I believe that this quote “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique” means that poems have true meanings and always reflect on our daily emotions, thoughts and feelings that attract readers to understand and connect to those emotions.The attitude in the poem by Patricia Jackson’s “My Muse” expands a great love this person has for someone and instead of getting hurt ,it was better to let it go with all the memories that stayed within the love. “I’m thinking of all the reasons you would leave.I let you go before our love could take hold.”This line explains how her emotions have gotten her thinking negativity but positivity about her love towards her own happiness.I can connect to both poems “My Muse” and “How to Read a poem” with a personal experience.I remember when i was in high school i felt in love with this boy,he was smart and everything,one of a kind as a person can be described but i always use to get distracted with school work and homework,so there was me one time thinking.I have to look out for myself and part of that was my attitude and technique to balance however it was better for me to let go of all the love I had towards him and to settle it down like friends so at the end of the day,no one would get hurt.
Monthly Archives: October 2023
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” implies that a balance of emotional attention and analytical thought is necessary to entirely engage with the poem. One of the poems of week 9 that I think I can relate to and understand is “We Real Cool.” The poem is about how they think they are “Real cool” by leaving school. Lurking late drinking alcohol and doing others stuff that a adolescents can’t be doing. I think I can relate because in high school, I was, or I tried to be “Real Cool”. I frequently cut classes and l lurked late too. But then I realized I don’t want to be living in the street asking for one dollar when I have the opportunity to have a better life and now, I’m almost graduating from college
If I were to put the quote “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” into my own words I would say that when reading a poem you have to leave narratives in the past such as, “Poetry is hard to decipher.” and “I have to understand a poem on the first try.” and have a more positive more outlook on reading. I would also say that you have to look for literary techniques for meaning such as alliteration, rhyming, and imagery. In class this week we read the poem White Lies by Natasha Trethewey. I used some of the strategies learned in the article to help me decipher this poem. The first time I read this poem, I felt a bit frustrated that I didn’t understand what the poem was trying to convey. But thinking back to the article I was reminded that I should try reading the poem multiple times and out loud instead of giving up. The article also mentioned how the way lines are structured can affect the meaning of a poem. I encountered this technique when reading the poem. “I could easily tell the white folks that we lived uptown,” (Trethewey, lines 7-8” Reading both lines with no pause in-between you would interpret this as Trethewey telling people that she lives uptown. But when using breaks between each line you can also interpret the first line as Trethewey (who was often mistaken for being white) being able to tell who was white from who wasn’t.
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” I believe that this quote means that there is much that goes into a poem. While reading a poem, the reader must keep in mind of the poet who is capturing what can be an “experience, idea or feeling.” A poem’s meaning is not the only goal of the text, a lot of it is the relationship a reader forms with the poet. A poem doesn’t have just one meaning, understanding is part of it, and the other components are found in the way the poet expresses themselves. Such as, the rhythm and the shape of the poem. While reading the poem “What lips my lips have kissed, and where and why.” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, I noticed a technique she used to convey her point of love and aging was symbolism. Millay describes her love life as changing seasons such as, “Thus in the winter stands the lonely tree, Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one, Yet knows its boughs more silent than before” (Millay.) In this quote, the poet refers to different seasons in the sense of different stages of her life. Readers can relate to Millay’s lonely love life she reflects on as she becomes older and reminisces the experiences she shares with her failed romances. She expands on her emotions of sadness with a tragic attitude of this text and towards her disappointment in her failures in love.
The quote “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique” simply refers to having the ability to take right steps and maintaining an open mindset when analyzing and attempting to make sense of a poem. To understand a poem what it takes is developing techniques and critical thinking if the message isn’t clear. Having the right attitude generally is the key to overcoming many different problems, one being deciphering the meaning in a poem. An good example of a poem would be “White Lies by Natasha Trethewey. In this poem she recalls her childhood and the many lies she told which she believed were simply innocent lies, yet later found out they would prove to be more. Within the quote “I could act like my homemade dresses came straight out the window of Maison Blanche.” It describe the type of image that she wanted to portray. A falsehood that she wanted everyone to believe. This poem overall message can be deciphered through the use of proven techniques and a good attitude.
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” it tells us that to read a poem it has technique to read and it is part of our attitude it has so many different emotion different meanig in ine sentence we have to feel emotion of poem.The attitude in W. B. Yeats’ poetry “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” this poem has very deep thinking and it is emotional poem line like “And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow” after reading this poem we can easliy understand poem it is very great story . In first time i can’t understand the poem but after reading second time i understand that “The Lake of Isle of Innisfree” this place were narrator wants to visit to find peace and silence. In the line “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore”. It is quiet depresing poem i don’t like it it is trying to explain the sound of waves weach are coming at the beach.
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” in simple words it takes right abilities and right perspective to understand a poem. My feelings and thoughts when I read the poem “Train to Brooklyn” by Henry Stowe affected how I understood it. When I read the lines about “Underground tracks clank and moan, Through tunnels of brick and bone,” it made me feel a bit uneasy. This unease was because I connected the “clank and moan” with a spooky and uncomfortable sensation, and it influenced how I saw the poem. When I looked closely at how the poem was written, I noticed that it had a lot of pictures and comparisons. For example, when it talked about “tunnels of brick and bone,” it created a strong mental image of the subway’s underground tunnels. The poet used these clear images to show the subway’s character and its history.
