Billy Collins accessibility in “Questions about Angels,” proves that it allows the reader to relate to the poem. Billy Collins work proves this with the language used in his work, the satire, and how he expands the topic in his poetry.
Billy Collins uses certain languages in his poetry to allow all readers to relate to his poetry. Collins uses multiple forms of language in his writing. From simple language to any universal language in his writing. In Billy Collins “Questions about Angels,” he writes, “The only one you ever hear is how many can dance on a head of a pin” (1-3). Collins beings this poem with a universal question. One that many have heard of and have not gotten an answer to. This for of language catches the readers attention with something familiar
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they have heard of.
“A poem can start with something trivial and then develop significance along the way” (Collins 1138). The poet can start poetry however they desire. Billy Collins believes that using a certain language that is familiar to all easily catch the attention of the reader. Catching the readers attention then allows him to lead them towards a deeper meaning. Multiple scholars agree that Collins work is widely used for its language that many readers can understand. The University of Pittsburgh writes, “ Billy Collins poetry is widely accessible. He writes in an original way about all manner of ordinary things and situation” (Billington). They believe that Collins accessibly in poetry is due to the language he uses. He writes about current topics and address situations that one may run into.
Billy Collins uses satire in his poetry to enhance his poetry. Collins uses the humor sense in poetry to make his poetry enjoyable. He uses it as humor but also to mock theologians that make literature more complex. In Billy Collins
“Questions about Angels,” he writes, “If an angel delivered that mail, would he arrive in blinding rush of wings or would he just assume the appearance of the regular mailman… No, the medieval theologians control the court” (19-23). Here Collins humor is saying that a spiritual angel may dress alike as a mail man delivering mail. The humor comes from this and it being something no one would expect to say. Towards the end he stops no one would expect to say. Towards the end he stops and says no the theologians control what they look like. Mocking them as they think they control how something should be read or said. Collins mocks theologians for their complexity that a simple question can be thought through a more simple way. “ Seemingly unanswerable, the question originates as an attempt to mock certain medieval philosopher (notable Thomas Aquinas) who sought to solve arcane theological mysteries through sneer application of reason” (Collins 1138). Collins admits to mocking these philosophers. He proves that a question that cannot be answered can be broken down into more questions and do not have to be so complicated. The satire he uses enhances the poem to bring humor to the reader. In Billy Collins “Questions about Angels,” he writes, “ One female dancing alone in her stocking feet, small jazz combo working in the background”(30-31). Again, the humor comes out and he describes the one angel dating the night in a jazz filled environment. The angles are filled with energy and can go for days. Collins humor allows the reader to understand and bring joy to them while reading. Billy Collins expands the topics in his poetry to enhance the readers experience in his poetry. Collins took the universal question in the beginning and expands it to multiple more questions. In Billy Collins “ Questions about Angels,” he states, “Do they fly through God’s body and come out singing? Do they wing like children from the hinges of the spirit world saying their names backwards and forwards?”(1137). Collins takes the simple universal question and expands it to many more that people may have not even thought of. He shows that there does not just have to be one question about angels, but there can be many more that are still not answered. The way Billy collins forms his structure in his poetry allow him to expand this topic. “ The Troubles with Billy Collins,” states, “ Structure lends a sense of trust to the reader because the reader knows what to expect” (Brackett-Vincent). Billy Collins expands the topics in his poetry, allowing it to become more accessible. The structure of the poem is a type of form that allows the reader to flow with the poem.
In both poems, Collins uses comparative imagery to create a visual representation of readers’ inability to comprehend the essence of literature. In “Marginalia,” Collins compares the readers and their annotations to “fans who cheer from the empty bleachers” (Lines 23-24), illustrating the fans are cheering because they are in the bleachers, not because there is anything to cheer for. Likewise, the “fans who cheer” represent the readers and their enthusiastic annotations towards what they are reading however, “the
the surface structure of these poems appears simplistic, but subtle changes in tone or gesture move the reader from the mundane to the sublime. In an attempt to sleep, the speaker in "Insomnia" moves from counting sheep to envisioning Noah's arc to picturing "all the fish in creation/ leaping a fence in a field of water,/ one colorful species after another." Collins will tackle any topic: his subject matter varies from snow days to Aristotle to forgetfulness. Collins relies heavily on imagery, which becomes the cornerstone of the entire volume, and his range of diction brings such a polish to these poems
What makes a piece of writing humourus? In “ How I got Smart” by Steve Brody and in “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, both use literary devices to tell a story from a younger perspective. Although they both use figurative language in a humourous way, Brody’s story is silly and has a happy ending and Hughes’s story is somewhat sad and does not end happily thus making Brody’s story overall funnier.
Thoughtful laughter is a technique used frequently in satirical pieces in literature. It allows for the audience to enjoy the wittiness of a work, later ponder on the meaning, and then apply the message to reality. Thoughtful laughter is often an inner experience that can only be achieved by authors who write meticulously. Two examples of satirical works in literature that display this concept explicitly are Voltaire’s Candide and C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. Both authors explore the depths of satire and simultaneously deliver an important message to readers through skillful technique.
