The Road Not Taken - Jamie

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

By: Robert Frost 


Thesis: Frost used metaphor, tone and point of view to raise questions about the consequences of our choices.
 
Questions:

1) Explain the significance of the use of the road metaphor in this poem?
2) What is the tone of this poem? Would it make a difference if the opposite tone was used?
3) Was this poem meant to be taken literally or metaphorically?
4) What point of view was used in this poem? Do you think Frost chose this point of view on purpose?
5) What was Frost's purpose for writing this poem?

 
 

Raymond's Poetry Seminar

Today's poem will be "The Raven", by Edgar Allan Poe.
Due to the length of the poem, only an excerpt will be read today.

...
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting-
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!


Thesis: Poe's use of poetic structure, ryhming and tone create a dark and foreboding poem

Vocabulary Words
Censer: An incense burner
Seraphim: Angels, celestial beings
Quaff: To drink, drinking
Nepenthe: An ancient Greek medicine, for depressed people
Balm of Gilead: Ancient Middle Eastern medical ingredient, also the name of a balm containing it
Aidenn: Eden, the garden of paradise
Plutonian Shore: The afterlife, the underworld. Derived from Pluto, Roman god of the underworld.
Pallas: Athena, also known as Pallas Athena, is a Greek Goddess

Questions

When the narrator already knows the raven’s only answer, why does he continue to ask questions that he thinks should have another?

What could the raven symbolize? Does it even understand what it is saying?

What do you think happens to the narrator at the end of the poem? Why?

Why do you think Poe chose to use a raven? Would the effect be the same with another bird?

Mike's Poetry Seminar

Genius By: Mark Twain

Act I Scene V

At another part of the platform Hamlet says he will go no further and demands the ghost to speak.

The ghost’s reply is “Mark me” which means listen and pay attention (I, v, 3). Also, before the ghost decides to unfold reveal its story he tell Hamlet that he must be ready to exact revenge after he is done hearing him out.

The ghost’s first words into the story confirm that he is Hamlet’s “fathers spirit” (I, v, 14). Before the ghost reveals his story he says he’s condemned to purgatory by day and to wander the earth “Till the foul crimes done in [his] days of nature/ Are burnt and purged away.” (I, v, 16-17).

But the most important part is when the ghost tells Hamlet to “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” which verifies that something was rotten in Denmark (I, v, 30). The King got murdered.

Later on in the discussion the ghost reveals even more. He explains that “Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, / A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark / Is by a forged process of my death / Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, / The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown.” (I, v, 41-46). Everyone was led onto believe that Hamlet was bitten by a snake but he was murdered by his brother who now happens to be the king.

Hamlet’s response in “O my prophetic soul! My uncle!” which I think he’s basically saying “I knew it!” (I, v, 47).

The ghost then also says that Queen Gertrude was seduced into giving Claudius her “lust”. But as he’s explaining the whole story he believes the sun is about to rise so he decides to be brief. The ghost explains that Claudius poisoned him by pouring poison into his ear while he was sleeping.

The ghost says he was robbed of his crown, life and queen all at once in the midst of his sin filled life which he didn’t get the opportunity to repent for. So he tells Hamlet to exact revenge on those who conspired against him but to leave his mother out of it so that she can succumb to her own guilt.

The ghost leaves and Hamlet is by himself and he basically says that he wants to exact revenge on Claudius and that he will remember his father. Then Horatio and Marcellus arrive happy that he is safe and sane. But after seeing that their friend is safe they’re both curious and they want to know how Hamlet’s discussion with the ghost went. Hesitant to tell, Hamlet gets them to swear that they won’t tell anyone about what they had seen that night and that if someone asked them about it they would say they know nothing.

Hamlet didn’t come out and say what had just happened. He had promised his dead father that he would exact revenge on the new illegitimate king and this would require secrecy so he got Marcellus and Horatio to swear to secrecy and they departed.

Considering that it’d be immensely difficult to assassinate any king. Do you think Hamlet will succeed?

Do you think Hamlet will abide by his father’s request to leave his mother out of the plan considering that she is at fault just as much as Claudius is?

Act I Scene IV

It’s a little past midnight and it’s cold and dark. Hamlet along with Horatio and Marcellus are waiting for the ghost on a platform where guards keep watch.

Below where they stand they hear trumpets and cannon at the King's drinking party. Surprised Horatio inquires if it’s a custom for there to be loud parties where the king is just getting wasted.

