis on its importance I suppose, and later speaks on Christians’ readiness for His return. He compares Christian to babies being asleep in a cradle and also speaks on several different beasts that will be roaming the earth during the rapture. He never says why the beasts are relevant or how he feels about the Christians’ “stony sleep” so I’m trying to figure out why he wrote this. Was it to express chaos in a poem to parallel how things would be during the rapture? Or is there an underlying message that I messed? The topic at hand is an important one, feel free to correct me or INFORM me as to what is happening in this piece. I don’t think Yeats is on my list of people I like to read, but his work is interesting.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was quite the fellow to present unlikely topics. In “The Decay of Lying” he presents an interesting point that I feel many people would agree with: without lying, life would be boring. His characters Vivian and Cyril go back and forth throughout the piece, each one defending/explaining their view. Vivian is more interested in the ‘artistic’ side of life and actually enjoys the energy that comes with things besides the natural. Cyril, on the other hand, is more of a stick to the basics type of woman. The two characters are humorous to say the least, and are both typical figures for their time.
The dialogue in this piece was a little exhausting, but probably would have been better acted out. Although Vivian had a point, speaking of the bare facts all the time would be rather boring, lying causes problems. I’m a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to these kinds of topics, but I value honesty as one of the most important things there are so I couldn’t fully enjoy this piece like every one else probably did. I think Wilde did an excellent job expressing his thoughts through his characters’ voices and he made some very strong observations when it comes to how the world functions (especially by social standards). But….because I feel that he is in fact promoting lies to be ‘ok’ and even considered as an art in certain lights, I can’t give him my support because I disagree with that aspect of the message he was trying to convey with this piece of work. I would enjoy it for its comedic purposes, but once I go any deeper than the surface I’d quickly lose interest in it. Wilde is still a phenomenal writer, but when comes to personal views, mine get in the way of being able to thoroughly appreciate him because of the topics we disagree on.
Oscar Wilde was quite the fellow to present unlikely topics. In “The Decay of Lying” he presents an interesting point that I feel many people would agree with: without lying, life would be boring. His characters Vivian and Cyril go back and forth throughout the piece, each one defending/explaining their view. Vivian is more interested in the ‘artistic’ side of life and actually enjoys the energy that comes with things besides the natural. Cyril, on the other hand, is more of a stick to the basics type of woman. The two characters are humorous to say the least, and are both typical figures for their time.
The dialogue in this piece was a little exhausting, but probably would have been better acted out. Although Vivian had a point, speaking of the bare facts all the time would be rather boring, lying causes problems. I’m a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to these kinds of topics, but I value honesty as one of the most important things there are so I couldn’t fully enjoy this piece like every one else probably did. I think Wilde did an excellent job expressing his thoughts through his characters’ voices and he made some very strong observations when it comes to how the world functions (especially by social standards). But….because I feel that he is in fact promoting lies to be ‘ok’ and even considered as an art in certain lights, I can’t give him my support because I disagree with that aspect of the message he was trying to convey with this piece of work. I would enjoy it for its comedic purposes, but once I go any deeper than the surface I’d quickly lose interest in it. Wilde is still a phenomenal writer, but when comes to personal views, mine get in the way of being able to thoroughly appreciate him because of the topics we disagree on.
Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Hopkins word choice for his poems were a little hard to understand at times, but the messages were good. Out of all the pieces that I read in our textbook, there were two that I liked over the others. The first one was “I wake and Feel the Fell of Dark, Not Day” and “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord” was the second. These pieces both express the inner thoughts of Hopkins which could easily be the thoughts of anyone. But, unlike the average Joe, Hopkins articulated his thoughts with literary brilliance.
In the first piece, Hopkins opens the first stanza with the title “I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day” which a pretty powerful opening. Usually people associate waking up with mornings—and brightness—but here you have the opposite. On the surface it seems likes he’s may be talking about night time, but the darkness he’s referring to is actually the cruelty of his surroundings. He finishes that stanza speaking of the ‘hours of darkness’ which are actually years of unhappiness. He then finishes the poem, still in darkness, speaking of the ‘lost’ (souls in Hell) while speaking of his ways being worse than theirs in God’s eyes….which bring me to the second piece I liked.
