Comparing and contrasting three poems that portray the yearning to belong Essay Example for Free

Comparing and contrasting three poems that portray the yearning to belong Essay We all long to be a part of something and to feel accepted, irrespective of age, culture and society. Similarly, Stephen Spenders poem, My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough, Moniza Alvis An Unknown Girl and Phyllis McCormacks Crabbit Old Woman talk about how each of the poets long to be a part of a certain society or culture, and this longing outlines the underlying theme across all three poems. My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough is about childhood bullying and regret. The narrator experiences bullying at a young age and I sense a feeling of regret as the poet wished he could be a part of the group of rough boys. I get the impression that the narrator, now at his adult stage, feels that he did not make the most of his childhood, and this was perhaps due to class differentials. Whereas, Moniza Alvis poem reveals how the narrator had left her hometown at a young stage and when she returns, she yearns to be a part of it. I believe she finds it difficult to reconcile her roots with her foreign lifestyle and falls under the dilemma where she is forced to choose one life, despite her strong desire for both. We get a contrasting idea in Crabbit Old Woman, as it is a plea to break free from the stereotypical image of old people. The old woman feels that she is being judged unfairly because her body has crumbled. She expresses how her soul remains intact, and would like the nurses to realize that her battered heart swells with undiscovered vivacity. All the three poems have an underlying theme of belonging. My parents is about how the narrator longed to fit in with the group of bullies. The world being so brutal, made growing up hard for the narrator. At a young age, the narrator probably needed to feel wanted and important and hence, wanted to be part of a group. There are many other significant themes present, such as a theme of childhood bullying, as the narrator fears the boys who had muscles like irons. A theme of regret, coupled with loneliness is distinguished, as the poet longed to forgive the bullies, but never had the chance. The constant use of I and Me tells the readers how the poet was lonesome. Therefore, I get the impression that the poem is written based on a bitter childhood memory. I feel sorry for the poet as he was made fun of for his lisp and the bullies salt-coarse pointing, which seems to have affected the poets life greatly, even throughout his adult phase. Similarly, in An unknown girl, the poet wants to belong to her native community, which she once left behind. There is a theme of admiration, as her fascination for the evening bazaar studded with neon is clearly depicted. In addition to that, a theme of self-identity is found, as the poet is desperately trying to find herself through her roots. She is unknown to herself. Whereas, the narrator in Crabbit Old Woman wants to belong in a world and society untouched by the evils of stereotype. She would like to feel accepted and gain the same respect as everybody else. She hopes the nurses would include her in their world, and would look beyond her physical inabilities, in order to admire and recognise the beautiful life she has lived and experienced. Alongside that central theme, a great deal of regret is conveyed, as the narrator immensely resents the way she is stereotyped, and hopes to prove that she is still young at heart. There is also a nostalgic sensation in the poem, as the narrator indulges in reminisces about her past experiences and life stages. I believe that the titles of each poem represent the reason for the narrators inability to belong. My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough suggests how the poet blames his parents for not being able to bask in the pleasures the bullies experienced, as they were very protective of him. I get the impression that he envied the other childrens freedom, in contrast to his restricted life enforced upon him. On the other hand, the title An Unknown Girl has a double meaning as it could refer to the actual girl hennaing the poets hand or it may refer to the poet itself. The poet finds this culture overwhelming yet admires it, and she strongly craves to be a part of it. Moreover, the title Crabbit Old Woman itself illustrates the way the old woman is perceived by the nurses. This stereotypical image is what prevents the nurses from exploring the real old woman and prevents her from belonging into their world. Structure aids a reader to visualise a poem and the free verse structure in An Unknown Girl expresses the narrators exploration of thought and conveys her dream-like admiration. The lack of pauses in the poem is successful, as these would break the connection between the narrator and the bazaar. I felt the layout of the poem was particularly striking, and this furthermore made me realize that it could symbolize the pretty henna, which is described as icing to us, enhancing its graceful manner. Similarly, the use of enjambment in Crabbit Old Woman depicts to the reader the constant running of thoughts and memories of the various stages of life of the old woman. This creates a fast pace coupled with a constant rhyme and free flowing rhythm, which contrasts with the impression the nurses have of old people being slow. I believe the poet chose to