When listening and reading the different ways and specifics of poetry I have learned there is an actual science and system behind it. I’ve never been one to properly grasp the logistics of poetry, I always thought they were just words from the heart that very talented people were able to throw together in a fashionable manner. In the video Italian and Elizabethan Sonnets: Poetry Analysis they show a breakdown of a poem that rhymes and show how the numbered lines and how the one after rhymes with the first. I never knew there was almost a mathematical way of going about it. I also learned that Shakespeare happened at the same time as Queen Elizabeth and that the two can be called the same, a term I would’ve always over looked. My favorite thing about poetry and the era is was mostly popular is the lack of shame to express love and passion for something or someone.
Julia Longboat
I have chosen to write about Langston Hughes “Salvation”. My thesis statement being: “Throughout the story, the author uses dramatic irony to emphasize the struggles of faith and the pressure of religion.” After looking at the provided database from BMCC I have learned a few things about Mr. Hughes. Firstly, he was considered one of the most popular Black American poets in the U.S. and was strongly criticized for the way he chose to portray his view of life and those around him. That in itself supports any writings of his, having lived a culture to back up what one is writing about is undeniable. Since he was so widely known I feel the best secondary sources to use would be writings and critics directly related to his work as well as those who may have really known him as a person. Biographies and article clippings would absolutely work best.
The poem “The Wife” shares a similar theme with the “Story of An Hour” as it relates to two wives. One is brand new, prepping herself for the duties of being a good wife and the other has just lost her husband and is processing his death. The excerpt from the poem that stands out the most is the last section: “It lay unmentioned, as the sea Develops pearl and weed, But only to himself is known The fathoms they abide.” This mainly relates to the short story “Story of An Hour” as they widow is left in complete shock but after grieving feels free. She is almost ashamed to feel this way and gets choked up from admitting it. The relief the widow feels being released from her marriage is the weed and the love and happiness from the same marriage being the pearls. The new wife openly expresses throughout the entire poem how she is to lay down her life of fun and uplift the responsibilities of being a wife.
In the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the depth or interior of the story is centralized around the grandmother and her ways of life. She preaches the whole time of how people were better back in the day but fails realize she is apart of the problem. She sees people in a different light than of herself and until the end she tries to portray this holy woman of god persona. She believes that appearances should be the entire basis of what or how someone should be perceived inside. She tells the misfit that he looks like a good man and thus should deep down be one. She is also certain that he would never kill a lady and tries to use this as protection for herself and never once tries to do the same for the others. Outside of the struggles the family is going through the main one purpose of the story is to shine light on the ugliness inside of the grandmother.
Throughout the story of “Oedipus the King” the king suffers from his timeless human experience as he impulsively blinds himself. Oedipus learns of the truths behind his parents and of his children and in his shame he cannot bare to look at what he has done. With his impulsive decision he found a permanent solution for his shame and in turn later regretted it as he wanted his children back in his arms. As a consequence, he is forced to let go of his children after all, in order to live outside of Thebes away from the horrors bestowed upon him. Creon also demonstrates a timeless behavior as he is gracious towards Oedipus and tries to show him that he was a decent man before the recent events and will continue to be a decent man after them. Creon says to Oedipus “I gave you this because I knew from old days how you loved them as I see now.” Crean feels for Oedipus and his act of pity will not be forgotten.
In the chorus lines 471-474 “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 the God’s meaning for us”…The meaning of this passage is to emphasize the importance of being able to speak honestly and factual without having to use negative emotion. In the second half of the chorus it is written that the words needed do not need to be angry but be right with God and on the right path. The people are hoping to hear out both parties and want to have a true and honest conversation; once over amounts of emotion and negative feelings are involved the dynamic of the truth can be shifted. When it is said “may best hit the God’s meaning for us” the usage of this language is direct and graceful, the phrase is set up this way to calm down the King and Teiresias. When words are delivered with kindness others are more likely to absorb the information and be more understanding.
In the short story “Araby” the story is really about a young boy who seems bored and lets his life become consumed with the idea of an unattainable girl. Throughout the story he speaks of the town as an empty and kind of gloomy place until he lays his eyes on his friends sister. The only time light is really mentioned is when it involves his times near her, I think this symbolizes his interest and curiosity in this beauty. Nothing else in the town has his interest, everything is dull to him except this girl. Once she speaks to him and he promises to get her a gift he is faced with realty. He tries to obtain something glamorous and impressive to show his worth but he realizes that the options left after waiting for his turn are not at all what he had in mind. All the options in the store as well as his discouraging ride there left him disappointed. In the end he is reminded and left frustrated with his environment, the girl was just a distraction for him.
In the short story the characters Rosie Girafee and Sugar had two different takes from the toy store. I think Rosie sees the surface level of the problem opposed to the actual depth that Sugar sees and actual points out. The kids are having a good time and admiring the toys they simply never could have. By the end Sugar realizes that what they all eat in one year could sum to the amount the white kids are getting to purchase in toys and to actually see that in front of her made her understand the differences. As for Rosie Girafee she sees the prices and just thinks to herself that white people are ridiculous for spending that kind of money but nothing deeper, nothing as to the race differences and the fundamental issues that lie in front of them at this store. It could be that she’s too young and naive to understand but it seems to hit Sugar like a truck. She left the toy store with a whole new perspective on life.
In the story “Salvation” the author begins open minded and hopeful to the possibility of being truly saved. There seems to be some curiosity and optimism behind the white light coming and lifting the spirits of everyone around him. While watching his peers become these great beings from the love of god he patiently waits for his turn but it never comes. By the end of the story, the older self / version of the author has completely lost hope. He let go of the idea that one day he would be saved and is shamed into lying and pretending that he believes in a higher spirit who helps him realize that he is actually all alone. How could Jesus come for everyone but him? How could the one person he shared this lingering suspense with lie to the world just to fit in? Compared to the beginning the author slowly and surely comes to terms with the fact that he has lost hope and feels abandoned by everyone around him including God. Realizing the hard truths about life itself.
In the short story “The Handsomest Drowned Man” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez an entire village is impacted by the arrival of a stranger. At first sight, a floating being is nothing new or out of the ordinary, it is just another day for this town. Once discovered this being is a beautiful and sincere man who lost his life, the townsman are influenced and left with a new view on life. From the first introduction to the last moment, there is growth from both the women and the men of this community. The women did not see him as an actual person who lost their life until he was given a name, Esteban. They decided to fantasize and dream of what this man could’ve been for them opposed to the life lost and how he got to where he was. The men immediately grew a dislike due to the adoration of the townswomen and simply did not care enough about the man to even notice his sincerity and uniqueness. In the end, Esteban had his own town, a man with no words, just a face with mystery helped change the hearts of everyone. I believe the story was chosen to encourage and enlighten students to broaden their horizons. Help us learn not to judge a book by its cover too soon and try to understand the background of others before coming to conclusions. This short story demonstrates how one person can change and impact the lives of others simply with a face of sincerity and kindness.