Hopkins speaks of the short-comings of man in God’s just eyes. God is just and fair and all He expects us to do is work towards getting to Him. God gives blessing to those who praise Him and provide ways for those who don’t know Him to get close, but by a societal view it’s as if “sinner’s ways prosper” and “disappointment” is continuous. Hopkins also proposes the question of how thing would be if God were our enemy…something many of us wouldn’t dream of actually giving thought to. Hopkins makes it very clear that he feels as though he only a person who is weak and needs God to grow…”O thou lord of life, send my roots rain” and I respect and appreciate the acknowledgements of the two: 1. God being the provider and 2. Us needing Him to prosper, not the other way around. My only real complaint about Hopkins is the language he uses with his pieces. Aside from that, I give him two thumbs up.
Hopkins word choice for his poems were a little hard to understand at times, but the messages were good. Out of all the pieces that I read in our textbook, there were two that I liked over the others. The first one was “I wake and Feel the Fell of Dark, Not Day” and “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord” was the second. These pieces both express the inner thoughts of Hopkins which could easily be the thoughts of anyone. But, unlike the average Joe, Hopkins articulated his thoughts with literary brilliance.
In the first piece, Hopkins opens the first stanza with the title “I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day” which a pretty powerful opening. Usually people associate waking up with mornings—and brightness—but here you have the opposite. On the surface it seems likes he’s may be talking about night time, but the darkness he’s referring to is actually the cruelty of his surroundings. He finishes that stanza speaking of the ‘hours of darkness’ which are actually years of unhappiness. He then finishes the poem, still in darkness, speaking of the ‘lost’ (souls in Hell) while speaking of his ways being worse than theirs in God’s eyes….which bring me to the second piece I liked.
Hopkins speaks of the short-comings of man in God’s just eyes. God is just and fair and all He expects us to do is work towards getting to Him. God gives blessing to those who praise Him and provide ways for those who don’t know Him to get close, but by a societal view it’s as if “sinner’s ways prosper” and “disappointment” is continuous. Hopkins also proposes the question of how thing would be if God were our enemy…something many of us wouldn’t dream of actually giving thought to. Hopkins makes it very clear that he feels as though he only a person who is weak and needs God to grow…”O thou lord of life, send my roots rain” and I respect and appreciate the acknowledgements of the two: 1. God being the provider and 2. Us needing Him to prosper, not the other way around. My only real complaint about Hopkins is the language he uses with his pieces. Aside from that, I give him two thumbs up.
Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a “difficult and cranky old man” who had and enormous influence on Victorian writers. His influence with the Victorian writers was so substantial it was stated that even if all his books were burnt “it would only be like cutting down an oak after all its acorns have sown the forest.” Carlyle was raised in a very strict family who emphasized the importance of hard work. If it weren’t for this, Carlyle may not have have been the writer he became. His dedication to his work not only contributed to our literary libraries, but it also allowed him to marry the love of his life. I found it very interesting that although his wife, at least at first, did not see Carlyle as the man for her, he wouldn’t let it go. He predicted the weather and everything for their wedding and didn’t not give up until it came true. There was no doubt in his mind that he would accomplish his goal once his mind was set to it, both in relation to work and personal affairs, and I think that is an important trait many more people should possess. He also stated a good quote in his piece “Labour [know thy work]” which states “Doubt of whatever kind can be ended by Action alone.” Again, his follow through makes his words even more meaningful.
In the piece “Labour [know thy work]” Carlyle speaks of the importance of the working man and how valuable his work actually is. Carlyle actually valued ‘work’ so much, at one point he preached the Gospel of Work to his generation. In the beginning of his piece he says, “ There is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works: in Idleness alone there is perpetual despair.” This is a very strong and true statement that I feel our generation needs to be aware of. So many time people complain about their retail jobs and cranky customers when we consider work today would be kids play in the past. We, as a society, have become spoiled and expect everything to be handed to us or to barely to do anything and expect the full benefits of what we could have gotten had we “earnestly” worked for it. If Carlyle were here today, I feel that he’d be very disappointed, if not ashamed, at how spoiled we have become. Carlyle is indeed a very intelligent and insightful man. While his works were interesting, I would honestly have to say his works wouldn’t be the first thing I’d grab out of selection. He has very good morals and I respect what he has contributed to us, but I’d expect to see him in a history class more so than literature.
