Chapter 1.
It is very interesting how Lucky Jim begins with an empty college campus (a strategy to reveal that Amis is strictly interested in satirizing the faculty of the university as opposed to the students themselves) because he presents the members of the staff and their actions and practices. He presents Professor Welch as the first character who seems to be representative of the strict and traditional standards of an old English university. This is interesting because, in context, him like many others professors are presented to be teaching new universities different from the traditional old English ones. It seems that the book will be about the humor of the situation of these traditional professors to be teaching students from different economic and social backgrounds. As it is, our narrator (presumably introduced as Jim Dixon) has quite a critical and spectical eye for things which presents the humor of the introduction of the setting. He is very critical of those around him even though he does not act that way but this thoughts reflect his true feelings. He shows the reader that he is not that interested in academic achievement. This is reflected when he asks Welch if his paper is worthy or intellectual enough yet the ironic thing here is that Welch himself does not know and has to ask other administrators (Amis is being witty here because he is mocking Welch in the sense that he is supposed to be highly scholarly yet he can not even comment on Dixon's work without the approval of another). I must say, I love the way Amis presents Dixon's character so far though; his imagination creates humor so far in the novel such as when he imagines Welch stuck in a toilet and how he puts images to express his strong feelings of frustration. He also plays with language by mocking what the characters say and how "proper" they try to act but in reality, it shows how pathetic they are. Welch tries to use so much proper English and says "my word" when he tries to curse which just makes him seem ridiculous. It's so obvious this novel is going to satarize education.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Wit and Hearthside
Hearthside by Dorothy Parker
Half across the world from me
Lie the lands I'll never see-
I, whose longing lives and dies
Where a ship has sailed away;
I, that never close my eyes
But to look upon Cathay.
Things I may not know nor tell
Wait, where older waters swell;
Ways that flowered at Sappho's tread,
Winds that sighed in Homer's strings,
Vibrant with the singing dead,
Golden with the dust of wings.
Under deeper skies than mine,
Quiet valleys dip and shine.
Where their tender grasses heal
Ancient scars of trench and tomb
I shall never walk: nor kneel
Where the bones of poets bloom.
If I seek a lovelier part,
Where I travel goes my heart;
Where I stray my thought must go;
With me wanders my desire.
Best to sit and watch the snow,
Turn the lock, and poke the fire.
For some reason, this poem subconciously made me really pensive just because of how Parker presents her purpose. I'm going to start off by discussing this poem's purpose a bit rather than just delving into the TPCASTTing. Parker really examines the aspect of knowing she is restricted and will probobly not take a specific course in life where she will neer "walk nor knell where the bones of poets bloom" and seek the many other "lands [she'll] never see". It is quite interesting how Parker somewhat manipulates this sad tone and makes it a tad more cheerful in a sense because in the end she realizes she does have control over her life but it would be "best to sit and watch the snow" instead of venture out into the world and discover her "desires". Her purpose is most deffientely effective because throughout the poem, she referances many different Greek allusions such as singing voices of the Cyrins. Her powerful imagery that runs throughout the poem places her readers in the many different places that they could be visiting yet the reader realizes eventually that they must not turn out like the author and actually go out and discover these places. I think Parker brings in her role in society towards the end because women at the time this poem was written were not necesserily allowed to break out of the "norm" and their traditional roles in society which is why she, at the end, decides to just "sit and watch the snow" despite her awareness that she could be seeking different places and advanture.
How does this poem able to reach such a vast audience? Because of how Parker takes such a universal idea and personalizes it so that it reaches everyone. How? Because this poem mocks how people both know and once knew that they do not decide to take a chance or a different oppurtunity to break out of their traditional lives to experiance something new. By doing so, Parker makes the audience really think of their lives and why they decided not to take the chance (as the speaker of the poem decides to blow off the idea by the end). It is quite sad but it's often true.
Half across the world from me
Lie the lands I'll never see-
I, whose longing lives and dies
Where a ship has sailed away;
I, that never close my eyes
But to look upon Cathay.
Things I may not know nor tell
Wait, where older waters swell;
Ways that flowered at Sappho's tread,
Winds that sighed in Homer's strings,
Vibrant with the singing dead,
Golden with the dust of wings.
Under deeper skies than mine,
Quiet valleys dip and shine.
Where their tender grasses heal
Ancient scars of trench and tomb
I shall never walk: nor kneel
Where the bones of poets bloom.
If I seek a lovelier part,
Where I travel goes my heart;
Where I stray my thought must go;
With me wanders my desire.
Best to sit and watch the snow,
Turn the lock, and poke the fire.
For some reason, this poem subconciously made me really pensive just because of how Parker presents her purpose. I'm going to start off by discussing this poem's purpose a bit rather than just delving into the TPCASTTing. Parker really examines the aspect of knowing she is restricted and will probobly not take a specific course in life where she will neer "walk nor knell where the bones of poets bloom" and seek the many other "lands [she'll] never see". It is quite interesting how Parker somewhat manipulates this sad tone and makes it a tad more cheerful in a sense because in the end she realizes she does have control over her life but it would be "best to sit and watch the snow" instead of venture out into the world and discover her "desires". Her purpose is most deffientely effective because throughout the poem, she referances many different Greek allusions such as singing voices of the Cyrins. Her powerful imagery that runs throughout the poem places her readers in the many different places that they could be visiting yet the reader realizes eventually that they must not turn out like the author and actually go out and discover these places. I think Parker brings in her role in society towards the end because women at the time this poem was written were not necesserily allowed to break out of the "norm" and their traditional roles in society which is why she, at the end, decides to just "sit and watch the snow" despite her awareness that she could be seeking different places and advanture.
