“Avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.” In the movie Dead Poets Society, Robin William uses this line as an English teacher to inspire his students. This line also speaks personally to the way that I find myself in the problem of using “empty words” in my communication. I’m probably worse at using fillers such as “um” and “like” than I realize, but one thing that I have noticed is that I tend to draw out the time that it takes for me to say a word when I don’t know what to say. When looking through the list of “empty words” that we learned about in class, I noticed a theme suggesting a reduction in adjectives. …show more content…
One of my academic confessions is that I almost always keep a thesaurus website accessible while writing so that I can use the same word multiple times but just by concealing the repetition through an arsenal of advanced vocabulary. It seems like my word choice is always either highly intellectual or simplistic to the point that it seems like I’m talking to a child – there’s not in between. Another reason why I am guilty of using empty words in the form of adjectives is simply to take up space in a paper in order to meet the word count or page length requirement. Even now as I’m writing this, I have begun to think twice about every time I attempt to use an adjective. From a more casual conversational stance, though, I still think that these fillers can be helpful. I understand that imprecise ambiguity can cause a sentence to take on a different meaning than intended, but I personally think that precise and straightforward messages that do not include additional adjectives can come off as too detached and
This quote is found in a poetic theory titled “The Defence of Poesy” by Sir Philip Sidney. The writing is also know as “An Apologie for Poetrie”, the overall message is around poor poetry. It is important to
In the article, How to Say Nothing in 500 Words, Paul McHenry Roberts starts by explaining that writer tends to focus more on the total of words that has to be used than on the actual content. McHenry gives many advice on ways to become a better writer. He mentions that writers should get rid of “padding,” which are words that simply add up the total number of words but does not add any detail nor does it support your main idea. He also talks about calling a person or item for what it is. McHenry use the example of a student calling a principal a fool but in different words.
Thomas Paine once said “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Conflict is an obstacle that many characters in books go through. It is what drives the reader to continue reading and make the book enjoyable. Additionally, authors use symbolism to connect their novels to real life, personal experience, or even a life lesson. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines, both take place during a time where colored people were being looked down upon and not treated with the same rights as white people. However, both novels portray the conflict and symbolism many ways that are similar and different. Additionally, both of these novels have many similarities and differences that connect as well as differentiate them to one
“As I Lay Dying, read as the dramatic confrontation of words and actions, presents Faulkner’s allegory of the limits of talent” (Jacobi). William Faulkner uses many different themes that make this novel a great book. Faulkner shows his talent by uses different scenarios, which makes the book not only comedic but informational on the human mind. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is a great book that illustrates great themes and examples. Faulkner illustrates different character and theme dynamics throughout the entire novel, which makes the book a humorous yet emotional roller coaster. Faulkner illustrates the sense of identity, alienation, and the results of physical and mental death to show what he thinks of the human mind.
Words are like vessels—they are merely novel constructions of sounds empty of meaning until we fill them. They mean only what we discern in them, and nothing more.
The use of sophisticated diction helps to allure the readers to become lazy. The author advertises laziness in an attractive manner. Morley is able to communicate with the audience by showing he understands the “common man.” In the passage, Morley states, “It is our observation that every time we get into trouble it is due to not having been lazy enough.” Additionally, he used an amiable tone
“Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don't be resigned to that. Break out!”—John Keating (Robin Williams)
In E.E. Cummings poem “dying is fine) but Death”, the poet talks about the the ever discussed topic about dying and Death itself. Cummings talks about how dying is something to look forward to and how it is inevitable, from the moment we are born, to the fateful day it occurs. I agree with this analysis and the author’s analysis of the poem. Cummings uses his legendary shape style to form “dying is fine) but Death” to show how life begins. He may have wanted to symbolize the start of life with “o baby” which if you look at the paper version of the book, “o baby” is split up and very small compared to other sentences in the poem, signifying the start of someone’s life. When the middle of the poem starts to appear, the word “why?” pops up. This could signify the middle of someone’s life, or the “why” that many of us began to ask ourselves this question when we realize that not
In the movie Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams's character as Mr. Keating the English teacher is a hero. "Carpe Diem, lads! Seize the day! Make your lives drastically. Keating's viewpoints and thoughts on life stayed the same throughout the movie no matter what conflict was occurring. The students that Keating taught were the ones who
In American society, receiving an education leads to higher probabilities of achieving economic success and social acceptance. While many believe that education consists of strictly academic learning, they forget that people must also learn morals. American literature repeatedly expresses this idea. For example, in Huck Finn, a young, uneducated boy learns to thrive in the world around him by receiving a moral education as he learns life lessons through his interactions with other people and experiences. In A Lesson Before Dying, Gaines utilizes various story elements and literary devices to illustrate the importance of not only academic education, but also moral and social education to allow different people to contribute knowledge about life
In the novel “As I Lay Dying” William Faulkner shows how life can be a burden especially for the less fortunate. The Bundrens are a family of a low social class who embark on a journey to bury their mother and wife Addie Bundren. Initially, the family received help from their neighbors of equal and slightly higher social class, however when they began to encounter towns inhabited by wealthier people it became apparent they were not welcome. Turning their faces and helping hands away, the townspeople were not overjoyed to see the Bundren’s run-down wagon that smelt strongly of their mother’s rotting corpse. “the folks backed off with handkerchiefs to their faces,”(365).
Eliot's Themes of Death and Futility in the Poem Remind Your Self of The Hollow Men
The Theme of Death in Poetry Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson are two Modern American Poets who consistently wrote about the theme of death. While there are some comparisons between the two poets, when it comes to death as a theme, their writing styles were quite different. Robert Frost’s poem, “Home Burial,” and Emily Dickinson’s poems, “I felt a Funeral in my Brain,” and “I died for Beauty,” are three poems concerning death. While the theme is constant there are differences as well as similarities between the poets and their poems. The obvious comparison between the three poems is the theme of death.
It is infuriating to have a father breathing down your neck and I can relate to Neil Perry on this matter but going as far as to killing yourself to escape your father is not the way to go. In Dead Poets Society, John Keating, the teacher keeps on telling his students to seize the day (Carpe Diem). It very different then what the school, Welton Academy, would have the students do. In Welton Academy, the students are expected to study hard, get good grades, get into a prestigious University, get a well-paying job, get married, and have children who you will raise in the same way. Welton Academy has a one size fits all philosophy and John Keating shows his students the pitfalls of this philosophy in his very first class, when the students are looking at old school photos, that you are going to die one day regretting not making much of your life.
"The Dead Poet’s Society" is a movie about a group of kids. The conflict, characters, plot and theme are very interesting. So now I am going to tell you a little about it.