Thomas Carlyle was a “difficult and cranky old man” who had and enormous influence on Victorian writers. His influence with the Victorian writers was so substantial it was stated that even if all his books were burnt “it would only be like cutting down an oak after all its acorns have sown the forest.” Carlyle was raised in a very strict family who emphasized the importance of hard work. If it weren’t for this, Carlyle may not have have been the writer he became. His dedication to his work not only contributed to our literary libraries, but it also allowed him to marry the love of his life. I found it very interesting that although his wife, at least at first, did not see Carlyle as the man for her, he wouldn’t let it go. He predicted the weather and everything for their wedding and didn’t not give up until it came true. There was no doubt in his mind that he would accomplish his goal once his mind was set to it, both in relation to work and personal affairs, and I think that is an important trait many more people should possess. He also stated a good quote in his piece “Labour [know thy work]” which states “Doubt of whatever kind can be ended by Action alone.” Again, his follow through makes his words even more meaningful.
In the piece “Labour [know thy work]” Carlyle speaks of the importance of the working man and how valuable his work actually is. Carlyle actually valued ‘work’ so much, at one point he preached the Gospel of Work to his generation. In the beginning of his piece he says, “ There is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works: in Idleness alone there is perpetual despair.” This is a very strong and true statement that I feel our generation needs to be aware of. So many time people complain about their retail jobs and cranky customers when we consider work today would be kids play in the past. We, as a society, have become spoiled and expect everything to be handed to us or to barely to do anything and expect the full benefits of what we could have gotten had we “earnestly” worked for it. If Carlyle were here today, I feel that he’d be very disappointed, if not ashamed, at how spoiled we have become. Carlyle is indeed a very intelligent and insightful man. While his works were interesting, I would honestly have to say his works wouldn’t be the first thing I’d grab out of selection. He has very good morals and I respect what he has contributed to us, but I’d expect to see him in a history class more so than literature.
Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens’ A Visit to Newgate tells about the visit to the prison and all of the observations. It has a very sympathetic message about prisoners and how many people avoid ‘death’ and the concept of it. There was a strong feeling of hopelessness and everyone pretty much seemed to keep to themselves almost oblivious to their fellow inmates. Of course, as anyone would imagine, spending time in prison would wear down one’s confidence after so long, but the younger boys who were in prison for petty crimes had a different point of view. They almost had a sense of pride for being locked up. The women were very down trodden about being in the prison, that was very evident. The main theme of this piece would be deterioration and death if had to be pin-pointed.
One of the parts that stuck out the most was when he passed through the ward where the children had been arrested for pick-pocketing. There wasn’t anything in this part of the prison that seemed to posses the feeling of shame or honesty. These boys were thankful just to be looked at, even if they were being look at as prisoners because they were a product of neglect.
“We never looked upon a more disagreeable sight, because we never saw fourteen such hopeless creatures of neglect before.”
Because their innocence is gone, these children represent death of life before it even began. The women are hopeless who have the children, the children then in turn, are raised without hope themselves and are neglected by the hopeless parents thus becoming a class of people who are doomed to be prisoners. Although this piece was written many years ago, the same cycle is being perpetuated today. It’s sad to say, but very true, that many of youth are declining and have a sense of imprisonment, even if it’s just an environmental feeling, which can still lead to and unproductive life.
Charles Dickens’ A Visit to Newgate tells about the visit to the prison and all of the observations. It has a very sympathetic message about prisoners and how many people avoid ‘death’ and the concept of it. There was a strong feeling of hopelessness and everyone pretty much seemed to keep to themselves almost oblivious to their fellow inmates. Of course, as anyone would imagine, spending time in prison would wear down one’s confidence after so long, but the younger boys who were in prison for petty crimes had a different point of view. They almost had a sense of pride for being locked up. The women were very down trodden about being in the prison, that was very evident. The main theme of this piece would be deterioration and death if had to be pin-pointed.
One of the parts that stuck out the most was when he passed through the ward where the children had been arrested for pick-pocketing. There wasn’t anything in this part of the prison that seemed to posses the feeling of shame or honesty. These boys were thankful just to be looked at, even if they were being look at as prisoners because they were a product of neglect.
