Getting Out by Cleopatra Mathis
In this poem about a couple splitting up, Mathis adds an interesting aspect to the story by shifting between point of view. At some points the narrator is speaking as if speaking for more than one person, "We've kept to separate sides of the map" (Mathis 896). She then changes her point of view to singular, "I have the last unshredded pictures of our matching eyes and hair" (Mathis 896). This use of ambiguous pronoun usage helps define the ambiguous feelings felt by the couple enduring the breakup. They both wish to stay together, and they try through so many methods to heal their relationship. However, despite their best efforts, the cannot seem to find a thread to keep them strung together. It is as if they wish to stay together just for the idea of being in a relationship together, yet find no connection or longing for each other. Without that natural love between them, it makes their marriage very weak and unstable. Because they wanted so desperately for their relationship to work, they weep together as they are with the divorce lawyer.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Story of an Hour
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
The Story of an Hour is incredibly ironic story that covers the transient emotions of a fresh widow. There is situational irony in how Josephine reacts to the news that her husband has just died. Although she reacts quit normally with grief, she soon finds a refreshed outlook on the future. "Free! Body and soul Free!" she whispers as she ironically rejoices the upcoming years (Chopin). The setting of the story contains irony as well, as it is a warm, pretty spring day. The final bit of situational irony comes as a shocker, when the story ends with Josephine dying as a result of a heart attack at the revelation that her husband is alive. This ironic twist is delivered in the form of one paragraph and a single line. This entire story and the irony that accompanies it, show how the moods and stories of a given hour can change as quickly as they come.
The Story of an Hour is incredibly ironic story that covers the transient emotions of a fresh widow. There is situational irony in how Josephine reacts to the news that her husband has just died. Although she reacts quit normally with grief, she soon finds a refreshed outlook on the future. "Free! Body and soul Free!" she whispers as she ironically rejoices the upcoming years (Chopin). The setting of the story contains irony as well, as it is a warm, pretty spring day. The final bit of situational irony comes as a shocker, when the story ends with Josephine dying as a result of a heart attack at the revelation that her husband is alive. This ironic twist is delivered in the form of one paragraph and a single line. This entire story and the irony that accompanies it, show how the moods and stories of a given hour can change as quickly as they come.
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics by Carver
Popular mechanics holds a stark resemblance to the famous story of King Soloman in the bible. In Soloman's story, two mothers are fighting over a baby whom they both say is theirs. In order to decide the matter, Soloman orders that the baby be cut in half and each mom given a piece. While the fake mother agreed, the real mother relinquished, wishing to rather let the child live with the fake mother than to let it die. Soloman then gives the baby to the real mother. If Carver's story does not match the same theme of the the bible story, it still very much possesses the same conflict. The parents of the child are at a hostile dispute on who is to keep the baby. "The largest differences reside in the conclusion. Instead of some great mediator wisely saving the day and awarding the real mother with the baby, alive, Carver's story ends with the baby being torn in half during the scuffle between the couple. Carver apathetically writes, "In this manner, the issue was decided" (Carver). This story portrays the mindless violence people can succumb to during times of heated emotion.
Popular mechanics holds a stark resemblance to the famous story of King Soloman in the bible. In Soloman's story, two mothers are fighting over a baby whom they both say is theirs. In order to decide the matter, Soloman orders that the baby be cut in half and each mom given a piece. While the fake mother agreed, the real mother relinquished, wishing to rather let the child live with the fake mother than to let it die. Soloman then gives the baby to the real mother. If Carver's story does not match the same theme of the the bible story, it still very much possesses the same conflict. The parents of the child are at a hostile dispute on who is to keep the baby. "The largest differences reside in the conclusion. Instead of some great mediator wisely saving the day and awarding the real mother with the baby, alive, Carver's story ends with the baby being torn in half during the scuffle between the couple. Carver apathetically writes, "In this manner, the issue was decided" (Carver). This story portrays the mindless violence people can succumb to during times of heated emotion.
