Getting Out
Cleopatra Mathis
In this poem Mathis uses a little bit of foreshadowing to hint at the emotions of the speaker. "FM and full-blast/ blues, hours of guitar 'you gonna miss me/ when I'm gone'" (Mathis). This quote from a song hints that the speaker's husband would leave and their marriage would end. Later in the poem, their divorce is confirmed in the phrase "the lawyer's bewilderment" (Mathis). The quote above also hints that the couple would miss each other when they separated. As a whole, this poem is a reminiscence of the couple's marriage, which shows that the speaker does think about and miss her husband. "Taking hands/ we walked apart, until our arms stretched/ between us" (Mathis). This quote shows that even though they were separating, the couple still had some longing to be together. In addition, the husband felt unhappy about their divorce. "And in the yearly letter, you're sure to say/ you're happy now" (Mathis). The man would not specifically say in each letter that he was happy if he was truly happy. He probably says this to hide his unhappiness and possibly to make his ex-wife feel jealous and want to be with him again. Even though their marriage ended, the couple still has some desire to be together.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Raymond Carver
"In this manner, the issue was decided" (Carver). In this story a couple is separating. However, they put their anger towards each other before the care of their child. The couple both wanted to keep their child so much that they literally had a tug of war with the child. Meanwhile, the child is screaming and the parents seem to ignore that they are hurting their child. Both wanted to care for and love their child, but they ignored these wants while they were fighting with each other. Unfortunately, neither parent will be able to take custody of the child because continuing to fight over the child would eventually kill him. They both wanted their son, but neither would be able to raise this child because their own childish behavior prevents them from being parents. Their selfishness caused their child's demise. True parents have selfless love for their children that allows them to do what is best for their child even if that means letting go. Clearly, this couple has some things to learn about parenting.
Raymond Carver
"In this manner, the issue was decided" (Carver). In this story a couple is separating. However, they put their anger towards each other before the care of their child. The couple both wanted to keep their child so much that they literally had a tug of war with the child. Meanwhile, the child is screaming and the parents seem to ignore that they are hurting their child. Both wanted to care for and love their child, but they ignored these wants while they were fighting with each other. Unfortunately, neither parent will be able to take custody of the child because continuing to fight over the child would eventually kill him. They both wanted their son, but neither would be able to raise this child because their own childish behavior prevents them from being parents. Their selfishness caused their child's demise. True parents have selfless love for their children that allows them to do what is best for their child even if that means letting go. Clearly, this couple has some things to learn about parenting.
The Story of an Hour
The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin
In this story, Josephine and Richards reveal to Mrs. Mallard the death of her husband. As the reader would suspect, Mrs. Mallard started crying. Ironically, Mrs. Mallard's tears were from joy not anguish. Mrs. Mallard was subject to a restricting marriage, so the news of her husband's death brought her joy not anguish. "There would be no one to live for in those coming years; she would live for herself" (Chopin). However, Mr. Mallard was not killed in the train accident. When he arrived at his house, he found that his wife had died of heart disease. Mrs. Mallard had been so overjoyed that her weak heart could not withstand her immense joy. Whereas earlier in the story Josephine and Richards had been careful to break the news about her husband for fear that grief would cause her heart to fail, in actuality Mrs. Mallard's heart failed because of her immense joy. Her death could be considered ironic because the story began with her husband's "death", but ended with her death while her husband still lives.
Kate Chopin
In this story, Josephine and Richards reveal to Mrs. Mallard the death of her husband. As the reader would suspect, Mrs. Mallard started crying. Ironically, Mrs. Mallard's tears were from joy not anguish. Mrs. Mallard was subject to a restricting marriage, so the news of her husband's death brought her joy not anguish. "There would be no one to live for in those coming years; she would live for herself" (Chopin). However, Mr. Mallard was not killed in the train accident. When he arrived at his house, he found that his wife had died of heart disease. Mrs. Mallard had been so overjoyed that her weak heart could not withstand her immense joy. Whereas earlier in the story Josephine and Richards had been careful to break the news about her husband for fear that grief would cause her heart to fail, in actuality Mrs. Mallard's heart failed because of her immense joy. Her death could be considered ironic because the story began with her husband's "death", but ended with her death while her husband still lives.
