Week 8 Poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins

Pied Beauty

This poem is praising God and the beauty he has spead throughout the world. He uses a lot of description and color when talking about the "dappled things". My favorite description is line 4 "Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls". The description below says that they are freshly fallen red chasnuts, as bright as coals burning in a fire. This was interesting to read about because we think of chestnuts as brown and not as this new shade of color that pops open when the chestnut breaks. It is just nice to have a different look at how God has designed every last detail of things. As I read the rest of the poem I enjoyed how he mentioned things beautiful that we may not stop and think to be beautiful. The last line concludes with "Praise Him" for all the wonders he has created for us.



As Kingfishers Catch Fire



I had a hard time understanding the whole meaning of this poem. I was able to understand parts but as a whole it did not make sense to me. The first four lines are talking about visions of the kingfishers and the dragonfly. He also mentions noises through "stones ring" "string tells" "hung bells". I did not understand the line refering to "each mortal thing does one thing and the same: Deals out that being indoors each one dwells". I did pick up on "selves" as a verb which was mentioned in the introduction as anthimeria. The end of the poem refers back to God and how we should always be around him. God is everywhere and we should live that way everyday.



Carrion Comfort



This poem brings about depression the writer has and the period of doubt he is going through with God. He talks about how he is tempted and it is hard to avoid. He mentions that he had been "toil and coil" which I think represents some form of beating. This period goes on for a year and he has to struggle with God and hope that he will be able to come out of this depressing state. I had a hard time following the poem, it seemed to jump around a lot and it was confusing. The overall message of being upset with his relationship with God was evident though.



Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord, if I Contend



He is questioning God in this poem. He askes "Wert though my enemy, O thou my friend". The author has been through a lot of struggles and is wanting to have the love of God again. I think he is trying to get across that he can't do this himself and needs God's help to get out of this rough period of his life. "Mine, O though lord of life, send my roots rain". He wants to be fed again and be friends with God but is asking for help in the process.



to young child



This poem is geared toward a young girl but the message of the poem is still strong and real. He talks about the approaching fall and what that means to us. Leaves are falling and dying during this time of the year. We tend to associate the death of leaves with our own death someday and our understanding of that. "No matter, child the name: Sorrow's springs are the same". To me I think that he is saying that at some point in our life we will be faced with this and we need to gather a sense of what this means to us. We must always mourn the dead because we never know then it will be our turn to fall off the tree.

Week 8 "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold

From reading the introduction on Matthew Arnold, I was able to find out what period of time he was writing in. This poem was probably written during the industrial revolution when everything was changing and everyone had to change too. This poem I feel like sets the tone for how he feels about this new change. In the beginning of the first stanza he refers to the sea as peaceful and I feel like he is talking about how life was before the industrial revolution. He refers to the sea as "calm to night". He then talks differently about the sea and talks about how rough it can be. Pebbles hitting the beach and bringing sadness in. I have a feeling that not everyone was ready for this change and it just hit them quick and it changed their view on life. It was sad to read that through this time they lost faith. He referred to "the Sea of Faith" that used to be full was now "melancholy" and "retreating". Through this change they lost their faith in the and their faith in God. Through their lost faith though they did learn that they have to rely on each other to make it in the world. They can't trust their land anymore and must depend on only a few others. It was interesting to get an opinion on this time period. The industrial revolution may have brought change but it also brought about new technology to advance a persons life.

Week 7 "Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti

One of the questions asked at the beginning of the story was do I think this was a simple childrens story? My answer to that is no, reading into some of the ways that are appear abnormal to normal children life. The story is about two innocent girls and one Laura's attempt to explore something forbidden. The little details about the relationship of the two are inappropriate to me though. I know they are sisters but they should not be "Lying close" or "kissing"each other in the way that it is referenced. The fruit to me symbolizes sex and the fact that it is proper for the women in this time to wait before marriage for sex. If they don't they will crave it all the time and ruin their own lives while they wait for marriage. In the commentary it helped point out that if a woman was married that the fruit was okay, it just had bad effects on unmarried women. Lizzie is reminded of"Jeanie in her grave, who should have been a bride". I think that the fruit brings pressure to do things you know you should not do or know better. When Laura is asked to leave just a lock of her "golden hair"makes me thing that the Goblins were just wanting to lust after her. I did not like how the story turned when Lizzie decided to buy fruit for her sister to help her out. I felt like that situation turned into her being forcced into something she had a firm stance against. She had to go be tortured for standing up for what she believed. I know that many people would do anything for a family member but that is hard when it is against what you stand for. I guess it is nice to see that by getting the fruit juices her sister was able fufill a life that she was intended to live. To have children and be married.