You're Ugly, Too
You're Ugly, Too by Lorrie Moore
In Lorrie Moore's short story, the plot centers around the life of a single woman from a small town in Illinois named Zoe. Zoe is quit alone and out of place in her world. She feels as though she belongs in the East Coast, where the people are more sophisticated and where she could become married. However, do to her current situation and her odd, sarcastic sense of humor, she finds it difficult to find a man. Although Zoe's life appears lonely and depressing, it is hard to feel sympathy for her. It is not the fact that her sarcastic wit repels people away from her that makes her unsympathetic. That trait of hers, however, is very admiral that she at least acts herself. What makes it hard to feel sympathy for Zoe is that despite her longing to move back to the East Coast and find a man, she shows no such effort in achieving those goals. Instead of taking a few risks and leaving her confort zone, she appears stuck in her situation. It is only by the request of her sister that she ever attempts at meeting new people. Also, with her younger sister soon to be married, Zoe finds much to gripe about this. Her sister responds, "You're only saying that because you're five years older than I am and you're not married" (Moore).
In Lorrie Moore's short story, the plot centers around the life of a single woman from a small town in Illinois named Zoe. Zoe is quit alone and out of place in her world. She feels as though she belongs in the East Coast, where the people are more sophisticated and where she could become married. However, do to her current situation and her odd, sarcastic sense of humor, she finds it difficult to find a man. Although Zoe's life appears lonely and depressing, it is hard to feel sympathy for her. It is not the fact that her sarcastic wit repels people away from her that makes her unsympathetic. That trait of hers, however, is very admiral that she at least acts herself. What makes it hard to feel sympathy for Zoe is that despite her longing to move back to the East Coast and find a man, she shows no such effort in achieving those goals. Instead of taking a few risks and leaving her confort zone, she appears stuck in her situation. It is only by the request of her sister that she ever attempts at meeting new people. Also, with her younger sister soon to be married, Zoe finds much to gripe about this. Her sister responds, "You're only saying that because you're five years older than I am and you're not married" (Moore).
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Delight in Disorder
Delight in Disorder by Robert Herrick
This poem presents many oxymoron's throughout. This would have to be due to the fact that the title presents an oxymoron as well and that the main point that the speaker is trying to deliver is as well, that there is beauty in disorder. The speaker is obviously looking at a women as he describes many of her different attire such as dress, lace, stomacher, erring and ribbons. He describes all of these pieces of clothing as chaotic or wild in some way. He applies his idea of chaotic beauty to the woman with whom he is enraptured by. To describes her as having "wild civility", another oxymoron (Herrick 979). It is not as though the women is one very attractive babe dressed in a very messy outfit. It is just that the speaker is in such a state of awe that he takes in every little detail. The small, seemingly insignificant things, such as the ribbons in her hair, he notices and describes with loveliness. There is so much to admire that the speaker is "bewitched" by her (Herrick 979).
This poem presents many oxymoron's throughout. This would have to be due to the fact that the title presents an oxymoron as well and that the main point that the speaker is trying to deliver is as well, that there is beauty in disorder. The speaker is obviously looking at a women as he describes many of her different attire such as dress, lace, stomacher, erring and ribbons. He describes all of these pieces of clothing as chaotic or wild in some way. He applies his idea of chaotic beauty to the woman with whom he is enraptured by. To describes her as having "wild civility", another oxymoron (Herrick 979). It is not as though the women is one very attractive babe dressed in a very messy outfit. It is just that the speaker is in such a state of awe that he takes in every little detail. The small, seemingly insignificant things, such as the ribbons in her hair, he notices and describes with loveliness. There is so much to admire that the speaker is "bewitched" by her (Herrick 979).
Bright Star
Bright Star by John Keats
The most evident literary device used by Keats throughout this poem that is the basis of his work is apostrophe. For almost the entire poem the speaker addresses the star as if it were a coherent living, breathing person. Keats writes, "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art" (Keats 792). Keats uses this apostrophe to compare the differences of the speaker and the star more easily. For the speaker, addresses that he does not wish to be alone like the solitary star. Unlike the "sleepless Eremite", the speaker is not alone but with his lover (Keats 792). What he feels as he lays with the one he loves is so blissful that he would not change places even with a magnificent star that can witness all the shores and mountaintops. That is the poets main reason of utilizing apostrophe, in order to further intensify the emotion that the speaker feels. One can feel his "pleasant unrest" as he dismisses the star. For simply laying so close to his lover contains all the happiness he seeks.
