Poetry Anthology with commentaries

Poetry Anthology Ari Gardarsson 26/09/2011 "Hope" is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickenson "Hope" is the thing with feathers- That perches in the soul- And sings the tune without the words- And never stops-at all- And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard- And sore must be the storm- That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm- I've heard it in the chillest land- And on the strangest Sea- Yet, never, in Extremity, It asked a crumb-of Me. Commentary: The poem is well written and gives such a good description on what hope really is. In the poem she is saying that hope is a bird (i think a dove since that also symbolizes peace). "Perches" and "sings the tune without the words" both talk about what birds do. In the second and last stanza it talks about the song. The poem follows the rhyme scheme abab. It is also very dramatic because, for example, in the last stanza it uses the word "Extremity" and capitalized in the middle of a sentence which adds extra emphasis on an already dramatic sounding word. She may also be referring to that hope is just like a bird in the fact that just like a bird, hope can fly around the world freely. She also states that hope is everywhere by saying "I've heard it in the chillest land and on the strangest sea." Emily Dickenson (19th century) was an American poet. She lived a introverted and reclusive life. She was thought of

  • Word count: 3410
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: World Literature
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How does Mary Shelley create sympathy for the monster whilst he attempts to persuade Frankenstein to create a companion for him?

How does Mary Shelley create sympathy for the monster whilst he attempts to persuade Frankenstein to create a companion for him? Mary Shelley uses various effective techniques and devices to create a feeling of sympathy for the monster, whilst he desperately attempts to persuade Frankenstein to create a controversial companion for him. These persuasive techniques include use of imagery, changes in narrative, as well as the arguments put forward by the monster during his lengthy plea. Frankenstein is one of the best known novels in the world, written by a young Mary Shelley, and inspired by, in particular, a harrowing dream she had experienced one night. Mary was an unconventional woman of her time, with an equally unconventional upbringing. Educated at home, Shelley was the daughter of William Godwin, a philosopher, journalist and radical thinker, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a famed feminist writer and educator. Having two respected but undoubtedly controversial parents most definitely influenced her opinions and works- this is especially evident in Frankenstein, in which both Victor and his creation are controversial and do not lead conventional lives. Sadly, Mary's mother died just ten days after her birth, leaving Mary lonely for a lot of her childhood, which she spent just in the company of her father and his scientific friends- this early death of her mother draws

  • Word count: 3648
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Great gatsby

'One critic has commented that the Great Gatsby is a 'love' story centred on hostility towards women.' Explore Fitzgerald's presentation of women in the light of this statement' Due to Nick's ambivalences towards women, and because the novel moves towards Myrtle's death, and the emptying of Daisy of any romantic belief, some readers have concluded a hidden hostility to women. Fitzgerald's presentation of women in "The Great Gatsby" is complex and ambivalent despite his own claim that the novel 'contains no important woman characters and is of purely masculine interest'1. The complexities of the novel's attitudes to women are reflected in the irony of the critic quoted implied by her use of inverted commas: there can hardly be a "love" story centred on "hostility" since love and hostility would seem mutually exclusive. Does this quote include the mutually exclusive bit? Nevertheless, the observation that Fitzgerald was able to hold two opposing views in his mind famous critical QUOTE in footnote- Malcolm Cowley 1945 observed that the "distinguishing mark" of F's writing was his ability to sustain "opposing viewpoints"] I would argue is at work in his presentation of women, and becomes part of the troubling oxymoronic tension of the novel. On the one hand, women in the novel are romanticised, whilst on the other they are abused both physically and mentally. Daisy is

  • Word count: 3520
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The Rhetoric of Reggae and Rastafari

Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The Rhetoric of Reggae and Rastafari Since its founding in the 1930s, the Rastafarian movement has grown to the point where it has become a major cultural and political force in Jamaica. During its existence, the movement has challenged Jamaica's neo-colonialist society's attempts to keep whites at the top and blacks at the bottom of the socio-economic structure. Because of its controversial actions, the movement has evoked responses from observers that range from "hostility" to "curiosity" (Forsythe 63). On one hand, Rastafarians have been criticized because of their belief that Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia, is God and that marijuana (ganja) should be used as a religious sacrament. On the other hand, the Rastafari have been praised for their continual resistance to and confrontation with oppression, racism, and the exploitation of the poor and underprivileged (Campbell 1). Unfortunately, most early studies of the Rastafarian movement create a distorted image of the group. Jamaica's national newspaper, the Daily Gleaner's, anti-Rastafarian perspective led many to conclude that the Rastafarians were Black Marxist "racists" whose "criminality" was linked to drug-addiction. As an example of the distorted image, Morris stated the following: They are vehement in their attacks on the government, the white man, imperialism and

  • Word count: 7677
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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I usually get woken up from my peaceful slumber the annoying sound of a badly tuned radio, with a loud northern women shouting in her scoucer accent 'its mornin!'.

I usually get woken up from my peaceful slumber the annoying sound of a badly tuned radio, with a loud northern women shouting in her scoucer accent 'its mornin!'. In a vain attempt to shut her up I try to reach across to turn her off. This results in me falling out of bed, this is when it dawns on me, I have to get up. I then proceed to amble my way like a large monkey with my arms touching the ground to the shower. As I have two elder brothers and a mum and dad, they have all had showers and are ready to tackle the day ahead, so this means the shower is the temperature of Ann Robinson's icy stare on a bad day. The only good point that I can fathom from this would be that it does wake me up and get me moving quickly! Once this has been done I wander back into my room to get dressed. Luckily I find a perfectly good shirt screwed up on the floor, much to my mothers distaste. I stumble down the stairs, only to find that there is a large light brown carpet at the bottom of the stairs. On further inspection of it I find that it is just my dog Digby. He is blind and deaf so usually I just step over him as he hasn't the faintest clue about much around him. I make my way over to the fridge to find a pint of cold fresh orange. This happens to be the only thing that can get that disgusting morning taste out of my mouth. Once I have had that I turn to find the milk, I find it and

  • Word count: 881
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Maths
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How does Frazier present Ruby?

Consider Frazier's portrayal of Ruby in the novel. Ruby is presented as a woman of nature who tries to connect with and understand it throughout Cold Mountain; she is only featured in Ada's journey. Frazier's portrayal of Ruby is a positive one and when we find out more about her we know she has a cruel and tragic past. She is good-natured and gentle and Frazier often compares her to animals and a mother-like character- beautiful and loving. Her job in Cold Mountain is to stay with Ada and keep her company until Inman comes back and to help her father Stobrod later in the story. Frazier uses Ruby to teach us that everyone must connect and try to understand nature. Frazier's portrayal of Ruby is highlighted through her appearance. There is something painful that happened in her life and how she connects with nature, she is described: "Her hair was black and coarse as a horse's tail... Big dark eyes, virtually pupil-less, the whites of them startling in their clarity, her feet were clean." The strength of Ruby's character is apparent as she is "capable of any and all farm tasks...a spark as bright and hard as one struck with steel and flint." Frazier uses the appearance of Ruby to epitomise her characteristics- a warm-hearted woman who cares about the effect she has on others. She is a strong-willed, practical woman with keen insight; Ruby initially serves as a foil for

  • Word count: 924
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What do we learn of Dickens as a Writer?

What do we learn of Dickens as a Writer In my essay I'm going to be learning about what Dickens is like as a writer. I will be looking closely at two extracts in the novel, Great Expectations. The first extract will be where Pip meets Magwitch in the graveyard and the second extract is when Pip meets miss Havisham for the first time. Magwitch is one of the main characters, as we find out in the story, but we first meet him first in chapter 1, when pip is in the churchyard. Pip, also a main character, who is an orphan, is walking through a remote churchyard to see his family's grave on Christmas Eve. He is then grabbed by "a man with no hat," this shows that he wasn't a gentleman because during the Victorian era, all gentlemen wore top hats, " with a great iron on his leg". This suggests that he is a convict running from the police. Magwitch also has broken shoes, covered in water, suggesting that he's been out in the open for a long-time. Miss Havisham is another character in the story that changes Pips future. She wears "rich materials," this implies she is rich with wealthy possessions. "Satin and lace, and silk all of white," these materials are associated with wealthy people because it was very expensive to purchase that sort of material. She is wearing "a long white veil dependent from her hair" and "she had bridal flowers," this definitely tells me she is in wedding

