In SlaughterHouse-Five written by Kurt Vonnegut, the reader is taken through a journey that involves a man named Billy Pilgrim. But before Billy is properly introduced, a chapter is written from actual Kurt Vonnegut's point of view that makes me wonder who Billy Pilgrim is representing. Vonnegut writes the intro chapter of this book from his own personal point of view describing some things about himself and the war that are semi-hard to understand and relate to the next chapter. I found myself confused because I had trouble understanding what carried in seriousness from the first chapter to the next. It seems that some key phrases and concepts are repeated frequently by the author, but interestingly enough they are even repeated from the first chapter into the second that has a very different storyline.
See the end of the first draws me to the conclusion that we are moving on from the first to start something new and different. His introduction of Billy is what really makes me think. Why not tell the story from his own point of view if this is a story he has been working on for years? I would like to know if really Billy is Mr. Vonnegut and he is telling the story from this interesting point of view because of the impossible actions taken via time-travel. I hope that in time I will come to have a greater understanding of who this Billy Pilgrim really is and know wether or not Vonnegut knew him. The way that Mr. Vonnegut writes, "People aren't supposed to look back. I'm certainly not going to do it anymore,"(22) makes me really wonder this book is a sort of reminiscing of a different sort.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Acquainted with the Night
Acquainted with the Night written by Robert Frost starts very intriguingly with the repetition of "I have" to start several lines in a row. This occurrence helps to string the details of a very vague poem together to help create an interesting aura around the speaker. It comes off this way because of how almost embarrassed, shamed that the speaker puts off. He does this through writing, "Dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain,"(6) when describing passing a watchman. This makes it appear as though the speaker has done something that others wouldn't approve of and cause him to walk with the night when others would not understand or see this as acceptable.
Upon first reading this poem, I understood the speaker to be having relationship issues and feel inclined to walk out again and again. This makes the speaker "acquainted" with the night because of the frequent walks. I also though this because of the inclusion of the luminary clock. I thought this to be the moon and had a notion that the moon was keeping track not by moving throughout the night, but by changing day by day. The moon never judged him on being right or wrong for what he had done this time or that because at this point they had become acquaintances.
Upon first reading this poem, I understood the speaker to be having relationship issues and feel inclined to walk out again and again. This makes the speaker "acquainted" with the night because of the frequent walks. I also though this because of the inclusion of the luminary clock. I thought this to be the moon and had a notion that the moon was keeping track not by moving throughout the night, but by changing day by day. The moon never judged him on being right or wrong for what he had done this time or that because at this point they had become acquaintances.
The Convergence of Twain
The Convergence of Twain by Thomas Hardy is a poem that I personally find very interesting. The time and detail put into this poem to create the shape and style of writing is very impressive. First off, to make sure that all stanzas will look the shape of an iceberg of a ship is very impressive. It seems that sometimes those small details can distinguish a poem from all others. These kinds of details make them memorable and very intricate the majority of the time. In particular for this poem, I found it effective because along with the gradual build of the grandeur and meeting of the two objects, the whole while we look upon stanzas that look similar to them.
Another aspect that I find interesting is the development of the way that the author describes the things made by man in comparison to the iceberg created by God. This author believes that God has destined the two to meet. This is seem in the end by line 31-32, "Till the Spinner of the Years Said 'Now!'" inferring that someone in control caused the collision. The author makes them seemed destined almost similar lovers through choice diction that would be used to describe the way a couple would eventually come together.
Another aspect that I find interesting is the development of the way that the author describes the things made by man in comparison to the iceberg created by God. This author believes that God has destined the two to meet. This is seem in the end by line 31-32, "Till the Spinner of the Years Said 'Now!'" inferring that someone in control caused the collision. The author makes them seemed destined almost similar lovers through choice diction that would be used to describe the way a couple would eventually come together.
Sorting Laundry
This poem really develops in the most interesting time. Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritche does this through some methods of varying lines, size development, and stress at the end of the poem. The varying lines was nice how throughout the beginning the consistency that allowed the reader to keep up well with the progression of the speakers laundry in relation to the relationship that she is in. The way that the articles slowly went from big to small also helped display the bigger, less important aspects of the relationship compared to the smaller, but increasingly important aspects.The way that this is how the speaker wrote to start the poem helped build for the switch up at the end when something changes. The author changes by starting to write about the idea of ending the relationship and how this would affect both her and the way she did her laundry.
Another part that seemed intriguing was how in the beginning, the lines really might have developed an issue only to reveal that it was not a big deal in this relationship and the people were able to get through it anyway. They also, in a sense, reveal characteristics that show aspects of their relationship to show how they work together as people. When the author writes about how they are laxative about how the laundry is sometimes, "All those wrinkles, to be smoothed, or else ignored,"(19-21) says something about how they deal with the problems in their relationship.
Another part that seemed intriguing was how in the beginning, the lines really might have developed an issue only to reveal that it was not a big deal in this relationship and the people were able to get through it anyway. They also, in a sense, reveal characteristics that show aspects of their relationship to show how they work together as people. When the author writes about how they are laxative about how the laundry is sometimes, "All those wrinkles, to be smoothed, or else ignored,"(19-21) says something about how they deal with the problems in their relationship.
