Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Comparison between the “Incident†and the “Travel†Poems Essay Example for Free
Comparison between the â€Å"Incident†and the â€Å"Travel†Poems Essay Comparison between the â€Å"Incident†and the â€Å"Travel†Poems Introduction First poem: Incident Keep looking straight at me. Now I was eight and very small, And he was no whit bigger, And so I smiled, but he poked out His tongue, and called me, â€Å"Nigger.†I saw the whole of Baltimore From May until December; Of all the things that happened there That’s all that I remember. Second poem: Travel By Edna St. Vincent Millay The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isnt a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking. All night there isnt a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming. My heart is warm with friends I make, And better friends Ill not be knowing; Yet there isnt a train I wouldnt take, No matter where its going. Comparison between the two poems above            The first aspect to compare between the two poems above is the themes portrayed. In the first poem, â€Å"Incident†highlights the theme of racial discrimination. The speaker in the poem tells the audience how he was travelling in a bus when he encountered an event that he says that he is unlikely to forget. He says that while in the bus travelling to Baltimore, his happiness suddenly turned to sadness when a young boy of his age called him a Niger. In stanza three, the speaker says, â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦but he poked out His tongue, and called me, â€Å"Niger†. Niger is a word that is used to sarcastically insult African-Americans living in America. The speaker felt so sad and in the next eight months (from May to December) that he spent in Baltimore; he cannot remember anything else but that annoying incident. In stanza four of the poem, the speaker confirms that he can never forget. He says, â€Å"†¦.From May to Decem ber; of all the things that happened there, That’s all that I remember†.            On the other hand, the theme in the second poem, â€Å"Travel†, is that of discontentment. The speaker describes her feelings to the audience. She says in stanza threeâ€Å"My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing†. In these lines, the speaker says that although she is presently happy with the friends that she has; she thinks the friends that she has not met already may be better. This is a clear indication of dissatisfaction that the speaker expresses.            It is also important to analyze the choice of the titles of the poems that the authors use and find out how relevant they are to the poem. The title that the author chooses carries too much weight in the understanding of the poem. The theme of the poem is highlighted in the title, albeit hidden and, therefore, identified after reading the whole poem. In the first poem, the title is â€Å"Incident†. The literal meaning of this word is a happening that is unusual. In this poem, the speaker describes an unusual happening that apparently happened to him. In his context, the speaker experienced an incident. Therefore, the title is very relevant to the poem. In the second poem, the title is â€Å"Travel†. The word travel means movement from one location to another. In the poem, the speaker is discontented by her present state. She longs to move to the next level. She uses train metaphorically to indicate that she wants to cease the next opportunity available and move to the next level. Therefore, the title captures this desire of the speaker so vividly and, therefore, in the context of the theme in this poem, it is very relevant.            The other aspect that needs comparison in these two poems is the choice of the language. The language that the author uses is aimed at making the poem interesting to the reader while bringing out the desired message. In the first poem, â€Å"Incident†, the author chooses to use the first person â€Å"I†in the poem. He allows the speaker to tell the audience about this incident in a direct manner. The reader, who is the audience, is able to connect with the speaker when the speaker talks about himself. For instance, in stanza two, the speaker says, â€Å"Now I was eight and very young,†¦..†. The speaker informs the audience that, at the time of the incident that happened to him, he was eight years old and was very small. Incidentally, the second poem also uses the first person â€Å"I†. The speaker tells the audience about her feelings. This style improves the connection between the audience and the speaker because the poem is about the speaker.            In addition, the two poems have used contracted language in several instances. In the first poem, there is the use of â€Å"That’s†instead of â€Å"That is†in the last stanza line four. This makes the poem informal and makes the readers connect with the speaker easily, especially in the modern times. In the second poem, instances of contractions are numerous. For example, there is the use of â€Å"I’ll†instead of â€Å"I will†, â€Å"isn’t†instead of â€Å"is not†and â€Å"it’s†instead of â€Å"it is†in the last stanza. Again, this contraction makes the poem informal. In the modern times, the poem becomes understandable. The choice of contractions is deliberate. The contractions make the number of syllables in the lines where they are equal to the rest of the lines.            