How does this poem able to reach such a vast audience? Because of how Parker takes such a universal idea and personalizes it so that it reaches everyone. How? Because this poem mocks how people both know and once knew that they do not decide to take a chance or a different oppurtunity to break out of their traditional lives to experiance something new. By doing so, Parker makes the audience really think of their lives and why they decided not to take the chance (as the speaker of the poem decides to blow off the idea by the end). It is quite sad but it's often true.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Symptom Recital
Symptom Recital
I do not like my state of mind;
I'm bitter, querulous, unkind.
I hate my legs, I hate my hands,
I do not yearn for lovelier lands.
I dread the dawn's recurrent light;
I hate to go to bed at night.
I snoot at simple, earnest folk.
I cannot take the simplest joke.
I find no peace in paint or type.
My world is but a lot of tripe.
I'm disillusioned, empty-breasted.
For what I think, I'd be arrested.
I am not sick. I am not well.
My quondam dreams are shot to hell.
My soul is crushed, my spirit sore:
I do not like me any more.
I cavil, quarrel, grumble, grouse.
I ponder on the narrow house.
I shudder at the thought of men.
I'm due to fall in love again.
Title: The title is pretty vague which is a strategy to grasp the reader's attension. Symptom ususally implies the prerequisits to obtaining an illness which is generally negatively connotative. It can also imply an anticipated event to occur since there are symptoms occuring before then. By using the word, "recital" right next to it, it almost seems as if these "symptoms" or "prerequisits" are what caused them. Is Parker going to speak of how something was a result of something else? The reader soon finds out.
Paraphrase: I hate my state of mind, I'm bitter, cold, I like to fight, I hate my legs, I hate my hands, I don't care or want to go to better places or live in a better home, I dread the light before dawn, I hate going to bed at night, I hate sleeping, I laugh at simple people, I can't stand doing anything (not even painting or typing), My world is nothing but depressing, I'm disillusioned, I have no heart, I'd be taken away or arrested for my thoughts, I can't take a joke, I'm not sick but I'm not ok, All my aspirations are shot to hell, My soul is crushed, my dreams mean nothing anymore, my spirit is dying, I don't like this anymore. She wonders about the narrow house, She shudders at the sight of men, she's doomed to fall in love again.
Connotations: There are a lot of them in here. I feel as if Parker uses very vague works that evoke a series of powerful emotions and images to the reader.
"State of mind"-I've always been curious about this phrase. Parker begins by being blunt. It is almst as if the reader can picture her "state of mind" as a dark room or narrow hallway. I'm not sure why I got this image but whenever I hear this, I always get the image of this. She is giving power to her mind here because it is what is controlling her at the moment.
"bitter"-I thought it was interesting how she uses this word to first describe her. She get her tone already from the second line of the poem because this word is strongly negatively connotative. It almost presents the idea that the speaker already knows she a horrible person but it only gets worse as the negatively connotative diction continues throughout the poem.
"hate"-As compared to her poems, Parker is so much more blunt to describe the subject of the poem. I'm pretty sure she does this because she is trying to reach a general audience (aka the "common man") here because we can all relate to this poem at some point or another.
"legs": Ha, I found this hilarious for some reason just because I've heard so many people say this. It can be taken bother literally and metaphorically. I thought it was a metonomy because it represented where people decide to go with their lives and the misdirections they take.
"hands": This can be taken the same way as "legs" but in a different light. "Hands" are more action based towards more specific doings. "Legs" take you there. "Hands" actually make you do something. Why would she choose these two seperate body parts? Hands and legs? I thought this was a message Parker was trying to explain...People in society have the chance to go, live, love, discover...yet they don't. They just accept what they have and get depressed about it. I wouldn't say she's necesserily mocking this fact. It's just pretty sad though when the reader realizes what Parker is trying to explain.
Attitude: Parker has two attitudes going on here. The first is slightly mocking but underneath this tone, there is a sad and solumn tone of how many in our society are not satisfied with themselves and how love is a painful thing due to our insecurities and doubts.
Shift: There's a shift after Parker speaks of the narrow house in which she thinks about. Because previous to this, she expressed her state of mind and how she felt about herself, the underlying message lies in the last two lines where she speaks of how shes bound to fall in love again because of all these insecurities. The thing is, the reader does not know if she is falling in love or if she is already in love because we often know that while in love, we have strong insecurities.
Theme: There are two themes in this poem: The first is the struggle many in our society face with themselves. I know all of us have strong insecurities and these usually arise when something ignites us to feel a particular way.
I do not like my state of mind;
I'm bitter, querulous, unkind.
I hate my legs, I hate my hands,
I do not yearn for lovelier lands.
I dread the dawn's recurrent light;
I hate to go to bed at night.
I snoot at simple, earnest folk.
I cannot take the simplest joke.
I find no peace in paint or type.
My world is but a lot of tripe.
I'm disillusioned, empty-breasted.
For what I think, I'd be arrested.
I am not sick. I am not well.
My quondam dreams are shot to hell.
My soul is crushed, my spirit sore:
I do not like me any more.
I cavil, quarrel, grumble, grouse.
I ponder on the narrow house.
I shudder at the thought of men.
I'm due to fall in love again.
Title: The title is pretty vague which is a strategy to grasp the reader's attension. Symptom ususally implies the prerequisits to obtaining an illness which is generally negatively connotative. It can also imply an anticipated event to occur since there are symptoms occuring before then. By using the word, "recital" right next to it, it almost seems as if these "symptoms" or "prerequisits" are what caused them. Is Parker going to speak of how something was a result of something else? The reader soon finds out.
