("Delight in Disorder" - Herrick)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Changing Times
"I see a wild civility;"
("Delight in Disorder" - Herrick)
This poem is short, and to the point; however, it is full of oxymoron's and contradictory statements. First of all, the poem is titled "Delight in Disorder." For me, disorder is not a good thing. I like to know where things are and what is going to happen next. All the jewels and riches the woman wears are "distractions" to the speaker. Usually, pretty clothing and jewelry is worn to attract the attention of men. The speaker is not enthralled with all the riches; instead, he focuses on the one thing that is out of order with her outfit - her shoelace. If I put all that effort into an outfit, I would be pretty mad to find out that the man I was trying to impress only liked my shoelace. I think this poem serves as a wake up call for women. Not all men want woman to dress extravagantly. In order to describe this shoestring, the author uses the oxymoron "wild civility." The out-of-place shoestring is something that is considered improper or uncivilized for the woman's society. However, the woman is trying her best to be civil. Really, a shoelace is not a big deal. However, since the woman's ideals are different than mine, this may be a big deal in her society. This poem really shows how ideals and times change.
("Delight in Disorder" - Herrick)
Confidence?
"And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die."
("Death, be not proud" - John Donne)
The theme of this poem is: Death, I am not scared of you. Or am I?
In the quote above, there is a paradox which I really had to think about. In the poem, death is compared to sleep. Since sleep is a leisurely activity, death should also be pleasurable. Pretty logical reasoning I'd say. With this eternal sleep comes eternal life. Therefore, death kills earthly life, but in the process, death is killed by eternal life. Okay, maybe that does not make any sense, but trust me, it makes sense in my mind. Maybe.
The speaker is so insulting towards death, almost like an immature fourth grader. I thought calling death a "slave to fate" was pretty low. I mean, I don't think death is that bad; in fact, it allows us to enter God's kingdom. So, why does the speaker keep insulting death over and over again? Personally, I believe the speaker is trying to give himself a pep talk. He is probably terrified out of his mind because everything that occurs after death is so unknown. The unknown is always something that scares every person (especially that axe murderer living in the cheer closet the other day). The speaker is not confident; in fact, he is acting quite desperate. He even contradicts himself in his argument. Sometimes, we just need to let the impossible go.
("Death, be not proud" - John Donne)
The theme of this poem is: Death, I am not scared of you. Or am I?
In the quote above, there is a paradox which I really had to think about. In the poem, death is compared to sleep. Since sleep is a leisurely activity, death should also be pleasurable. Pretty logical reasoning I'd say. With this eternal sleep comes eternal life. Therefore, death kills earthly life, but in the process, death is killed by eternal life. Okay, maybe that does not make any sense, but trust me, it makes sense in my mind. Maybe.
The speaker is so insulting towards death, almost like an immature fourth grader. I thought calling death a "slave to fate" was pretty low. I mean, I don't think death is that bad; in fact, it allows us to enter God's kingdom. So, why does the speaker keep insulting death over and over again? Personally, I believe the speaker is trying to give himself a pep talk. He is probably terrified out of his mind because everything that occurs after death is so unknown. The unknown is always something that scares every person (especially that axe murderer living in the cheer closet the other day). The speaker is not confident; in fact, he is acting quite desperate. He even contradicts himself in his argument. Sometimes, we just need to let the impossible go.
Ships in the Night
"I see myself on deck, convinced
his ship's gone down, while he's convinced
I'll see him on the dock..."
("Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead" - Andrew Hudgins)
I'm beginning to love poems where the title tells me exactly what to expect. However, this poem is a little misleading. When I think of a elegy, I imagine a sad, nostalgic speech describing the good qualities of a recently deceased person. Obviously, the speaker's father is not dead, but he is approaching death. Maybe he has some type of illness that is threatening his life, or he is just approaching old age. Either way, the speaker has a subdued or indifferent approach on his father's death.
Many differences are pointed out between the beliefs of the father and the speaker. For example, the speaker does not really believe in the afterlife. In the excerpt above, the father's belief in the afterlife is described using a metaphor. The father compares the afterlife to a journey specifically made on a ship. While the father believes his ship will stay afloat, the speaker believes the ship will sink after death. The speaker shows that he is not completely confident by using the phrase "I think" instead of "I know." In reality, no human being can really fully comprehend the afterlife. In admitting this, the speaker is admitting that his father could be right; however, the speaker still has a pessimistic attitude.
his ship's gone down, while he's convinced
I'll see him on the dock..."
("Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead" - Andrew Hudgins)
I'm beginning to love poems where the title tells me exactly what to expect. However, this poem is a little misleading. When I think of a elegy, I imagine a sad, nostalgic speech describing the good qualities of a recently deceased person. Obviously, the speaker's father is not dead, but he is approaching death. Maybe he has some type of illness that is threatening his life, or he is just approaching old age. Either way, the speaker has a subdued or indifferent approach on his father's death.
Many differences are pointed out between the beliefs of the father and the speaker. For example, the speaker does not really believe in the afterlife. In the excerpt above, the father's belief in the afterlife is described using a metaphor. The father compares the afterlife to a journey specifically made on a ship. While the father believes his ship will stay afloat, the speaker believes the ship will sink after death. The speaker shows that he is not completely confident by using the phrase "I think" instead of "I know." In reality, no human being can really fully comprehend the afterlife. In admitting this, the speaker is admitting that his father could be right; however, the speaker still has a pessimistic attitude.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A Walk to Remember
"Old age should burn and rave at close of day;"
("Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" - Dylan Thomas)
This poem reminded me of the movie A Walk To Remember. This movie tells the story of a girl named Jamie who is dying of leukemia. Instead of waiting around for her death, she attempts to complete a list of things she wants to do before death. One thing I specifically remember is when Landon helps her be in two places at one time. Jamie could have made her situation ten times worse, but she chose to make it better by keeping a positive outlook on life. Jamie and Landon even get married right before she dies.
Although Jamie does not die of old age, her life still "burns and raves" until her death. Thomas is trying to tell the reader that death should not be something we try to hide from. Instead of acting depressed and worried when thinking about death, we should think of death as just another unforeseen bump in the road. Wise, good, wild, and grave men all had regrets in life because they feared death. For example, the "good" man will cry when he dies because his deeds could have touched the lives of many people if he was not so concerned about death. Without a fear of death, we are able to accomplish more things and live a fuller life.
("Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" - Dylan Thomas)
Although Jamie does not die of old age, her life still "burns and raves" until her death. Thomas is trying to tell the reader that death should not be something we try to hide from. Instead of acting depressed and worried when thinking about death, we should think of death as just another unforeseen bump in the road. Wise, good, wild, and grave men all had regrets in life because they feared death. For example, the "good" man will cry when he dies because his deeds could have touched the lives of many people if he was not so concerned about death. Without a fear of death, we are able to accomplish more things and live a fuller life.
Winter Winds
"Consumed with that which it was nourished by."
("That time of year" - Shakespeare)
One image that particularly struck me in this poem was the image of fire. This poem presents the death of fall into the season of winter. Winter is compared to a fire that consumes the fall. The "ashes" referred to are the ashes of a youthful world in which plants thrive and animals move about freely. However, winter brings this entire process to a stop. In the excerpt above, it says that a fire consumes everything that nourishes it. This seems selfish at first; however, a fire must consume it's ingredients in order to keep burning. In the same way, fall must turn to winter in order for the process of life to begin all over again. Without winter, there would be no new life.
The first three quatrains refer to the passage of fall into winter. However, the last two lines serve to compare this process to a greater lesson in life. In order for a person to fully appreciate something, it must be taken away first. Winter serves a purpose of allowing us time to fully appreciate the beauty of spring. If we are given something for too long, the value begins to deteriorate. Therefore, time apart from this thing will allow a person time to grow.
("That time of year" - Shakespeare)
One image that particularly struck me in this poem was the image of fire. This poem presents the death of fall into the season of winter. Winter is compared to a fire that consumes the fall. The "ashes" referred to are the ashes of a youthful world in which plants thrive and animals move about freely. However, winter brings this entire process to a stop. In the excerpt above, it says that a fire consumes everything that nourishes it. This seems selfish at first; however, a fire must consume it's ingredients in order to keep burning. In the same way, fall must turn to winter in order for the process of life to begin all over again. Without winter, there would be no new life.
The first three quatrains refer to the passage of fall into winter. However, the last two lines serve to compare this process to a greater lesson in life. In order for a person to fully appreciate something, it must be taken away first. Winter serves a purpose of allowing us time to fully appreciate the beauty of spring. If we are given something for too long, the value begins to deteriorate. Therefore, time apart from this thing will allow a person time to grow.
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