“Journey of the Magi”

            After reading this poem, I concluded that it is a different version of the three wise men’s journey. “A cold coming we had of it, just the worst time of the year” (1-2). Here, the author is clearly letting us know that the journey was harsh and long. He says that the weather was sharp. I think he is referring to the harsh wind that is blowing. It is cutting and stinging their skin. He is providing the reader with a picture depicting the poor state of the animals. I also think that Eliot is showing the strength and endurance of the kings. I say that because of how they are reflecting on the comforts that they enjoy so much. Yet, they continue to push on in harsh weather. They are driven. The imagery of the magi fighting to continue is strong. I also think that it is strong when the magi witnessed the birth. I can picture the anguish on their faces. They were not prepared for what they saw. They probably thought that the birth of the savior was not supposed to be painful. I think that in seeing the pain and agony, they felt as if a part of them was dying. I would be remised it I did not say that this was a little confusing to me. However, I had to read it because this is the first time that I have read something that compared the birth of Jesus to death.

           

“Epitaph”

            “I never cared for life: Life cared for me” (Hardy 1), is a very intriguing statement to me. The author seems to be saying that he did not care how he lived his life; however, it was good to him. I believe he feels that he has done all that he could while he was living, and now it is time for him to pass on. The author has personified life because it is talking to the author. I think the character’s ways have finally caught up to him. He has no regrets about anything and asks nothing of anyone. I think he is willing to take whatever is coming his way because he is content.

“Leda and the Swan”

Right off, I got a picture of a girl being raped by a bird. As I continued to read, I could not help but notice the graphic, sexual nature of the events that were taking place; “How can those terrified vague fingers push the feathered glory from her loosening thighs” (5-6)? To me, Leda is fighting back as the swan is trying to penetrate her. This brings me to something else that I noticed. The author is injecting bestiality into the poem with the unwanted sexual act. I also think that he is using personification with the swan as well by giving him the ability to rape Leda.  

“The Convergence of the Twain”

I thought this poem would be interesting to analyze. After reading it, I came away with the feeling that I had just watched the movie “Titanic”. Within every stanza, he adds excellent imagery. I also like the title of the poem. It is as if the author is setting the scene for some type of competition. He uses the imagery to paint a picture for readers so that they can get a better feel for the power of the iceberg. The iceberg was just as large as the Titanic. “And as the smart ship grew in stature, grace, and hue, in shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too” (22-24). How can something as structurally sound as the Titanic succumb to a big ice cube? With his imagery, I am able to see the glimmer of hope fading from the passengers as they struggle to overcome the fear of crashing into the iceberg. No matter what, their fate is sealed and there is nothing can change it. It is by chance that something like this would happen. Even more ironically, whenever the Titanic is mentioned, it is not without mentioning the iceberg. The two are joined at the hip so to speak.

            Finally, I think Hardy was trying to tell readers that nature is truly a force to be reckoned with. No matter how much wealth, time, and effort goes into the construction of our manmade objects, they are still no match for the power of nature. This is so evident with the natural disasters that are constantly happening today. Never before have we witnessed so many, so frequently, and so powerful.

             

“The Lake Isle of Innisfree”

            Have you ever wanted to get away and travel to a place where the only noise you will hear is nature’s song? A place so peaceful, that you can easily bask in the tranquility of your surroundings. I think that this is the only way that Yeats can get peace. In today’s world, we would call what he is doing roughing it if we were to build cabins and wonder around in the wilderness. Ironically, this is how he gets peace though. Beginning with line five, I can see that the author finds peacefulness in all stages of a day. To him, the sound of the crickets in the morning is probably like a soothing song. He compares the stages to the beautiful things that we all consider a gift from nature. Take for instance the midnight glimmer; this could be the reflection of the moon and stars on a body of water. To me, this is Yates way of getting readers to visualize what he sees. It is an attempt to use imagery. “And evening full of the linnet’s wings” (Yeats 8) is the author’s way of describing a soft evening breeze. However, in the end, I would have to say that the author is somewhere in a city daydreaming about his favorite place, nature. He is not afraid to take the time to appreciate the simple things. It brings him peace. He allows himself to drift away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This is not difficult to understand. I have often found myself captivated by the sounds of nature. So much so, that I fell asleep on the patio.

