Good Hours
I had for my winter evening walk--
No one at all with whom to talk,
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.
And I thought I had the folk within:
I had the sound of a violin;
I had a glimpse through curtain laces
Of youthful forms and youthful faces.
I had such company outward bound.
I went till there were no cottages found.
I turned and repented, but coming back
I saw no window but that was black.
Over the snow my creaking feet
Disturbed the slumbering village street
Like profanation, by your leave,
At ten o'clock of a winter eve.
1) Find any imagery and personification in this poem?
2) Of what age do you think the person in the poem is?
3) In the third stanza, why do you think that the person in the poem turned back to go to the village.?
4) Is there any significance that it is winter?
5)Overall what do you think that this poem represents?
HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR
Robert Frost was born on march 26 1875 and died on January 29 1963. Frost's personal life is filled with grief and loss, Frost was only 11 years old when in 1885 his father died of tuberculosis. In 1900 Frost's mother died of cancer, and in 1920, Frost had to commit his younger sister to a mental hospital. 9 years later she also died. Mental illness ran in Frost's family, both he and his mother suffered from depression and later on as he had his own family, 2 out of his 6 children died from suicide or died in a mental hospital.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
MARCEL'S POETRY PRESENTATION
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
by ROBERT FROST
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
BIOGRAPHY
ROBERT FROST was born on march 26 1875 and died on January 29 1963. Frost's personal life is filled with grief and loss, Frost
was only 11 years old when in 1885 his father died of tuberculosis. In 1900 Frost's mother died of cancer, and in 1920, Frost
had to commit his younger sister to a mental hospital. 9 years later she also died. Mental illness ran in Frost's family, both
he and his mother suffered from depression and later on as he had his own family, 2 out of his 6 children died from suicide or
died in a mental hospital.
QUESTIONS
1) DESCRIBE ANY IMAGERY THAT YOU SEE IN THIS POEM.
2) WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR DECIDED TO TAKE THE ROAD THAT WAS LESS USED.
3) DESCRIBE WHY YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR SAYS,"I doubted if I should ever come back."
4) IN THE LAST LINES, " I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR IS SAYING ABOUT HIS DECISION.
5) IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL MEANING OF THIS POEM.
by ROBERT FROST
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
BIOGRAPHY
ROBERT FROST was born on march 26 1875 and died on January 29 1963. Frost's personal life is filled with grief and loss, Frost
was only 11 years old when in 1885 his father died of tuberculosis. In 1900 Frost's mother died of cancer, and in 1920, Frost
had to commit his younger sister to a mental hospital. 9 years later she also died. Mental illness ran in Frost's family, both
he and his mother suffered from depression and later on as he had his own family, 2 out of his 6 children died from suicide or
died in a mental hospital.
QUESTIONS
1) DESCRIBE ANY IMAGERY THAT YOU SEE IN THIS POEM.
2) WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR DECIDED TO TAKE THE ROAD THAT WAS LESS USED.
3) DESCRIBE WHY YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR SAYS,"I doubted if I should ever come back."
4) IN THE LAST LINES, " I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THE NARRATOR IS SAYING ABOUT HIS DECISION.
5) IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL MEANING OF THIS POEM.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Brandon's Poetry
The Guy You Work With
By:John Grey
What you want more than anything
is to grab the zebra in your jaws.
Forget the job. Forget teamwork.
Roll the nature film,
You''ve seen your neighbor
in his flashy car.
You've heard the whispers
of bonuses for others
delivered behind locked doors
like secret Mason handshakes.
You just need five minutes or so
of stalking in the dry Savannah grass.
And then one good sniff of your prey
nibbling weeds by a small lagoon.
What better than a slow creep
up behind that unknowing striped back
as deliberate as sharpening a pencil.
And then the pounce,
the real law of the jungle,
you with your fangs around its rump,
it braying in agonizing terror.
What you want from life
is to trot back to your den in triumph,
zebra intestine flapping in your jaw
like spaghetti.
So they don't pay you as much as the next guy.
You're at the point now
that if they paid you in zebras
that would be enough.
Thesis: Through the use of imagery, as well as line breaks and enjambment, Grey presents a poem in which the reader sees an individual’s jealousy of others become savage and inhuman.
Enjambment: The breaking of a syntactic unit (a phrase, clause, or sentence) by the end of a line or between two verses.