Paraphrase: I hate my state of mind, I'm bitter, cold, I like to fight, I hate my legs, I hate my hands, I don't care or want to go to better places or live in a better home, I dread the light before dawn, I hate going to bed at night, I hate sleeping, I laugh at simple people, I can't stand doing anything (not even painting or typing), My world is nothing but depressing, I'm disillusioned, I have no heart, I'd be taken away or arrested for my thoughts, I can't take a joke, I'm not sick but I'm not ok, All my aspirations are shot to hell, My soul is crushed, my dreams mean nothing anymore, my spirit is dying, I don't like this anymore. She wonders about the narrow house, She shudders at the sight of men, she's doomed to fall in love again.
Connotations: There are a lot of them in here. I feel as if Parker uses very vague works that evoke a series of powerful emotions and images to the reader.
"State of mind"-I've always been curious about this phrase. Parker begins by being blunt. It is almst as if the reader can picture her "state of mind" as a dark room or narrow hallway. I'm not sure why I got this image but whenever I hear this, I always get the image of this. She is giving power to her mind here because it is what is controlling her at the moment.
"bitter"-I thought it was interesting how she uses this word to first describe her. She get her tone already from the second line of the poem because this word is strongly negatively connotative. It almost presents the idea that the speaker already knows she a horrible person but it only gets worse as the negatively connotative diction continues throughout the poem.
"hate"-As compared to her poems, Parker is so much more blunt to describe the subject of the poem. I'm pretty sure she does this because she is trying to reach a general audience (aka the "common man") here because we can all relate to this poem at some point or another.
"legs": Ha, I found this hilarious for some reason just because I've heard so many people say this. It can be taken bother literally and metaphorically. I thought it was a metonomy because it represented where people decide to go with their lives and the misdirections they take.
"hands": This can be taken the same way as "legs" but in a different light. "Hands" are more action based towards more specific doings. "Legs" take you there. "Hands" actually make you do something. Why would she choose these two seperate body parts? Hands and legs? I thought this was a message Parker was trying to explain...People in society have the chance to go, live, love, discover...yet they don't. They just accept what they have and get depressed about it. I wouldn't say she's necesserily mocking this fact. It's just pretty sad though when the reader realizes what Parker is trying to explain.
Attitude: Parker has two attitudes going on here. The first is slightly mocking but underneath this tone, there is a sad and solumn tone of how many in our society are not satisfied with themselves and how love is a painful thing due to our insecurities and doubts.
Shift: There's a shift after Parker speaks of the narrow house in which she thinks about. Because previous to this, she expressed her state of mind and how she felt about herself, the underlying message lies in the last two lines where she speaks of how shes bound to fall in love again because of all these insecurities. The thing is, the reader does not know if she is falling in love or if she is already in love because we often know that while in love, we have strong insecurities.
Theme: There are two themes in this poem: The first is the struggle many in our society face with themselves. I know all of us have strong insecurities and these usually arise when something ignites us to feel a particular way.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wail and Wit.
Wail
Love has gone a-rocketing.
That is not the worst;
I could do without the thing,
And not be the first.
Joy has gone the way it came.
That is nothing new;
I could get along the same ---
Many people do.
Dig for me the narrow bed,
Now I am bereft.
All my pretty hates are dead,
And what have I left?
Title: When viewing the title, “Wail”, it first gives the reader the implication of sadness or depression. The title implies that the speaker of the poem or the subject of the poem is suffering or introduced to something so devastating or painful that they are expressing this through their cry.
Paraphrase: Wail, love has gone away but it is not the worst. I could do without it but it has not been the first time. Joy has gone out the way it came. That is nothing new. I could get along the same as everyone else does. Dig for me the grave now that I am deprived of such a thing. All my pretty hates are dead and what have I got left? Connotation: The title is highly depressing due to the fact that it implies to the reader that the speaker is in pain or suffering. When someone wails, they are verbally expressing their emotions because they are no longer bearable to contain inside one’s heart. “A-rocketing”…I must say this is a really playful way to describe losing something as valuable as love. It is interesting that the speaker follows this highly positive connotative word by using such a powerful word as “worst” to show the contrast between her attitude and the actual situation. Losing something as meaningful as love would not be so passively released from her heart and mind as she implies. When Parker refers to love as “the thing”, she implies the meaningless nature of the situation and the fact that it is inferior to her. The phrase, “joy has gone the way it came” expresses the speaker’s disappointment although the inverted syntax implies that she is trying to deceive her reader. By saying that it is “nothing new”, she seems to be shrugging off the matter. “Narrow” implies a confined space implying the fact that the “bed” she refers to is a coffin and that the reader should expect her death. “Bereft” has two different connotations to it because it may mean, “to leave desolate or alone, especially by death” or “to take (something valuable or necessary), typically by force”. I find this clearly a very witty use of the word. It is amazing how Parker manipulates the way she chooses her word because it exemplifies the underlying theme of this poem. The first literal definition of the word is referring to how love was so curtly stolen from her. The other refers to the fact that she is not able to accept this and wants to take her own life because the end of the world has come because of this. The thing is, this makes the poem ironic because there are two different tones going on here. The speaker is bluntly stating her indifference and nonchalance towards the fact that she has lost her love. At the same time, her highly connotative diction implies that she is deeply affected by her tragic loss.
Attitude: There are two different attitudes expressed in the poem. The speaker is bluntly stating her indifference and nonchalance towards the fact that she has lost her love. At the same time, her highly connotative diction implies that she is deeply affected by her tragic loss. This creates the poem’s ironic tone.
Shift: I’d say there is a severe shift after “I could get along the same” because at this point, the reader is able to see the speaker’s real attitude about her subject rather than the façade she was originally trying to portray to her reader.