Break of Day in the Trenches”

I think the author is showing his discontent with war. It seems that he has befriended a rat and begins to tell him of the things that are to come. He tells the rat that he would not make it if everyone knew that he was going to feed on the dead. He goes on to tell the rat that he will not only feast on the dead bodies of the English soldiers, but the Germans as well. Rosenberg seems to be telling the rat that it has a better chance of surviving than he does. He believes that the rat will be able to navigate his way through the battlefield without harm. “Less chanced than you for life” (Rosenberg 15). In other words, the rat has a better chance of surviving than he does. He asks the rat what does he see when he is feasting on them. What is it like being able to wander the battlefield as the sky is illuminated from the firing of the guns? Rosenberg believes that unlike the soldiers, the rat is able to move freely about the battlefield without fear of meeting his destruction.

“Anthem for Doomed Youth”

            I believe that this poem is about the death of men in combat. They are dying in great numbers, as highlighted by the comparison to the slaughtering of cattle. Many of them are praying, but the only thing that can be heard is the firing of the guns. I think that this is rather ironic how the author applies the sounds of the guns and rifles to drown out the prayers. I say this because when we think of weapons, we think of something bad. However, when we think of prayers, we think in terms of peace and savior, not destruction.

“No mockeries now for them; nor prayers nor bells, nor any voice of mourning save the choirs” (Owen 5-6). Here Owens lets us know that no one will mourn their deaths because they are unknown. I do not believe this happens in today’s wars. I think that the men and women serving with the fallen are the first to mourn long before the soldier’s loved ones are notified.

Then there are the candles. To me, Owens compares the glimmer of the flame to the last thing that a soldier sees as he dies. For some, it may be the sky as it is illuminated by the fire of the guns. Finally, he compares the flowers and blinds. I say this because at night, many flowers tend to close because of the darkness, just as we do with blinds as the evening progresses.

            

The Soldier

As I read this poem, it did not take me that long to realize that this soldier was away from home. Chances are, he is fighting in combat. “If I should die, think only this of me, that there’s some corner of a foreign field that is forever England” (Brooke 1-3). England is and forever will be his home. What he does is for his beloved England. Like all soldiers, he does what he was called to do, serve his country. He says that he the person that he is because of his beloved homeland. He is showing his pride for being born on England’s soil. He is truly proud to be from there. He thinks of the loved ones and friends that he has there and again, like any soldier, would love to return. However, from the words of the poem, he knows that he will not because he is either dying or has died and these are the words that were left. Thinking of his homeland brings him comfort in the end. Now I cannot imagine what he was going through, nor do I want to. You see, my mom and dad were both soldiers who served in combat. However, it was during different times.  The one that I remember though, is my father leaving for Iraq for 15 months. He does not talk about that much. If he does, it is with my mom. One thing is for sure, he is no doubt, a very strong and proud man who served his country when called upon to do so. Just like the soldier in this poem.

Ulysses

Ulysses starts where Homer’s “Odyssey” left off. It appears to be some years later and although Ulysses is up in years, he is ready to let his adventurous soul take over again. He is restless. He speaks of the days of old. Reminiscing on his travels and the many people who have shared those adventures with him, Ulysses feels that he is no more than a legend, a name now. Because of this, I think he is even more compelled to seek adventure again. He is recalling the many battles that he has fought and the good friends who fought alongside him. He obviously misses those days. Like all people, he has taken something from all that he has met. They have contributed to him being the man that he is.

In addition, like my father did before he deployed, he told me that I was the man of the house in his absence. It was my responsibility to ensure that our family and home was safe. “This is my son, mine own Telemachus, to whom I leave the scepter and isle.” (p.594) Ulysses is aware that everyone knows his son, and feels that he is well loved and respected by family and friends. He feels that his son is worthy of the position and would do well in his absence.

