Seamus Heaney - Twice Shy Commentary
Seamus Heaney - Twice Shy Commentary Using nature to express picturesque images, Heaney portrays the purity of the unspoken terms of love in one of his love poems - "Twice Shy". The title of the poem "Twice Shy" seems to have been taken from the age-old proverb, "once bitten, twice shy", and we are, as a result, led to expect that the characters in this poem have had a bitter experience in the past, therefore they are treading carefully and attempting to recoup. There are five stanzas of 6 lines, most lines structured as single sentences which draw out tension and nervousness. The rhyme scheme is abcbdb - the rhythmic cadence emphasizes the speaker's as well as the characters' feelings and emotions. The theme of this poem is personal feelings - the conflict between needs of the flesh and teaching of society codes of behavior. The idea behind this poem is simple: a couple, (possibly adolescents), go out for a walk on a spring evening. However, their good upbringing forces them to move cautiously, to "preserve classic decorum" and to refrain from publishing feeling. Primitive love and sexual attraction are keys to this poem as well. The setting is cleverly situated - Heaney masterfully interweaves time and location to provide an precise description of the characters' thoughts and emotions. He chose the spring (the season of love, or as the French would put it - la saison
"The Garden of Love" and "A Poison Tree" by William Blake
COMPARATIVE POETRY ESSAY "The Garden of Love" and "A Poison Tree" by William Blake William Blake's poems "The Garden of Love" and "A Poison Tree", both of them belonging to the collection "Songs of Experience", share resembling style and structure. Even though their plots might appear different, they both have religious background and deal with nature and carry a message of similar tenor, criticism of repression of human emotions. One of Blake's characteristics is the use of simple wording and uncomplicated language that can be explained on different levels. Both of these poems are narrated in first person, like stories about experiences, creating an impression of personal connection. By using various images Blake illustrates abstract concepts in physical means and with help of hidden clues he effectively expresses his criticism. In the poem "The Garden of Love" the "Chapel" with "shut...gates", "priests in black gowns" and "briars" represent the church, while in the poem "A Poison Tree" it's the "apple" and the "poison tree", apparently standing for the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, that gives the reader an indication of Christian religion. While both poems express criticism of suppression, each of them discusses a different area. The poem "The Garden of Love" deals mainly with repression of "joys and desires" by the church. The speaker in this poem returns
Memories of a Childhood
Memories of a Childhood I will remember The smell of an evening night with a light breeze The taste of milk chocolate swirling around The sound of an owl on moon light night A cocktail stick on my finger I will remember The smell of a poppy field The feeling of an apple touching my lips The sound of bird song in the morning An icicle touching my ear at night I will remember The smell of a chain saw cutting a tree The melting feeling of ice in my mouth The sound of a fog horn by the sea A bee sting on my leg I will remember The smell of the seaside The taste of an ice cold drink The sound of a grand farther clock The feeling of waves on my legs Thing I'll remember most of all Is not seen, heard, felt, smelt or tasted But it is in your heart and in your head And that's the love of my family and friends. We were asked in English to write a piece of creative writing either in the form of a poem or a story our further instructions were it had to be based on childhood or children our teacher suggested we could base our writing on past childhood experiences. I thought about what interesting events I could write about unfortunately I drew a blank so I had to go down another track. I finally settled on using feelings and emotions as the backbone to my work. I brain stormed some ideas down on paper leading of from the five senses. I came up with a lot of
Write up the ideas from your discussion about the attitudes to love shown by these writers - Promises Like Pie-crusts by Christina Rossetti
