Before these past two weeks, I never really got into poetry. I thought it was just about rhyming and trying to impress someone special. But thanks to Professor Conway, I’ve started seeing poetry in a whole new way, and it’s actually pretty cool. I’ve found out that poetry comes in all sorts of styles, with deep meanings and beautiful layers that make reading so interesting. Take Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” for example. It’s about that quiet moment of thinking between wanting to disappear into the peaceful darkness of the woods and needing to keep promises. This struggle is a lot like what Oedipus faces in Oedipus the King, where he battles between his fate and his choices. Then there’s Browning’s “My Last Duchess,” which cleverly shows the Duke’s controlling nature through his words—just like how Oedipus reveals his weaknesses through his actions. Even though I didn’t know these poems before because my country has a different school program, and it’s a bit tougher for me since I’m still learning English, diving into poetry has helped me better understand themes, characters, and symbols in plays like Oedipus the King. It’s been an eye-opening experience.
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3 thoughts on “Discussion #7”
Thank you for sharing this, Fatima! I agree that “The Last Duchess” and “Oedipus the King” have similarities, I believe that the archaic language in both is somewhat alike. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to read poetry in a different language than your first language, because it is already quite difficult in one’s native tongue! I like your comparison between “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “Oedipus the King” and think it is a really insightful observation.
I agree with what you said about poetry. I used to think the same; that poetry was just rhymes or something people wrote to impress others. But after these past two weeks, I see that poetry has deeper meanings, and it makes you think in new ways. Your connection between Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and Oedipus the King makes a lot of sense. Both show that the struggle between wanting to stop and having to keep going. I also liked how you mentioned My Last Duchess and how words can reveal a character’s true nature, just like Oedipus’s actions show his flaws. It’s cool that poetry has helped you understand plays better, even with English being new for you. I think reading poetry and plays together helps us see things we wouldn’t notice otherwise.
Fatim, please include your name on your post title. Thank you for the interesting comments. I’d really love some more specifics when it comes to the reading of Oedipus. Is the language poetic? What metaphors do you notice? How does reading poetry prepare you for the reading of this ancient drama? Also, please, please, please, submit correctly. Do not change anything under “Category Sticky.” Thank you. Leave it as is. It will read “Select a Category.”