Upon seeing his ship in the harbor, he speaks of his crew. Many of them have probably served with him for years. He knows that they have all grown old in age, but motivates them to go on what may be their last voyage. He knows that like him, they to have an adventurous soul. He does not know where their adventure will lead them, but this does not matter. Ulysses and his crew just want to be at sea. This is their comfort zone. He also knows that this may be his last voyage. Not because he will retire, but because he may never return home before he dies. He tries his best to name the many things that he and his crew could succumb. My dad told me this prepares soldiers for whatever they may meet. It keeps them alert and ready at all times. Now Ulysses knows that he and his men are not young any longer, but they still posses that will and desire to seek adventure. They have what we so often refer to as heart. They are willing to face adversity head own; even if it means the beginning to their end.

            

The Brown’s School Days

This particular house just defeated all of the others in the school, so our selected text starts at the toast. In fact, the setting seemed to be like something that I have seen on the Harry Potter movies when everyone sat for dinner. There is plenty of joyful noise. People are cheering. When the captain of the rugby team, Peter Brooke, stood to give his speech to the house rugby team, he stated his reason for wanting to defeat the entire school. “It’s because we’ve more reliance on one another, more of a house feeling, rare fellowship than the school can have”

(Hughes 573). These are the words spoken by coaches everywhere. Peter Brooke is taking advantage of the moment to motivate his players to maintain their cohesive unit. Like all coaches, he is showering his team with praise; but it also goes beyond that. The Pater is also taking the opportunity to address some issues that he knows will not only destroy his team, but the spirit of the younger boys attending.

            “But depend on it, there’s nothing breaks up a house like bullying; bullies are cowards, and one coward makes many” (573). He knows that bully is a weak individual that preys on others. He addresses this now, so that the older boys can police themselves. He goes on to address other issues like drinking too much and horse playing. Father Brooke is laying the groundwork for another great season. He is telling them to stay focused and dedicated. Peter Brooke knows that by using the evening’s event to address these issues, his words will have a lasting effect. You see, like all great coaches, it is not always about just molding the athlete, but also about helping the athlete become a better person. His points are valid even on the teams of today. Teams are only as strong as its weakest link. Everyone has to understand their part if the team is to be successful. Others count on this. It is like my football coach use to say, “There is no I in team.” We all had a role to play.    

The Darkling Thrush

            The “Darkling Thrush” creates a cold, ghostly, wintery night atmosphere. It is as if the intent of the author was to use nature to paint a picture of doom and gloom. I can imagine the narrator standing by an old building or fence as he gazes at his surroundings. Like every place in winter months, the ground is hard and frozen. The wind, or hawk as we call it, is blowing strong and it stings the skin upon contact. According to the author, the place was very isolated, like a ghost town. The author’s descriptions of his surroundings would go well in some type of horror movie.

I think many of us can recall one of those days walking around campus during the wintery months and seeing no one in sight. Then, all of a sudden “at once a voice arose among the bleak twigs overhead” (Hardy 17-18). Meaning, out of nowhere you can hear people talking. They may be walking towards you in passing. One thing for sure, there is no cause to be singing and playing around outside because it is too cold. Every sensible person is inside trying his or her best to keep warm, “And all mankind that haunted nigh had sought their household fires” (Hardy 7-8). However, I must also say that someone will always be outside doing something like the individual that was so full of joy. Many people enjoy the cold wintery months just as much as the summer ones. This was definitely the case with the person singing at the top of his lungs. Then, there is also the possibility that he was heading to his destination and was singing to take his mind off the cold, or is just the wind be used by the author metaphorically?

            

"On the Departure Platform”

Have you ever watched a love story where the good-bye kiss takes place and the camera stays with the person left standing alone? This poem reminds me of this. It seems to be a conversation possibly between old friends, and one of them is telling the story of his love for a young woman.

            He speaks of how they kissed; and as she departed, she gradually faded from his sight. She disappeared in the crowd as she walked down the platform to board her train. It is possible that it was in the evening because the lights on the platform were on. During the conversation, the young man continues to explain how his love keeps darting in and out of the crowd until she disappears completely into the crowd.

            “We have penned new plans since that fair find day, and in season she will appear again” (Hardy 17-18). Since that day of the departure, the couple has made plans. To him, she will be a beautiful sight for his eyes. He longs for the day to come.

