"A careless shoestring, in whose tie
I see a wild civility'
Do more bewitch me than when art
is too precise in every part."
This poem is broken into every two lines with the ending syllables rhyming. This creates a better flow and development throughout the poem. The connection between the two lines is symbolic of the connection between the beginning and end of the poem. The speaker initially begins talking about the beauty in the disorder and wrinkles of clothes. In themselves, they present an enigma and a sort of rhythm that makes the observer's eye roam around the object. Being in Studio Art has helped me to understand the importance of this concept. In order for something to be intriguing to the human mind, the observer has to be able to follow it. However, another important concept is the not so straight path that the wrinkles and placement of clothes take. Though the human mind craves sense, it also craves thought, meaning that intriguing things must follow a general pattern, but that they also must incorporate some disorder into this pattern. The speaker in the poem is no exception. He or she states that clothes are more of an art form than real art sometimes is because people focus too much on being straightforward and clear while clothes don't make that effort. To see the beauty and message in clothes is more difficult than to see the beauty and message in some works of art. Therefore, clothes are a work of art in themselves.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dialogue: Edward
"The curse of hell from me shall ye bear,
Mother, Mother,
The curse of hell from me shall ye bear,
Such counsels you gave to me, O."
The entire poem is spoken in dialogue which makes it somewhat more difficult to uncover the emotions behind the actions that take place in the poem. However, it also makes the poem more personal. It is a discussion between Edward and his mother, beginning with her realization that he must have killed something, for he is holding a bloody sword. He tells her that he has killed his hawk, but she knows that he is lying because it's blood is not the same color as that upon the sword. Next he tells her he killed his steed, but she knows he is lying because he would not be this sad about one horse dying since he has so many others. Then he finally comes clean and tells her he has killed his father. She asks him what penance he will serve for this. But, the irony in her question is the fact that she was the one who commanded him to do the killing. By ordering him to kill his own father she gave him "the curse from hell" for he has sinned severely, but she still expects him to do penance. For this, he is resentful. How can the woman who ordered him to commit the act feel no remorse but question his own form of penance? In the beginning of the poem, the boys loyalty rested with the mother. But once she becomes accusatory, he is sorry for killing his father, and turns against her instead. He originally tried to hide his sin from her, but she knew the truth and when she found out that he had obeyed her, she acted as though he were completely insane. Because the mother gave Edward the "curse of hell" and feels no remorse or sympathy, he only wishes to return that curse to her.
Mother, Mother,
The curse of hell from me shall ye bear,
Such counsels you gave to me, O."
The entire poem is spoken in dialogue which makes it somewhat more difficult to uncover the emotions behind the actions that take place in the poem. However, it also makes the poem more personal. It is a discussion between Edward and his mother, beginning with her realization that he must have killed something, for he is holding a bloody sword. He tells her that he has killed his hawk, but she knows that he is lying because it's blood is not the same color as that upon the sword. Next he tells her he killed his steed, but she knows he is lying because he would not be this sad about one horse dying since he has so many others. Then he finally comes clean and tells her he has killed his father. She asks him what penance he will serve for this. But, the irony in her question is the fact that she was the one who commanded him to do the killing. By ordering him to kill his own father she gave him "the curse from hell" for he has sinned severely, but she still expects him to do penance. For this, he is resentful. How can the woman who ordered him to commit the act feel no remorse but question his own form of penance? In the beginning of the poem, the boys loyalty rested with the mother. But once she becomes accusatory, he is sorry for killing his father, and turns against her instead. He originally tried to hide his sin from her, but she knew the truth and when she found out that he had obeyed her, she acted as though he were completely insane. Because the mother gave Edward the "curse of hell" and feels no remorse or sympathy, he only wishes to return that curse to her.
Form: Lonely Hearts
"Executive in search of something new--
Perhaps bisexual woman, arty, young.
Do you live in North London? Is it you?"
This poem has a distinct form of a stanza beginning with the desired qualities in a mate of the speaker followed by a refrain of questions. However, the irony in this poem is that the speaker asks "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" but his wish is really not simple at all. The entire poem is dedicated to the specific qualities that his potential mate must possess. Most of them are really not very common at all, either. The fact that the only place he is searching is North London is inhibiting as well. He doesn't even have a wide range of women that could meet this long list of criteria. Instead though, maybe each stanza represents a different kind of person who might be searching for love. In the first stanza, the person seeks a mate who is adventurous. In the second, he seeks a very soulful and compassionate woman. The third seeks a young and wild woman. The fourth on the other hand seeks the opposite, a Jewish successful woman with a son, implying that she is older and rich. The person referred to in the fifth stanza is searching for someone to complement their astrological sign and who is not a big risk-taker. The sixth stanza is just a general end to any of these ads. Maybe rather than satirizing those who don't find love because they are so demanding, it is pitying those who can't find love and don't know why.
