Over the past two weeks, I’ve become more comfortable with reading poetry. I’ve learned to notice the layers of meaning in the words and understand the emotions behind them. This skill has helped me approach Oedipus the King with a new perspective. The play, like poetry, uses symbolic language and explores complex human emotions, and now I feel more confident in breaking down these elements. My experience with poetry has made it easier to grasp the deeper themes in the play and pay closer attention to how the language conveys Oedipus’ tragic journey. The more I proof read, the more I understand what the poet is talking about. The more I feel empathy for the writing, the more I feel connected to the story and meaning behind it. One poem that stands out to me is Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death.” In this poem, death is personified as a calm, inevitable force, one that comes for the speaker whether she is ready or not. This reminds me of Oedipus’ struggle with fate. No matter how much he tries to escape it, his tragic destiny is inescapable. Both the poem and the play highlight how powerless we are against certain forces in life, whether that be death or fate. What I find interesting is how Dickinson’s calm acceptance of death contrasts with Oedipus’ various attempts to avoid his fate. In the end, though, both the poem and the play show that resistance is futile. This connection has helped me better understand the themes in Oedipus the King, especially the tension between free will and fate. Through poetry, I’ve learned to appreciate how writers use language and imagery to explore these universal truths, which has deepened my reading of the play.
Berfin Atali
Writing Essay 1 taught me how important it is to have an established thesis statement. At first, I believed I could sum up the narrative without presenting a strong argument, but this criticism made it clear to me that the essay is guided by an insufficient basis. I’ve also discovered that providing numerous quotes and in-depth research are essential for bolstering my arguments. There was one instance in particular where I used a quote but forgot to clarify its meaning. This helped me realize that I need to make a connection between the quote and my main point in order to make it meaningful. In order to make sure I have a strong thesis and an obvious organizational framework, I intend to devote more time to outlining my essays in the future. Additionally, I’ll make sure to Increase the amount of supporting details and proof in each area of the essay; I’ve found that this makes the essay considerably stronger. This assignment has undoubtedly altered my writing style by putting more emphasis on the coherence and depth of my ideas.
