Looking at Letters and Other Worlds and To a Sad Daughter
Poetry is a genre of great influence, of free flowing ideas, political statements, and a wide range of authors. Because the genre is so broad, it increases the possibility for an overlap of information, or in other words, intertextuality. Taking this into account when examining two poems by the same author it would be nearly impossible not to make connections between the two works, and to find the common ground between them. The two poems “Letters and Other Worlds” and “To a Sad Daughter” (Michael Ondaatje, reprinted in Richard Ellmann and Robert O’Clair. The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, 2nd ed. [W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1988} 1599-1601; 1603-1605.) are great pieces of work when examined separately, and can take on new perspectives when explored with knowledge of the other poem on the front line of the brain.
When examining “Letters and Other Worlds” alone, many great features stand out and need to be investigated before adding the information of the second poem. “My father’s body was a globe of fear/ His body was a town we never knew,”(1-2). With these lines, Ondaatje sets up the family background, vividly recreating the silent world his father lived in that kept the family in terror and confusion. His “town” contained all different aspects of life his family had never seen, too afraid to show them. Lines like “ His letters were a room he seldom lived in/ In them the logic of his love could grow”(4-5) display a crisp visual imagery of a dark attic-like enclosure where the father keeps his emotions hidden away, and also great consonance in the words “logic” and “love.”
“He was the only witness to its fear dance…His letters were a room his b...
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...cognizes to his daughter that “…sometimes I’ve gone/ into my purple world/ and lost you,”(48-50). With this fact he recognizes what his father in “Letters” could not—that it is allowed to be open with your family, that they understand because they have “purple moods” too. In any poem about family life these two discourses will exist, and with a reading of “Daughter” under the reader’s belt it gives “Letters” a new and interesting perspective.
Both “Letters & Other Worlds” and “ To a Sad Daughter” create vivid images, feelings, and relationships. On their own, they are very satisfying pieces of work, and their lyrics float through the mind easily. Only when the two are looked at together can the reader gather a new perspective on the poems, and this can lead to an open mind that will more readily look for connections among all poetry, as well as all of life.
Pearl is a symbol of Hester’s transgressions and even has similar qualities as the sin which she represents. Pearl’s life and behavior directly reflects the unacceptable and abnormal nature of Hester’s adulterous sin. Hester is plagued with more than just a letter “A”; she is given a child from her affair who is just as much a reminder of her sin as the scarlet letter. Ultimately Hester overcomes the shame associated the scarlet letter and creates a sense of family for herself and Pearl. This relationship is integral to the theme of this novel and the development of its characters.
When writing poetry, there are many descriptive methods an author may employ to communicate an idea or concept to their audience. One of the more effective methods that authors often use is linking devices, such as metaphors and similes. Throughout “The Elder Sister,” Olds uses linking devices effectively in many ways. An effective image Olds uses is that of “the pressure of Mother’s muscles on her brain,” (5) providing a link to the mother’s expectations for her children. She also uses images of water and fluidity to demonstrate the natural progression of a child into womanhood. Another image is that of the speaker’s elder sister as a metaphorical shield, the one who protected her from the mental strain inflicted by their mother.
The poem is written in the father’s point of view; this gives insight of the father’s character and
Part I is particularly anecdotal, with many of the poems relating to the death of Trethewey’s mother. The first part begins with an epitaph from the traditional Wayfaring Stranger, which introduces the movement of the soul after death, and the journey towards the ‘home’ beyond. In “Graveyard Blues”, Trethewey examines the definition of “home” as a place of lament, in contrast to the comforting meaning in the epitaph beginning Part I, and the significance of the soul’s movement after death. The ‘home’ described in the epitaph is a place of comfort and familiarity, where the speaker returns to their mother. In contrast, Trethewey describes the ‘home’ she returns to after her mother’s death as a hollow place, the journey back to which is incredibly
The alliterative metaphor in The Violets explains ‘Years cannot move nor death’s disorientating scale distort those lamplit presences’. Here, the father’s presence in the persona’s memories acts as a guiding and warming light, forever embedded in her memories, never to be tainted by death.