“We never looked upon a more disagreeable sight, because we never saw fourteen such hopeless creatures of neglect before.”
Because their innocence is gone, these children represent death of life before it even began. The women are hopeless who have the children, the children then in turn, are raised without hope themselves and are neglected by the hopeless parents thus becoming a class of people who are doomed to be prisoners. Although this piece was written many years ago, the same cycle is being perpetuated today. It’s sad to say, but very true, that many of youth are declining and have a sense of imprisonment, even if it’s just an environmental feeling, which can still lead to and unproductive life.
Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Work Without Hope captures the desolation of man’s inner feelings. Many times, even present day, people go about working without feeling they have a true meaning or purpose for their labors. In this piece, Coleridge uses contradictory imagery to emphasize the empty feeling the man has inside. His surroundings are all positive and happy, and place where most people would feel content he feels out of place….
All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his slumbering face a dream of Spring!
All the description and imagery in this section of the poem are of the environment. Then the man’s true feelings are revealed…
And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.
He is out of place and does not know what to do about it. This poem also reminds me of my earlier years in college. I didn’t really know what I wanted to study and I was a little discouraged because all of my classmates knew what they wanted to major in and what they wanted to do with their careers. At some point in everyone’s life I’m sure they feel out of place or uncertain of what their role is, but we must work with hope for…
Work without hope draws nectar to a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Work Without Hope captures the desolation of man’s inner feelings. Many times, even present day, people go about working without feeling they have a true meaning or purpose for their labors. In this piece, Coleridge uses contradictory imagery to emphasize the empty feeling the man has inside. His surroundings are all positive and happy, and place where most people would feel content he feels out of place….
All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his slumbering face a dream of Spring!
All the description and imagery in this section of the poem are of the environment. Then the man’s true feelings are revealed…
And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.
He is out of place and does not know what to do about it. This poem also reminds me of my earlier years in college. I didn’t really know what I wanted to study and I was a little discouraged because all of my classmates knew what they wanted to major in and what they wanted to do with their careers. At some point in everyone’s life I’m sure they feel out of place or uncertain of what their role is, but we must work with hope for…
Work without hope draws nectar to a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.
Keats
John Keats
John Keats is another “young poet” to greatly shape the world of poetry. Keats wasn’t on the scene very long, but his works are known by many. He is most known for his odes, Ode to a Grecian Urn is one, and many of his pieces are quoted and taught in many literature classes. Of the pieces that were in our textbook, I especially liked his Sonnet: When I have Fears.
The theme is of this piece is the resolution of an intense fear of time. Keats expresses his fear of dying young in the first thought. He fears that he will not fulfill himself as a writer:
“When I have fears that I may cease to be/Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain” (line 1-2)
and that he will never experience romance or will lose those he loves dearly.
“That I shall never look upon thee more,/Never have relish in the fairy power/Of unreflecting love” (lines 10-12)
Keats resolves his fears by asserting the unimportance of love and fame in the concluding two and a half lines of this sonnet. This assertation allows him to create a distance that allows him get a grasp on the fear. Unfortunately, we are left with only what he was able to write in his short life time. I can only imagine what other great works he would have produced as his writings would have matured over time.
John Keats is another “young poet” to greatly shape the world of poetry. Keats wasn’t on the scene very long, but his works are known by many. He is most known for his odes, Ode to a Grecian Urn is one, and many of his pieces are quoted and taught in many literature classes. Of the pieces that were in our textbook, I especially liked his Sonnet: When I have Fears.
The theme is of this piece is the resolution of an intense fear of time. Keats expresses his fear of dying young in the first thought. He fears that he will not fulfill himself as a writer:
“When I have fears that I may cease to be/Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain” (line 1-2)
and that he will never experience romance or will lose those he loves dearly.
“That I shall never look upon thee more,/Never have relish in the fairy power/Of unreflecting love” (lines 10-12)
Keats resolves his fears by asserting the unimportance of love and fame in the concluding two and a half lines of this sonnet. This assertation allows him to create a distance that allows him get a grasp on the fear. Unfortunately, we are left with only what he was able to write in his short life time. I can only imagine what other great works he would have produced as his writings would have matured over time.
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