The Poets say... Write up the ideas from your discussion about the attitudes to love shown by these writers * Promises Like Pie-crusts by Christina Rossetti I think that some of the main themes of the poem are about how risky love can be, and it is better to be friends that to be lovers. For this person love is a risk which they dare not take, there are so many underlying unchangeable factors which count towards the final product; whether that be a broken relationship or against all odds a strong and healthy relationship. For them it is much safer to be friends rather than lovers "Let us be the friends we were, Nothing more, nothing less: Many thrive on frugal fare Who would perish on excess" Many people can flourish in a friendship that wouldn't survive the harsh realities of a relationship. A friendship can be loving, nurturing and much easier to live with. People can stay friends for life, but a relationship often ends in hurt and the damage done to the relationship and both parties can be irreversible. Relationships can set not only the people involved at odds but also the people surrounding the relationship. Friendship is love in checked moderation, without passion and lust to cloud judgements, consciences and sensibilities just leaving a caring, considerate love behind. Often passing love is built on first impressions, desire, peer pressure, hormones,
Compose and Contrast the two heroes in ‘The Sextons Hero’ by Elizabeth Gaskell and ‘Old Mrs Chundle’ by Thomas Hardy
Compose and Contrast the two heroes in 'The Sextons Hero' by Elizabeth Gaskell and 'Old Mrs Chundle' by Thomas Hardy The question, which has been set, is about heroism so I will start the essay by giving my personal opinion of a hero and the dictionary definition of a hero. The dictionary definition of a hero is 'a man or boy who is admired for doing something very brave or great'. This definition is very close to my own definition apart from I believe that a hero is also someone who people can look up to as a mentor or as a role model. The Sextons Hero Firstly The Sextons Hero is a story about a sexton (digs graves for a living) who has a friend with whom he has known for most of his life but they get separated when they both fall for the same woman. Gilbert (his friend) is challenged by the sexton to a fight only to be turned down as Gilbert is a religious man and finds fighting wrong. He is latter rejected by his love Letty and the Sexton marries her and they bare child. But later on when they are both visiting family without the baby they are caught crossing a bay when the tide come in and looks destined to kill them both only for Gilbert to come and rescues them and thus kill himself so that the baby may have its mother and father. Gilbert is a very stereotypical hero as he is six feet tall, broad and is very sporty. This is the more thought of sought of person when
How is Love Described in 'How do I love thee?' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and 'Remember me' by Christina Rossetti?
How is Love Described in 'How do I love thee?' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and 'Remember me' by Christina Rossetti? Christina Rossetti was a strong, passionate poet who put her deepest feelings of love and romance into her writing. Rossetti was born in London but her family were originally from Italy. Christina was the fourth and youngest child of Gabriele and Frances Rossetti. Both of Rossetti's parents were especially poetic and enjoyed exploring the modern arts of the Victorian age. Rossetti was educated at home, in several ways this helped stimulate her poetic mind. Extraordinarily Christina started writing at an extremely young age but was first published in 1850 by 'The Germ'. Christina wrote countless love poems in her life but yet never married. Rossetti had two marriage offers, but turned them both down due to religious differences. Although Rossetti was never married she did of course experience love. Christina spent most of her life locked in a quiet room writing and died a recluse in 1894. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was older than Rossetti and lived a completely different lifestyle. Elizabeth was brought up by her wealthy, Catholic parents who she loved dearly. She, like Rossetti, was educated at home by her mother. Sadly in 1828 Elizabeth's mother died and at twenty two Browning was left grieving, depressed and distraught. Life did not go smoothly for
Compare three of the short stories and examine their treatment of love and marriage.