It takes technique and attitude to read poetry. The rich imagery and sensory language of W. B. Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” convey an emotional reaction to the speaker’s longing for a peaceful retreat. The lines that convey the poem’s ideas, such as “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore,” make it easier for the reader to identify the poem’s topics and enjoy the masterpiece. The reader is profoundly moved by the poem’s need for comfort and its striking portrayal of nature, particularly amid the fast-paced world of today. The passage “And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow” alludes to the reader’s want for calm and a more leisurely pace of existence. It takes certain abilities and a mentality to read a poetry. The poetry itself has a lot of attitude and skill. “Reading a poem requires both technique and attitude.” nicely complements the poem by W. B. Yeats.
Reading poetry requires both attitude and technique. The attitude in W. B. Yeats’ poetry “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is the emotional response to the poem, depicted by the speaker’s deep longing for a peaceful place. The technique component was the poem’s structure, such as vivid imagery and sensory language, which helped me in seeing and engaging with the speaker’s desires. Lines such as “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore” express emotions. In my experience both of these components, attitude and technique, come together to create a deeper emotional reading experience through which I can find the poem’s themes and appreciate the work of art.
The quote “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique” refers to a demonstration that in order to read and write a poem it really takes a lot of skills. Writing a poem about a person and knowing how to express your feelings in a short, classy and unique way is what the “part technique” is. Another way to express a format of a poem is on vacations, past experiences and even even lies who made you as a person. In the poem In the poem “White Lies by Natasha Trethewey it speaks about childhood memories and lies she once told. The quote “i could act like my homemade dresses came straight out the window of Maison Blanche.” was a symbol of what a life she fantasize for her was. Poems create a different view in every person life whether it’s s from love to lies.
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” This quote from the reading “How to Read Poem” by Edward Hirsch reveals that to read a poem we require a sense of mindset and skills to interpret it. The poem that I most resonate is the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree“. For most people when they first read the poem they might find it easy to interpret it. Some might know it from the title itself and what the narrator is talking about. However, for me I didn’t know what Innisfree was so initially when I first read the poem I thought that the narrator must have wanted to go somewhere far. Far away from humans, away from everyone and everything. The afterlife or the haven I thought. Maybe it was meant to be a depressing poem. Nevertheless, after reading the lines again and discussing the poem together with classmates I found out that it was the lake the lake isle of Innisfree where the narrator wanted to visit. A place where he will find peace and joy “And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made” (Hirsch). After the pandemic I’ve learned or should I say enjoyed my own company so time to time I’ll think about building a house far away in the woods which is impossible right now so whenever I feel burnout I try to go to a quite place like the lake down the block, where there are few people and try to reset my mind. “And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow” (Hirsch).
“Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” Poetry has the power to spark your curiosity and make you want to learn more about its meaning. Reading poetry might be challenging. It requires practice, and as you advance, your knowledge and abilities get better. In her poem “Train to Brooklyn,” Patricia Jackson describes how she arrives in Brooklyn feeling calm and focused. Based on my own experience, the Bronx remains my home and my childhood neighborhood despite all the strange things that go on there. “Where I’ve tried and failed,” (26). I prefer to go to the Bronx to get myself through tough times. Living in a multicultural neighborhood allows me to feel like I can be myself because of the diversity of music and cultures. The New York Botanical Garden and the zoo are the ideal places to visit in the Bronx if you enjoy the outdoors. Personally, I enjoy taking walks in Central Park while listening to my favorite music.
To paraphrase Edward Hirsch’s quote, “Reading a poem is part attitude and part technique,” I feel like I could say that “approaching a poem requires a combination of ways of thinking and methods.” Edward Hirsch’s assertion that one’s approach to poetry is influenced by one’s way of thinking and the skills one has developed applies. The mindset and attitude I bring to a poem often sets the tone for how I receive it. When you approach a work with openness and curiosity, you find that you can become more immersed in the world the poet has created. On the other hand, techniques that involve understanding poetic devices, structures, and nuances increase the depth of my appreciation and interpretation. There were times when I was enjoying my time alone, thinking of the words of great people from the past. It’s embarrassing haha. A good example is “The Island of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats. The poem’s longing for solace and its vivid depiction of nature resonate deeply with me. This sentiment especially connects with me because in today’s fast-paced world [which can also be described as the speed of human progress], the yearning for peace and simplicity is even stronger. The line “”And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,” speaks to my own desire for tranquility and a slower pace of life.
“How to read Poem is part attitude and part technique.” To restate the quote with reference to Hirsch’s idea of intensification is: Engaging with a poem involves a blend of personal disposition and acquired skills. In my personal experience with reading poetry, I find that Edward Hirsch’s statement, “reading a poem is part attitude and part technique.” is true. When approaching a poem , the attitude which I engage with the text greatly influences my understanding and appreciation of it .Having an open and receptive attitude allows me to connect with the emotions and ideas conveyed by the poet. For example , in William Butler Yeats’ poem “The lake Isle of Innisfree,” my attitude of longing for quietness and escape sound with the poem’s theme of seeking solace in nature. The opening lines of the poem, “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,” immediately captured my attention and bring to mind a sense of longing within me.
The greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much?” Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” Both similarly dives into what love is and the complexity of its definition. In the poem we see many literary devices such as similes and metaphors to attempt to describe how a persons feels when mentioning love. Certain descriptive and commonly use words within the poem that we use in our daily lives that allows us to form connections with others. These are words many use often to show compassion and emotions towards people they hold dear. This is in stark contrast to the Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” which takes a more musical and whimsical approach to describing love. In the poem we witness lines such as “I love you to the depths, breadths and heights/My soul reaches.” The approach is similar to that of a song, and goes by a pattern or creative inspiration from music. Both works attempt to describe what love is but they choose to do so in different ways.
The greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much” in relation to the Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee” have common elements of poetry that express the love and attribution for someone however they are both quite different in sense to the emotions and feeling such as the tone towards there expressesions.In one we see how the speaker’s love is so deep and true that it will continue after death and in the other one we see how the memories of life will always be in someone’s heart no matter what happens, moments that you will cherish forever.Love how the poem connects to love with different point of views and feelings about one.
The greeting card lyrics in “why do I love you so much?” and elizabeth barret browing sonnet “How do I Love Thee?” Both the poetry has talk about love but they both have different style to describe love. In The greeting card they have use simole language to describe word that we can understand easily. “Because I trust you more than anyone in the world to listen, to help me through to remind me how to laugh when times are trying”. He is describing her partner that he trust her most other anyone person and she is always with him in is hard time when he needs him and explain him how to stay clam in hard sitution. In elizabeth barret browing sonnet he has used some complex words in the poem and poen follows a pattern of music. “I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.”in the last line of the poem he explains his love to her. He can do whatever if god says still he will love her. So both the story are about love but they both have different style to express it like every person has different style to love there partner.
I think I would describe the greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much?” with the Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee”, as very similar love but for different reasons and ways. In Both poems, the writer is describing why they love this person. In “Why do I love you so much?” the poem ends with “because you’re a part of my favorite memories as well as my most important dreams.” Meaning he/she loves her/he because of the time he spent with her and how memorable she is for him. And also, the dreams he had with her in the future. In “How Do Love Thee” the poem starts and ends with the reason and how immense his love is for thee. At the end of the poem sonnet wrote “I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.” Demonstrating his immense love for thee
The greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much?” and the Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” both talk about love, but they do it in different ways. The Browning sonnet sounds like a formal love letter with big words. On the other hand, the greeting card lyrics are like a simple message of love. They use plain, everyday language. The Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” uses a kind of musical and structured pattern in how the words sound. For example, it says, “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.” The words at the end of each line, like “height” and “sight,” have similar sounds. And, greeting card lyrics that say “Why Do I Love You So Much?” might not follow this structured pattern. They may or may not sound like a song or poem. It’s like a simple and heartfelt message.
“Why do I love you so much” is a greeting card that express a love and romantic emotion. It’s very specific regarding to the message the writer wanted to deliver. “Why Do I Love You So Much? and “How do I love thee” by William Shakespeare, relate because both express romantic emotions and feelings, but differently. In “how do I love thee” in my opinion the writer express it, by using non-romantic words, but in a elegant way that reader knows that the poem is about romance and love “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate” (Shakespeare) in this quote the reader can sense the romance and love, because the writer use imagery to deliver what is written in the poem and it’s lovely significance. Then in “Why do I love so much” the writer uses specific phrases that demonstrates love and romance,”Why Do I Love You So Much? Because you’re a part of my favorite memories as well as my most important dreams” in this quote, the writer use specific romantic words that describe the love he/she is feeling.
The greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much?” relates to the Browning sonnet “How Do I Love Thee” because they both speak about love. The word “love” is a such a strong and passionate word, that shouldn’t be used in bad intentions. An excellent way if use is writing a poem, especially if its someone you truly love. Putting the words to describe someone is unimaginable. for example the phrase ‘to remind how to laugh when times are trying” I believe that this example is a really straight board one because your other person should know and support you through challenges time. “I shall but love thee better after death.” represent faithfulness and Loyalty to a person. That no matter what circumstance crosses you’d always go back to your person. I really like the way poems make you have realization over situations. I really liked how these poems covered everything that represents true love.
The greeting card lyrics in “Why Do I Love You So Much?” and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” both talk about love but use different words and styles. The greeting card as compared to the sonnet uses words that are simple and direct, focusing on love and trust in a relationship. The lines are short and don’t follow a particular pattern, making it sound like a regular conversation. “Because I trust you more than anyone in the world to listen, to help me through to remind me how to laugh when times are trying”. However, Browning’s sonnet is more complex. It uses fancy words and lots of comparisons to show deep and endless love. It follows a special pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables called iambic pentameter and has a structured rhyme scheme. it sounds like music to the ear. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace” (Browning). Unlike the greeting card the sonnet also uses metaphor such as a simile to compare their love “I love thee freely, as men strive for right”.
In the Lyrics of “Why Do I Love You So Much?” can be described as a heartfelt expression of love and trust. The words is like a deep admiration on someone who is cherished dearly. The lyrics is of vulnerability and the need for some support during difficult times. As for the structure and poetic elements, the lyrics “How Do I Love Thee?”(Sonnet 43).The use of the question” Why Do I Love Thee?” mirrors the questioning and tone of Browning’s sonnet .The question emphasizes the speaker’s emotions. However ,there is a rhythm and musicality in phrasing of the lines in the lyrics. Imagery in the lyrics is more emotions and memories. The mention of listening, helping and laughing suggested emotional connection and support between the speaker and the person they love. The lines “to remind me how to laugh when times are trying “is a sense of finding joy even in challenging situations.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” and the greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Much?” both refer to love. The terms “trust,” “memories,” and “laugh” are used in the greeting card to express aspects of real love. She expresses her desire and affection for her husband in Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?”. She uses the word “thee” often throughout the poem to emphasize her love for her spouse. She essentially responds to the first line of the poem, “How Do I Love Thee,” every time she uses the word “thee.” “I love thee freely,…” (Line 7). “I love thee purely,…” (Line 8). “I love thee with the passion put to use…”(Line 9). The greeting card uses the word “why” to describe reasons for falling in love and reasons to love someone, but Browning uses the word “how” to describe how someone feels about someone, which is, in my opinion, more significant than using the word “why.”