  • Word count: 919
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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i awoke and recognised nothing around me

English Coursework Fatima Rashid Yr11G "Where was I?" I woke up with a throbbing headache, which felt as if my skull was being crushed mercilessly with a sledge hammer. The pain was excruciating. I helplessly tried to give out a cry however my efforts were in vain. I tried to touch my forehead, wondering whether it was a bump or just a bruise. But I could not move my hands. They were fused together like cement. I felt something around them like a rope, which kept on eating my flesh away every time I tried to move. Something was very wrong. Then, I tried to open my eyes, which were encircled by tears of pain. But I could just see pitch black. "Was I blind?". My eyes were malfunctioning. Everything seemed to have switched off. My heart started pounding as hard as drum beatings. I was terrified. I tried to move but my legs did not respond Tears of anguish trickled down my cheeks. "What was happening to me? Was it a nightmare?". An unpleasant odour of rotten eggs hung in the air, which filled me with nausea. I was bewildered about what was happening to me; I felt as if I was imprisoned in a lifeless body. Suddenly, I felt a huge force which was exerted on my back, it knocked me over. I fell on my side. My ear was compressed to the ground, hearing rumbling of an engine and squealing tyres. Sweat began to ooze out of my forehead. My heart began

  • Word count: 878
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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When death knocks on the door - creative writing

When death knocks on the door There was no way to predict what John was going to have to face. Winter vacations were closer day by day and John, along with his father, had been planning a trip from months beforehand. It was an excursion to the far, isolated mountains of Finland as both men enjoyed the solitude the inaccessible mountains reigned. It was well known that safety was not optimum in the Finnish Mountains and both men understood the risks, but the jeopardy seemed modest compared to the reward of privacy. Their destination was known for its grasping dangerous claws, high cold cliffs, hungry for death; everlasting bad weather. Nonetheless, it was decided to go forward with the excursion. It would only be a matter of a few days. Long after the beautiful view of driving through the rough dirt roads alongside the forest, they arrived at their camping site. They started unpacking their things, preparing a proper portion of food for each other, saving the scarce rest for the following days. The basic plan of the trip was an hour walk to some cliffs at the mountain bed and there, they would practice rock climbing, a hobby both father and son shared and enjoyed very much. They started walking through the wilderness; it was as if they had discovered America, they felt the feeling of finding virgin paradise, but this would not last long because of the overwhelming presence

  • Word count: 911
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Examine what aspects of the 'The Red Room' by H.G.Wells and 'A Vendetta' by Guy De Maupassant are typical of the horror and ghost story genre

Examine what aspects of the 'The Red Room' by H.G.Wells and 'A Vendetta' by Guy De Maupassant are typical of the horror and ghost story genre At first look, both of these stories appear to be alike. One is a horror story and one is a ghost story. To most people these are extremely similar. These two stories however do not fulfil the stereotypical expectations of a typical 'scary story'; one of them examines psychological fear and the thoughts in the mind of a victim, the internal feelings of horror and fear. The other is a cold, dark horror in which we are separated from the main character by use of the third person. 'The Red Room' by H.G.Wells is very effective in setting up a structure to create and sustain suspense. The story opens with a word from the narrator, 'I can assure you that it will take a very tangible ghost story to frighten me'. From the first paragraph we can make an instant assumption about the main character (the narrator). We can see that he is a confident, scientific and dismissive young man. In the opening paragraph we also see the residents of the house; they are portrayed as old, decrepit people who seem to fear the young man and everything about him. They are almost 'consumed' by this symbolic house .The residents are used to show the contrasts between youth and old age, innocence and truth. The introductions of these characters also develop the

  • Word count: 915
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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