In this essay, I shall analyse the work of Louis MacNeice, entitled, The sunlight on the garden. It is a modern verse that offers a self-reflexive commentary on life and its key elements.
In this essay, I shall analyse the work of Louis MacNeice, entitled, 'The sunlight on the garden.' It is a modern verse that offers a self-reflexive commentary on life and its key elements. In similarity to the traditional epic verse, the poem is an expression of the speaker's particular personalities and motives. I intend to explore these two subjects in greater detail in my essay. According to the Oxford English dictionary, a poetic analysis is the process, or 'detailed examination of studying a poem...to determine its nature, structure, or essential features.' This is a common practice used by both reader and critic in the reading of prose and poetry and I will adopt this technique in my essay. MacNeice's poem from the thirties transcribes the period of great hardship in the Western World, as well as the speaker's self-hardship of love and death. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 started a worldwide economic depression that lasted for much of the decade and industries such as steel, ship-building and coal mining suffered. Moreover, unemployment in Britain soared which left a hollowed and pessimistic outlook on life. This had a strong impact upon poetry of the time, this particular poem illuminating the confusions and irresolvable issues of the common man. There are many social and political events that influenced MacNeice's work, the First World War being
“Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence” (Althusser). Discuss with reference to the texts on the course.
"Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence" (Althusser). Discuss with reference to the texts on the course. Each of the central characters in "Open Secrets" by Alice Munro and "Paradise Lost" by John Milton are driven and sustained by the relationship between the realities of their existence and their personal ideologies. The conflict between ideology and reality is an important theme in the work of Munro and Milton and both the obvious discrepancies and the more subtle references to this define many aspects of the plot and characterisation. An examination of the reactions of characters to the restrictions placed on them by the reality in which they exist, and their perception of this reality is fundamental to understanding the ideologies which they possess. Their ideologies are the crucial influence on the experiences and eventual fates of each character. Ultimately the question of whether or not these relationships and conflicts are resolved or overcome is the key to gaining a deeper insight into the texts, and simultaneously provides the reader with evidence of the authors' own beliefs and ideologies. In Paradise Lost, Milton makes use of the ideas of contrast and opposition in order to create a text which is highly significant of his own personal ideology and, at the same time, a beautiful and intricate piece of
Critical Appreciation of the Darkling Thrush with Particular Emphasis on Time and Change.
Critical Appreciation of the Darkling Thrush with Particular Emphasis on Time and Change "The Darkling Thrush" was written by Thomas Hardy on the last day of the nineteenth century. The subject of the poem is about the transition of one century to the next in time and change. The atmosphere is set in the first stanza because we see that it is set in a cold winters day; "When Frost was spectre-gray/And Winter's dregs made desolate". Hardy deliberately personifies the season and frost because it makes the weather more powerful and it also gives it human qualities. Further more, the use of winter gives the idea of depression and death which is what Hardy is trying to tell the reader. This stanza is obviously setting the atmosphere of the poem; it shows Hardy is not looking forward to the future and the only thing he knows will happen is death. A good example of this is in the quotation "The tangled bine-stems scored the sky/ Like strings of broken lyres". This demonstrates a vivid image of brambles cutting through the sky; showing an idea of death coming from the writer's imagination. Hardy is trying to show the reader that the turn of the century offers no hope. In the first stanza he only thinks of cold, gloomy, and death as what happens in the rest of his life. A reason for this attitude might be because he is alone. We know this because in the poem it has the lines "And
Psychology is defined as a scientific study of human mind and behaviour processes. Discuss.
.1) Psychology is defined as a scientific study of human mind and behaviour processes. Just as all definitions have limitation, the definition of psychology has limitations too. For example, some psychologists would interpret 'behaviour' to mean both overt responses and conscious experience, while others would be more restrictive. Similarly, some psychologists include behaviour of other species, while some are concerned only with human behaviour. Despite such variations in the focus of interests, the methods used in psychology are scientific. That is, the methods are primarily based on a tradition which originated with the natural sciences of physics, chemistry and biology. That is why I would like to propose that a more useful way of thinking about the discipline of psychology, is to see it as part of the sum total of what people do because, like other scientific disciplines psychology is a human activity. It is scientific in that it is based on the methods of systematic observation and analysis which are part of all science. One of the things that make psychology unique as a science is that the investigator (which is the psychologist) and the subject matter (the client) are essentially the same. Psychology also provides the tools to identify and modify human thought, feelings and behaviour, affecting how people interpret and interact with the world around them.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher, who was a leader of the Romantic movement.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher, who was a leader of the Romantic movement. I II DEVELOPMENT Coleridge was born in Ottery St Mary, Devon, on October 21, 1772, the son of a vicar. From 1791 until 1794 he studied classics at Jesus College, Cambridge University, and became interested in French revolutionary politics. His heavy drinking and debauchery incurred massive debts which he attempted to clear by entering the army for a brief period. Eventually, his brother paid for him to be discharged on a plea of insanity. At university he absorbed political and theological ideas then considered radical, especially those of Unitarianism. He left Cambridge without a degree and joined his university friend, the poet Robert Southey in a plan, soon abandoned, to found a Utopian society in Pennsylvania. Based on the ideas of William Godwin, this new society was dubbed "Pantisocracy". In 1795 the two friends married sisters, Sara and Edith Fricker. Not only did Coleridge's marriage to Sara proved extremely unhappy, but he also became estranged from Southey, who departed for Portugal that same year. Coleridge remained in England to write and lecture, editing a radical Christian journal, The Watchman, from his new home in Clevedon. In 1796 he published Poems on Various Subjects, which included "The Eolian Harp" and his "Monody on the Death of
How does the writer reveal her attitude to the way in which people treat nature in the poem "The Fish are all sick"?