Greeting card lyrics “Why Do I Love You So Mu?” Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” Both explore the complex reasons for deep love. And we each have different personal approaches. In “Why Do I Love You So Much?”, the poet uses direct, everyday language that feels more familiar and intimate. Words such as “believe,” “listen,” and “laugh” reminded me of simple, profound acts that foster deep connections. These words resonate because they describe universal behaviors and emotions that anyone in a close relationship can relate to. Browning’s sonnet, on the other hand, is a classic example of the sonnet form, carefully structured in rhyme and meter. Browning uses more abstract and expansive imagery, as seen in lines such as “I love you to the depths, breadths and heights/My soul reaches.” This image speaks of an infinite love that extends beyond the tangible to the spiritual. The final conclusion is that while greeting cards speak frankly to the heart, Browning’s sonnets combine their clever composition with emotional depth.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” and the greeting card “Why Do I Love You So Much?” has the same central theme, which is the depth of love. Despite having differing structural and creative approaches, both express the depth of love. Words like “trust,” “help,” and “memories” are used in the greeting card’s lyrics to show strong emotional ties and trust. The card relies on the strength of common English to convey its message rather than using traditional poetry devices like rhyme. Browning’s sonnet, in comparison, is carefully organized, using rhymes. To convey the limitless and endless nature of love, it makes use of abstract yet effective imagery like “the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach”. Both works express a deep love and affection, the greeting card through the use of direct language, while the sonnet by carefully combining literary components to emphasize the powerful feelings.
In ‘Oedipus the King’, we see timeless human behaviors like pride and downfall. Oedipus’s big ego and thinking too highly of himself is something people have done for ages, often causing their own problems. “Oedipus the King” makes us think if our lives are controlled by fate or the choices we make. Oedipus’s strong desire to discover the truth teaches us that we all want to know even if it’s painful. His big mistake, ignorance of his past, reminds us that we all have weaknesses that can cause big trouble.
In “The story of an hour” by Kate Chopin and “The wife” by Emily Dickinson’s both of them have the same stories about the 19th century married life and about what women suffer at that time . In “The story of an hour” after the death of is husband she was sad but after some time she was happy by thinking that now she can live life what she wanted to and she can do whatever she was so happy we can say that by “Free,Free,Free!”(L,14). In the poem “The wife” wife gave up all her happiness her identity and her life to live with her husband which she says “she rose to his requirement ,dropped the play things of her life”. so in today’s time some families still make rules for the wife and husband to control her It is not good that she has the right to live life with his rules.
In the story “Oedipus the king”, Oedipus doesn’t think rationally and respond emotionally more often than not. We see often with many people that their decision making is limited when they are angered or in an emotional state. Oedipus was accused of killing the king by the blind prophet. This makes him wary and begins to throw the blame on to her. He also makes others suspicious of the people close to him, making it seems as though they may be the ones responsible instead. He begins to recognize throughout the story the consequences of his actions as his downfall was swift and much expected. his downfall. He through others under the bus in order to try and absolve blame for his actions and continue to remain in a position of power. He acts purely of his own emotions, which in turn affects all of the core decisions that he makes in the story.
In the story “Oedipus the king”, the king creates more problems for himself by putting his emotions before logic. In the real world pride works hand in hand with anger. When anger consumes you, the truth is harder to see, as show in the story when he is first accused of murdering King Laius. Oedipus who had unknowingly killed his father did not want to believe the prophet, but it is later revealed that Oedipus had completed a prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. This revelation was the reason why Oedipus was so impulsive and his decision-making was poor. When Oedipus reveals the truth, his self image is shattered and as well as the loss of self identity. Oedipus who had been warned before about fate did not listen when reminded of the god’s wills and therefore, his pride was the cause of his downfall. When initially accused by the blind prophet Oedipus immediately accuses him back because Teiresias had questioned him out of his authority which causes Oedipus to act out of anger without listening which is the result of his ignorance.
In the story “oedipus the king” by sophocles we can see that how people are selfish for them they can do anything for ther happy life. Oedipus kill is father and married to his mother after sometime he cannot belibe that he did it that. So he was running from the faith and started lying and started doubting to his close one. Despite this all he was telling to all the city that how he saved the city from plague. After that all running from the faith he started making rude and harsh decision for the city . He was not accepting the truth what he has done he got blind when he has done that to become king that is not right to because he was surronded by royal family so he know what king and queen do for there city.
Timeless human experiences or behaviors I found in my reading of Oedipus the King is that Oedipus makes choices based on his personal thoughts and feelings, which he utilizes to generate new and unusual behaviors because of several influences, such as seeing his parents run their kingdom and feeling good about himself. Oedipus developed his personality through harming others, and as a result, he evolved into who he is now. Oedipus’ parents, for instance, were King and Queen. He has spent his whole childhood surrounded by the royal family, so by watching his father, he learns what a king is supposed to be like. He could be portraying the powerful behavior of his own father. The main motivation beneath Oedipus’ actions is pride, he acts in ways that make him feel emotionally rewarded. With the position of power that comes with becoming king, he turns rude and harsh. Our decisions are influenced by our emotions, which play an important part in decision-making.