1) The Poem is written in second person how would it be different if it were in first person?
2) Why does John Grey compare work life to the life of an animal?
3) What is meant by the third line "Roll the nature film"?
4) Who is the poem being written about?
5) Explain what is meant by the last three lines."You're at the point now,that if they paid you in zebras,that would be enough."
By:John Grey
What you want more than anything
is to grab the zebra in your jaws.
Forget the job. Forget teamwork.
Roll the nature film,
You''ve seen your neighbor
in his flashy car.
You've heard the whispers
of bonuses for others
delivered behind locked doors
like secret Mason handshakes.
You just need five minutes or so
of stalking in the dry Savannah grass.
And then one good sniff of your prey
nibbling weeds by a small lagoon.
What better than a slow creep
up behind that unknowing striped back
as deliberate as sharpening a pencil.
And then the pounce,
the real law of the jungle,
you with your fangs around its rump,
it braying in agonizing terror.
What you want from life
is to trot back to your den in triumph,
zebra intestine flapping in your jaw
like spaghetti.
So they don't pay you as much as the next guy.
You're at the point now
that if they paid you in zebras
that would be enough.
Thesis: Through the use of imagery, as well as line breaks and enjambment, Grey presents a poem in which the reader sees an individual’s jealousy of others become savage and inhuman.
Enjambment: The breaking of a syntactic unit (a phrase, clause, or sentence) by the end of a line or between two verses.
1) The Poem is written in second person how would it be different if it were in first person?
2) Why does John Grey compare work life to the life of an animal?
3) What is meant by the third line "Roll the nature film"?
4) Who is the poem being written about?
5) Explain what is meant by the last three lines."You're at the point now,that if they paid you in zebras,that would be enough."
ISU Presentations
Many of you have been patiently awaiting the final course component: instructions for how to prepare your ISU presentations. They follow:
-prepare a 10 minute presentation based on one topic or issue related to your ISU novel
-you may prepare a digital presentation or a traditional presentation (using a poster board)
-review 4-6 current and authoritative sources on your chosen topic (the databases will be of great help here but so too will be general references like encyclopedias or books on your topic, avoid the information yielded by typical google searches)
-form an interesting and thought-provoking thesis on your topic
-select information, anecdotes, facts, statistics and references from your research in order to prove your thesis
-present your work in an engaging manner (you may wish to script what you will say)
-this presentation is not a summary of the book, nor is it suppose to be an oral presentation of your ISU paper
-the single most important ingredient is research.
-presentations will run from Fri., January 14th to Wed., Jan. 19th. You will be asked to present within a group of 6 once per day. You will also be involved in providing feedback to some of your classmates.
Any questions?
-prepare a 10 minute presentation based on one topic or issue related to your ISU novel
-you may prepare a digital presentation or a traditional presentation (using a poster board)
-review 4-6 current and authoritative sources on your chosen topic (the databases will be of great help here but so too will be general references like encyclopedias or books on your topic, avoid the information yielded by typical google searches)
-form an interesting and thought-provoking thesis on your topic
-select information, anecdotes, facts, statistics and references from your research in order to prove your thesis
-present your work in an engaging manner (you may wish to script what you will say)
-this presentation is not a summary of the book, nor is it suppose to be an oral presentation of your ISU paper
-the single most important ingredient is research.
-presentations will run from Fri., January 14th to Wed., Jan. 19th. You will be asked to present within a group of 6 once per day. You will also be involved in providing feedback to some of your classmates.
Any questions?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
ISU Paper - Respond to a Critical Essay
In many ways your ISU paper will be similar to the Stone Angel essay. Your thesis will outline to what extent you feel the remarks made in the critical essay you selected do or do not apply to your ISU novel.
I suggest you spend a good deal of time trying to digest your critical essay. Having a printed copy which you can annotate and highlight will be highly advantageous. Once you are comfortable with the essay you can begin to identify whether or not you agree with your reviewer.
If you largely agree with your reviewer then you can represent his or her argument and add in examples of your own. If you disagree with your reviewer, then you can quote your ISU novel (and your essayist) in order to show where he or she is missing the point.
Length: 1000 words
Type: Formal
** Please be sure to look carefully at my comments on your Stone Angel Essays
I suggest you spend a good deal of time trying to digest your critical essay. Having a printed copy which you can annotate and highlight will be highly advantageous. Once you are comfortable with the essay you can begin to identify whether or not you agree with your reviewer.