Theme: The theme of this poem is that no matter how humans try to deny (that when their love has departed or gone away) their feelings, they are obviously hurt and devastated when this takes place. It is up to them how they react because as we see, the speaker is truly over exaggerating.
Title: I am honestly not sure here is Parker is trying to be sarcastic about how devastating the effects can be able losing someone you truly love or is demonstrating how humans often try to deny their feelings and pretend such an important aspect of their lives does not have a meaning or significance when it is lost. I think this is what makes this poem interesting to me because there are two different ways the poem can be viewed and it is really up to the reader to make that personal connection.
Although, I must say that regardless of how the speaker feels, Parker is truly mocking the human tendency of attachment and love.
Love has gone a-rocketing.
That is not the worst;
I could do without the thing,
And not be the first.
Joy has gone the way it came.
That is nothing new;
I could get along the same ---
Many people do.
Dig for me the narrow bed,
Now I am bereft.
All my pretty hates are dead,
And what have I left?
Title: When viewing the title, “Wail”, it first gives the reader the implication of sadness or depression. The title implies that the speaker of the poem or the subject of the poem is suffering or introduced to something so devastating or painful that they are expressing this through their cry.
Paraphrase: Wail, love has gone away but it is not the worst. I could do without it but it has not been the first time. Joy has gone out the way it came. That is nothing new. I could get along the same as everyone else does. Dig for me the grave now that I am deprived of such a thing. All my pretty hates are dead and what have I got left? Connotation: The title is highly depressing due to the fact that it implies to the reader that the speaker is in pain or suffering. When someone wails, they are verbally expressing their emotions because they are no longer bearable to contain inside one’s heart. “A-rocketing”…I must say this is a really playful way to describe losing something as valuable as love. It is interesting that the speaker follows this highly positive connotative word by using such a powerful word as “worst” to show the contrast between her attitude and the actual situation. Losing something as meaningful as love would not be so passively released from her heart and mind as she implies. When Parker refers to love as “the thing”, she implies the meaningless nature of the situation and the fact that it is inferior to her. The phrase, “joy has gone the way it came” expresses the speaker’s disappointment although the inverted syntax implies that she is trying to deceive her reader. By saying that it is “nothing new”, she seems to be shrugging off the matter. “Narrow” implies a confined space implying the fact that the “bed” she refers to is a coffin and that the reader should expect her death. “Bereft” has two different connotations to it because it may mean, “to leave desolate or alone, especially by death” or “to take (something valuable or necessary), typically by force”. I find this clearly a very witty use of the word. It is amazing how Parker manipulates the way she chooses her word because it exemplifies the underlying theme of this poem. The first literal definition of the word is referring to how love was so curtly stolen from her. The other refers to the fact that she is not able to accept this and wants to take her own life because the end of the world has come because of this. The thing is, this makes the poem ironic because there are two different tones going on here. The speaker is bluntly stating her indifference and nonchalance towards the fact that she has lost her love. At the same time, her highly connotative diction implies that she is deeply affected by her tragic loss.
Attitude: There are two different attitudes expressed in the poem. The speaker is bluntly stating her indifference and nonchalance towards the fact that she has lost her love. At the same time, her highly connotative diction implies that she is deeply affected by her tragic loss. This creates the poem’s ironic tone.
Shift: I’d say there is a severe shift after “I could get along the same” because at this point, the reader is able to see the speaker’s real attitude about her subject rather than the façade she was originally trying to portray to her reader.
Theme: The theme of this poem is that no matter how humans try to deny (that when their love has departed or gone away) their feelings, they are obviously hurt and devastated when this takes place. It is up to them how they react because as we see, the speaker is truly over exaggerating.
Title: I am honestly not sure here is Parker is trying to be sarcastic about how devastating the effects can be able losing someone you truly love or is demonstrating how humans often try to deny their feelings and pretend such an important aspect of their lives does not have a meaning or significance when it is lost. I think this is what makes this poem interesting to me because there are two different ways the poem can be viewed and it is really up to the reader to make that personal connection.
Although, I must say that regardless of how the speaker feels, Parker is truly mocking the human tendency of attachment and love.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
TPCASTT: A Dream Lies Dead
A Dream Lies Dead
A dream lies dead here.
May you softly go
Before this place, and turn away your eyes,
Nor seek to know the look of that which dies
Importuning
Life for life.
Walk not in woe,
But, for a little, let your step be slow.
And, of your mercy, be not sweetly wise
With words of hope and
Spring and tenderer skies.
A dream lies dead; and this all mourners know:
Whenever one drifted petal leaves the tree-
Though white of bloom as it had been before
And proudly waitful of fecundity-
One little loveliness can be no more;
And so must Beauty bow her imperfect head
Because a dream has joined the wistful dead!
Haha, I must say, I love this poem. It's pretty depressing but Parker makes the topic light-hearted and not seem as bad as it may be. Although many refer to her poems as "emo"tional, I find them pretty funny (probobly because of how she turns such depressing topics into comical issues..which may be an aspect of wit I have been completely ignoring or overseeing.) I think this poem made me realize that in using "wit", humor must or almost always accompanies it within a piece. So that leads me to the question, how is it different from satire? That's one thing I need to find out because I find the lines crossing although wit is more about general topics and not specific real life situations which are poked fun at.
Ok, now time for yet another TPCASTT...I know they are long, but they are the most helpful in this case of trying to see HOW wit is created though the language and imagery presented in the poems I often read.
Title: At first I thought this poem was going to be very depressing...which is important (in terms of the reader's perspectic expecting it to be but in the end, it wasn't), in Parker's case, because Parker mocks the intensity by which people react to a situation. Also, the use of simple diction really makes the meaning stick out that a dream is dead...not sugar-coating this fact.