There are a number of universal human emotions and actions portrayed in Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” that cut across all historical periods. Oedipus’ constant search for the truth and information, which is represented by his will to discover his true identity and the cause of the plague in Thebes, is a reflection of humanity’s ongoing yearning for knowledge and resolution. As Oedipus struggles with his tragic destiny predicted by prophets, the idea of fate vs free will is essential, touching on the age-old human conflict between predetermined fate and personal action. Oedipus’s pride, or arrogance, which led to his demise, acts as the spark for a timeless lesson about the consequences of uncontrolled arrogance, a trait of human nature that goes beyond historical boundaries.
A timeless experience and behavior, I saw in the reading “Oedipus the King” is becoming defensive and doubting in the form of attacking and making theories searching for the truth. An example is when Oedipus and Teiresias are talking, and Teiresias says that Oedipus killed the other King. Subsequently, Oedipus starts to become very defensive and starts making theories. One of Oedipus’s theories is that Teiresia the blind prophet killed the other king. And doubted the people close to him, we can see this when Oedipus starts speaking with his brother-in-law. Also, we can say Oedipus’s relentless quest in search of the truth reflects humanity seeking knowledge and confronting the bad things of reality. Another experience and behavior is the Irony of blindness because Teiresias, a blind prophet, has insight into the truth while Oedipus, who can see, doesn’t have any clue.
Many timeless human experiences can be seen in Oedipus The King. In particular, I found the “Chorus” to show a very striking resemblance to human experience when they speak to Oedipus and Teiresias. “We look at this man’s words and yours, my king, and we find both have spoken them in anger. We need no angry words but only thought how we may best hit God’s meaning for us.” (Sophocles 7) In this statement, the chorus is attempting to redirect the attention of Oedipus and Teiresias back to the problem at hand. I think that it must be difficult for the people of Thebes to see authorities they hold in high regard squabbling, especially when going through such a horrible plague. The emotion of the chorus reminds me of the emotional state of many Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria devastated the Island in September of 2017. Many Puerto Ricans were left without water and electricity for months on end. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was unprepared for the hurricane and failed to provide adequate support to the Caribbean island. Many Puerto Ricans felt as though the President at the time, Donald Trump, was too worried about appearances and looking as if he had everything under control, instead of being honest to the public about the horrible state in which Puerto Rico was in. This can be compared to how Oedipus became quickly offended and angered when Teiresias implied he was somehow involved in the king’s murder, he became so consumed with preserving his self-image that he lost focus of the problem at hand.
In the play “Oedipus the King ” expands on many themes that come across today’s society. The themes that Oedipus shows are selfishness and blindness towards the people in the play and the way he acts to hide things from them through many situational times .He keeps on lying to everyone and Jocasta tries to expand his thoughts on it, “JOCASTA: Do not concern yourself about this matter; listen to me and learn that human beings815 have no part in the craft of prophecy” In other words as Oedpidus refuses to listen to him while Jocasta goes on by saying, that he is worth to know what’s going on as a right and have faith in his opinions.
In the reading ” oedipus is the king” it makes a reference to crime and how it’s impossible to escape one’s fate. This is because he killed his father and married his mother. Having the bravery to kill someone is unimaginable specially if its someone in your family. People have their own justification for their actions and there are rare cases where it’s actually “self defense or accidentally”. It also takes a lot of courage to accept it. unlike oedipus he was destined to make those actions. He then decided to run away from Corinth avoiding the fate he had. After killing his father the reflection on what he had done lead him to self harm himself by blinding himself to stop him from seeing the reality of what he had done. Fate may be a curse or a myth horn it can literally fit in any category, but I believe that certain things you are meant for can’t be stopped no matter how hard you go on yourself.
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex deftly incorporates timeless and universal human experiences to illustrate themes of identity, self-discovery, and human psychology when faced with devastating truths, among others. doing. Oedipus’ pursuit of knowledge leads to a catastrophic fall, and Oedipus’ predicament also represents a modern-day dilemma over whether to unearth a potentially devastating truth. Oedipus’ futile attempts to escape fate, even if his efforts are futile, are strongly reminiscent of man’s constant efforts to manipulate fate and control his own destiny. This play’s human struggle against a seemingly predetermined path speaks to a universal dilemma. Finally, he shows how these deeply human experiences are timeless, showing why this play continues to resonate through the ages, reaching across diverse cultures and eras. Beyond, it evokes a sense of struggle and horror that still baffles, fascinates, and terrifies modern audiences. This reminds us of the reality that there are some things we cannot change no matter how hard we try.
While reading the story of “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles some of the timeless human experiences and behaviors that I’ve noticed are blindness and pride. Oedipus is blind to the truth, both literally and metaphorically. As he refuse (the second behavior being his pride) to see what was right in-front of him, the truth, the divine prophesy. Oedipus’s literal and metaphorical blindness shows how we as humans can sometimes be “blind” to the truth, even when it’s right in front of us. The second timeless human experiences or behaviors being pride. Just as one puts it “For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense” (Lewis). Oedipus’s pride in his ability to control his own fate ultimately served to fulfill the prophecy leading to unintended consequences and a tragic ending. His excessive pride led to his inability to see the truth.
The story Oedipus the King show how power, guilt, ignorance and pride can have impacts over the King. In the story there are timeless human experiences that are shown. Oedipus embodies the classic characteristics of the tragic hero, and his downfall follows accordingly. Out of a genuine concern for the suffering of his people, he attempts to discover the cause of the plague in order to end it. His anger and the decisions he makes while trying to do the right thing, did not go the way he expected. However his downfall was not because of his attitude, but because his pride and self-confidence, and the hard truth that he had to face when he found out he killed his father and married his mother. In fact in the process, he behaves so arrogantly that he is blind to his own role in the plague, repeatedly referring to himself as “distinguished” and boasting about saving the city once already. Each decision he makes to avoid fate ultimately serves to fulfill the prophecy.