Another aspect of the poems that is worth comparison is the use of the rhyme technique in the poems. Both poems have a regular rhyme pattern that serve to make them more interesting to read. The rhyme pattern in the first poem is ABCB. To illustrate this rhyming pattern, it is necessary to pick the last words in one stanza. In this case, the last stanza has last words as â€Å"†¦Baltimore, †¦December, †¦there and †¦remember†. In the case of the second poem, the rhyme pattern is ABAB. The last stanza has the last words as â€Å"†¦make, †¦knowing, †¦..take and †¦.knowing†. The words illustrate the regular rhyme pattern. The same patterns are repeated throughout the poems. The regular rhyme pattern help make the poem rhythmical and lyrical.            It is important to compare the mood in each, and the tone used in either poem. In the first poem, the mood is jovial initially as depicted in the first and the second stanza. The speaker expresses his joy when he smiles at the stranger boy. However, the mood changes to sadness after the speaker is insulted by the boy when he calls him Nigger. As the mood changes, so does the tone. It starts as joyfully to a somber one. In the second poem, the tone is optimistic. The speaker is optimistic and hopeful of a better future. However, there is some tinge of negativity in the tone in the first two stanzas. This negative tone expresses speaker’s dissatisfaction about her current status.            The first poem uses imagery when the speaker tells the audience how he saw a boy staring straight at him. He smiled at him. The reader can vividly see the mental image of the speaker smiling at the stranger. In the second poem, the author employs metaphor by using a train to signify different paths in life. The speaker says that â€Å"†¦..Yet there isnt a train I wouldnt take, No matter where its going†in the last stanza. It means that the speaker is willing to take any path in life although there is no opportunity that is presenting itself. In addition, the second poem has employed personification in the first stanza when the speaker implies that the Train â€Å"whistling†and â€Å"shrieking†.            The two poems have so much in common. The similarities emanate from the choice of the language and the styles employed. Therefore, it is clear that poets have one thing in common as far as their writing skills are concerned. They have a rich background of poetry techniques. They always employ them appropriately to suit the message intended to be delivered. References St, John R. A. Explorations in Literature. Greenville, S.C: BJU Press, 2013. Print. Source document
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
German Peoples Support of Hitler :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers
German People's Support of Hitler When you mention the name of former fuhrer of Germany Adolf Hitler, you usually are met with a reaction of disgust and terror. Memories of the holocaust and other nightmares of World War Two are brought to light and you wonder : " How could that have happened?" Well, that question cannot be answered in a few words, rather there is a complex list of ideas as to why this was allowed to happen and why people supported Hitler in the first place. The main reason is that Germany, at that point in time, needed change, and Adolf Hitler was symbolic of that needed change. Germany after World War One was a far cry from the prosperous empire that it had been before the war. The Treaty of Versailles proved to be damaging to Germany. Because of the treaty, Germany lost a lot of land and people. The agreement also required that Germany disarm herself. The new requirements were :" Germany was to have no large artillery, submarines, or military air force, and no more than 100,000 men under arms..." ( Chambers 895). Not only did these demand unemploy many men who made there living in the military, the laborers who produced goods to support this arsenal were also out of work. Six million Germans were unemployed at this time .The economy suffered more so because of heavy reparations demanded of Germany by the allies. " Germany was made liable for sums unspecified and without forseeable end and forced to accept 'responsibility' for losses from a war ' imposed ... by the aggression of Germany and her allies'" (Chambers 896). Hitler and his government made a quick solution to this situation by simply printing more paper currency, for the time being, it seemed that Hitler had made a step in bringing Germany out of the depression ( this was not to last long ). Adolf Hitler was a charismatic man, and a powerful speaker. His career as a public speaker began when he joined the German Workers' Party. It was said that he spoke with " ... a highly emotional, at times near hysterical manner...". And when Hitler spoke, people listened. In fact, after his first speech at the German Workers' Party meeting, Hitler became the star attraction, and the reason that many people attended these meetings.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Childhood obesity Essay