Week 7 Sonnet 22 and 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 22

From reading this poem I thing of two people who show that they will be there for eachother until the very end. That when they are together they are "strong" and they are ready for what the earth has in store for them. They are cherishing the time they have left together because they know that is not long. The last line concludes "with darkness and the death hour rounding it". They now the time they have left and don't want to just let it pass them without enjoying it together.



Sonnet 43

This was probably inspired by her husband. I like the use of rhyme and flow it helps in getting a better understanding. I like the different ways she can think to express her love. My favorite line is " I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need by sun and candlenight". There is not a moment that she can't think or be reminded of her love for him. I like how each line leaves you thinking of how she could actually fufill her statement in her day to day life.

Week 7 "The Last Duchess" by Robert Browning

Reading at the bottom we learn that the narrator of the poem is Alfonso II the duke of Ferrara. He spends time reminicing about his late wife Lucrezia. At first I thought this would be a sweet poem because he was reminded of many life life qualities in the painting of his late wife. He goes on to talk about all of the flaws she had. The fact that he thought she flirted with others and that in the painting she is giving a look that was never given to him. I wonder if this was all true of if he was not confident in his relationship that he had to think other things. Maybe he was not always home and would have to lose trust in his wife since he could not know the truth. Then upon learning about his new wife, I wondered why he was marrying again. He mentions a dowry which makes me think that money is more important than love. He just wants a new wife to not trust but enjoy the new dowry they will have together. I needed to read the commentary from our web ct after reading this poem. I understood the poem for the most part but the commentary helped fill in the blanks.

Week 7 Ulysses Alfred Lord Tennyson

After reading the introduction to the Victorian writings I was able to see that men could live their life the way they wanted and worry about their family when it was appropriate. I did like the outlook that Ulysses had for his life. It was interesting how he said that he "will drink life to the Lees". After reading what a Lee was I figured that he meant to not let one moment of life be wasted, to take every last drop in. That is exactly the way he wanted to finish his journey. He did not want to settle which I probably would after fighting in a war and being away from family. I am sure that he did love his family very much but if just seems that his portrayal is that he has to take in whatever he can whether his family is involved or not. He is understanding to the ways his son will carry on his name after he dies. I live how he says "he works his work, I mine". That just shows that he does not want his son to be exactly like him if that is not who he is. He does try to encourage the others that have been apart in his life. To want to finish a life of adventure that they had when they were young. "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" is the last line in the writing. This last line sums up very well the message trying to go across. Life life hard and don't let anything hold you back. I do tend to agree with that for the most part but at the same time would not mind settling after living that life for so many years.

week 6 poems, Emily Dickinson

Poem 214

At first when I read this poem I found it hard to think I was reading an Emily Dickinson poem. I thought at first she was talking about an experience when she was drunk. Then I read it again thinking that can't be right and realized that she might be referencing those things to talk about how she truly feels about life. She talks about happy things such as the dew and summer days. Though she speaks of alcohol they are hidden under her happy expressions of life.



Poem 303

From the first line "the soul selects her own society" shows that she is showing that she will make a decision about life not others. If it is not something that will please her soul she will turn down no matter who it is against. That is the only way to be happy.



Poem 341

This poem has to do with the loss of some sort. When this loss occurs everything seems to stop. In the second stanza the feet, mechanical, go round to me makes me think that even though we encounter this loss that life does not stop around us. This at times prevents people from stopping when they need to. It is hard to be content with this grieving state. Through time it will begin to get better and you will be able to let go and continue your life.