Perhaps bisexual woman, arty, young.
Do you live in North London? Is it you?"
This poem has a distinct form of a stanza beginning with the desired qualities in a mate of the speaker followed by a refrain of questions. However, the irony in this poem is that the speaker asks "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" but his wish is really not simple at all. The entire poem is dedicated to the specific qualities that his potential mate must possess. Most of them are really not very common at all, either. The fact that the only place he is searching is North London is inhibiting as well. He doesn't even have a wide range of women that could meet this long list of criteria. Instead though, maybe each stanza represents a different kind of person who might be searching for love. In the first stanza, the person seeks a mate who is adventurous. In the second, he seeks a very soulful and compassionate woman. The third seeks a young and wild woman. The fourth on the other hand seeks the opposite, a Jewish successful woman with a son, implying that she is older and rich. The person referred to in the fifth stanza is searching for someone to complement their astrological sign and who is not a big risk-taker. The sixth stanza is just a general end to any of these ads. Maybe rather than satirizing those who don't find love because they are so demanding, it is pitying those who can't find love and don't know why.
Refrain: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
"Do not go gentle into that good night"
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
The central theme of the poem is the resistance of death.This is reflected through the two the two refrains that appear throughout the poems which I quoted above. The speaker is urging the reader to strive to hold of death. He is not implying that death is a bad thing. He refers to it as the "good night". However, he says that without a fight and without trying to make all the difference that one can before he or she must die makes death a "dying of the light". Wise men, good men, and adventurous men all know this to be true. Therefore, they strive to hold off death for as long as they can. They know that they have not reached enough, served enough, or done enough to die yet, and they want to hold off death as long as they can so that they can accomplish these things. Specifically, the poem is addressed to the speaker's father, and he is urging him to do the same thing. The father is going blind, but the son says this doesn't make him useless, for "blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay". His father could be happy regardless rather than downtrodden. And though death is approaching his father, he says that he must rage against it like the wise, good, and adventurous men because there is still much left for him to do. However, this poem also subtly hints at the speakers sadness about the passing of his father. Maybe it's more the speaker who would miss his father after he had died than him actually believing that there is still a mission in life for him.
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
The central theme of the poem is the resistance of death.This is reflected through the two the two refrains that appear throughout the poems which I quoted above. The speaker is urging the reader to strive to hold of death. He is not implying that death is a bad thing. He refers to it as the "good night". However, he says that without a fight and without trying to make all the difference that one can before he or she must die makes death a "dying of the light". Wise men, good men, and adventurous men all know this to be true. Therefore, they strive to hold off death for as long as they can. They know that they have not reached enough, served enough, or done enough to die yet, and they want to hold off death as long as they can so that they can accomplish these things. Specifically, the poem is addressed to the speaker's father, and he is urging him to do the same thing. The father is going blind, but the son says this doesn't make him useless, for "blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay". His father could be happy regardless rather than downtrodden. And though death is approaching his father, he says that he must rage against it like the wise, good, and adventurous men because there is still much left for him to do. However, this poem also subtly hints at the speakers sadness about the passing of his father. Maybe it's more the speaker who would miss his father after he had died than him actually believing that there is still a mission in life for him.
Unity: That time of year
"That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang."
Throughout the poem there is a common theme of fall and winter images. These are used to symbolize death, and this is appropriate because during fall and winter, death of nature is very prevalent. The birds' songs are gone. The leaves are dead and the trees are barren. In this same way, the speaker of the poem has lost his youthfulness. He is a glowing ember that is about to burn out. All these images in the poem in some way connect to the seasons of fall and winter. During these seasons, it is popular for homes to have fires in the fireplace in order to keep warm, but the fires die out quickly in the same way that the speaker is dying. The trees lose their leaves and become barren and withered, while the speaker loses his colorfulness and lively spirit to adopt an aged look and temperament as well. However, his lover does not let her affection for him wither. In fact, he states that she lets it grow. Because she knows that their time is limited, she loves him all the more for the time that they are given.
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang."
Throughout the poem there is a common theme of fall and winter images. These are used to symbolize death, and this is appropriate because during fall and winter, death of nature is very prevalent. The birds' songs are gone. The leaves are dead and the trees are barren. In this same way, the speaker of the poem has lost his youthfulness. He is a glowing ember that is about to burn out. All these images in the poem in some way connect to the seasons of fall and winter. During these seasons, it is popular for homes to have fires in the fireplace in order to keep warm, but the fires die out quickly in the same way that the speaker is dying. The trees lose their leaves and become barren and withered, while the speaker loses his colorfulness and lively spirit to adopt an aged look and temperament as well. However, his lover does not let her affection for him wither. In fact, he states that she lets it grow. Because she knows that their time is limited, she loves him all the more for the time that they are given.
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