Dover Beach
I think that the poem Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold wrote was very effective for me because I have been to so many bodies of water before. The way that he described the water with so many various descriptions of both the sight and sound of it made me think back on times when I have witnessed bodies of water performing as written. This makes the sights and sounds of the water come to life for me and realize the deeper meanings of the bodies of water reflecting on life as we know it. TheIn the fifth line when it is written, "Glimmering and vast,"(Ln5) help to really display the characteristics of the oceans. The drastic descriptions help reflect back on the actual meaning that life holds. The hard way that we have to deal and cope with all that happens in both the large, intense sounds and the calm, everlasting years that life holds.
This all comes together perfectly through the weaving of the three bodies of water described. The first develops the solemn sense that life is harsh. The second shows how others before us have come to the realization that this is show. The last seems to be a fictional stanza that shows how possibly at one point things could have been perfect for all, but they are not. The last stanza really reveals how at one point or another we can make life bearable. This is only through a partner that we can really endure and get through all the hard times.
This all comes together perfectly through the weaving of the three bodies of water described. The first develops the solemn sense that life is harsh. The second shows how others before us have come to the realization that this is show. The last seems to be a fictional stanza that shows how possibly at one point things could have been perfect for all, but they are not. The last stanza really reveals how at one point or another we can make life bearable. This is only through a partner that we can really endure and get through all the hard times.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Barbie Doll
Barbie Doll written by Margie Piercy really cuts to the point in the blatant use of sarcasm. I think that this use of sarcasm really brings on the real definition of sarcasm by making it so biting and harsh to read. The sarcasm displayed in the beginning and the end are really what bothered me upon the first reading.
The use of sarcasm to say the, "Magic of puberty,"(5) in a tone that implies it is simply what is going on in the mind that caused her to say such a horrible thing to another girl bothers me. I do not like it when what I think might be the result of others inflicting pain onto one is then turned and blamed as "puberty". There is no evidence behind that and it hurts to read. I would hope that it isn't purely nature that drives us to be so cruel and unruly in our words and actions.
The second use of sarcasm that I found so hurtful was reading the last two lines.
"Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending."(24-25)
These lines prove to be so hurtful when the reader realizes the implication that they have. They are point to this idea that all that this lady wanted and failed to receive was the approval of others. She isn't even blessed enough for someone in her everyday life that is filled with "to and fro apologizing" and "abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity" to be complimented by her peers.
I think that I don't like this poem and truly hope to change this kind of outlook in our world through simple compliments and helping those in need of belongingness find it.
The use of sarcasm to say the, "Magic of puberty,"(5) in a tone that implies it is simply what is going on in the mind that caused her to say such a horrible thing to another girl bothers me. I do not like it when what I think might be the result of others inflicting pain onto one is then turned and blamed as "puberty". There is no evidence behind that and it hurts to read. I would hope that it isn't purely nature that drives us to be so cruel and unruly in our words and actions.
The second use of sarcasm that I found so hurtful was reading the last two lines.
"Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending."(24-25)
These lines prove to be so hurtful when the reader realizes the implication that they have. They are point to this idea that all that this lady wanted and failed to receive was the approval of others. She isn't even blessed enough for someone in her everyday life that is filled with "to and fro apologizing" and "abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity" to be complimented by her peers.
I think that I don't like this poem and truly hope to change this kind of outlook in our world through simple compliments and helping those in need of belongingness find it.
Mr Mistress' Eyes
In the poem My Mistress' Eyes, I am dumbfounded by the blunt attitude and truth that William Shakespeare is able to convey in a poem. I think that this concept was so amazing to me because this is usually exactly what is done in poetry.
Shakespeare is able to build up the image of his mistress as an average lady. He does this by tearing down the conventional ways that women are portrayed and simply implying that she is average. He says that she isn't like the other women in the way that she doesn't believe the lies that are fed to her about her personality. He refuses to say these unnaturally characteristic things about the physical aspects of his love and finds his own personal awe in that fact.
I think that I like it the most when he says, "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head,"(4) because he just blatantly says an idea that the majority of humanity would find offense but somehow finds a way to turn it into an odd compliment. It seems that in his revealing that he doesn't love all that he knows about her, he finds her to be entirely her own. His description of her as, "My love as rare,"(13) seriously brings in the brownie points. He saves probably the greatest compliment possible until the very end. His ability to find the unique aspects of his love draw him to believe that she herself is rare and he loves her for it.
Shakespeare is able to build up the image of his mistress as an average lady. He does this by tearing down the conventional ways that women are portrayed and simply implying that she is average. He says that she isn't like the other women in the way that she doesn't believe the lies that are fed to her about her personality. He refuses to say these unnaturally characteristic things about the physical aspects of his love and finds his own personal awe in that fact.
I think that I like it the most when he says, "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head,"(4) because he just blatantly says an idea that the majority of humanity would find offense but somehow finds a way to turn it into an odd compliment. It seems that in his revealing that he doesn't love all that he knows about her, he finds her to be entirely her own. His description of her as, "My love as rare,"(13) seriously brings in the brownie points. He saves probably the greatest compliment possible until the very end. His ability to find the unique aspects of his love draw him to believe that she herself is rare and he loves her for it.
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