Poem 435

I am not quite sure about this poem. I gather that she is upset about something. Maybe she feels that she is handled with a chain and limited to the things she can do as a woman. She did not share much of her poetry when she was alive and maybe that is because she did not think they would be appreciated.



Poem 465

This poem again references death. I think she is afraid of what will happen when she dies. She says that everything will be still and what portion of her is left will be signed away. She mentions a light when she see's the fly. I wonder if that in anyway is referencing if she believes that she will go to heaven. At the end of the poem though she says she can't see and I wonder if she believed in heaven or not.



Poem 712

When I read this poem I still thought death but I also was able to see the happy life that was lived by this person (assuming Emily). I am imagining that she is dying and reliving everything in her head that made her feel happy from her town. She references the school and the children at the school. At the end she says that "were toward eternity". Showing that she knows she is going to a great place that will bring her as well many great joys.



Poem 1129

She definately mentions telling the truth a lot. She tells why it should be told. Through telling the truth you are doing the right thing whether you think so or not. If everyone was to lie how could we ever trust anybody.

Week 6 Song of Myself, Walt Whitman

I had trouble following him for the most part. Section 15 especially he just seemed to talk about so many different subjects that I got lost in most of the poem. He seems to talk a lot about death. It is interesting how he mentions grass so many times. Grass represents new life. It is there it grows it dies, and then it tend to come back again every spring new and fresh. Is that his take on death. That when we die we tend to come back new and fresh again. My favorite section was probably section two. It was very descriptive about what our body takes in in by sight and smell. I like how Whitman concludes the section by saying "You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself". You do not have to just agree with one opinion, but listen to everything and make an your best judgement. In section 6 he says " And I know that the spirit of God is the promise of my own". We know what is in our hearts and what we believe and we should be comforted by that. In section 52 it seemed to me that he was speaking of death. How when you depart where you go and where people can go to be with the deceased person. Even though that person is gone they will always be with you.

Week 6 Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne

After reading the introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne I was interested to pick up on the suttle symbols he leaves throughout his story. I think this period of the puritans gave so many authors an outlet for writing. Young Goodman Brown from what we know about him is a young man who has always followed his elders and has done what he has told. He is newly married to a woman named Faith who he will see again throughout his journey to complete an errand. It is interesting to see how quickly Goodman Brown is tempted by the devil for his faith. Once he is able to see the many people he looked up to he noticed that he was not living a life of faith that he had been professing. He had looked at others faith and through that did not have to expore his relationship with God for himself. Everything and everyone he sees is dark and ugly looking and not what he would have been expecting. After realzing the life he had thought he had been living he began to think. Although he did not choose to follow the devil he did nothing for his own life to have a relationship with God. I think it was the end of his belief when he saw his wife and he told her to "Look up to Heaven and resist the Wicked One". From then on he lived a life away from the devil but away from God as well. It is sad to see that he decided to not let God help him in his sorrow that was enduring. At the end it mentions the fact that he might of been dreaming the wild dream of the witch meeting. I would like to think it was because there are always going to be times when you see yourself and others turning away from God. In doing that though it is nice to know that you can always turn back to God and he will accept you just as you are.

Week 6 from Walden,Henry David Thoreau

From Walden

After just reading the first paragraph we learn that this is not a life he lived for long. Throuhout the story I tried to figure out why. Was it just an experiment, did he not like it, or did he have a life to return to outside of the woods. The section titled "Economy" really brought about several thoughts to ponder on. He comments on how many young men today are inheriting barns houses, farms and livestock. He does not understand why one person would need so many things and so much land for themselves. Many make it a career, but then are forced to live a life based on what their crop produces each year good or bad. I did not agree with his statement that seniors do not tell anything of purpose. Maybe he just was not around many people but I thing that through the older generation is where we can gain so much wisdom from life. Thoreau says "life, an experiment to a great extent untried by me; but it does not avail me that they have tried it". Meaning that just because they have already lived, he still has to try it on his own to learn from it. I like how he says that "we may safely say trust a good deal more than we do". We can't be in charge of everything and we have to trust that it will work out for the best.