use a fast pace and rhyme, to further emphasis that point. Moreover, I feel the use of three structured stanzas with four lines each in My parents made me realize how the narrator was always forced to follow his parents rules and hence, control himself from many things. As a child, one is helpless in front of his or her parents decisions and therefore, I feel as if the author felt caged. I sometimes feel obligated to my parents decisions and this often aggravates me, hence I can understand the underlying tone of anger and blame placed upon the parents in this poem. The use of effective language by the poets helps suggest the ideas of the poems. The constant use of similes in My Parents show the childs admiration and interest for the bullies; as muscles like iron suggests strength and power, which are qualities that generally excite young boys. Torn Clothes reveal class differentiation and this helped justify the reason why the parents did not want the narrator to be a part of the bullies. On the contrary, Moniza Alvi uses striking imagery in her poem, as she paints a wonderful metaphoric image in our minds depicting her state of longing to be a part of this culture. The way the narrator will lean across a country [India] with my hands outstretched longing for the unknown girl in the neon bazaar is a very powerful image. I can almost imagine an anxious woman holding out her arms, in hope to receive her roots; it gives me the idea that the narrator is practically begging for this connection with her hometown. Colours leave the street float up in balloons is another influential metaphoric image. This symbolizes how the poet is trying to reach out for something [her roots], but it is not within her grasp. Moreover, the constant repetition of an unknown girl is hennaing my hand gives me the impression that the poet needs to constantly remind herself that she connects with this place; showing her desperation to remain connected to her roots. I chose these poems as I felt I could relate to them very well. I can understand Alvis situation, as I myself am away from my country of origin and often I find myself indulging in a more foreign culture, yet many a times I get nostalgic about the place I come from, despite feeling detached and distant from it. In addition, I think I could share my thoughts and feelings very well with My parents as it is about a young adult, just like me. Fitting in and being part of a group of children is very vital and therefore, I solemnly sympathize with the narrator. Lastly, I think Crabbit Old Woman deals with a great problem of stereotypical images, which are present in all works of life. It was inspiring to see the old woman standing up against these stereotypical images created by society. The poem made me to realize that I need to offer more respect and admiration for the older generation. All the three poems are written in a unique style and each one conveys very deep issues, in accordance with the universal theme of belonging. All the poets were very much successful in conveying their ideas and they were able to create a lasting impact upon the readers.

The Cosmogonic Cycle in Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

The Cosmogonic Cycle in Heart of Darkness  Ã‚   The short novel Heart of Darkness tells a story just like any other heroic myth, except better. This novel rewards an educated reader. Many find the work to be extremely confusing, and actually quite dull. Though it is a complicated book, a reader is stimulated by the symbols and linguistics used by Conrad. The most noticeable is the flaw in the Cosmogony Cycle. This cycle is an integral part of every hero’s journey. An important step in the cycle, the second step in fact, is finding a guide, either spiritual or tangible. If one were to look hard enough in most works of canonical literature, he would find all the necessary components of the Cosmogonic Cycle on the protagonist’s journey, the travel into the underworld, confronting the father figure, meeting, and saving, a female prisoner, then the journey back into the conscious. A guide is there to lead the hero. He generally is a man or woman who has been on a similar journey and knows the pitfalls where the hero may f all. Without this figure in Marlow’s journey, he fell into the temptation of staying in the unconscious "evil" domain. Conrad never gave Marlow a guide, in essence, dooming him to fail his mission. At the beginning of the protagonist’s journey it seemed as though the "two women . . . knitting black wool" (Conrad 13) in the trading center office were there to foreshadow the mortal death of Marlow. One may have drawn this conclusion because this is an obvious reference to the women who knitted while watching aristocrats executed by the guillotine during the French Revolution. I believe it meant something much more deep. A good writer, one of Conrad’s caliber, does not place superfluous scenes, words, or phrases in his or her book. He writes only what he needs to write. With that in mind, because Marlow did not die at the end of his journey, therefore the women then had to represent something else. They foreshadowed the death of Marlow’s soul. They knew he was without a spirit guide because they were aware the Trading Company had not offered him one. They also knew Kurtz hadn’t had a guide either. There were multiple uses of the word soul in the final chapter, many of which talked of the inability for a man’s soul to escape the forest.

