"O I have killed my father dear, / Mother, Mother, " (Lines 21-22)
Is it bad that whenever I hear the name Edward, I immediately think of Twilight? What has Hollywood done to me?!?! It's ironic that the Edward in this poem turned out to be a masochistic freak when the Edward in the popular teen book and movie series is a vampire. However, the comparisons end there. Thank God.
Before I read the poems that are assigned, I check the length of them so I can mentally prepare myself for the difficult analysis to come, and this one did not look favorable at all. However, it turned out to be a fairly easy read. Most of the lines were repeated one or two times before moving on to a new phrase, and the diction was not particularly difficult. The subject matter, on the other hand, was disturbing. Edward lied about killing his father by saying he killed a hawk and then he said he killed his horse. On top of that, he is planning on just leaving his wife and kids to fend for themselves while he is in exile from his life. Thank goodness he realizes he needs to be punished for his actions, but he doesn't seem terribly sorry for his mistakes. I don't like Edward. I can't respect someone who couldn't care less for the people dependent upon him.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
"Lonely Hearts"
"Executive in search of something new - / Perhaps bisexual woman, arty, young." (Lines 7-8)
Well, the author certainly didn't hold back when constructing this poem. The various speakers represented are very particular with their requests, and they proclaim it to the world. The speakers all have varied and quite different requests. One desires athleticism in a partner, someone to bike with for "touring fun." Another asks for a "bisexual woman," while another requests an "attractive Jewish lady with a son." Despite their varying petitions for love, they all revolve around two phrases: "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" and "Do you live in North London? Is it you?"
I was not expecting this poem after reading the others in this unit that mostly describe death. This poem doesn't explicitly discuss death, but it shares a common, underlying theme with "Death, be not proud" and Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." All three poems endorse a life that is lived to the fullest. The latter two more clearly define this life, but "Lonely Hearts" is still right alongside them. "Lonely Hearts" promotes seeking what one desires before it is too late. The speakers are doing exactly that. They know what they want, and they are extremely clear in proclaiming those desires to the world via a personal ad.
Well, the author certainly didn't hold back when constructing this poem. The various speakers represented are very particular with their requests, and they proclaim it to the world. The speakers all have varied and quite different requests. One desires athleticism in a partner, someone to bike with for "touring fun." Another asks for a "bisexual woman," while another requests an "attractive Jewish lady with a son." Despite their varying petitions for love, they all revolve around two phrases: "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" and "Do you live in North London? Is it you?"
I was not expecting this poem after reading the others in this unit that mostly describe death. This poem doesn't explicitly discuss death, but it shares a common, underlying theme with "Death, be not proud" and Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." All three poems endorse a life that is lived to the fullest. The latter two more clearly define this life, but "Lonely Hearts" is still right alongside them. "Lonely Hearts" promotes seeking what one desires before it is too late. The speakers are doing exactly that. They know what they want, and they are extremely clear in proclaiming those desires to the world via a personal ad.
"Death, be not proud" Anthropomorphism
"For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow / Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me." (Lines 3-4)
Death is personified throughout this poem as a pathetic warrior who thinks he can defeat everyone, but in reality, he is actually quite pathetic. He can't kill anyone for eternity, he is equated to "poppy or charms," and he dwells with "poison, war, and sickness." Death is often described with human characteristics, especially in poetry. Speakers enjoy speaking directly to death because it makes them feel like they have some power on the one element of life that every single person can expect at the end of life. However, this poem presents death as perpetually weak sauce. He only puts his victims to sleep before they "wake eternally." Because of this reference to resurrection and the apocalypse, I can assume that the speaker is religious. In the last line, death is condemned to his own fate. Ironically, he will be the last to be destroyed. This obliteration of death was also presented in the fantastic book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The phrase "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" was engraved on the tomb of Harry's parents' tombstone. Here's a clip for your entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGH9OlTVoQA
The tombstone I'm talking about is at 1:47, but unfortunately you cannot see the actual phrase engraved on it. But it's there. Trust me.