            Now there is no explanation given for the departure, but it is possible that it falls in line with an old saying along the lines of, if you love someone, let them go because if the relationship is meant to be, they will return.

            

Felix Randal

            Felix Randal is about the death of a blacksmith. Gerald Hopkins describes, “We have watched his mould of man, bit-boned and hardy-handsome.” (p.776) line 2] The blacksmith was still a very young man at the time of his death. He was well thought of among his peers. “Sickness broke him.” (line 5) According to this, he reached a critical point where he was confined to his bed. Hopkins mentions the young man’s condition, than reflects on how he had so many years left ahead of him still. Thus the old saying, “the good die young.” 

            Like so many, initially the young man seemed to be upset that he was ill. However, according to the author, he finally accepted his faith. Hopkins also states that the young man confessed his sins before dying. Many would say that he was preparing to enter into the kingdom of God. Hopkins heart was weak as he watched the young man dying. He could not contain his emotions and according to the poem, he cried, as so many of us do at a time like this.

My dad told me a long time ago that the two true things that we must do is live and die. This was shortly after the death of very dear friend my ninth grade year. I did not know it at the time, but he had leukemia. It is tough to see someone who grew up with you die so young; especially when life was so full of promise. Not only is it hard to accept, but very difficult to understand as well. 

Letter to Emily Bronte

            Charlotte Bronte wrote a letter, possibly to her sister, expressing her thoughts and feelings about her job as a governess. I feel this is one of those letters that one would write to keep family informed on current events in their life.

            Mrs. Bronte was what we would call a nanny. “The children are constantly with me, and more riotous, perverse, unmanageable cubs never grew.” (p. 560) Here, Charlotte feels that the children are unruly and extremely difficult to control. When she tried to discipline them, the children’s mother was not too receptive of the idea.  They were supposed to do whatever they wanted and that was the bottom line. Because of the harsh looks that she has received from Mrs. Sidgwick’s, the children’s mother, she does not dare express her concerns about the children’s behavior. Her job was to take care of the children, not complain about their behavior. Then again, maybe the mother did not take kindly to being told that she had bad children. What mother would?

            Another issue that Charlotte has deals with what she believes her boss thinks of her. “I do not think Mrs. Sidgwick likes me at all.” (p. 560) I believe Charlotte feels this way because the boss does not carry on conversations with her about anything. The fact of the matter is, Charlotte is an employee and her job description probably does not include being friendly with the boss. This is probably Mrs. Sidgwick’s sentiment. Yes, it would make for a more pleasant work atmosphere, but Mrs. Sidgwick might feel that Charlotte is beneath her and it would not be appropriate to have that sort of relationship with the hired help. After all, this is a time period when it was common practice for the nanny to be disrespected by the lady of the house. Notice that I said the disrespect came from the lady of the house. This is because Charlotte did not have a negative comment to say about Mr. Sidgwick. According to Charlotte, he was more laid back. She felt more relaxed when she was around him because he did not pressure her to do the things that his wife did. However, this does not mean that he did not speak to Mrs. Sidgwick about the matter. But, be that as it may, Charlotte had more respect for him than she did for his wife. I must admit, that can definitely create a problem.

            I remember having a manager that I thought did not care too much for me. It seemed that he would make me work more when others were taking breaks. It turns out that he was upset because my co-workers came to me for help before they would go to him. Of course this did not look good on his behalf, so to correct it, he tried to put pressure on me. He was demoted! Now I doubt if this would be the case with Mrs. Sidgwick.

           

 

           

           

                         

A trip to the Newgate

Charles Dickens starts off by recognizing the Newgate Prison as a place that no one dares to glance at, even if they are passing by. As he states, ‘the prison was built like a maze forming a square around the Old Bailey.” (E-text) The women’s portion of the jail was first.  To me he described the cells just like the ones you’ll see on television, a five foot and ten inch room with bars as the door so the inmates can communicate. The way Dickens made it seem, if anything beautiful stayed at Newgate, it would surely transform into something dark and ugly. The women there would scatter like roaches whenever visitors would begin approaching. He began to elaborate on a meeting between a daughter and her imprisoned mother. Dickens noticed the young girl was hurt and was paying her mother the least bit of attention. He felt as if she shouldn’t be that way, and that there were enough of those types of women already there in the prison. Girls with that type of rude attitude and disrespect exist still here in the present. I agree with Dickens, “Heaven knows there is enough of them in prison,” (E-text) no need to spoil the bunch outside those walls.