Comparison and Contrast of “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger” Essay

Thesis: In these two stories we observe some of man’s darker nature. We observe two seemingly normal people with dark sides to each of them and will explain how each one is similar and also very different from one another. I. The protagonist, General Zaroff is the main focus of the essay, because of his darker nature and his motivations. A. At first, General Zaroff comes off as welcoming and kind in nature for taking Rainsford in. He gives Rainsford food, clothing and shelter after being lost at sea. B. The man explains to Rainsford that he has been a hunter his whole life and is good at what he does, but he has grown bored of hunting animals. C. He then comes to conclusion that he hunts man because of their strength, courage, and reason. D. Eventually he then forces Rainsford to participate in the game as Zaroff’s game. E. In the end, Rainsford finds his way back to the house and kills Zaroff, leaving him a s â€Å"food for the hounds† II. In the story, â€Å"The Child by Tiger†, Dick Prosser is the main character of the story. A. At first the story comes of praising Dick, almost making him seem perfect. He is a â€Å"deeply religious man† that was very talented in the things he did, and the Shepperton family believed there was nothing he could not do. B. He seems kind at first willing to help in any way he can with the family. Although, throughout the story they explain that there is something off about him. How he moves quietly like a cat, and even though he was deeply religious it seemed very dark and strange. The motivations are unclear from the character and almost unpredictable from the beginning of the story. C. The town wakes up in a panic one night, with word going around that Dick Prosser is on a rampage and has killed several people. D. Town starts a mob that tracks him down through the woods and past the creek. He kills a few more men and runs out of ammunition. He then throws his gun to the side and moves towards the creek. E. The mob shoots him down, over 300 times according to a man who is boasting about it later on in the story. III. General Zaroff and Dick Prosser are both similar in that they both had come off as seemingly normal people, and yet they both had a dark and twisted side to the both of them. A. Dick Prosser comes off as a gentle soul who the children of the Shepperton all trust and gives off the belief that he is a good person. B. General Zaroff at first comes off as a normal man who likes to live in solitude and enjoys the finer things, even being warm and welcoming by inviting Rainsford into his home. IV. They differ more than they compare, even though they both share the same twisted, dark nature. A. General Zaroff seems to live in almost his own mind where he has convinced himself that hunting other human beings as being completely normal. It has become an exciting game and there is nothing that you can see about him that has â€Å"snapped† or has â€Å"gone crazy† He simply wants to hunt something more exciting, whether it is morally wrong. B. Dick Prosser is a colored servant for a white family back in the set time where everything is very racially segregated. He works for a wealthy white family and seems to come off as a goodhearted man who is of good use to the family. Then one night it seems as though he has â€Å"snapped† and unleashes his inner demons on the town, killing many innocent victims. At the end, when the Sheppertons’ go into his room and find the chapter that he has left the Bible on shows that this was most likely pre-meditated. V. In conclusion, although both character came from two different backgrounds and the stories were both very different, they were alike in the fact that they both had darker sides of them that had been unleashed. A. Both stories portray how easy it is for mankind to be dark in nature and to become something monstrous. B. Whether it be planned and turned into a game or on a whim of the dark demons inside of them letting out, they both lived lives of corruption, which in turn, led to their inevitable deaths. Thesis: These two stories show the darker side of human nature, and although someone can seem perfectly normal, they may have a darker side to them that no one would ever expect. In the two stories, â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† and â€Å"The Child by Tiger†, these two seemingly normal men come off as almost kind hearted and good natured people in the beginning of both stories. Later on, we realize that this is not so, and these two both have more in common than they are different. General Zaroff seems to be very hospitable and helps a man in need when Rainsford comes to his door after being lost at sea. He takes him into his home and feeds him, gives him clothing, and a nice comfortable place to sleep in. In the other story, Dick Prosser comes off as a kind and gentle man who the Shepperton’s claimed was their â€Å"best negro man they’d ever had.† In the beginning of the story, it seems that they have nothing negative to say about him and â€Å"there is little that Dick Prosser could not do.† Dick would teach the boys of the family how to play football or would teach them other handy things, coming off as a role model to the children. Dick Prosser was also a deeply religious man and would read his Bible every day, the children started to notice something odd about him. The way he moved was very quiet and unnoticed, and although he was religious, there was something dark and strange about it. General Zaroff explains to Rainsford that hunting big game animal has become boring to him and he wanted something more exciting of a hunt for him. As he goes on explaining his new quarry, Rainsford discovers that Zaroff is talking about hunting humans. Zaroff explains it is exciting because humans have â€Å"courage, cunning, and reason.