In my reading of “Oedipus the king” by Sophocles, there are several timeless human experiences and behaviors that are explored. Oedipus, despite his efforts to escape his predestined fate, unknowingly fulfills the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother .this destiny raises questions about the extent to which individuals can control their own lives .Oedipus exhibits hubris ,or excessive pride ,which leads to his downfall. His relentless pursuit of the truth and his unwaving confidence in his own ability blind him to his own flaws and the truth about his past .Oedipus experiences remorse when he realized his extent of his unwitting crimes. The play shows the power of truth and the consequences of the discovery Opedipus’s pursuit lead to his own downfall and destruction of his family .He ensure its enduring relevance and make it a compelling piece of literature that continues to captivate audiences across different time periods and cultures. This reminds us of the importance of considering the consequences of our choices and the potential impact they can have on others.
The play Oedipus explores themes of truth, human blindness, and the possibilities and impossibilities of free will and fate. The public’s shame for Oedipus is born when they become aware of his actions, which are not necessarily repugnant to contemporary readers. Instead, Sophocles condemns Oedipus for his greatest sin of hubris, which he performed with a clear and intentional conscience. However, Oedipus was making decisions with limited information and did not choose to commit patricide. The role of the audience is not to make moral judgments but to understand the complexity of Oedipus’s situation. The play asked its original viewers to consider intentionality and purpose, freeing them from the burden of deciding Oedipus’s guilt. In today’s world, Oedipus’s actions would be condemned differently, but the overriding moral thread of the text remains. While murdering his father was not a crime per se, Oedipus did something shameful in the cultural context of his time. For Oedipus, the shame was a function of his tempted fate and killing his father, making his actions relevant to the modern world.
Emily Dickson’s “The Story of an Hour” and “The Wife” are two pieces that examine the female gender and its position in society. The first verse opens with the poem “I’m Wife,” implying that women become rulers after marriage. The second stanza, “The Story of an Hour,” depicts a female character who is relieved after her husband’s death and expresses numerous feelings. Both pieces stress men’s authority in the marital structure, as demonstrated in Dickson’s poetry “My Wife.” The poem emphasizes the changes in a woman’s life that occur after she marries and is obligated to submit to the man. Mrs. Mallard’s delight upon her husband’s death represents her independence from being governed by another person, as she lives for herself. Both works have a common topic that focuses on the female gender and their status in society, while also emphasizing the important role of males in the lives of women.
When Covid had started, I was in the middle of sophomore year in high school. All i remember was hearing every single day on news about the progression of the virus, where a mask, 6 feet apart, etc. It hit us pretty bad in NYC, as everything was shut down for a while. Living in the bronx with my family we tried to be as isolated as possible from one another and keep our distance to remain safe. There are many deli’s and small stores close by to where i live. The streets when passing by on occasion were completely dead, which it NYC is impossible to see. There were videos flowing around the internet, many of which were towards asians, as many thought to take out their anger and blame it on them, no matter where they were from originally, almost all were scrutinized by ignorant people. Businesses were trashed and vandalized and you would see non stop hateful comments against asians. In the story of Thebes, the king was beloved by the people. This led them to side with him and put blame on Creon. This relates to the idea of placing blame on the innocent, which occurs in the story and in the USA.
It was junior year of high school when COVID had first began. At first I was scared, I didn’t know what this virus was and how deadly it really was. I lived in the Bronx, in a small apartment with my mom and little sister. Next to our apartment was a local Chinese restaurant. When the lockdown first started, I noticed that the store was no longer open. The inside had looked cleaned out and completely abandoned. My trips into the city had been similar, as the other local stores had been closed way before other local shops. On social media, there had been a lot of hate towards Chinese people, even in NYC. I had seen many videos of Americans blaming the Chinese for COVID. They were expressing their hate physically, with some businesses being vandalized and others being rated poorly online. The people of Thebes follow the king, and the love him. In the story, the people sided with their king and blamed Creon. When people panic, they look for the most blamable person to calm their fears and give them explanation. The people of Thebes and America are no different.
The pandemic started at the end of 2019 while I was still in Nepal. People’s behavior varied widely depending on factors such as location, government guidelines, and individual beliefs. Many people in Nepal initially underestimated the severity of the virus, comparing it to the flu, but as the situation worsened and more information became available, they began to take it more seriously. Everyone was anxious and worried about the plague but could do nothing but wait patiently and follow follow public health guidelines such as wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus. People looked to their government and healthcare authorities for guidance and support, similar to how the people of Thebes turned to Oedipus for help.
COVID-19, like the plague in “Oedipus the King,” made people act in various ways in the United States. At first, Americans, like Thebes citizens praying to their king, relied on the government and doctors for help. But as the pandemic continued, things changed. Just as Thebes citizens went from being desperate to unsure, some Americans became skeptical too. The key difference was unity: Thebes people stuck together because they were loyal to their king, while Americans had diverse opinions due to their different cultures and politics. Some followed safety rules, while others wanted personal freedom. Still, both stories show how people kept searching for answers, like Oedipus discovering his past and scientists working hard to find a cure to COVID-19.
