As we read "Ode On A Grecian Urn" we get a sense of happiness, but it has a double standard to it. It's a lyrical poem, it holds a very solid rhyme scheme. The Ode is divided into five stanzas which deals with the art form and figure of the urns.
In his poem Keates is characterizing the urn and nature. Back in time the greeks were very connected to art work. They used urns as holding storage devices. They would also paint their urns. They would draw ellaborate drawing and keep them around their house. Which in time told stories that are still around even in our time.
In Line 18-20 it mentiones how sooner or later were all going to die and that the urns are going to still be around. "Though winning near the goal- yet, do not grieve; She cannont fade, though thou has not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!" (Lines 18-20) The art will be persevere but we won't. "Beauty is thruth, thruth is beauty." It's beauty will endure, it will be frozen in time. Referring to its beauty, thruth and its immorality. Gentely it endures something larger. Even though we are condemmed to time, that beauty will not be condemned to time. It will carry out.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Jackson's story uses the holding of a public lottery to present a poignant perspective on our idea of tradition and culture. How does this story incorporate the plot twist to urge us to think about society?
There was definite twist in the story in which at first it was something that I didn't expect. When your reading the story in the beginning the author gives you a sense of warmness and happiness.. The trees are blooming and the weather is just perfect. The title”Lottery" in our society is actually something good. It's a prize you gain if you guess right, It's a game of chance. In the story it’s definitely the opposite. Something in which no one wants and wishes for it to end and not be chosen.
But nothing is done and nothing wants to be changed because it has been going down for centuries and everyone in this small town has gotten use to. But when they are chosen that's when they speak up and try to fight it. In this story it's basically the chance to live. Either you choose a blank paper or one with a black dot. The minute you get the one with the black dot your life is over. You’re attacked with stones and beaten to death. At first we're not really introduced to the main charachter but towards the end you can more or less pick her out the crowd.
Her husband has picked out a paper with the black dot and upset and what is to come she starts to speak up and call it an unfair draw. Another chance is given to the whole family and at the end she gets the paper and killed. What I really didn't like was how she tried to help out her husband and he didn't do anything to prevent from happening. Even her own kids beat her with stones.
There was definite twist in the story in which at first it was something that I didn't expect. When your reading the story in the beginning the author gives you a sense of warmness and happiness.. The trees are blooming and the weather is just perfect. The title”Lottery" in our society is actually something good. It's a prize you gain if you guess right, It's a game of chance. In the story it’s definitely the opposite. Something in which no one wants and wishes for it to end and not be chosen.
But nothing is done and nothing wants to be changed because it has been going down for centuries and everyone in this small town has gotten use to. But when they are chosen that's when they speak up and try to fight it. In this story it's basically the chance to live. Either you choose a blank paper or one with a black dot. The minute you get the one with the black dot your life is over. You’re attacked with stones and beaten to death. At first we're not really introduced to the main charachter but towards the end you can more or less pick her out the crowd.
Her husband has picked out a paper with the black dot and upset and what is to come she starts to speak up and call it an unfair draw. Another chance is given to the whole family and at the end she gets the paper and killed. What I really didn't like was how she tried to help out her husband and he didn't do anything to prevent from happening. Even her own kids beat her with stones.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Worn Path By Eudora Welty
Explain how the theme of dedication is present in A Worn Path. What are specific examples of Phoenix's commitment?
The story “A Worn Path” starts out with a great sense of early morning; December to be exact when the weather is cool and yet warm by where she walks. Her name Phoenix is an important name; her name implies a mythological bird made of fire. “A phoenix is a mythical bird with a tail of beautiful gold and red plumage. It has a 500 year life-cycle, when it dies both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises, reborn to live again.” Throughout the story many obstacles try to jump in and stop her path. First obstacle was when she was walking through the woods that “a bush caught her dress.” (pg 294) Or even when the sun is blocking her view and blinding her. Through the middle of her walk she gets tired and stops for a rest.
There she has an illusion an illusion of a young boy offering her a slice of marble cake. When she goes to reach for it, “there was just her own hand in the air.” (pg 295) “Something always takes a hold of me on this hill- pleads I should stay." (pg 294). It might be her age kicking in that also gets in her way. The Second obstacle that gets in her way is the Hunter. The hunter is the human obstacle; he’s trying to send her back home. At some point he points the gun in her face which is an extreme event. And she doesn't react at all. During the end when the nurse asked Phoenix why she went to town and made the trip, phoenix had forgotten. But after a few minutes she recalled. Reason she went to town was to get her grandson smoothing medicine to help out her grandson who had by mistake swallowed lye about 2 to 3 years ago. She endures everything that she has to go through every obstacle that comes her way. Like she mentioned in one of her interviews “She rose again like the Phoenix”.
The story “A Worn Path” starts out with a great sense of early morning; December to be exact when the weather is cool and yet warm by where she walks. Her name Phoenix is an important name; her name implies a mythological bird made of fire. “A phoenix is a mythical bird with a tail of beautiful gold and red plumage. It has a 500 year life-cycle, when it dies both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises, reborn to live again.” Throughout the story many obstacles try to jump in and stop her path. First obstacle was when she was walking through the woods that “a bush caught her dress.” (pg 294) Or even when the sun is blocking her view and blinding her. Through the middle of her walk she gets tired and stops for a rest.