If an American government official announces that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, it is completely unethical for that person to then endorse an unhealthy snack with their name and picture. The person that chooses to endorse unhealthy snacks but makes their living preaching against their sponsor is being an unethical representative of the company that is paying them to endorse the product and is sending a mixed message when on the job. The real ethical violation here is in business ethics. The man in the example is being paid to endorse an unhealthy snack. By accepting that contract, he has agreed to give his name and support to the product. To then preach against it from the pulpit of a government position is a violation of their contract with the business and a violation of their commitment to their job. Theoretically, if he is speaking out about childhood obesity in the course of his job, then he has a position related to the health of the nation. To the turn around and endorse an unhealthy project violates his contract with the American public to promote healthy behavior. In short, anyone who argues that childhood obesity is an epidemic and then endorse unhealthy snacks is the worst kind of hypocrite. This person is taking money from both sides of the argument and cannot effectively represent either side. He has stolen from both his government employer and from his snack time employer, failing to do what either of them paid him for. In that instance, he should be fired from both jobs and sued by both employers for fraudulently accepting their money.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Not Being Earnest in The Importance of Being Earnest...
Not Being Earnestnbsp;innbsp;The Importance of Being Earnest nbsp;While some critics contend that The Importance of Being Earnest is completely fanciful and has no relation to the real world, others maintain that Oscar Wildes trivial comedy for serious people does make significant comments about social class and the institution of marriage.nbsp; These observations include the prevalent utilization of deceit in everyday affairs.nbsp; Indeed the characters and plot of the play appear to be entirely irreverent, thus lending weight to the comedic, fanciful aspect.nbsp; However, this same factor also serves to illuminate the major points that Wilde tries to convey about the English society in which he lived.nbsp;nbsp;†¦show more content†¦Wildes conception of deceit as an accepted custom in English aristocracy is also existent in this scene.nbsp; The practice of Bunburying is established, an act where each man lies to his family about an imaginary invalid friend present somewhere else, in an attempt to pursue leisure activities elsewhere.n bsp; It is in this discussion that Jack admits to his friend Algernon that he has been lying to his friend in order to maintain the disguise.nbsp; Thus, it seems as though the very relationship between the two men is founded on deceit.nbsp; Later in this act, Lady Bracknell and Gwendolyn are introduced.nbsp; Even though Lady Bracknell is married, it is obvious that the two women are merely female counterparts of Algy and Jack.nbsp; Both spend the day making visits to others in their social sphere, as Algy and Jack do, holding these visits with utmost importance.nbsp; nbsp; It is at this point, also, that the reader is presented with Wildes views of marriage practices.nbsp; Earlier in the scene, when Ernest(Jack) announces his intention of proposing to Gwendolyn, Algernon does not congratulate him, rather he denounces the entire institution.nbsp; At Ernests announcement of the proposal, Algy exclaims, I thought you had come up for pleasure?- I call that business.nbsp; Later, Algys comments support the idea of adultery once one is married.nbsp; When Ernest finally does propose to Gwendolyn, he first must proceed through established flirting ritualsShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Being Earnest759 Words  | 4 PagesThe Importance doesn’t Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a satire, comedy play of the Victorian Age. The Importance of Being Earnest follows two main characters, Earnest and Algernon, who live double lives. During his play Wilde makes fun of some of the standards and the way of life during that time. One of the common traits of the time was deception. Wilde’s play has a common occurrence of deception through the play’s plot line, trivial lies, and a character’s point of view on deception. Wilde’sRead MoreThe Importance of Being Earnest800 Words  | 4 PagesOscar Wilde, the writer of The Importance of