Paraphrase: The dream has died. I hope it goes softly from this place. Turn your eyes away from it softly and do not try to find out what it looks like when it's life was so dearly lost. Do not walk in woe but walk slowly. And, for your mercy, don't try to sugarcoat so "wisely" with hope and indication that the sun will come out tommorow and that everything will be ok. A dream has died and all those who mourn know this and whenever a tree loses a leaf, although it is replaced, it can no longer be as lovely. So Beauty must bow her head because the dream is now dead!
Connotations (my favorite): What gives this poem its affect is the powerful words used and their connotations they imply.
"Dream" and "dead": the juxtaposition of these two words are necesary for the affect this poem gives off. "dream" is a highly connotative positive word implying ambition, perserverance, or striving for success. "Dead" is a depressing and dreary word that would not generally be combined with such a positive word like "dream". Because the words have sharply contrasting connotation (as well as simplistic origins..both are simplistic in their diction) which brings the affect of the "intensity" of the situation...or what Parker wants us to think before she mocks how people percieve conflicts.
"Softly" is a very positive word referring to the unspecified pronoun "you" which can be taken as either those who the dream was so dearly to or the dream itself. The word brings about a sense of mourning or sympathy towards the situaion evoking a feeling of pity or sadness to the reader.
"Eyes" has a connotation referring to truth or reality. The line in which this word is incorporated in is basically the thesis of the poem although it is a slight pun because Parker is actually referring advising those who are devasted by the death of this "dream" to get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems as opposed to the literal meaning of this sentance referring not to pay so much attension to this death.
"Woe": Brings about an image of a mourner or a woman dressed in black; highly depressing word; very dramatic.
"Step": This word can be taken a few different ways; it can be implied that this "step" is part of a greater journey and that they should not mourn but slow down for a little and continue afterwards; perserverance?
"mercy"/"sweetly wise": You know, just from the usage of these three words together makes me (the reader) feel a sort of bitterness towards the speaker although it is slightly amusing at the same time. "Mercy" is supposed to imply pity but she uses this in a negative sense because she basically says to the reader they should NOT be "sweetly wise" implying that they should not feel bad or even care about the dream dying which brings about the speaker's tone of bitterness or sharpness.
"Beauty": This also exemplifies the bitterness in the speaker's tone because she wants her to "bow down" which is highly negative and degrading because nature is the basis of everything and death is a part of nature so it's also ironic.
there are more but i felt as though these were the most important.
Attitude: Bitter and sharp..comical as well. (See connotation for how it's created)
Shifts: She first speaks of the dream dying, how others should percieve it, and then how Nature should bow down because of its "imperfections".
Theme: " Those who are devasted by the death of a "dream" should get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems.
Title: A mockery of a dream dying and how one should react as opposed to the impulsive reaction that generally occurs.
A dream lies dead here.
May you softly go
Before this place, and turn away your eyes,
Nor seek to know the look of that which dies
Importuning
Life for life.
Walk not in woe,
But, for a little, let your step be slow.
And, of your mercy, be not sweetly wise
With words of hope and
Spring and tenderer skies.
A dream lies dead; and this all mourners know:
Whenever one drifted petal leaves the tree-
Though white of bloom as it had been before
And proudly waitful of fecundity-
One little loveliness can be no more;
And so must Beauty bow her imperfect head
Because a dream has joined the wistful dead!
Haha, I must say, I love this poem. It's pretty depressing but Parker makes the topic light-hearted and not seem as bad as it may be. Although many refer to her poems as "emo"tional, I find them pretty funny (probobly because of how she turns such depressing topics into comical issues..which may be an aspect of wit I have been completely ignoring or overseeing.) I think this poem made me realize that in using "wit", humor must or almost always accompanies it within a piece. So that leads me to the question, how is it different from satire? That's one thing I need to find out because I find the lines crossing although wit is more about general topics and not specific real life situations which are poked fun at.
Ok, now time for yet another TPCASTT...I know they are long, but they are the most helpful in this case of trying to see HOW wit is created though the language and imagery presented in the poems I often read.
Title: At first I thought this poem was going to be very depressing...which is important (in terms of the reader's perspectic expecting it to be but in the end, it wasn't), in Parker's case, because Parker mocks the intensity by which people react to a situation. Also, the use of simple diction really makes the meaning stick out that a dream is dead...not sugar-coating this fact.
Paraphrase: The dream has died. I hope it goes softly from this place. Turn your eyes away from it softly and do not try to find out what it looks like when it's life was so dearly lost. Do not walk in woe but walk slowly. And, for your mercy, don't try to sugarcoat so "wisely" with hope and indication that the sun will come out tommorow and that everything will be ok. A dream has died and all those who mourn know this and whenever a tree loses a leaf, although it is replaced, it can no longer be as lovely. So Beauty must bow her head because the dream is now dead!
Connotations (my favorite): What gives this poem its affect is the powerful words used and their connotations they imply.
"Dream" and "dead": the juxtaposition of these two words are necesary for the affect this poem gives off. "dream" is a highly connotative positive word implying ambition, perserverance, or striving for success. "Dead" is a depressing and dreary word that would not generally be combined with such a positive word like "dream". Because the words have sharply contrasting connotation (as well as simplistic origins..both are simplistic in their diction) which brings the affect of the "intensity" of the situation...or what Parker wants us to think before she mocks how people percieve conflicts.
"Softly" is a very positive word referring to the unspecified pronoun "you" which can be taken as either those who the dream was so dearly to or the dream itself. The word brings about a sense of mourning or sympathy towards the situaion evoking a feeling of pity or sadness to the reader.