† They can think logically and make it a harder hunt for Zaroff, thus far making it more exciting. He then tells Rainsford he want him to be his new quarry and gives him a three hour head start for the hunt. Throughout the three days of hunting down Rainsford he comes across three different types of traps that Rainsford has tried setting up to trap him. Each one fails to trap General Zaroff, but he finds this more amusing then anything and throughout the story he seems to enjoy these traps more because they make it a more exciting game for him. In the story his dark nature is revealed at the beginning with his conversation with Rainsford. The moment Rainsford figures out what Zaroff is speaking about, you see that there is something much darker about him. He is not the normal hunter with good hospitality skills that the story first initiates. He is now a twisted and dark murderer who finds amusement out of hunting down human beings. Throughout the story, Dick Prosser starts coming off as more increasingly strange and almost scary as it progresses. A man in the village hits the Sheppperton’s car and angrily punches Dick in the face. Everyone notices his eyes turn red but he does not hit him back. The gun that he warns the children not to speak about until Christmas morning sends off another warning sign that something is not right. Why would he be wanting to hide that from the family if there was an innocent reasoning behind it? When the sirens go off in the village and everyone is awoken to the warnings that Dick Prosser is on a murderous rampage, the town starts to panic. By that time in the story he is claimed to have already killed six people. The town forms angry mob that chases him down to the creek. Eventually, they catch up to him and he has run out of bullets. He then calmly walks down to the creek, takes off his shoes and sets them aside and gets down on his knees. The mob of angry men shoot him well over three hundred times even though the first shot had likely killed him immediately. Both of these men share the characteristics that they each had a darker, more evil side to them then first expected. The differences between them is that General Zaroff simply had grown bored and wanted something more exciting to hunt. Out of his own selfish needs for entertainment he had decided to start killing human beings for sport. Dick Prosser is a little harder to understand. At first he seems like an all-around good Christian man who wants nothing more than to be of great help to the family. It’s hard to say whether he did it because he had it planned all along from the beginning and he was more evil than good, or if he had simply snapped after a buildup of emotions and went on a murderous rampage. In the story, after running out of bullets, he takes his shoes off and sets them neatly aside, then stands up and accepts his fate. It seemed like this was his plan all along, to do his evil deed then go out with his religious mindset. The family later on finds the Bible left open on Psalm 23:4, â€Å"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Whether he believes that God would have been forgiving of him after what he had done is a mystery. Both of these stories portray that as humans we have a good and evil side and if that balance is upset and evil takes over it can have terrible outcomes. Both of these characters chose the evil side of their good and evil balance and because they lived their lives in corruption, it resulted in their inevitable death. Resources Connell, R. (1924) â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† Wolfe, T. (1937) â€Å"The Child by Tiger†

The Negative Effects Of Rap Music In Modern Music And Pop...

â€Å"When you’re king of African music you’re the king because music is the king of all professions† (Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon). Rap music has been a staple in modern day music and pop culture since its beginning in the 1970’s in the South Bronx area of New York. Rap started as an underground movement started by many artists and DJ’s (or disc jockeys). It started as a form of expressing oneself and discussing many social and political issues through music. But now in the 21st century, rap has changed dramatically to where the meaning of rap is almost entirely forgotten and squanders to a whole new low. Hip-Hop/Rap of this generation now condones vulgar activities to a young audience which unknowingly causing much harm. Rap music today is†¦show more content†¦In the music industry, it’s very common nowadays for most artists to change their appearances to a more sexually appealing and risque look to attract fans, money, etc. The se practices of bad imagery are present in hip hop music the most out of all the genres. Bad imagery in rap is one of the main causes of the exploitation of women in this country today. Women are being overexposed in rap music whether that being a sex symbol, gold digger, or a â€Å"freak†. According to Dr. Carolyn West from the University of Washington, â€Å"Black girls are not seeing positive images of who they are and what they be. Looking at sexual imagery really impacts the functioning of teenage girls† (Post-Gazette 2). Teenage girls see these women in various videos and songs and they believe that they should mimic the same actions that they are portraying. Misogyny is also a present factor in songs like â€Å"Rake it Up† by Yo Gotti with lines like, â€Å"I tell all my h***, Rake it up, break it down, bag it up† (Yo Gotti 2017). Songs such as those degrade women and show younger males how to treat women which is a false teaching toward the younge r generation. Teens can be easily swayed by hip hop to become the imagery shown through hip hop and become these people which changes their perception on other people and changes their attitudes. Though many people don’t realize it. rap music is the modern day