Compare three of the short stories and examine their treatment of love and marriage. The three short stories I have chosen to compare are "News of the Engagement", "The Unexpected" and "Twenty-six Men and a Girl". All the stories were written around 1900 and at this time women were still viewed as housewives and mothers. Divorce was still socially unacceptable. Arnold Bennett the writer of "News of the Engagement" was a journalist who aimed his work at women. He grew up in Staffordshire in a not particularly well off family. Kate Chopin lived in New Orland's when she wrote "The Unexpected". Her short stories were viewed as being quite controversial when they were first written and were often been refused publication. Maxim Gorky who had a terrible childhood wrote "Twenty-six Men and a Girl". He ran away at twelve and lived with the poorest people in society. He worked in a bakery in Russia, which is the setting of "Twenty-six Men and a Girl". In "News of the Engagement" Philip does not see his mother as something that could be loved in a sexual way. Nor that someone could possibly fall in love with her and she with him. As she is maternal and her role is to be his cuddly mother waiting for him to arrive home with open arms. "My little plump mother". He assumes that everything she does is for his benefit. Even when there is a third place set at the table he presumes it is
Compare Poem 1 "The Weeding Gang" by C.E.J Ramchariter-Lalla and Poem 2 "They Walked and Talked" by C. Uche Okeke
Moi Dafydd 10 Tegid GCSE Coursework 12th October 2004 Task: Compare Poem 1 "The Weeding Gang" by C.E.J Ramchariter-Lalla and Poem 2 "They Walked and Talked" by C. Uche Okeke The two poems that I am going to compare are, "The Weeding Gang" by C.E.J Ramchariter -Lalla (poem one) and "They Walked and Talked" by C. Uche Okeke (poem two). The first poem is seen from the viewpoint of the poet, it's his feelings and what he hears that is important, "I know", "I hear" and "I love." In the second poem the viewpoint is hidden, the poet doesn't make it obvious that he's watching these women, and this makes you forget that he's describing a scene that he sees. Poem one is about a group of women going weeding, we can prove this because they are carrying cutlasses, "Cutlasses a-tingling", and in addition the title is "The Weeding Gang", while poem two is about "dames" returning from a "distant mart" with "baskets on heads". Similar to each other the two poems are set in a poor part of the world, I think that the first poem is set in a poor part of the world because they are using cutlasses which they wouldn't be using in a developed country, and possibly it might have been in Africa because of the words, "Kheesaz and boojhowals" and also the poets name "C.E.J. Ramcharitar-Lalla". I think that the second poem is also set in Africa because of the phrase "swept
Stones From The River
Stones From The River By: Ursula Hegi . Trudi established her status and power in Burgdorf , not through beauty, marriage, or motherhood, but rather as the town's librarian and relentless collector of the secrets of the towns people. Growing up she was always alienated from society. She realized that most of the people in Burgdorf would never accept her because of her physical difference and that frustrated her. She did not want to accept it , but later on she learned to cope with her difference and realized that she would never fit in. Working in the pay library Trudi got to mingle with the townspeople. She absorbed gossip, everyday life stories, events, and truths. She embellished the stories and became a source of information. She decided to use her difference as a tool to attract people. Trudi also gossiped the secrets she had obtained around town to get back at everyone. Ridiculing the people of Burgdorf gave her pleasure. 2. One day when Trudi was swimming alone near the Braunmeier's barn Trudi was molested by Hans-Jurgen , Fritz Hansen, Paul Weinhart and her former friend Georg Weiler. She was very humiliated and the humiliation stayed with her forever. From that day on she suffered from emotional damage and the story still haunted her when she was a mature woman. She cursed all four boys for what they had done to her and later on in their lives those curses
Poetry represents the continuous struggle to express the inexpressible. Discuss
Poetry represents the continuous struggle to express the inexpressible. Discuss Jan 2001 Looking at 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot it would seem that poetry does represent the struggle to express the inexpressible. The title implies that we should expect a 'love song' but it fails to provide one. Prufrock tries to ask the 'overwhelming question' but has a great difficulty on how to achieve this 'So how should I presume?...And how should I begin?' He purposely avoids the 'inexpressible' by having digressions 'The yellow fog...' allowing his mind to be filtered with sensuous descriptions 'rubs its back...lingered...curls'. Prufrock also reassures himself not to worry about asking the 'question' or starting the 'long song' by saying 'And indeed there will be time'. It is clear that Prufrock has imagined this journey many times already 'And for a thousand visions and revisions' creating a sense of reluctance, nervousness and fear on Prufrock's behalf. The poem is more concerned with the various possibilities of approaching the question/women rather than with the identification of the question/women itself. Prufrock, to an extent, justifies his thwarted attempts when he sighs 'It is impossible to say just what I mean!' Simultaneously he is afraid that the reply should be ' "That is not what I meant want at all" '. Prufrock is self-analytical 'I should