How does the writer reveal her attitude to the way in which people treat nature in the poem "The Fish are all sick"? In the poem "The fish are all sick", the title of the poem reveals that the subject would be something sad to do with the fish by adding in the word "sick". It is in present tense, which can communicate directly to the reader, suggesting her strong attitude to the way in which people treat nature. The poet communicate directly also introduces the writer's strong attitude that this is a serious problem that we are facing now. The problem is tremendous as all fish are suffered as a result of it. She uses figurative language to portray the image of human beings treating the nature with no respect. The writer begins the poem without any uncertainty, which reflects that the subject of the poem is going to be serious, true and very important, this is presented in this line, 'The fish are all sick.' "The fish are all sick, the great whales dead," this dramatize the sheer scale of the problem wanting to present that even the biggest animal on earth is at stake. Also since the earth is mainly water, a lot of animals would be living in the oceans. That would mean there are a lot of fish and sea creatures. The poet using "The fish are all sick" emphasizes the enormity of the pollution and shows her attitudes towards how the people treat nature. The start of the poem
To what extent is Graham Swift’s Shuttlecock a study of power ?
LITERATURE ESSAY To what extent is Graham Swift's Shuttlecock a study of power ? If a reader considers the main plot of Shuttlecock from a very simple point of view, Prentis is an unhappy man untill he gets his boss's job. Therefore power must be an important theme of the novel. However, after Prentis's sudden change, his wife and his son appear not to be " satisfied by the power theory ". The great quality of Shuttlecock is the incredible suttlety used to portray human nature and the novel can not be resumed to a simple study of power. Without a doubt, power is an important theme. From his childhood, Prentis desires to control his surounding and this is ovious in the hamster episode. His " mixed feelings of love and pity " explode into an urge to have absolute power over Sammy when the poor animal tries to escape. He needs to master nature and even his own nature. Indeed, he tries to hide his admiration and respect for his father. He also has an unatural sex-life because of its pointless, artificial sophistication. Marian bends to her husband's will in this " preposterous, obsessive, pathetic affair " and is becoming a stranger to him. Physically controlling a living being is a recurrent obsession all through the novel. The symbol of vulnerability is nakedness. Marian in her bath reminds Prentis of the time when he used to bathe his two boys. He remembers how defensless
How far is 'Haymaking' typical of Thomas' poetry?
James Williams How far is 'Haymaking' typical of Thomas' January '03 poetry? 'Haymaking' is very typical of a poem by Edward Thomas. This is shown through many common devices that are present in 'Haymaking' as well as many of his other poems. I shall outline and elaborate these on these devices in this essay. 'Haymaking' is a description of a snapshot in time. There was a thunderstorm the night before and the reader is initially led to believe that the storm is the reason that everything is so still in the poem, but half way through the poem, Thomas begins to describe the activities of the Haymakers who are having a break in silence as they "leaned on their rakes". So the stillness of the poem can work on many levels. There is the idea of the 'calm after the storm' and the Haymakers having a rest. Also, however, there is the fact that the poet, Edward Thomas, is writing his poem from a snapshot in time where if he was describing a photograph, everything would be still in the picture. One of the most recognisable devices that Edward Thomas uses in his poetry is referring to England as "old". This could imply many things. Thomas could use the term "old" in the literal sense that it is 'ancient', 'unchanging' and with a 'sense of permanence' in the world even though it has been threatened by war. It could also mean that England has grown wise due
Explore the various arguments used by John Donne to achieve his aim. In what ways does the language and style of the poem make the arguments persuasive and effective?
Explore the various arguments used by John Donne to achieve his aim. In what ways does the language and style of the poem make the arguments persuasive and effective? Graham Ross 9/02/2004 Donne's main aim in the poem is to persuade his lover to go to bed with him, to do this he uses various techniques and arguments throughout the poem to tempt her into doing so. We see Donne trying to lure his partner into sleeping with him, "And in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee" By use of this conceit he suggests that as their bloods have already been mixed by the flea, they have been joined. This implies that when the blood mixes it is the same result as if they had had sex nevertheless as their bloods would have united. This is a very weak argument on behalf of Donne as the blood does not actually pass from one person to another during sexual intercourse; it is only bodily fluids. We can see that in "The Sunne Rising" that Donne suggests ideas that are unrealistic. "goe childe" and "goe tell court-huntsmen" This is obviously not thought about, because if the sun was to go away, life could not continue as the sun is vital to survival. Donne knows that his partner is religious, and so uses this to his advantage by exploiting her weaknesses. "This flea is you and I, and this our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;" Donne compares the flea to being a temple, which
Chimney Sweeper Commentary - In the strong, opinionated poem entitled The Chimney Sweeper, William Blake
Chimney Sweeper Commentary In the strong, opinionated poem entitled The Chimney Sweeper, William Blake compellingly presents his views on the hypocrisy and corruption of society. Essentially, The Chimney Sweeper conveys the theme of how the corruption of society has led to the destruction of the innocence of children. Blake successfully presents this theme through the effective use of diction which is defined as "the choice and use of words" which can help portray the theme, mood and tone of the poem. In this case, Blake effectively employs diction in order to portray the corruption that exists within society, while also portraying the innocence of the children that are victims of this injustice. The corruption of society is a significant element of the theme of the poem which is effectively depicted through particular words and their connotations. The first, essential choice of words is present in the title "The Chimney Sweeper." In essence, a "chimney sweeper" is associated with an individual that cleans the dirt out of the chimneys of others. Within the context of this poem, the "chimney sweeper" represents the children that are forced by society to sacrifice their innocence for the sake of society. They are, therefore, forced with an unfair responsibility brought upon the faults of others. This corruption of society is further exemplified when Blake writes, "You