poetry in present day society. Just like romanticism in the 1770’s,Show MoreRelatedRap Music And Its Effect On Society Essay1277 Words   |  6 Pagesthink that it is only classical music that has a positive effect on society because of its soft tune and melody, but in fact rap music can have that same effect. The reason that some people think rap music leads to violence is because gang members can often be found listening to rap music, and they dress in the urban clothing style of rappers. The reality is that rap music is greatly misunderstood. The media often portrays rap music as negative and focuses on rap music more when it is related to somethingRead MoreEveryday Life Is Shaped By One Force1706 Words   |  7 Pages Everyday life is shaped by one force: music. Everyone listens to music every single day of their lives and, whether they realize it or not, it shapes their lives. Music affects peopleà ¢â‚¬â„¢s moods and interactions. People interested in different genres will also act differently because various genres have separate effects on people’s minds. Each genre has its own personality that it is generally related to, however not everyone who enjoys a specific genre is the stereotypical audience, such as a normallyRead MoreThe Negative Portrayal of Women in Hip Hop and Rap Music Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagesbeat-boxer in rap music today, has been quoted saying, â€Å"Hip-hop is supposed to uplift and create, to educate people on a larger level and to make a change.† Although this is the original intention of hip-hop music, public opinion currently holds the opposite view. Since the 1970’s musical artists have changed the face of hip-hop and rap and worldwide, people – mostly teens—have been striving to emulate certain artists and their lyrics, which has created negative stereotypes for hip-hop music and alsoRead More90s Hip Hop and Rap1320 Words   |  6 PagesRap and hip-hop first started to come together in the 1970 s, but didn t really materialize and become popular until the 1990 s. With a huge surge in popularity and growth in the 1990 s, it seemed that rap and hip-hop had started a cultural phenomenon that still has noticeable effects easily seen today in music and also in pop culture. A cultural phenomenon is an idea, trend, or movement that shapes and defines that time period. During the 1990 s, rap and hip-hop spread like wild fire acrossRead MoreThe Symptoms Of Taking Rap Music1823 Words   |  8 PagesAm Lit P.3 April 9, 2015 The Symptoms of Taking Rap Music Music is one of the greatest ways of expressing one’s personal feelings and experiences through the use of story-telling. One of the most popular genres of music is rap or also known as hip hop. Hip hop music has a profound effect, both positive and negative on many of today’s youth which transforms and evolves American culture and society. What started it all was the origin of â€Å"gangsta rap†, which was popularized by gangster rappers suchRead MoreWhy Study Pop Music Essay1354 Words   |  6 PagesWhy Study Pop Music â€Å"Pop culture used to be all the stuff you had to wait for after school to enjoy. But these days, pop culture is just as likely to be the stuff you study in school† . In 1986 Michael Hannan establish a contemporary Popular Music program at Southern Cross University a trained classical pianist and musicologist he had previously worked in rock bands and for AC/DC’s publisher. Hannan recounts how in 2000 â€Å"at least 8 of the 37 universities in Australia are now offering degreesRead MoreHow Hip Hop Is The Rapid Development Of Its Lexicons Essay2002 Words   |  9 Pagesdifferent reasons including scientific use, technological advances, and lastly, words that are created in contemporary culture. Expressions that have been created by the youth have become such a part of American culture, that they often times end up being added to the dictionary. A large portion of these words coined by the youth are making their way into mainstream media through Hip Hop music. The creation of these words stems from the youth feeling the need to label their realities with new expressionsRead MoreThe Various Genres Of Music Had A Positive Or Negative Effect O n Society2928 Words   |  12 Pagespast 50 years has the various genres of music had a positive or negative effect on generations of young adults? For hundreds of years, music has developed through all kinds of ways, such as broadening society’s perspective, influencing fashion, and creating new music from the old. But has music in the past 50 years influenced positive or negative affects on society and younger generations? As Dave Holland said, â€Å"I think that what is important is that the music be honest and direct and that it is relevantRead MoreThe Effects Of Hip Hop Music On Society2876 Words   |  12 Pages Maria Hofman Enc 1102 22 July 2015 Negative Effects Of Hip Hop Music in Society Music is a powerful form of sound that affects our emotional state. However it is not the only kind of sound that affects the emotions; for example the sound of the waves and birds. Music has been around since the beginning of civilization. Music was used to tell myths, religious stories, and warrior tales. Since the beginning of civilization music has greatly progressed. Music still tells a story, we now just haveRead MoreCan Music Contribute to Anything Worth?1494 Words   |  6 PagesCan music contribute to anything worth? Famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven once rightly quoted â€Å"Music is a higher revelation than philosophy†. Indeed, music has higher magnitude than just being a mere form of entertainment- it plays a significant role in our society be it politics or religion or even academics. So important is music’s value that it has been recorded throughout history of mankind in numerous ancient writings including the sacred Hindu scripture, Veda. Thus it