Death is personified throughout this poem as a pathetic warrior who thinks he can defeat everyone, but in reality, he is actually quite pathetic. He can't kill anyone for eternity, he is equated to "poppy or charms," and he dwells with "poison, war, and sickness." Death is often described with human characteristics, especially in poetry. Speakers enjoy speaking directly to death because it makes them feel like they have some power on the one element of life that every single person can expect at the end of life. However, this poem presents death as perpetually weak sauce. He only puts his victims to sleep before they "wake eternally." Because of this reference to resurrection and the apocalypse, I can assume that the speaker is religious. In the last line, death is condemned to his own fate. Ironically, he will be the last to be destroyed. This obliteration of death was also presented in the fantastic book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The phrase "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" was engraved on the tomb of Harry's parents' tombstone. Here's a clip for your entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGH9OlTVoQA
The tombstone I'm talking about is at 1:47, but unfortunately you cannot see the actual phrase engraved on it. But it's there. Trust me.
"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" Central Purpose (#6)
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light." (Line 3)
My initial reaction to this poem was an image of some kids sitting in a circle daring each other to do stupid stuff. The speaker is practically egging the "wise men," "good men," "wild men," and "grave men" on and trying to get them to defy the toils of old age and live it up. It feels like he is just yelling at them to live life to the fullest. In a sense, he wants them to "go crazy, paint your bodies" while they're still living in this beautiful life. The purpose of this poem is to motivate men and, more specifically, the speaker's own father to forget that they are old, forget that they are nearing the end of their time on earth, and "burn and rave at the close of day." The "close of day" in this instance is a symbol for death. The poem progresses from the first five stanzas that are generic and directed at all of human race to the main subject of the poem: the speaker's father. The speaker deliberately preceded his plea to his father with support for his theory and by implying that the entirety of humanity will also be shedding the bonds of old age and living life until they die. It is a simple task for his father to honor his son's wishes and join the rest of society in a perpetual party until death.
My initial reaction to this poem was an image of some kids sitting in a circle daring each other to do stupid stuff. The speaker is practically egging the "wise men," "good men," "wild men," and "grave men" on and trying to get them to defy the toils of old age and live it up. It feels like he is just yelling at them to live life to the fullest. In a sense, he wants them to "go crazy, paint your bodies" while they're still living in this beautiful life. The purpose of this poem is to motivate men and, more specifically, the speaker's own father to forget that they are old, forget that they are nearing the end of their time on earth, and "burn and rave at the close of day." The "close of day" in this instance is a symbol for death. The poem progresses from the first five stanzas that are generic and directed at all of human race to the main subject of the poem: the speaker's father. The speaker deliberately preceded his plea to his father with support for his theory and by implying that the entirety of humanity will also be shedding the bonds of old age and living life until they die. It is a simple task for his father to honor his son's wishes and join the rest of society in a perpetual party until death.
"Elegy for My Father, Who is Not Dead" Situational Irony
"I think he wants to go, / a little bit - a new desire / to travel building up, an itch / to see fresh worlds." (Lines 6-9)
There is a discrepancy between the literary term stated in the title: elegy, and the actual content of the poem. "Elegy" implies that the poem will be about a person who has passed away, which is what I expected. However, the second half of the title and the poem show that the speaker is not lamenting a death, but he is preparing to be upset for the impending passing of his father. The whole poem is ironic simply because - had it not been for the title - I would have assumed the father was dead already based on the presence of the word elegy. The speaker makes it extremely clear that his father is still alive, though, but he also makes it clear that he and his father do not agree on a certain topic. His father is excited for the new life awaiting him, (which is also ironic because people normally fear the end of their life), but the speaker is terrified of a time when his father will not be available. Their traditional roles are reversed in the poem.
There is a discrepancy between the literary term stated in the title: elegy, and the actual content of the poem. "Elegy" implies that the poem will be about a person who has passed away, which is what I expected. However, the second half of the title and the poem show that the speaker is not lamenting a death, but he is preparing to be upset for the impending passing of his father. The whole poem is ironic simply because - had it not been for the title - I would have assumed the father was dead already based on the presence of the word elegy. The speaker makes it extremely clear that his father is still alive, though, but he also makes it clear that he and his father do not agree on a certain topic. His father is excited for the new life awaiting him, (which is also ironic because people normally fear the end of their life), but the speaker is terrified of a time when his father will not be available. Their traditional roles are reversed in the poem.
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