There she has an illusion an illusion of a young boy offering her a slice of marble cake. When she goes to reach for it, “there was just her own hand in the air.” (pg 295) “Something always takes a hold of me on this hill- pleads I should stay." (pg 294). It might be her age kicking in that also gets in her way. The Second obstacle that gets in her way is the Hunter. The hunter is the human obstacle; he’s trying to send her back home. At some point he points the gun in her face which is an extreme event. And she doesn't react at all. During the end when the nurse asked Phoenix why she went to town and made the trip, phoenix had forgotten. But after a few minutes she recalled. Reason she went to town was to get her grandson smoothing medicine to help out her grandson who had by mistake swallowed lye about 2 to 3 years ago. She endures everything that she has to go through every obstacle that comes her way. Like she mentioned in one of her interviews “She rose again like the Phoenix”.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cathedral by Raymond Carver
How do the characters relate and interact in Carver's "Cathedral"? Do any of them change or grow?
In the story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, all the character's including the narrator himself relate to each other in some way. We're first introduced to the narrator himself and in some points we can see his views on others that surround him. He mentions his wife and her friend Robert. The narrator in the beginning gives us some history on how his wife and Robert had met. As he speaks about them he gives us the impression of feeling some jealousy towards their long lasting friendship. Even though Robert is a blind man. Robert and the narrator's wife had met through job relations. She worked for him during one summer to try and save up money. And after the summer ended Robert and the narrator's wife got close and decided to stay in touch.
Halfway through the story we start to notice a major change in the narrator himself. During the beginning of the story we can observe on how the narrator has mixed feeling towards their friendship. When his wife told him that Robert would be staying over for a while, he got very upset and didn't know what to do. When Robert got to the house they were introduced and not much was said. Towards the end, the narrator starts to make small conversations and they enjoy each other's company. They interact in many ways and the narrator starts to realize how Robert feels and tries to understand his view towards the world.
In the story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, all the character's including the narrator himself relate to each other in some way. We're first introduced to the narrator himself and in some points we can see his views on others that surround him. He mentions his wife and her friend Robert. The narrator in the beginning gives us some history on how his wife and Robert had met. As he speaks about them he gives us the impression of feeling some jealousy towards their long lasting friendship. Even though Robert is a blind man. Robert and the narrator's wife had met through job relations. She worked for him during one summer to try and save up money. And after the summer ended Robert and the narrator's wife got close and decided to stay in touch.
Halfway through the story we start to notice a major change in the narrator himself. During the beginning of the story we can observe on how the narrator has mixed feeling towards their friendship. When his wife told him that Robert would be staying over for a while, he got very upset and didn't know what to do. When Robert got to the house they were introduced and not much was said. Towards the end, the narrator starts to make small conversations and they enjoy each other's company. They interact in many ways and the narrator starts to realize how Robert feels and tries to understand his view towards the world.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Magical Realism- The Handsomes Drowned Man In The World
Read the definition of Magical Realism and explain how Garcia Marquez's story fits into this description.
Basically Magical Realism "explores the overlap between fantasy and reality and reveals the mysterious elements hidden in day-to-day life." The story starts out with a few children playing near the shores when something big from far away appears floating. A few guesses are made of what it could be and not until its right in front of them can they see that it was a dead man who had drowned. They play with him for a while until a man from the village discovers what they're doing and spreads the news.
The body was then taken to the village to be taken care of and give a proper burial. But before all that can be done, they were trying to figure out if this tall man was part of their village or one near. No one was missing and he was a mystery that no one could explain. The women in the village started to prepare him and make sure he was dressed right and looked proper.
In the process of fixing him up; the women began to make up stories and describe how handsome he was. They began to make up his past life and his name. Esteban is what they called him. Plus everything that he went through while being alive. During this phase in their lives they made of him what they wanted him to be. That's where magical realism jumps in. The women made him the perfect man; something that they lacked in their lives. They described him and added what their husband's couldn't provide.
Esteban being the corpse that he was becomes more that just a body. He's more real than anyone in the village. Sooner or later they do send Esteban back to the sea, but the village is permanently changed. For the while that Esteban was in the village his presence had added a joy and self-importance to their village.
Basically Magical Realism "explores the overlap between fantasy and reality and reveals the mysterious elements hidden in day-to-day life." The story starts out with a few children playing near the shores when something big from far away appears floating. A few guesses are made of what it could be and not until its right in front of them can they see that it was a dead man who had drowned. They play with him for a while until a man from the village discovers what they're doing and spreads the news.
The body was then taken to the village to be taken care of and give a proper burial. But before all that can be done, they were trying to figure out if this tall man was part of their village or one near. No one was missing and he was a mystery that no one could explain. The women in the village started to prepare him and make sure he was dressed right and looked proper.
In the process of fixing him up; the women began to make up stories and describe how handsome he was. They began to make up his past life and his name. Esteban is what they called him. Plus everything that he went through while being alive. During this phase in their lives they made of him what they wanted him to be. That's where magical realism jumps in. The women made him the perfect man; something that they lacked in their lives. They described him and added what their husband's couldn't provide.
Esteban being the corpse that he was becomes more that just a body. He's more real than anyone in the village. Sooner or later they do send Esteban back to the sea, but the village is permanently changed. For the while that Esteban was in the village his presence had added a joy and self-importance to their village.
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