I enjoyed the descriptions he gave us in the section titled "Where I lived, and What I lived for". How he went through and collected materials and truly lived off what the land offered to him. He recommends to live this "free and uncommitted" because if you don't it does not matter where you live or what you do. It was funny how it just happened to work out that he started spending the night at house on the Fourth of July. It represented his freedom from schedule and the details he left behind for some time. It was very peaceful to read how he saw the mountains and the streams and the land all around him. He made it seem that it was pure beauty at all times. It was also nice to read how he woke up everyday and how he valued his time in the morning where he could have "innocence with nature". Thoreau mentions the railroad and how it was built. He makes a comment that if were just to live the simple life that we would not even think of these advances in our lives. There are so many little comments that enjoyed about this writing and his take on this experience. I liked that once he completed his experiment he said "by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to life the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours". That I feel like sums up his experience. This is what he wanted to do and through it he will have success because he is living out his dream. Not the dream that his society wants but how he can better his life.

Week 4 William Blake, William Wordsworth, John Keats

William Blake-

I thought it was very interesting in comparing his two pieces of work and how he used the same titles for most of them. This helped me to see the innocence from one poem and then the reality and experience of life in the other. I read the songs of innocence first and was able to see a sense of love and excitement for the life they lived. When I read his poems I was able to picture myself in the experience of the poem. Holy Thursday was probably the poem that was the most visually appealing to me. He was very descriptive in what the children were wearing and the flowers they would walk by and the happiness they had. I was able to see how these children had faith in their prayers to God and they knew they would be protected. At times I felt like I was reading nursery rhymes when reading the songs of innocence. He just had such an innocent approach to these poems. I liked how the poems had a mix of a child's perspective as well as from another writing about a child. The Lamb was probably my favorite poem. I liked how the child was asking made the lamb. To know that a lamb is how a child is able to see God is very innocent. Asking so many questions and thanking the lamb for all that the child received from the lamb. The Songs of Experience shows the harsh reality that has taken over their life. In Holy Thursday it is nice to see that through the hard times they experience they can still sing songs of joy. In the Chimney Sweeper religion is still addressed but the praise to God is not as powerful as it was in the songs of innocence. Prayer is still important and what they must do, even though they don't live the life they want.

William Wordsworth-

Reading through Tintern Abbey the first time was very hard to follow. I don't know why but I felt like I kept getting lost in the references to nature. I went back and read the reading material on William Wordsworth and I was able to get a better understanding of what I had read. After reading the poem again I was able to better understand this poem and the detailed imagery that he has throughout his piece of work. I did like how he was very detailed in describing what he remembered about the nature when he was a child. The details that he has he will always be able to remember when he is back in real life away from the beauty that he loved. I did not really understand the role that the hermit played throughout the story. Reading the poem it is hard to remember that a story is going on not just the description of what he is seeing in nature. The last two lines of the poem show how much that time means to him. "And this green pastoral landscape, were to me More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake". He truly appreciated what he was given with that experience and it will always be with him.

This World is Too Much With Us shows an angry side to nature. We see a side that shows that the functions of the earth are not always nice and beautiful as we would like them to be. Life is not always perfect and neither are the layouts of nature. We cannot always expect things to be a certain way all the time.

Expostulation and Reply and The Tables Turned: An Evening Scene On The Same Subject are poems that are about the same thing. In Expostulation and Reply someone is talking to Wordsworth and telling him to quit wastig his time out in nature. He is asked where his books were and to spend more time learing from books. They can feed their minds with other powers then of nature. The next poem I believe is Wordsworth's perspective on what was just told to him. He completely rejects what was just said to him and says that books should be put down. When reading this poem I feel that he was trying to get the point across that you should enjoy life in whatever makes you happy. For him it is being out in nature but that may not be the same for others. In nature you can learn many things and be happy with life.

John Keats

Ode on a Grecian Urn represents art giving permanence to our feelings and desires. After reading about Keats it made sense that all of his feelings, made their way into his work. This urn does not show age through years but through the stories it tells and the questions it answers. The speaker tries to relate to these stories on the urn and is unable to and has to accept that human life has its own changes in the story. Humans need to know that beauty and truth are the same and to accept that.