If you largely agree with your reviewer then you can represent his or her argument and add in examples of your own. If you disagree with your reviewer, then you can quote your ISU novel (and your essayist) in order to show where he or she is missing the point.
Length: 1000 words
Type: Formal
** Please be sure to look carefully at my comments on your Stone Angel Essays
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Alysha's Poetry Presentation
The last night she lived by Emily Dickinson
The last night she lived,
It was a common night,
Except the dying; this to us
Made nature different.
We noticed smallest things, --
Things overlooked before,
By this great light upon our minds.
Italicized, as 't were.
The others could exist,
While she must finish quite,
A jealousy for her arose,
So nearly infinite.
We waited while she passed;
It was a narrow time,
Too jostled were our souls to speak,
At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot;
Then lightly as a reed
Bent to the water, shivered scarce,
Consented, and was dead.
And we, we placed the hair,
And drew the head erect;
And then and awful leisure was,
Our faith to regulate.
Thesis:Emily Dickinson uses tone, imagery and point of view to present her views on death and the afterlife.
About the Author:Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. Emily lived a mostly reserved and isolated life growing up. She was said to be thought as an eccentric by the locals in her town. Only fewer than a dozen of her poems were said to be published. Emily continued to write until just before her death on May 15, 1886. She died of Bright's disease which is in your kidneys, in which she had for two and a half years. Before her death she made her sister promise to burn her papers; which she did...mostly. In the end she wrote nearly eighteen hundred poems.
Questions:
1. What do you think is meant by the second stanza?
2. What lines in the poem do you think use imagery?
3. What do you think she meant by this statement "A jealousy for her arose, So nearly infinite."?
4. Who do you think this poem is referring to?
5. Do you think the poem's tone is consistent throught the whole poem?
6. What is your attitude toward dying? If so will you accept death gracefully or try and fight it?
The last night she lived,
It was a common night,
Except the dying; this to us
Made nature different.
We noticed smallest things, --
Things overlooked before,
By this great light upon our minds.
Italicized, as 't were.
The others could exist,
While she must finish quite,
A jealousy for her arose,
So nearly infinite.
We waited while she passed;
It was a narrow time,
Too jostled were our souls to speak,
At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot;
Then lightly as a reed
Bent to the water, shivered scarce,
Consented, and was dead.
And we, we placed the hair,
And drew the head erect;
And then and awful leisure was,
Our faith to regulate.
Thesis:Emily Dickinson uses tone, imagery and point of view to present her views on death and the afterlife.
About the Author:Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. Emily lived a mostly reserved and isolated life growing up. She was said to be thought as an eccentric by the locals in her town. Only fewer than a dozen of her poems were said to be published. Emily continued to write until just before her death on May 15, 1886. She died of Bright's disease which is in your kidneys, in which she had for two and a half years. Before her death she made her sister promise to burn her papers; which she did...mostly. In the end she wrote nearly eighteen hundred poems.
Questions:
1. What do you think is meant by the second stanza?
2. What lines in the poem do you think use imagery?
3. What do you think she meant by this statement "A jealousy for her arose, So nearly infinite."?
4. Who do you think this poem is referring to?
5. Do you think the poem's tone is consistent throught the whole poem?
6. What is your attitude toward dying? If so will you accept death gracefully or try and fight it?
Blake's Poetry Presentation
Feeding the Demon
by Darin Barnes
I’ll serve you master.
Serve you well.
Harness me or burn in hell.
Comfort me.
I’ll be your skin.
Stoking fires deep within.
Give me love.
I’ll be your sight.
Outstretched wings, we both take flight.
Give me purpose.
Use my power.
Stalk the world, and watch it cower.
Chase your dreams through plains inspired.
Catch them if you can.
I’ll give you strength, you’ll not grow tired.
Turn you into running man.
Feed me anger.
Feed me rage.
Give me fear, I’ll burn this cage.
I’ll bend your soul.
And twist your life
Eat your children, take your wife.
Burning hot.
I scorch your skin,
Roast your liver, burn within.
Deceivers kiss.
You taste the flame.
I’ll burn the world, and end this game.
Your destiny is in your grasp.
So tell me what’s the plan?
Tell me who I’ll be at last.
Nemesis or running man.