"Eyes" has a connotation referring to truth or reality. The line in which this word is incorporated in is basically the thesis of the poem although it is a slight pun because Parker is actually referring advising those who are devasted by the death of this "dream" to get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems as opposed to the literal meaning of this sentance referring not to pay so much attension to this death.
"Woe": Brings about an image of a mourner or a woman dressed in black; highly depressing word; very dramatic.
"Step": This word can be taken a few different ways; it can be implied that this "step" is part of a greater journey and that they should not mourn but slow down for a little and continue afterwards; perserverance?
"mercy"/"sweetly wise": You know, just from the usage of these three words together makes me (the reader) feel a sort of bitterness towards the speaker although it is slightly amusing at the same time. "Mercy" is supposed to imply pity but she uses this in a negative sense because she basically says to the reader they should NOT be "sweetly wise" implying that they should not feel bad or even care about the dream dying which brings about the speaker's tone of bitterness or sharpness.
"Beauty": This also exemplifies the bitterness in the speaker's tone because she wants her to "bow down" which is highly negative and degrading because nature is the basis of everything and death is a part of nature so it's also ironic.
there are more but i felt as though these were the most important.
Attitude: Bitter and sharp..comical as well. (See connotation for how it's created)
Shifts: She first speaks of the dream dying, how others should percieve it, and then how Nature should bow down because of its "imperfections".
Theme: " Those who are devasted by the death of a "dream" should get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems.
Title: A mockery of a dream dying and how one should react as opposed to the impulsive reaction that generally occurs.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Similarities
I'd like to comment on what I've seen so far throughout the poetry that I've read. What is "wit" was the first initial question I wanted to venture into for this project. Well, so far I have realized that "wit" is using the reader's standards to sort of gearing them to believe in the author's particular purpose or message about a particular work. The thing is, the authors manipulate common usages of speech or things that are commonly accepted in society and morphs them around a particularly mocking or cold tone to make a point. I know this is a generalization but these are the similiarities I've found so far. I have a few more TPCASTTs that I'll be posting in the next few days which help to further reinforce this general idea about wit. As for how we respond to it as readers...I'm not quite sure yet WHY we respond to it. What makes it stick out to us even if we are not analyzed the diction, syntax, and tone as I am trying to do. Is it the way she mocks society? I have yet to grasp the answer to this question. This is far more difficult than I thought.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Notes.
Hello. Sorry I haven't blogged in ages. I have a lot of notes to sure though. Be prepared for a very long entry =p
Ballade Of A Talked-Off Ear
Daily I listen to wonder and woe,
Nightly I hearken to knave or to ace,
Telling me stories of lava and snow,
Delicate fables of ribbon and lace,
Tales of the quarry,
the kill,
the chase,
Longer than heaven and duller than hell
-Never you blame me, who cry my case:
"Poets alone should kiss and tell!"
Dumbly I hear what I never should know,
Gently I counsel of pride and of grace;
Into minutiae gayly they go,
Telling the name and the time and the place.
Cede them your silence and grant them space
-Who tenders an inch shall be raped of an ell!
Sympathy's ever the boaster's brace;
Poets alone should kiss and tell.
Why am I tithed what I never did owe?
Choked with vicarious saffron and mace?
Weary my lids, and my fingers are slow
-Gentlemen, damn you, you've halted my pace.
Only the lads of the cursed race,
Only the knights of the desolate spell,
May point me the lines the blood
-drops trace
-Poets alone should kiss and tell.
L'ENVOI
Prince or commoner,
tenor or bass,
Painter or plumber or never-do-well,
Do me a favor and shut your face
Poets alone should kiss and tell.
Title: I honestly chose this poem because at first glance, it seems difficult to interpert just from the title. The title graps the reader's attension because it isn't very clear what exactly this poem is about. Is the author going to tribute an ear? The "ear" is being personified as well here because it has been "talked-off". Who did this to the ear and why was it done? It seems the author is trying to tell the reader that someone has taken away the ear's privilage to talk or listen for that matter. It's odd how Parker uses personification in this sense. Already, I ask, is she trying to mock those who took the ear's privilage away or is she mocking the ear itself and what it listens to? I think the title already demonstrates some form of wit through its sharp yet simple diction. Also, "ear" has a connotation of something being listened to, gossip, or secret that is not meant to be heard. "Talked-off" seems slightly curt and negative.
Paraphrase: The speaker listens to wonder and woe every day, and every night she listens to a dishonest person or to a very close friend, who tells her stories of lava and snow, and delicate and fragile or personal tales of ribbon and lace, tales of the fights, the kill, the chase, that were longer than heaven and duller than hell-you shouldnt blame me, those who cry at my story..."Poets alone should kiss and tell!" Sumbly she hears what she really shouldn't know, gently she calms those of pride and grace. In a happy minute, they go, telling the person's name and time and place. Leave them your silence and grant them some space who leaves an inch shall be raped of a year. Sympathy is what they want to give you; poets alone should kiss and tell. Why is she so tithed at what she never owed. Shocked with the things people now know. Her weary lids and fingers are slow-everyone, damn you all, you've messed up the pace of her life. Only the people who are part of this race, only the knights of this horrid spell, may point to her on the page and the direct lines that refer to her which are covered in blood, poets alone should kiss and tell.
*I'm not sure if this second part if supposed to be part of the first half of the poem but it seems (according to many referances) that they belong together.
L'ENVOI...rich or poor, high voice or low voice, painter or plumber or anyone of any occupation, do me a favor and shut up, poets should kiss and tell.
Connotation: Wow, I just realized after paraphrasing how intense the word choice she uses is in bringing about the tone and the general mood of this piece. Parker is sharp, thats for sure. There are many highly connotative words in this piece...