Being Earnest, celebrated the Victorian Era society while criticizing it in his play. Through his play, he utilized the humorous literary techniques of pun, irony, and satire to comment on the impact of Victorian Era society left on the characters themselves. These comedic literary devices also help to show how the members of this society in the Victorian Era live by a set of unspoken rules that determine politeness, as well as proper etiquette to liveRead MoreThe Importance Of Being Earnest1041 Words  | 5 PagesFeminist Perspective As seen in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, men and women live in a society of inequality between the two sexes as conveyed through double standards. For instance, there is a double standard regarding men and women flirting as seen when Algernon says â€Å"She will place me next to Mary Farquhar, who always flirts with her own husband across the dinner-table. That is not very pleasant.†While women are shamed for talking to men whom they are married to, men such asRead MoreThe Importance of Being Earnest 526 Words  | 2 Pages In the Importance of Being Earnest, dramatic irony is throughout the play which leads to many humorous events. Dramatic irony is a type of irony where the audience fully understands the situation while the character is unaware of it. The lack of knowledge the character has about their situation is amusing in the play. First example of dramatic irony that turns into humor is when Jack confesses his love to Gwendolen and she also feels the same way but for a different reason than his. She saysRead MoreThe Importance of Being Earnest1284 Words  | 6 PagesIn this Lady bracknell shows no sympathy for Mr.Bunbury and does not exhibit pity for him as he is less privileged then status. It is befitting that how cursory is Victorian values. BUNBARING AS A CENTRAL THEME :- Marriage:- It is of principle importance in the story both as a chief plot and also a topic of debate. The issue of marriage came for the first time when Algernon asks Lane†Is marriage so demoralizing as that ? â€Å"(Pg 7). They discuss the attributes of marriage and discuss whether marriageRead MoreEssay On The Importance Of Being Earnest1087 Words  | 5 PagesThe Importance of Being Earnest The title of the book I read for my summer reading is called The Importance of Being Earnest which is a drama book written by Oscar Wilde. It was set in London in the year of 1895. A constant theme throughout this book was marriage beginning with Lane and Algernon discussion. Everyone has different ideas of what marriage is, Lane believes it is a pleasant state, Algernon and Jack discuss if its for business or pleasure. Lady Bracknell believes that it should be aRead MoreCharacterization in the Importance of Being Earnest987 Words  | 4 Pagesgroup B Characterization in The Importance of Being Earnest Among Oscar Wilde’s varied works, a prominent place has been assumed by a notoriously humorous play The Importance of Being Earnest. Such has been the play’s popularity to this day that countless efforts have been retaken so as to adapting it for modern age due to its scintillating language and the author’s surpassing skill at creating immortal characters. In the attempt to spell out the importance of characterization we shall lookRead More Importance Of Being Earnest Essay1037 Words  | 5 Pages Theatre Studies: Cat One Draft The Importance of Being Earnest is set in late Victorian England, a time of social reform. Society was rediscovering art in its many forms yet as a consequence, The Upper class continued their program of suppressed inferiority. The lower classes were treated with disdain and disgust and the animosity between the groups was easily visible. Essentially, the late Victorian era was the beginning of a mini cultural renaissance, yet Upper Class society, which forms theRead MoreThe Importance of Being Earnest Essay1439 Words  | 6 PagesA Trivial Comedy for Serious People Oscar Wilde mocked his audience while he entertained them. Perhaps his most loved and well-known work, The Importance of Being Earnest, satirises the manners and affections of the upper-class Victorian society. Satire is a literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness, usually with the intent of changing or correcting the subject of the satirical attack. The play focuses on the elite, while making fun of the ludicrousness and extremityRead More The Importance of Being Earnest Essay1376 Words  | 6 PagesOscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a timeless comedy of manners in which two young, light-hearted men, pretend their names are ‘Ernest’ in a bid to impress their love interests, who both believe the name Ernest bestows magical qualities on the possessor. Throughout the play, Wilde uses a mix of social drama, melodrama and farce to appeal to the audience. Through his gentle use of parody Wilde is able to ridicule his contem poraries and attack the values and attitudes of Victorian society
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)