Hamlets response is far from positive:

"They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase/

Soil our addition. And indeed it takes/

From our achievements, though performed at height, /

The pith and marrow of our attribute. /

So oft it chances in particular men /

That for some vicious mole of nature in them— /

As in their birth (wherein they are not guilty, /

Since nature cannot choose his origin), /

By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, /

Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, /

Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens /

The form of plausive manners—that these men, /

Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, /

Being nature’s livery or fortune’s star, /

Their virtues else (be they as pure as grace, /

As infinite as man may undergo) /

Shall in the general censure take corruption /

From that particular fault. The dram of evil /

Doth all the noble substance of a doubt /

To his own scandal. /" (I, iv, 22-41).

On the one hand he may be right as to having other nations insult them due to their partying. On the other hand Hamlet being a prince who is against partying just sounds abnormal. So that rant on his beliefs of what the King is doing may have been just another opportunity for Hamlet to take a shot at Claudius verbally.

Moving on, after Hamlet's speech the ghost appears. Seeing that the ghost looks like his deceased father Hamlet and Hamlet acknowledges him as such by calling him father and King. Hamlet being determined to speak to his deceased father asks what the ghost intentions are and what he wants from the three of them. But the ghost doesn’t answer. Instead it "beckons" for Hamlet to follow.

Hamlet with no regard for his life as proven by him saying this justifies his curiosity by saying "Why, what should be the fear? / I do not set my life in a pin's fee/; and for my soul, what can it do to that, / Being a thing immortal as itself?" (I, iv, 71-74).

The other two people involved to a minor capacity in Marcellus and Horatio have opposite views on what to do. They are both frightened and they both warn Hamlet that he shouldn't follow.

But Horatio thinks the ghost is evil "What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,/ Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff/ That beetles o'er his base into the sea,/ And there assume some other horrible form,/ Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason/ And draw you into madness? think of it:" (I, iv, 76-81). Horatio basically to sum it up says the ghost will make Hamlet kill himself or go insane so he shouldn’t go.

So even after the warnings as well as Horatio and Marcellus trying to physically restrain him Hamlet ends up following the ghost.

Horatio believes that the scenario is entirely supernatural and that they shouldn’t interfere because "Heaven will direct it." (I, iv, 101). While Marcellus says "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." and with that he wants to find out what’s going on so he thinks they should follow (I, IV, 100).

In the end Marcellus leaves and Horatio goes as well to follow Prince Hamlet and insure his safety.

Okay so after reading Hamlet's speech short speech on morals (the long thing I copied and pasted… see above) so to speak I kind of thought he was also referring to waiting for the ghost to appear as well. I kind of thought he was saying that a "dram of evil" was referring to his father's murder and how it drastically changed the kingdom because he said how the loud partying which is such a small thing stains their reputation amongst other nations which is a larger issue. In addition to that I kind of also thought that coincided with the “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” quotation because the murder of a king is a complete opposite way that new legitimate ruler should come to the throne. As well as the possibility of the state going awry just because of this new illegitimate ruler. So just one act of wrongdoing can spiral into something much larger and the ghost is just a visual representation that something is wrong in Denmark because of the wrongdoing.

I was just wondering does that makes sense?

Preliminary Marks

Well,

As promised I am posting some very preliminary marks. You can get your code name in class or just email me. The reason I'm suggesting the marks are preliminary is because each of you needs a chance to look at the marks one by one to ensure that all entries are accurate. In many instances, I believe, students didn't pass in their short story work and may still do so.

Keep in mind that the marks are unadjusted at this point. I said I would count the best 2/3 Stone Angel test results for Midterm reports.

If you feel your grade is really low, please don't panic. I think several students may have needed a reality check, but I stand by what I said before: I am looking to assign everyone the highest possible mark I can justify. Please give me some evidence I can use to do so (consider getting more active either in class or on the blogs, nudge nudge).

Keep in mind that there are several items that have yet to be marked and added, namely, the 3rd Stone Angel Test, the 2nd Verbatim Assignment, and the Grammar Bytes Activity.

As always, questions of a general nature may be posted here for the benefit of everyone.

Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 3) - Madison and Mia

At the beginning of the scene, Laertes is about to leave for France. He bids farewell to Ophelia, and warns her about Hamlet's intentions with her. Laertes does not believe that Hamlet takes his relationship with Ophelia in a serious manner. Ophelia was uncomfortable speaking with Laertes about the details of their relationship; however, she told Laertes that Hamlet had written her letters of his love. He brings to Ophelia's attention that he has to marry someone that will assist him in advancing politically. Polonius joined in on Laertes' opinion of Hamlet, stating that he also believed that he does not take his relationship with Ophelia serioiusly. He then forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet; and she promises that she will obey his request. Polonius bids farewell to Ophelia.


Do you think that Ophelia will obey her father, or go against his word and continue to see Hamlet?
Contrary to what Polonius states about Hamlet's intentions with Ophelia, do you think he would want his daughter to marry royalty?