You're Ugly, Too
You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore
When on the balcony with Earl, Zoe tells an anecdote about a friend when responding to Earl's request to talk about love. However, this anecdote tells of her lonely but successful friend whose relationship with a man from Illinois ended with the woman committing suicide. This anecdote helps to characterize Zoe. Like the woman in the anecdote, Zoe does not need a man in order to support herself. She is educated, has a job, and can provide for herself; however, she does seem to want companionship. "This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie" (Moore). Zoe realizes her loneliness while she is at the movies, but later with Earl, her sarcasm seems to push him away. For both the woman in the anecdote and for Zoe, their success in their careers causes problems in their relationships. Zoe's education causes her to be practical, which seems to repulse Earl. "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken, A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs" (Moore). Because Zoe can support herself, she does not desperately need a relationship. Because she lacks this desperation, she can be her sarcastic self around men even though it may offend them. If Zoe continues her similarities with the woman from her anecdote, she will never have success in her relationships.
Lorrie Moore
When on the balcony with Earl, Zoe tells an anecdote about a friend when responding to Earl's request to talk about love. However, this anecdote tells of her lonely but successful friend whose relationship with a man from Illinois ended with the woman committing suicide. This anecdote helps to characterize Zoe. Like the woman in the anecdote, Zoe does not need a man in order to support herself. She is educated, has a job, and can provide for herself; however, she does seem to want companionship. "This was what she'd become: a woman alone at the movies with everything in a Baggie" (Moore). Zoe realizes her loneliness while she is at the movies, but later with Earl, her sarcasm seems to push him away. For both the woman in the anecdote and for Zoe, their success in their careers causes problems in their relationships. Zoe's education causes her to be practical, which seems to repulse Earl. "You know, I just shouldn't try to go out with career women. You're all stricken, A guy can really tell what life has done to you. I do better with women who have part-time jobs" (Moore). Because Zoe can support herself, she does not desperately need a relationship. Because she lacks this desperation, she can be her sarcastic self around men even though it may offend them. If Zoe continues her similarities with the woman from her anecdote, she will never have success in her relationships.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
John Donne
In this poem, Donne used an extended metaphor to express the love between the speaker and his lover. The two lovers are compared to the legs of a compass. The two will be connected by their love just as the legs of the compass are connected to each other. One leg of the compass would stay planted. This firmly planted leg would be the woman. No matter where the man would travel, she would still be connected and attracted to him as long as she still loved him. "It leans, and hearkens after it, and grows erect, as that comes home" (Donne). In addition, the man would return home as long as the woman still loved him. "Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end, where I begun" (Donne). His beginning was his home with his lover, so his end would be the same. Through this metaphor, the speaker expresses that, no matter where he traveled, he would love his lover and would return to her if she still loved him.
John Donne
In this poem, Donne used an extended metaphor to express the love between the speaker and his lover. The two lovers are compared to the legs of a compass. The two will be connected by their love just as the legs of the compass are connected to each other. One leg of the compass would stay planted. This firmly planted leg would be the woman. No matter where the man would travel, she would still be connected and attracted to him as long as she still loved him. "It leans, and hearkens after it, and grows erect, as that comes home" (Donne). In addition, the man would return home as long as the woman still loved him. "Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end, where I begun" (Donne). His beginning was his home with his lover, so his end would be the same. Through this metaphor, the speaker expresses that, no matter where he traveled, he would love his lover and would return to her if she still loved him.
Bright Star
Bright Star
John Keats
The writer uses an apostrophe when the speaker addresses the star. The speaker addresses the star while admiring it for being steadfast. The star can see much of the world at once, but it is alone. "Lone splendor...Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite" (Keats). Although the speaker wants to be steadfast, the speaker does not want to emulate the star by being distant and alone. The speaker is in love and wishes to be with his lover for eternity. "To feel forever its soft fall and swell" (Keats). Seeing the beauty of the world seems insignificant to the speaker because he is in love. His alternative to spending his life with his lover would be his death. "Still to hear her tender-taken breath, And so live ever- or else swoon to death" (Keats).
The use of an apostrophe allows for the speaker's comparison to the star, and it allows the speaker to show his yearning to spend eternity with his love just as the star is eternally in the sky.