The most evident literary device used by Keats throughout this poem that is the basis of his work is apostrophe. For almost the entire poem the speaker addresses the star as if it were a coherent living, breathing person. Keats writes, "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art" (Keats 792). Keats uses this apostrophe to compare the differences of the speaker and the star more easily. For the speaker, addresses that he does not wish to be alone like the solitary star. Unlike the "sleepless Eremite", the speaker is not alone but with his lover (Keats 792). What he feels as he lays with the one he loves is so blissful that he would not change places even with a magnificent star that can witness all the shores and mountaintops. That is the poets main reason of utilizing apostrophe, in order to further intensify the emotion that the speaker feels. One can feel his "pleasant unrest" as he dismisses the star. For simply laying so close to his lover contains all the happiness he seeks.
#2
Evelyn by James Joyce
Evelyn's present circumstance is one full of loss and lassitude. She feels sadness for the loss of her mother and the her times spent as a blissful child. Now she is just haunted by the ghosts of the past and her current demons, such as her abusive father or her callous supervisor. She writes of remembering a time when her father showed some sign of kindness and humanity towards her, but now all he offers is fear and abuse. It is no wonder why in her present situation, in Dublin of all cities, that Evelyn would desire so heavily to run away. This stifled passion to live is what causes Evelyn's attraction to Frank. He, a sailor, could offer her the chance of a lifetime. The narrator explains Evelyn's thoughts, "Frank would save her. He would give her life, perhaps love, too" (Joyce 221). This quote explains Evelyn's opinion of Frank and why she hesitates to board the ship with him. Although she likes him and is attracted to the fact that he can save her from her current situation, she has no other love for him. This story is not so much a love story much a story of longing.
Evelyn's present circumstance is one full of loss and lassitude. She feels sadness for the loss of her mother and the her times spent as a blissful child. Now she is just haunted by the ghosts of the past and her current demons, such as her abusive father or her callous supervisor. She writes of remembering a time when her father showed some sign of kindness and humanity towards her, but now all he offers is fear and abuse. It is no wonder why in her present situation, in Dublin of all cities, that Evelyn would desire so heavily to run away. This stifled passion to live is what causes Evelyn's attraction to Frank. He, a sailor, could offer her the chance of a lifetime. The narrator explains Evelyn's thoughts, "Frank would save her. He would give her life, perhaps love, too" (Joyce 221). This quote explains Evelyn's opinion of Frank and why she hesitates to board the ship with him. Although she likes him and is attracted to the fact that he can save her from her current situation, she has no other love for him. This story is not so much a love story much a story of longing.
Maturity
How I Met My Husband by Alice Munro
In Munro's short story, How I Met My Husband, the main character, Edie, is quite an immature, naive little girl. However, her foolish thoughts and actions are all admitted and corrected by the narrator, Edie's older and more mature self. In the story, Edie is as naive and innocent as a girl can be. By her decisions such as pursuing Mr. Watters by bringing the cake to his tent while the rest of the household was gone, one can tell she still lacks the foresight to avoid such bad decisions. Her more mature self reprimands her past self for her silly actions and admits that if she had the same experience now, things would be different. For example, when referencing her deceiving of Mr. Watter's fiance she says, "Women should stick together and not do things like that. I see that now, but didn't then" (Munro 143). The presence of Edie's older narration contrasts Edie's whimsical romantic story, and the actual story of how she eventually met her husband. This further shows that love is not always a sappy romantic novel.
In Munro's short story, How I Met My Husband, the main character, Edie, is quite an immature, naive little girl. However, her foolish thoughts and actions are all admitted and corrected by the narrator, Edie's older and more mature self. In the story, Edie is as naive and innocent as a girl can be. By her decisions such as pursuing Mr. Watters by bringing the cake to his tent while the rest of the household was gone, one can tell she still lacks the foresight to avoid such bad decisions. Her more mature self reprimands her past self for her silly actions and admits that if she had the same experience now, things would be different. For example, when referencing her deceiving of Mr. Watter's fiance she says, "Women should stick together and not do things like that. I see that now, but didn't then" (Munro 143). The presence of Edie's older narration contrasts Edie's whimsical romantic story, and the actual story of how she eventually met her husband. This further shows that love is not always a sappy romantic novel.
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