They moved on passing through the yard to the school. The school was for fourteen year old boys and under. It was tolerable sized room and filled with scattered papers on the floor, writing materials, and copied books. “The little boys were convicted of mainly pick-pocketing, and not one face had even an ounce of honest.”(E-text) They look as if they were happy to be in prison as if they did something good. I can imagine these faces because I’ve known people like this, both male and female. Little kids who’ve committed crimes smiling as if they just rescued an old lady’s dog from a burning building. It’s shameful to see these kids doing what they’re doing but I can only tell them that they are in wrong since I am not around to stop them.

I’ve never been to jail I can proudly say, but I remember being on punishment before for breaking my mother’s vase. Being trapped one afternoon in the house at young age is pure hell. I could see all my friends outside playing football. It broke my heart not being able to go and join in on the fun and games. I felt as if my parents committed a crime for keeping me in the house all afternoon. I still remember myself looking out the window as the sun went down and I began to cry because I felt I would never get another day like that to play. When my parents came in to tell me I can come out my room I was silent as if I just did some hard time.

A Review of Southey’s Colloquies

After reading this, I must honestly say that I was truly amazed. I could not help but think that Macaulay was referring to present day events. I mean let’s face it, from an economic standpoint, I think it is safe to say that the general agreement is that the country is in economic turmoil. However, what is not agreed upon is how we got here or how we are going to get out. One thing is for sure, there are some who will say that we are sinking deeper and deeper into a recession; while others will say that economic recovery is indeed occurring, just not as fast as we desire. 

“But how small will that distress appear when we think over the history of the last forty years; a war, compared with which all other wars sink into insignificance.” (p.492) Does Iraq and Afghanistan sound familiar to anyone? We spent several years fighting in both countries, but it was not until the incumbent President took office that the millions of dollars being spent for these wars were added to the books. Now I don’t know about anyone else, but to me this is like trying to balance my checkbook, only to realize that I forgot to put an ATM transaction in. Now, I have less money than I thought because the bank subtracted the ATM fees as well as the amount of the withdrawal. That can be very scary if I have pending transactions still out.

            Something else that I am trying to better understand, is why in the world are so many middle class people, as we are often called, paying so much in income taxes? Now wait, I do not pay income taxes myself, but my parents do; and they sure as hell do not make $250,000 a year or more. This to, according to Macaulay, “taxation, such as the most heavily taxed people of former times could not have conceived,” (p.492), is another distress that we should pay close attention to. Again, I do not pay income taxes, but my parents do and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why people who do not make millions have to do so. Yet, when I watch the news, the few times that I do, I am constantly hearing people advocate to continue providing tax breaks for the wealthy.

            Now I will not confess to be into politics, because I am not. But I can definitely grasp what the author is getting at. It is quite possible that if everyone would just be honest, and not only try to understand, but also accept the true reasons behind the economic chaos that we are in, solutions can be found. Then maybe, just maybe, we might come to realize that although things are not the way we feel they should be the situation could definitely be much worse than it is. From what I can see, there is plenty of blame to go around for everyone.

           

            

Watercress Girl

            “The little watercress girl who gave me the following statement, although, only eight years of age, had entirely lost all childish ways, and was indeed in thoughts and manner, a woman.” (p508) This child is a true product of a family going through hard times. Everyone has to do the best he or she can to provide for the family. Obviously, she does not know what it is like to live the life of a child. This is evident by her response to the statement about the parks. In fact, she is confined to the territory where she sales her watercress. Now I do not know of anyone selling watercress, but I do know of the little girl that Henry Maybew is describing and I tell you it is sad.

