If people today had more time to enjoy a poem, they would realize it's unmistakeable beauty in its imagery or allow it to replay in their heads with the rhythm guiding the each line along. Poems are like popular media today because each form of expression has a message to be shared. The difference between poems and a majority of media today that includes prose is that authors of poetry purposefully choose each word with a specific meaning as if he were a painter using the end of his paintbrush and defining the detail. A poem is special or valuable because it has the possibility to connect or familiarize itself with the reader through not only the message but also imagery, rhythm, format, similes, metaphors, and more details that the poet paints with the words on the tip of his paint brush.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Observations and Opinions on Poetry
Poetry is commonly thought of as elegant but out of style. It is found in a common classroom being taught in school or in books that elders read, geniuses study, and the emotional write. The average person today doesn't explore poetry in books that she reads on her spare time because there is no time or need to work so hard and enjoy the true message behind the poetic patterns of words. Popular media today such as many novels, the news, movies, and more do not require work to understand the message or meaning behind the jumbles of words. Poems today are like the crossword puzzles in the newspaper; few people have any more time to decode the poem or enjoy the new wonderful sights and emotions by just a few words on a paper.
If people today had more time to enjoy a poem, they would realize it's unmistakeable beauty in its imagery or allow it to replay in their heads with the rhythm guiding the each line along. Poems are like popular media today because each form of expression has a message to be shared. The difference between poems and a majority of media today that includes prose is that authors of poetry purposefully choose each word with a specific meaning as if he were a painter using the end of his paintbrush and defining the detail. A poem is special or valuable because it has the possibility to connect or familiarize itself with the reader through not only the message but also imagery, rhythm, format, similes, metaphors, and more details that the poet paints with the words on the tip of his paint brush.
If people today had more time to enjoy a poem, they would realize it's unmistakeable beauty in its imagery or allow it to replay in their heads with the rhythm guiding the each line along. Poems are like popular media today because each form of expression has a message to be shared. The difference between poems and a majority of media today that includes prose is that authors of poetry purposefully choose each word with a specific meaning as if he were a painter using the end of his paintbrush and defining the detail. A poem is special or valuable because it has the possibility to connect or familiarize itself with the reader through not only the message but also imagery, rhythm, format, similes, metaphors, and more details that the poet paints with the words on the tip of his paint brush.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Why does Candide believe in Pangloss's saying that is for the best?
In a commentary by Christen Morrell, I asked the question why Candide believes in what Pangloss says including his saying at everything in life is happening for best even though there horrible things that are happening in Candide's life. I'm curious about her response but I have my own opinions on the same topic, as well.
I believe that Candide believes in Pangloss because of who he is and his character traits which are gullible and naive and ignorant... I do not think these traits were the result of something in his past but simply are the way they are because of the author's choice. The traits are significant to the story because they add to a satirical effect making fun of men saying that if they do not think on their own this where he'd up in the world: completely lost confused. One example of Candide being lost and confused is when he tries to walk away from the army and fails. Candide believing in Pangloss's saying is just another way in which Candide shows his true colors (his character traits).
I believe that Candide believes in Pangloss because of who he is and his character traits which are gullible and naive and ignorant... I do not think these traits were the result of something in his past but simply are the way they are because of the author's choice. The traits are significant to the story because they add to a satirical effect making fun of men saying that if they do not think on their own this where he'd up in the world: completely lost confused. One example of Candide being lost and confused is when he tries to walk away from the army and fails. Candide believing in Pangloss's saying is just another way in which Candide shows his true colors (his character traits).
Why do people die and then, come back to life in satires?
In a realistic novel like realistic fiction, a biography, and even historical fiction, characters do not die and come back to life. This decisions by the author is to make the story believably and relatable by the basic rules of life. For me, if I can relate to the story agin any way including at the plot follows basic rules of nature (if someone dies, they do not live again), I am more attached to the characters and the plot. With some stories, I will be so attached that I will cry when someone dies or something goes wrong or I will be happy all day when something in the story goes the way I want it to. One major difference between one of these kinds of stories and a satire is that these stories are trying to explain or express a part of life (this familiarity makes theme he stories relatable and the readers emotionally involved); a satire tries to make fun of life and having people dying and then living again takes people out of emotional ties with the characters and plot. Not being affected by characters and their actions pushes readers away from emotional ties with characters. This relation between reader and character guides the reader to take a step back from the story and look at the entire picture which is what a satire's aim is except with a funny twist on the the message.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Eyes Opening
As one reads Cry, The Beloved Country, their eyes open towards different perspectives of society. The author presents from the viewpoint of someone who is part of the lowest social class, Kumalo, and from someone who is a part of higher social class, Jarvis. When he presents these two characters, they appear as two men who are very similar in character but different with what their world has to offer them. In the latter of the novel, the two men realize they're similarities by saying that their deepest sorrow is the same and they interact which is a step towards equality. By the end of the novel, not only has the story offered the reader someone else's story, but it encourages the reader to be open minded as well.
Further explanation: The author encourages people to be open not by demanding or stating that being open minded is great, but by allowing readers to relate, sympathize, and follow two people who have been open minded wig positive outcomes: Jarvis and Kumalo.