Many people faced the worst catastrophe during COVID-19, forcing a large number of people in our country to act out in a variety of ways. People worried and stored up on as much as they could; most stayed indoors; many babies were delivered inside and are now known as “covid – 19 babies.” This pandemic also had an impact on people’s emotional and physical health; individuals became fearful of contracting the virus next. Oedipus behavior examines daily activities of citizens, focusing on their desire to be recognized as heroes and problem solvers. However, he couldn’t help those who harmed them, a sentiment similar to how we all sought assistance during the pandemic but couldn’t, requiring self-help and growth.
During COVID-19 many people suffered through lot and went through the worst tragedy which caused many citizens in our country to act in many different ways of behaviors. Which impacted many of us around with the fellow actions being done. The pandemic has affected the public’s mental health and well-being including through isolation and loneliness, job loss and financial instability, and illness and grief. In the play, Oedipus displays many types of behavior, but the behavior that he demonstrates during key points in the drama presents the type of person he is. He puts on display acts of stress, arrogance, and confidence, Oedipus behavior analyzes each action every citizen demonstrates each day. He wanted to be seen as a hero and solver through everyone’s problems but wasn’t able to when it came to an action that affected the people. This connects to when we all wanted to help each other during the pandemic but couldn’t instead had to help ourselves through the problem and thrive through it.
The modern world suffered from the COVID pandemic. I was in the United States at the time that COVID occurred. During the play “Oedipus the King”, when Oedipus first arrived at Thebes, he saw the city to be in terrible suffering. The people were being tormented by the Sphynx, who would tell a riddle and murder everyone who didn’t know the answer. By solving the riddle, Oedipus overcame the Sphynx, which then self- isolated in anger. The king and hero of the city was Oedipus. Our government in the United States is comparable to Oedipus ruling the city because they gave us vaccinations to keep the majority of us from getting sick. The next best thing you can do to prevent infections is to wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and disinfect your home and the items you use on a daily basis. Oedipus, also known as the King, is honored for his strength and bravery when he overcame a monster-like antagonist. Unfortunately, the majority of people, particularly the elderly, lack healthy immune systems and were at risk of infection.
Pandemic it comes every 100 years in 1800 C.E choloreo pandemic happem in 1900 C.E plague was there and in 2000 C.E. we have covid so like every 100 year world suffer from big pandemic. In the play “Oedipus the King” plague story has been describe how the people were suffer from the plague and they have hero oedipus people he will help him and he will be the only who can find the vaccine for it so they were happy . In the same Covid 19 was come and half of the populatuon die beacuse of the pandemic it was very scary time for all the people. I was in india and india is the second highest populated country so due to that it was very bad phase for all the people beacuse they are not getting the bad in the hospital and all the people are dying. President closs the whole country only essential things shop will be open like dairy and medical shops for specific time and people are scared to go out and take medicine. Hope this hard time bever come again because ot was very hard for people. We don’t have hero like oedipus who can find vaccine imediately so it was good for them.
When COVID-19 began to ravage the country I remember how people in the United States acted in different ways. Many people were frightened never experiencing a plague in their lifetime. A lot of people also felt hopeless and depressed due to lack of social interaction, and being secluded inside. The people of Thebes felt a similar hopelessness and depression. “Why do you sit here with your suppliant crowns? The town is heavy with a mingled burden of sounds and smells, of groans and hymns and incense” (Sophocles 1) They turned to their king, Oedipus, and trusted him to solve their problems, because he had saved the people from a sphinx once before. The people of Thebes are different from the people of the USA in this aspect. I feel like we often find it difficult to trust our political leaders. And turn against each other as a collective in times of turmoil.
In the play “Oedipus the King” the city’s people are being tormented by a sphynx that was eating them when they couldn’t answer its riddle. The people, authority figures, and their priest had begun to ignore all other business that needed to be done around the city because of the sphynx. They devoted their time and efforts towards a solution to eliminate the sphynx. They also trusted their king Oedipus to be able to handle the situation and guide them. The behavior of the people in the play reminded me of the behavior of everyone in this country during the pandemic. The entire country was in a health crisis resulting in us relying on the government for a vaccine as well as financial support. The entire country was shut down trying to contain a deadly virus. I witnessed everyone around me wearing masks and wiping down all surfaces trying their best not to catch and spread the virus. Health officials all around the country were devoted to treating infected people in overcrowded hospitals. In many ways, the city and the king in the play reflect on the actions of society and those in power when there is a crisis in actuality.
In Oedipus ,the citizens search for the cause of the plague and ask Oedipus for help in finding a solution. Although they are hopeless, they still have hope in the king for help. Judging from this, it appears that the citizens had tremendous support and trust in him, and they relied on him. Even in the literature, it is written that “Oedipus is great in the eyes of all people,” and he is treated like a god. Oedipus himself loves Thebes and pursues the truth. Looking at the impact the pandemic has had on modern society, here again people sought information and support, and sought answers from their countries, communities, and country rulers. In Japan, reactions to the coronavirus have been mixed. The rulers of the country at the time were exhausted from dealing with various difficulties, but they were still working hard. After that, we generally saw a lot of behavior that followed government guidelines, such as wearing masks and social distancing. Additionally, online tools have rapidly become popular in business and education settings. These two situations share common leadership expectations. Both Oedipus and modern leaders tried to overcome a crisis in the face of a people seeking answers and reassurance. Oedipus sought an oracle, and modern leaders base their decisions on science, data, and public opinion. Both of these stories reveal the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by society and individuals as they search for solutions. Comparing and considering these may provide clues to understanding the various approaches and reactions to the crises facing humanity, and their complexity.