... overall themes, and the use of flashbacks. Both of the boys in these two poems reminisce on a past experience that they remember with their fathers. With both poems possessing strong sentimental tones, readers are shown how much of an impact a father can have on a child’s life. Clearly the two main characters experience very different past relationships with their fathers, but in the end they both come to realize the importance of having a father figure in their lives and how their experiences have impacted their futures.
According to the Pew Research Center data, recent trends shows that Asian Americans are the “the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States” ("The Rise o...
In Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is the main character who commits the sin of adultery and bears a child. Most readers pay attention to Hester because of her sinful act and the hardships she endures. Her hardships are very important, but the fact about how her daughter, Pearl, has to go through them with her is also crucial to the story’s plot. Pearl is a very complex and important aspect to the story. Even though her mother committed a sinful act of adultery, Pearl still looks up to her mother with love and grace. Pearl recognizes characters and their significance in her and her mother’s life. There are some points in the story where Pearl is considered a child of the Devil simply because she is the result of a sin. Pearl continuously finds ways to defy the image of being an evil child. Throughout the story, Pearl illustrates an “elf-like” intelligence and a maturity that children do not normally have. Pearl gives her mother the hope she needs to carry on in her life with her head held high and the ability to wear the scarlet letter, “A”, with confidence.
However, Asians are rapidly becoming a greater force in American culture as the proportion of educated Asian-Americans rises. Despite small numbers, they begin to have more and more influence in the business and professional worlds as well as academics. They are an interesting group, however, caught between two extremely different cultures as they seek to strike a balance between the ideals of their parents and the world they live in.
Comparing The Passionate Shepherd to His Love and Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd. and the stark contrast of the treatment of an identical theme, that of love within the framework of pastoral life. I intend to look at each poem separately to give my interpretation of the poet's intentions and then discuss their techniques and how the chosen techniques affect the portal of an identical theme. The poem The Passionate Shepherd to His Love appears to be about the Elizabethan courtly ideal of living with the barest necessities, like.
...s the theme of family. For example, when you truly love someone in your family, you make sure that you show them you truly love them by not only giving them a hug but also telling them that you love them. I can relate to this situation because whenever I notice that my mom is feeling down, I make sure that I tell her that I love her and she is the best mom in the world. Another theme that is present in this poem that I can relate with my life is the theme of mortality. For example, the man is obsessed with not only how but also why Annabel died. I can relate to the man in this situation because after my mom’s dog passed away about nine or ten years ago I was wondering for the longest time why she had to pass away. She wasn’t always the nicest dog, but I still loved her anyways. This poem celebrates the child-like emotions with the ideals of the Romantic era.
looks at the time and how the poet's father has lack of control of the
Both poems inspire their reader to look at their own life. In addition, they treat the reader to a full serving of historic literature that not only entertains, but also teaches valuable lesson in the form of morals and principles.
I found that throughout this poem there was much symbolism within it. Identifying that it was written in first person form showed that this poem relates to the author on a personal basis, and that it was probably written to symbolize his life. But when talking about people’s lives, you can conclude that people’s lives are generally and individually very diffe...
These qualities make The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald’s most influential novel. No wonder it is dubbed “The great American novel” (Yardley). From its use of characters like Daisy representing greed, Nick an observer, and Gatsby as a typical 1920’s man chasing the American dream, to its parallels to Fitzgerald’s life (Lantz) and its historical context (Caldwell). , The Great Gatsby is no doubt one of Fitzgerald’s best and most influential works. In fact, it was even adapted into films twice. The one with the most similarities and accurate representation of characters is the 1974 version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. There is more than enough proof to show that one piece of work, such as The Great Gatsby, can have an impact on so many people over many years.