Further explanation: The author encourages people to be open not by demanding or stating that being open minded is great, but by allowing readers to relate, sympathize, and follow two people who have been open minded wig positive outcomes: Jarvis and Kumalo.
Full Circle
The novel Cry, The Beloved Country begins and ends from Kumalo's perspective in the mountain with the beautiful scenery. Not only does the novel begin and end with the mountain, Jarvis's story starts and ends in the mountains too. Since the story starts and ends at the same place, it's easier to realize the the advancement in the writing and the readers. The writing advances through what it focuses on. In the beginning of the novel, there is a major focus on the land and its beauty. Then, the story focuses on the chaos of the city. By the end of the story, it balances the chaos of change like in the city and the peace like the beauty in the land. As the story progresses, not only does the story advance but he readers do as well because the story guides the reader through another person's journey of balancing they're idea of peace and chaos.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Predictions on the third book
Note: I've read the first pages book three.
In class, an observation that was brought to attention was that book I and book II in the novel Cry the Beloved Country both start with the same paragraph in the mountain. Book III does not start with this same paragraph, nor does it start in the mountain. This book starts in the city, the opposite place of the mountains. In class, the discussion lead to how the paragraph was symbolic towards the similarity between Kumalo and Jarvis. Another direction I thought through when the observation came to attention was whether these paragraphs helped develop a theme so far in the novel which could help to predict the third book. So far, the book I and book II have started in the mountains and ended in the city. Alan Paton creates a clear theme that whomever or whatever comes from the mountains changes and becomes more corrupt when it or they become involved with the city. This is true for the people in the novel like Gertrude, Absolom, and even Kumalo. It is also shown in the topic of writing which focuses on the peace and beauty of the land when the characters are in the mountains, and the chaos and destruction when the characters are in the city.
Since the last book starts where the other two books end, in the chaotic city, an idea is that the mood of the novel and its components will be opposite of the first two stories as well. This idea means that book III starts in the city and ends in the mountain, the people will continue to have better moral standards, and the writing style will be peaceful
In class, an observation that was brought to attention was that book I and book II in the novel Cry the Beloved Country both start with the same paragraph in the mountain. Book III does not start with this same paragraph, nor does it start in the mountain. This book starts in the city, the opposite place of the mountains. In class, the discussion lead to how the paragraph was symbolic towards the similarity between Kumalo and Jarvis. Another direction I thought through when the observation came to attention was whether these paragraphs helped develop a theme so far in the novel which could help to predict the third book. So far, the book I and book II have started in the mountains and ended in the city. Alan Paton creates a clear theme that whomever or whatever comes from the mountains changes and becomes more corrupt when it or they become involved with the city. This is true for the people in the novel like Gertrude, Absolom, and even Kumalo. It is also shown in the topic of writing which focuses on the peace and beauty of the land when the characters are in the mountains, and the chaos and destruction when the characters are in the city.
Since the last book starts where the other two books end, in the chaotic city, an idea is that the mood of the novel and its components will be opposite of the first two stories as well. This idea means that book III starts in the city and ends in the mountain, the people will continue to have better moral standards, and the writing style will be peaceful
Gertrude's character
Note: All of the views and opinions below are taken from the perspective of the society in the novel; they may not reflect the author's own ideas.
When Gertrude was first introduced to the reader, she is did not respect herself which she showed when wailing at Kumalo's feet and she could not take of her child. She had depended on Kumalo to help her and lead into making the right choices, but before he came, she had the resources to and opted not to act with a moral compass or with any consideration of her family or her own respectability. One example of this was that she did not send Kumalo any letters.
As the novel progresses, Gertrude finds herself in Mrs. Lithebe's house and on her way to Kumalo's home where she has resources to be healthy, well-taken care of, and she has the resources and new knowledge on how to become a respectable woman. in this part of her life, she still flirts, otherwise known as "laughing carelessly" but she considers and might have even chosen by the end of book II, to become a nun, a highly mature and respectable woman. This consideration is very mature and shows her growth because she now is considering and/or chosen on her own to become the most respectable woman that she can become. Her choice to leave her son with Kumalo's new daughter, is wise and respectable because she thought about it using logical reasons that considered the child and the other people involved.
When Gertrude was first introduced to the reader, she is did not respect herself which she showed when wailing at Kumalo's feet and she could not take of her child. She had depended on Kumalo to help her and lead into making the right choices, but before he came, she had the resources to and opted not to act with a moral compass or with any consideration of her family or her own respectability. One example of this was that she did not send Kumalo any letters.
As the novel progresses, Gertrude finds herself in Mrs. Lithebe's house and on her way to Kumalo's home where she has resources to be healthy, well-taken care of, and she has the resources and new knowledge on how to become a respectable woman. in this part of her life, she still flirts, otherwise known as "laughing carelessly" but she considers and might have even chosen by the end of book II, to become a nun, a highly mature and respectable woman. This consideration is very mature and shows her growth because she now is considering and/or chosen on her own to become the most respectable woman that she can become. Her choice to leave her son with Kumalo's new daughter, is wise and respectable because she thought about it using logical reasons that considered the child and the other people involved.
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