Media. The main means of mass communication regarded collectively. It comes in the form of t.v., radio, newspapers, magazines etc. The media has a way of portraying a story in a way that they want it to be seen by audiences. In other words, the media only tells us only what they want us to hear; which, may or may not be the truth or include the entire story. The media is always looking for the next best story and the competition to be the first one on the scene can be intense. A documentary by 9.14 Productions tells the story of a man and his art collection; The Barnes Foundation.
Collins uses metaphors to teach the audience that with patience, poetry can be understanded easily. For instance, he tells the audience to “walk inside the poem’s
Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities; it is solely used to evoke emotive feelings in the reader in which to convey a message or story. This form of literature has a long history dating back thousands of years and is considered a literacy art form as it uses forms and conventions to evoke differentiating interpretations of words, though the use of poetic devices. Devices such as assonance, figurative language, alliteration, onomatopoeia and rhythm are sometimes used to achieve a musical and memorable aspect to the poem. Poems are usually written based on the past experiences of the poet and are greatly influenced by the writer’s morals values and beliefs. Poetry regularly demonstrates and emphasises on the
The popular American Poet, Billy Collins, is playing a significant role in the evolution of poetry. His writing style evokes an array of emotions for the reader. Every stanza in his poetry passes the satirical standard that he generated for himself over his career. Collins swiftly captivates his readers through his diverse use of figurative language. More specifically, his use of vivid imagery paired with humorous personification and extended metaphors create his unique style of satirical poetry. This developed form of writing appeals to a large crowd of people because the generally accessible topics that he discusses are fairly easy to resonate for the common man. However, his poetry offers an interesting perspective on what otherwise would be simplistic ideas. The main themes and concepts that are being presented in each of his writings are revered and coveted by the general population. An appealing aspect of his writing is his ability to directly convey the main idea within the poem. As a result, the reader can understand the meaning of his work with ease. The typical beginning of his work gives the reader a slight taste of what is to come. Billy Collins’ unique writing style and various trademarks directly influenced by his ability to propagate an array of emotions for the reader, his humorous tone, and the accessibility of the topics he describes within his poetry.
In today’s modern view, poetry has become more than just paragraphs that rhyme at the end of each sentence. If the reader has an open mind and the ability to read in between the lines, they discover more than they have bargained for. Some poems might have stories of suffering or abuse, while others contain happy times and great joy. Regardless of what the poems contains, all poems display an expression. That very moment when the writer begins his mental journey with that pen and paper is where all feelings are let out. As poetry is continues to be written, the reader begins to see patterns within each poem. On the other hand, poems have nothing at all in common with one another. A good example of this is in two poems by a famous writer by the name of Langston Hughes. A well-known writer that still gets credit today for pomes like “ Theme for English B” and “Let American be American Again.”
For this assignment, I have decided to write about a famous poem of Billy Collins which is titled as ‘Introduction to Poetry’ written in 1996.
Use of Satire in Pride and Prejudice & nbsp; & nbsp; Satire is used in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to show the deficiencies in morals and ethics of the characters that Austen disapproves of. Satire is used to "attack" characters and to bring about change. The different character types she satirizes are "suck-ups," hierarchical, and/or ignorant. & nbsp; Austen disapproves of Mr. Collins and that is why she attacks and satirizes him. Mr. Collins is a "suck-up." His living with Lady Catherine has caused him to demoralize himself.
The poem having the title “The Art of Drowning” says much about what Billy Collins will be discussing about through his writing. It gives off a tone of fearfulness and pessimism, considering the word ‘drowning’. Yet, it also seems like Collins is going to go over ‘the art of drowning’ with a questioning tone, in a way of breaking down the perspective of the person ‘drowning’. Overall, the poem appears to be about fearing life being worthless and/or how being one of millions does not make a difference in the world.
By using onomatopoeia, description, and dialogue each poet argues their subject or theme. Although each poet does not write about the same subject or theme they each use the literary device effectively to help support their poem. By using each literary device in different context the poets show the many different styles when writing poetry. Each poet uses the literary devices efficiently to help their overall message in each poem.
He uses powerful imagery and onomatopoeia to achieve the desired effects that make the poem more realistic. All this combined together produces effective thought provoking ideas and with each read, I gradually get an improved understanding and appreciation of the poem.
Poetry is a true literary art form that uncovers the hidden beauty of the world through its word’s. Poems are strong pieces of literature that unveil a deeper meaning using various literary devices throughout. Therefore, all humans need poetry as it is a living image that endlessly inspires the importance of change in society. Moreover, in silence, poetry is able to connect with people on any subject for it contains all the wisdom of the world. Furthermore, poetry pours out raw emotion and truth though the use of metaphors, allusions and many more devices, which shed light on the value of life. In “Constantly Risking Absurdity” a poem written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the speaker explains the devotion that a poet