Acquainted with the Night by Robert Frost
Throughout this poem, Frost uses the extended metaphor of night in order to describe hardships and struggles in life. Much of these symbols are equated with hyperbole. The "furthest city light" and the "saddest city lane" are metaphors for how dark some times of his life have been (Frost 976). These times were so dark that few could compare. It explains a lot about Robert Frost. I believe that the unearthly clock in the sky truly is the moon in which he speaks of. What may cause people to falter in this idea, is that the moon cannot be used to tell time. However, I believe that is part of the genius of Frost. The consternation that an always mobil, hard to predict moon would create as a clock would be totally off-putting. He does this to symbolize how the times in the night are not just linear. They do not descend from point A to point B to point C. In these dark times, which seem continually present, events and times seem scattered and listless. A common theme for movies, is the one where the protagonist is knocked out of the loop and has lost his wits and all emotion. One example would be in the movie, The Aviator, when Howard Hughes has a mental breakdown and locks himself in his room. The scene is shuffled and obscures as it displays him listless inside his own personal hell, ignorant of the time. It is in times such as these where the moon takes lead as the clock.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Dover Beach
Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
This poem by Matthew Arnold, highlights the eternal feelings and sad insights of one contemplating the world's problems. His sad thoughts begin from the presence of the vast English Channel. From its spanning waters, comes a "eternal note of sadness" (Arnold 892). He alludes back to the greek philosopher Sophocles, who also heard this note of sadness. This quick allusion points out how this mournful outlook towards life's mysteries and vastness, has always created a sense of fear and sadness in humans. The speaker then references the loss of faith in his generation. Less and less people find comfort in the knowledge of a higher power. In a higher power we can confide in peace and acceptance, ignoring lives great erie mysteries and dismissing them as God's business to take care of. Without certainty to soothe us, the speaker references the next best things to hold off this sadness, each other. This transition from a people rigid in faith and a superior, mysterious being, and more for the faith and love and equality of fellow humans, has been quite evident. It is a different world, yet not an entirely bad world.
This poem by Matthew Arnold, highlights the eternal feelings and sad insights of one contemplating the world's problems. His sad thoughts begin from the presence of the vast English Channel. From its spanning waters, comes a "eternal note of sadness" (Arnold 892). He alludes back to the greek philosopher Sophocles, who also heard this note of sadness. This quick allusion points out how this mournful outlook towards life's mysteries and vastness, has always created a sense of fear and sadness in humans. The speaker then references the loss of faith in his generation. Less and less people find comfort in the knowledge of a higher power. In a higher power we can confide in peace and acceptance, ignoring lives great erie mysteries and dismissing them as God's business to take care of. Without certainty to soothe us, the speaker references the next best things to hold off this sadness, each other. This transition from a people rigid in faith and a superior, mysterious being, and more for the faith and love and equality of fellow humans, has been quite evident. It is a different world, yet not an entirely bad world.
Sorting Laundry
Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritchie
This whole poem is structured by an extended metaphor. All of her assorted linens and things represent and define her relationship with her man. From her descriptions one can discern that their relationship has not always been perfect, they have endured through it and their bond is stronger than ever. The author writes, "pillowcases, despite so many/ washings, seams still/ holding our dreams" (Ritchie). She obviously holds onto memories and possessions very dearly. She brings up the history of her clearance towels, and speaks of how even shrunken clothes are hard to give to good will. This brings up the more serious possession of the shirt. This shirt of a former lover, is just another example of her trouble to move on. When she contemplates "what if" considering her own relationship, she sounds as if she would have a horrible time letting that go as well. This poem emphasizes the human condition of attachment.
This whole poem is structured by an extended metaphor. All of her assorted linens and things represent and define her relationship with her man. From her descriptions one can discern that their relationship has not always been perfect, they have endured through it and their bond is stronger than ever. The author writes, "pillowcases, despite so many/ washings, seams still/ holding our dreams" (Ritchie). She obviously holds onto memories and possessions very dearly. She brings up the history of her clearance towels, and speaks of how even shrunken clothes are hard to give to good will. This brings up the more serious possession of the shirt. This shirt of a former lover, is just another example of her trouble to move on. When she contemplates "what if" considering her own relationship, she sounds as if she would have a horrible time letting that go as well. This poem emphasizes the human condition of attachment.
The Convergence of the Twain
The Convergence of the Twain by Thomas Hardy
This poem, by Thomas Hardy, takes a unique new view of the infamous sinking of the titanic unlike that of other literature. For one, the poem fixates much less than the actual people aboard, but rather the ship itself and its sinking. With the use of personification, he writes of the inescapable fate of the ship and the iceberg. The poet writes, "No mortal eye could see/ On The intimate welding of their later history" (Hardy 779). He compares the meeting of the Titanic and the iceberg as an intimate relationship. As if by fate these two counterparts would one day diverge and meet. He writes of the whole situation almost with a sense of awe and wonder. This is quite ironic considering that he writes of such a very infamous and horrific event. With the submission of the human side of the story, the speaker is actually quite right by his interpretation. It was quite an awesome event. See what I did there?
This poem, by Thomas Hardy, takes a unique new view of the infamous sinking of the titanic unlike that of other literature. For one, the poem fixates much less than the actual people aboard, but rather the ship itself and its sinking. With the use of personification, he writes of the inescapable fate of the ship and the iceberg. The poet writes, "No mortal eye could see/ On The intimate welding of their later history" (Hardy 779). He compares the meeting of the Titanic and the iceberg as an intimate relationship. As if by fate these two counterparts would one day diverge and meet. He writes of the whole situation almost with a sense of awe and wonder. This is quite ironic considering that he writes of such a very infamous and horrific event. With the submission of the human side of the story, the speaker is actually quite right by his interpretation. It was quite an awesome event. See what I did there?
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