            In today’s society, many of these babies do things that are far worse than selling watercress. Some are slaves, others are prostitutes, and many are the mother and the sister to their siblings. The author touched on the later when the little girl stated, “Before that, I had to take care of a baby for my aunt.” (p509) Hell, she is only a baby herself. I remember meeting several people in this situation when I was in junior high and high school. I can still remember when three little girls approached my dad and me as we were coming out of the cleaners. One was pushing a stroller, asking for money to buy food for the three of them. My dad gave them twenty dollars and never thought twice about. Now I must admit, two of them had to be between the ages of 14 or 15. However, this did not matter to my dad. When I asked why he gave them money, he said that everyone could benefit from help sometimes; and if you are going to help someone, do so out of kindness, and not for the concern of the outcome. I guess this is how the good saleswomen felt when they would lookout for the children.

“The Lady of Shallott”

            As I began to read Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallott”, I could not help but think of the times when I was not allowed to leave the yard as a child. My yard, the “Four gray walls, and four gray towers,” (line 15) was my barrier and I did not dare try and cross it. But still there were times when I felt compelled to test the waters. Watching my friends as they played was like watching the flowers and river mentioned by Tennyson. However, there was no way that I was going to step foot out of that yard.

            Then that day came when I actually got up the nerve to escape my prison. However, unlike Lady Shallott, “the mirror cracked from side to side, the curse is come upon me she cried,” (lines 114 and 115) I knew what my curse would be. Yet I was still willing to accept it just to enjoy a day with my friends. I believe that at some point The Lady felt the same way. Despite not knowing what her curse was, she was willing to accept her fate just for a moment of happiness, to meet Lancelot.

            We all have our four gray walls and towers from time to time. But as young adults, there are times when something will entice us to choose a path that should not be taken; whether it is for fame and glory, fun, or a little sheet music, we are willing to take that chance.. But what we fail to realize is that we also carry others down that path with us, especially when things go wrong. I am referring to our parents; and like Lancelot, they do not see the amusement in the pain and anguish caused by the poor decisions that their children sometimes make.

            

Eng:264 The French Revolution: Man's Right

Eng: 264 the French Revolution        

Man’s Rights

 I feel Edmund Burke had an open mind about that.  According to Burke, whatever each man can do, without trespassing upon others, he has the right to do for himself. (pg 50) Based upon this statement, man is free to do as he pleases, as long as he does not infringe upon another man. I agree with this statement because I can only advise another person. I cannot control his or her actions because they are free to do as they feel; but it does not mean he or she has the right to go around inflicting pain and anguish upon others. Burke also states, “In this partnership all men have equal rights, but not equal things.” (pg 50) Meaning, just because I have the right to own a share of a business as a partner, does not mean I am entitled to 50 percent of the profits if I only contributed 10 percent. However, Burke goes on to say “man has not the right to an equal share of power, authority, and direction.” (pg 51) Now here is where I differ from Burke. As a citizen, you have the right to advocate for yourself, equal representation in government, and acquire wealth, just to name a few things. Everyone should have the right to better themselves regardless of social status or wealth. As Thomas Paine stated, “Every age and generation must be as free to act for itself in all cases.”(pg 65) I feel it is hypocritical to let one do whatever he or she wants because of who they are or what they have inherited from their parents.

“Are we to seek rights of men, in the age when few marks were the only penalty imposed for life of man?” (pg58) Mary Wollenstonecraft posed this statement to Burke. In doing so, she brings attention to the fact that the life of man had little to no meaning depending on the social status. Therefore, the penalty for murder was imposed based on class rather than the crime itself.   It should also be noted that during this time, people in the royal families would go as far as killing one another just for the throne, “death for death when property of rich was involved.” (pg 58) This problem still exists today. Although it is not murder, because of social status and wealth, some people get slaps on the wrist while others are sent to the gallows.

 We are not too far removed from our own rights debacle here at home. Does the Civil Rights Era ring a bell? Depriving any man his rights can cause a negative reaction towards his government. Although it makes a major change in history, the series of events leading up to this can be catastrophic. I cannot say I know how they felt during that time, but as a teenager I can say I know the feeling of not having a say in things. A perfect example would be when my parents take the car from me. I can shout, kick, and rant but because I didn’t pay for the car I can only accept their actions.