"Talked-Off": people overdid the gossiping, ect (please see referance to "title")
"Ear" gossip, to lisen to something, (also see referance to "title")
"Daily": This is such a simple world yet quite a powerful way to begin her poem because the speaker is trying to emphasize that she can not escape the words and things other people tell her thus when she starts off with this word, it gives the reader a vibe that the speaker is stuck in this choas of gossip and people's words.
"wonder" and "woe": the juxtaposition of these two words is quite interesting..,normally you wouldn't see these words side-by-side because "wonder"brings abotu a strong sense of amazement and a positively moving experiance but at the same time, "woe" has a strong negative connotation because it implies strong sadness or distress.
"hearken": I honestly had to look this word up (which is one reason why I think Parker chose to use it in this poem). The entire poem is demonstrating the rights of poets and what they should share throughout their poetry. Parker uses the word "hearken" which means to listen to show that poets have the right to play with words as they have the right to pick and choose what they wish to express to their readers.
"ace": In the literal, denotative sense, this word means a "close friend"...but if you analyze the connotative usage of this word, it can imply gambling or playing with the cards...a skilled person or someone who can defeat their opponents in a witty way. Is Parker referring to the gossipers?
"Lava": hot, heat, fire, someone powerful, raging, fierce
"snow": cold, innocent, blank, empty
*note: she juxtaposes the usage of these two words as well. Why? To show the fierce contrast between the gossip she encounters and possibly the affects it has on others.
"delicate": brings about an image of a child or a polcelin doll..interesting how she uses this word to compare this gossip because it shows how vicious it can become.
"lace": feminine, fragile, "perfection" in a sense because many in the Victorian ages, lace was associated with the rich and their clothing.
"quarry, kill, chase": representing certain situations in our daily lives. Very vague words yet reflective of human nature and our day to day situations but in an uncivil portrayal. She's referring back to our primative nature as animals rather than civilized human beings.
"blame": such a straightforward and an "in your face" word...if you notice, she goes from very vague and abstract language (many of which are metaphorically or highly connotative) to a very curt and straightforward word to emphasize her point.
"Dumbly": Implies her reluctance but it seems she has no choice. Implies the small-mindedness or the fact that she is stuck in such a word where she can not escape the gossip.
"pride"/"grace": Quite a strong connotative contrast. Pride implies the evil side to human nature, the one that is looked down upon and grace has a highly positive connotation because it is something many wish to achieve. Grace is positive and can also imply religious grace which is something people wish to achieve.
"counsel": why did Parker choose to use this word here? If you take this word out of context, the first thought that comes to mind is a group of people meeting to discuss something which goes back to her main idea about how people continuously gossip and talk about unnecesery things.
"boaster's brace": This phrase really reinforces her sneering attitude towards those who gossip in the way in which is contains alliteration and the word "boaster" here is used in a sarcastic way because in a sense, the phrase is ironic to the entire poem's meaning.
"raped": very negative. stripping something does not belong to them. powerful usage.
"chocked": negative to show how shes trapped in this world.
"weary": gloomy. they are wearing her down.
"Gentlemen"/"Knights": Interesting how through the entire poem she is mocking those she is referring to yet she usages this word which is given to highly respectable men as well as the knights. They are treating her the opposite of how society expects them to act which creates even more of the irony because shouldn't the people be gossiping about them to?
"prince/commoner": Uses the contrast between the connotations of "rich" and "poor" to make a statement that this affects everyone.
Attitude: As mentioned in the connotation section, she sneerful towards the subject and very cold towards society.
Shift:The second stanza--> gets more personal and she brings herself into how this gossiping is affecting her yet in the first she is stating how it affects those in society as a whole. in the third, she gets even colder and begins to become ironic. in the forth--> again she is stating how it affects everyone. Highly affective because she goes fromvery general and how it impacts everyone to how it specifically impaced her to how again it affects society as a whole.
Theme: People will talk about you know matter what, it's part of life.
Title: Parker thinks it's neceserry to stop this cycle of slander.
Ballade Of A Talked-Off Ear
Daily I listen to wonder and woe,
Nightly I hearken to knave or to ace,
Telling me stories of lava and snow,
Delicate fables of ribbon and lace,
Tales of the quarry,
the kill,
the chase,
Longer than heaven and duller than hell
-Never you blame me, who cry my case:
"Poets alone should kiss and tell!"
Dumbly I hear what I never should know,
Gently I counsel of pride and of grace;
Into minutiae gayly they go,
Telling the name and the time and the place.
Cede them your silence and grant them space
-Who tenders an inch shall be raped of an ell!
Sympathy's ever the boaster's brace;
Poets alone should kiss and tell.
Why am I tithed what I never did owe?
Choked with vicarious saffron and mace?
Weary my lids, and my fingers are slow
-Gentlemen, damn you, you've halted my pace.
Only the lads of the cursed race,
Only the knights of the desolate spell,
May point me the lines the blood
-drops trace
-Poets alone should kiss and tell.
L'ENVOI
Prince or commoner,
tenor or bass,
Painter or plumber or never-do-well,
Do me a favor and shut your face
Poets alone should kiss and tell.
Title: I honestly chose this poem because at first glance, it seems difficult to interpert just from the title. The title graps the reader's attension because it isn't very clear what exactly this poem is about. Is the author going to tribute an ear? The "ear" is being personified as well here because it has been "talked-off". Who did this to the ear and why was it done? It seems the author is trying to tell the reader that someone has taken away the ear's privilage to talk or listen for that matter. It's odd how Parker uses personification in this sense. Already, I ask, is she trying to mock those who took the ear's privilage away or is she mocking the ear itself and what it listens to? I think the title already demonstrates some form of wit through its sharp yet simple diction. Also, "ear" has a connotation of something being listened to, gossip, or secret that is not meant to be heard. "Talked-off" seems slightly curt and negative.