John Keats
The use of an apostrophe allows for the speaker's comparison to the star, and it allows the speaker to show his yearning to spend eternity with his love just as the star is eternally in the sky.
Eveline: Why didn't she get on the boat?
Eveline
James Joyce
When reading this short story, the question arises: Why didn't Eveline get on the boat? Most of the beginning of the story depicted an unhappy life with her father. "She sometimes felt herself in danger of her father's violence" (Joyce). Eveline's father was abusive and controlling. In contrast to this unhappiness, scenes where Frank was described appeared to be hopeful and joyous. "...and she felt elated as she sat in an unaccustomed part of the theater with him" (Joyce). Eveline's relationship with Frank offered an escape from her unhappy life. Despite her ability to leave, Eveline could not make herself board the boat. Perhaps Eveline could not leave because of her promise to her late mother. "Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could" (Joyce). Although Eveline wanted to escape her threatening father, she felt compelled to take care of her home. Her life was familiar to her, and although it was not perfectly happy, she found it not "wholly undesirable" (Joyce). Eveline's choice not to board the boat expresses the theme of spiritual paralysis. Eveline wanted to be happy, but her fear of change prevented her from moving on with her life. Not boarding the boat suggests that she would return to her home and her father. This is all she has known, and she chose familiarity over probable happiness.
James Joyce
When reading this short story, the question arises: Why didn't Eveline get on the boat? Most of the beginning of the story depicted an unhappy life with her father. "She sometimes felt herself in danger of her father's violence" (Joyce). Eveline's father was abusive and controlling. In contrast to this unhappiness, scenes where Frank was described appeared to be hopeful and joyous. "...and she felt elated as she sat in an unaccustomed part of the theater with him" (Joyce). Eveline's relationship with Frank offered an escape from her unhappy life. Despite her ability to leave, Eveline could not make herself board the boat. Perhaps Eveline could not leave because of her promise to her late mother. "Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could" (Joyce). Although Eveline wanted to escape her threatening father, she felt compelled to take care of her home. Her life was familiar to her, and although it was not perfectly happy, she found it not "wholly undesirable" (Joyce). Eveline's choice not to board the boat expresses the theme of spiritual paralysis. Eveline wanted to be happy, but her fear of change prevented her from moving on with her life. Not boarding the boat suggests that she would return to her home and her father. This is all she has known, and she chose familiarity over probable happiness.
How I Met My Husband
How I Met My Husband
Alice Munro
This story effectively uses a surprise ending. As interpreted from the title, the story is a reminiscence of how Edie met her husband long ago. Because the reader knows that the story will tell how Edie met her husband, the reader expects that the first man with whom Edie becomes intimate will be her husband. Edie and Chris had a short scene of intimate kissing. After that scene, Chris planned to leave and promised to write Edie. Chris appeared that he would be Edie's husband. One small instance of foreshadowing that suggested that Chris would not be Edie's husband occurred shortly after Chris left, and Edie lied to Alice. "I never thought of myself as being in any way like her, or coming to the same troubles, ever" (Munro). Chris fled from Alice, and Edie thought that she would be with Chris instead of Alice. However, Edie was similar to Alice because Chris left her just as he left Alice. Ironically, Edie met her husband while waiting for a letter from Chris. The end of the story reveals that Carmichael, the mailman, asked Edie on a date which led to their relationship and eventual marriage.
Alice Munro
This story effectively uses a surprise ending. As interpreted from the title, the story is a reminiscence of how Edie met her husband long ago. Because the reader knows that the story will tell how Edie met her husband, the reader expects that the first man with whom Edie becomes intimate will be her husband. Edie and Chris had a short scene of intimate kissing. After that scene, Chris planned to leave and promised to write Edie. Chris appeared that he would be Edie's husband. One small instance of foreshadowing that suggested that Chris would not be Edie's husband occurred shortly after Chris left, and Edie lied to Alice. "I never thought of myself as being in any way like her, or coming to the same troubles, ever" (Munro). Chris fled from Alice, and Edie thought that she would be with Chris instead of Alice. However, Edie was similar to Alice because Chris left her just as he left Alice. Ironically, Edie met her husband while waiting for a letter from Chris. The end of the story reveals that Carmichael, the mailman, asked Edie on a date which led to their relationship and eventual marriage.
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