Poetry really taught a lesson for me throughout the semester, much more than when I was in high school. In my studies in high school, we were introduced to poetry in ELA where all we know much about, that was true at the time, is they always rhyme when we were studying about their fluctuation and how the reader is taught “to make ideas as they believed” when reading a poem. For the majority we had to read them by overused but famous poets like William Shakeshphere and Edgar Allen Poe. We also learned that poetry’s like a code of words dressed into the sentence structures of each stanza, along with the assumption every poem can be easily understandable by just the beginning, or read once.
I would like to include Haiku there as a good example written by Buson.
“In lantern light,
My yellow chrysanthemums
Lost all their color”
This comes at first glance as simple to me if I were a beginner of poetry. It then tells me Buson’s people became old when his friends died. Which I respect about the way Buson described coloration as shifting. In Oedipus, there comes a simile and metaphors between most lines at the same time, as usually within haiku’s use in describing their ideas in a natural element.
Before high school, we were taught that poetry comes with a “hum”, describing the melody in the tone of the writer who made them decide to express figurative languages into emotions and feelings.
These myths both helped and discerned me. For the good side, myths are used as a testament to my knowledge because they allow people to understand what to avoid, and not to accept. On the flipside, knowing these myths into true beliefs had led me to be less aware of the words in poetry they deliver as a true meaning, which reduces my trust in understanding literature, particularly classical and modern poetry. However, what I learned in ENG 201 best describes how poetry is being made, reminding me of my middle school studies. Studying poetry realistically through the lens, students can foster their strength into utilizing context and comprehension throughout the semester. As the saying goes, “criticism is a good thing”.
2 thoughts on “Isaiah White Week — 7 discussion”
Your reflections on poetry highlight a fascinating evolution in your understanding! It’s interesting to see how your experiences in high school shaped your early views, particularly the focus on traditional poets and the notion that poetry is always about rhyme. Your example of Buson’s haiku beautifully illustrates how a deeper exploration can reveal complex emotions and themes, like the passage of time and loss.
I appreciate your insights regarding the myths surrounding poetry. It’s true that preconceived notions can cloud our understanding, but it’s encouraging that you’ve found value in dissecting these beliefs. The idea that poetry is a code to be unlocked resonates well, especially as you embrace a more nuanced approach to literature now.
Your mention of criticism as a positive force in your learning journey is also noteworthy; it indicates a maturity in your perspective. Engaging with poetry through context and comprehension will surely enrich your reading experience.
Zeze, it sounds like your English teacher from middle school made a great impression on you and played a role in your continued interest in poetry. I think that’s great. I like your interpretation of the haiku. And yes, it’s good to get rid of old ideas about poetry so you can open your mind to each new poem—and even familiar ones.