COVID 19 was a plague that affected the modern world. Countries like the US and India faced lots of challenges during the pandemic. I was in India when the deadly virus was infecting majority of the population. We were in quarantine with limited supplies and boundless restrictions. The country as a whole faced rapid spread of the virus causing storage of oxygen and ventilators. Due to large number of population in India people living in populated areas were unable to get beds in hospitals which led to people dying before getting any treatment. Likewise in the play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles the people of Thebes were facing a plague. “King, you yourself have seen our city reeling like a wreck already; it can scarcely lift its prow out of the depths, out of the bloody surf. A blight is on the fruitful plants of the earth. A blight is on the cattle in the fields, a blight is on our women that no children are born to them;” (Sophocles). Due to the rising number of cases doctors and scientists questioned the core cause of the virus and acted immediately (to create a vaccine). In the same way the people of Thebes especially Oedipus were determined to find the cause of the so called cursed the kingdom was facing. “With what a plague our city is afflicted. My lord, in you alone we find a champion, in you alone that can rescue us” (Sophocles) In both cases, the parties were looking for the cause, a solution that will solve the problem faced by the people.
In “Oedipus the King” Oedipus assumed his role as leader, Deeply feeling responsibility for the well-being of his people. He was determined to find the solution to the city’s problems. Similarly, In the United States during the pandemic of COVID-19, The government was determined to find a solution to the spreading of COVID-19. The government took measures to stop the spreading of COVID-19. Some examples of measures taken by the government were lockdowns, practicing distancing from people, Vaccines, money aid, online studying, etc. But what I saw with my eye were Latinos in the US, the majority were wearing masks, But were not practicing the recommended 7-feet distancing. Some took the COVID vaccine and others didn’t. We were not happy with the government’s aid. (besides the money and for the majority of students the online classes) Because there were so many stories about the vaccine making people sick or getting people dying. Moreover, the government developed the vaccine rapidly, and the Latinos didn’t trust the vaccine because of that. Maybe other ethnicities were doing the same or had the same concerns. But as I lived around Latinos and as a high student, my perspective was limited to people I saw in the streets. Additionally, I remembered that I drank many types of tea back then.
Covid-19 was a pandemic that affected the modern world. A lot of people died because of it and everyone was scared and desperate for the virus to end. It was very new that we would have worldwide pandemic, which made us be in quarantine and most other countries were in curfew like Dominican Republic. In the story “Oedipus the King” people from Thebes were suffering from a devastating plague and were very desperate for help. The king Oedipus was a noble king and when the people of Thebes saw Oedipus as a God and hero, because he was intelligent, brave and he cared about Thebes and because he saved them once. The difference between the people of the story and us is that they went to oedipus to ask for help because they saw him as a “hero”, and they had the faith that Oedipus could save them again from the plague. But for us was different, because we were unprepared and also we didn’t have a “hero”, we felt isolated because of all precautions we had to take before going out, a lot of employment were hold, shortage of certain products, airports, restaurants and stores were closed, etc. I think we behaved accordingly to what was happening, keeping in mind all the precautions and warnings that professionals said keep ourselves safe, like wearing facemasks, gloves, hand sanitizer and not going out if it was not necessary.
Covid-19 Pandemic Experience During the COVID-19 pandemic, the behavior of the Americans undergo change .While many individuals followed public health guidelines such as wearing masks ,practicing social distancing ,and getting vaccinated, there were also instances of non-compliance to these measures .Most of us questioned the severity of the virus, which result in disagreement. In “Oedipus the King”, the people of Thebes are depicted as being afflicted by the plague. Their behavior can be seen in contrast to the pandemic we faced in America .In the play the people of thebes are desperate for relief from the plague and turn to their king, Oedipus, for a solution to save them from the suffering caused by the plague .However ,the Americans had access to scientific information, health guildlines ,an resources to protect themselves and reduce the spread of the virus. There was a general awareness of the need to take care of ourselves and to follow the public health advice.
Literature is story telling, and story telling is generational knowledge. I believe that the quote “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it.” by C.S Lewis, is describing the relationship between real life and literature as codependent. Literature deepens the understanding of events, and details them. When reading, we are imaginative of the story, which is the addition of reality. Often times we either imagine ourselves in the stories or imagine ourselves observation in the story. In “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, he describes the relationship between Jesus and people as superficial almost. Hughes explains that while he was waiting to be saved by this “Jesus” figure, he felt no real connection although he believed in salvation. As a kid, we are taught to believe in god and to devote ourselves to religion, after all, it has been around since “forever.” But, Hughes states “I began to wonder what God thought about Westley, who certainly hadn’t seen Jesus either,”. The relationship society has formed with Jesus and Christ is based on generational literature, no one has seen Jesus Christ in person, however we all choose to follow this belief because everyone else does; people need hope to feel purpose. Our families, our friends, and majority of the world. If literature where to simply describe reality and not form a connection with readers, there would be no faith in Christ.
The quote “Literature adds to reality, not simply describes it” by C.S. Lewis fits to describe the “The story of an Hour” written by Kate Chopin. Within the story we witness a women recently becoming a widow upon learning of her husband’s death. She was at first shock and quite distraught by the news however she came to the realization that she was now free to do as she pleases and was joyful about her new journey, becoming free and breaking away from the shackles of her marriage. The descriptive language fits to describe the tone and what had become her new reality, as she learned she was now able to do what she always wanted to do instead of being limited through the binds of society. The quote explains the reality of how many lives and not simply a description.