Thesis: The poet uses a dark, somewhat sadistic, style of writing to implant vivid images into the reader's mind which allows the reader to understand the meaning of the demon representing our deepest obsessions.
1. Who is the poet referring to when speaking of their "master"?
2. What do you notice about the rhyming scheme?
3. Why does the pattern change in the 5th and 10th stanzas? Does it change the overall feel?
4. Does the tone of the poem change at any point?
5. Is the poem meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Why?
6. What image does this poem create in your mind?
by Darin Barnes
I’ll serve you master.
Serve you well.
Harness me or burn in hell.
Comfort me.
I’ll be your skin.
Stoking fires deep within.
Give me love.
I’ll be your sight.
Outstretched wings, we both take flight.
Give me purpose.
Use my power.
Stalk the world, and watch it cower.
Chase your dreams through plains inspired.
Catch them if you can.
I’ll give you strength, you’ll not grow tired.
Turn you into running man.
Feed me anger.
Feed me rage.
Give me fear, I’ll burn this cage.
I’ll bend your soul.
And twist your life
Eat your children, take your wife.
Burning hot.
I scorch your skin,
Roast your liver, burn within.
Deceivers kiss.
You taste the flame.
I’ll burn the world, and end this game.
Your destiny is in your grasp.
So tell me what’s the plan?
Tell me who I’ll be at last.
Nemesis or running man.
Thesis: The poet uses a dark, somewhat sadistic, style of writing to implant vivid images into the reader's mind which allows the reader to understand the meaning of the demon representing our deepest obsessions.
1. Who is the poet referring to when speaking of their "master"?
2. What do you notice about the rhyming scheme?
3. Why does the pattern change in the 5th and 10th stanzas? Does it change the overall feel?
4. Does the tone of the poem change at any point?
5. Is the poem meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Why?
6. What image does this poem create in your mind?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sam's Poetry Presentation
Touched By An Angel - Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free
Thesis: Angelou uses imagery, personification, as well as the form of free verse poetry to convey her message of the possibility of growth through love.
Background Information:
Maya Angelou (originally Marguerite Ann Johnson) was born on April 4th 1928. She has written many autobiographies, focusing mainly on her childhood. She was one of the first African American women to publicly discuss her personal life, and because of this, is a highly respected spokesperson for African American people, especially women. She was a single mother, yet it appears she had a few romances throughout her life.
1.) Why do you think Angelou presents the poem in a continuous manner, instead of breaking the poem into stanzas? Does this have an effect on the delivery of the poem?
2.) From lines 11-21, the mood of the poem seems to alter every few lines. Why do you think Angelou set the poem up so it contradicts itself. Do you think she meant for "...that love costs all we are, and will ever be." to come across as a good thing, or bad?
3.) Is "Touched By An Angel" a suitable title? Do you think every person who has been in love could claim they have been "Touched By An Angel"?
4.) Is there any moments in the poem you feel stood out to you, whether it be that line causing an image to form in your head, or the line seeming awkward? Why?
5.) In your opinion, does Maya Angelou mean for the poem to be taken literally? Do you believe she meant for the poem to be uplifting, or perhaps sarcastic?
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free
Thesis: Angelou uses imagery, personification, as well as the form of free verse poetry to convey her message of the possibility of growth through love.
Background Information:
Maya Angelou (originally Marguerite Ann Johnson) was born on April 4th 1928. She has written many autobiographies, focusing mainly on her childhood. She was one of the first African American women to publicly discuss her personal life, and because of this, is a highly respected spokesperson for African American people, especially women. She was a single mother, yet it appears she had a few romances throughout her life.
1.) Why do you think Angelou presents the poem in a continuous manner, instead of breaking the poem into stanzas? Does this have an effect on the delivery of the poem?
2.) From lines 11-21, the mood of the poem seems to alter every few lines. Why do you think Angelou set the poem up so it contradicts itself. Do you think she meant for "...that love costs all we are, and will ever be." to come across as a good thing, or bad?
3.) Is "Touched By An Angel" a suitable title? Do you think every person who has been in love could claim they have been "Touched By An Angel"?
4.) Is there any moments in the poem you feel stood out to you, whether it be that line causing an image to form in your head, or the line seeming awkward? Why?
5.) In your opinion, does Maya Angelou mean for the poem to be taken literally? Do you believe she meant for the poem to be uplifting, or perhaps sarcastic?
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