Paraphrase: The speaker listens to wonder and woe every day, and every night she listens to a dishonest person or to a very close friend, who tells her stories of lava and snow, and delicate and fragile or personal tales of ribbon and lace, tales of the fights, the kill, the chase, that were longer than heaven and duller than hell-you shouldnt blame me, those who cry at my story..."Poets alone should kiss and tell!" Sumbly she hears what she really shouldn't know, gently she calms those of pride and grace. In a happy minute, they go, telling the person's name and time and place. Leave them your silence and grant them some space who leaves an inch shall be raped of a year. Sympathy is what they want to give you; poets alone should kiss and tell. Why is she so tithed at what she never owed. Shocked with the things people now know. Her weary lids and fingers are slow-everyone, damn you all, you've messed up the pace of her life. Only the people who are part of this race, only the knights of this horrid spell, may point to her on the page and the direct lines that refer to her which are covered in blood, poets alone should kiss and tell.
*I'm not sure if this second part if supposed to be part of the first half of the poem but it seems (according to many referances) that they belong together.
L'ENVOI...rich or poor, high voice or low voice, painter or plumber or anyone of any occupation, do me a favor and shut up, poets should kiss and tell.
Connotation: Wow, I just realized after paraphrasing how intense the word choice she uses is in bringing about the tone and the general mood of this piece. Parker is sharp, thats for sure. There are many highly connotative words in this piece...
"Talked-Off": people overdid the gossiping, ect (please see referance to "title")
"Ear" gossip, to lisen to something, (also see referance to "title")
"Daily": This is such a simple world yet quite a powerful way to begin her poem because the speaker is trying to emphasize that she can not escape the words and things other people tell her thus when she starts off with this word, it gives the reader a vibe that the speaker is stuck in this choas of gossip and people's words.
"wonder" and "woe": the juxtaposition of these two words is quite interesting..,normally you wouldn't see these words side-by-side because "wonder"brings abotu a strong sense of amazement and a positively moving experiance but at the same time, "woe" has a strong negative connotation because it implies strong sadness or distress.
"hearken": I honestly had to look this word up (which is one reason why I think Parker chose to use it in this poem). The entire poem is demonstrating the rights of poets and what they should share throughout their poetry. Parker uses the word "hearken" which means to listen to show that poets have the right to play with words as they have the right to pick and choose what they wish to express to their readers.
"ace": In the literal, denotative sense, this word means a "close friend"...but if you analyze the connotative usage of this word, it can imply gambling or playing with the cards...a skilled person or someone who can defeat their opponents in a witty way. Is Parker referring to the gossipers?
"Lava": hot, heat, fire, someone powerful, raging, fierce
"snow": cold, innocent, blank, empty
*note: she juxtaposes the usage of these two words as well. Why? To show the fierce contrast between the gossip she encounters and possibly the affects it has on others.
"delicate": brings about an image of a child or a polcelin doll..interesting how she uses this word to compare this gossip because it shows how vicious it can become.
"lace": feminine, fragile, "perfection" in a sense because many in the Victorian ages, lace was associated with the rich and their clothing.
"quarry, kill, chase": representing certain situations in our daily lives. Very vague words yet reflective of human nature and our day to day situations but in an uncivil portrayal. She's referring back to our primative nature as animals rather than civilized human beings.
"blame": such a straightforward and an "in your face" word...if you notice, she goes from very vague and abstract language (many of which are metaphorically or highly connotative) to a very curt and straightforward word to emphasize her point.
"Dumbly": Implies her reluctance but it seems she has no choice. Implies the small-mindedness or the fact that she is stuck in such a word where she can not escape the gossip.
"pride"/"grace": Quite a strong connotative contrast. Pride implies the evil side to human nature, the one that is looked down upon and grace has a highly positive connotation because it is something many wish to achieve. Grace is positive and can also imply religious grace which is something people wish to achieve.
"counsel": why did Parker choose to use this word here? If you take this word out of context, the first thought that comes to mind is a group of people meeting to discuss something which goes back to her main idea about how people continuously gossip and talk about unnecesery things.
"boaster's brace": This phrase really reinforces her sneering attitude towards those who gossip in the way in which is contains alliteration and the word "boaster" here is used in a sarcastic way because in a sense, the phrase is ironic to the entire poem's meaning.
"raped": very negative. stripping something does not belong to them. powerful usage.
"chocked": negative to show how shes trapped in this world.
"weary": gloomy. they are wearing her down.
"Gentlemen"/"Knights": Interesting how through the entire poem she is mocking those she is referring to yet she usages this word which is given to highly respectable men as well as the knights. They are treating her the opposite of how society expects them to act which creates even more of the irony because shouldn't the people be gossiping about them to?
"prince/commoner": Uses the contrast between the connotations of "rich" and "poor" to make a statement that this affects everyone.
Attitude: As mentioned in the connotation section, she sneerful towards the subject and very cold towards society.
Shift:The second stanza--> gets more personal and she brings herself into how this gossiping is affecting her yet in the first she is stating how it affects those in society as a whole. in the third, she gets even colder and begins to become ironic. in the forth--> again she is stating how it affects everyone. Highly affective because she goes fromvery general and how it impacts everyone to how it specifically impaced her to how again it affects society as a whole.
Theme: People will talk about you know matter what, it's part of life.
Title: Parker thinks it's neceserry to stop this cycle of slander.
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