#3: Describe the character development Thoreau experiences and shares with his readers, and how the symbolism depicted and the elements of the setting contribute to his belief that humans can commune directly with the divine in nature.

#3: Describe the character development Thoreau experiences and shares with his readers, and how the symbolism depicted and the elements of the setting contribute to his belief that humans can commune directly with the divine in nature. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, is a novel about the natural world. Thoreau attempts to explain the purpose of life and the key to utmost happiness. He gives much advice to his readers, appearing to have figured everything out, however his own character rapidly changes and grows throughout his work. Thoreau often refers to communing with nature as the solution to a peaceful life. Through nature, Thoreau finds many problems can be fixed and if observations are made, life will take on a completely different meaning. Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. (Thoreau, The Journal of Henry David Thoreau Vol. 1, October 22, 1839) Anne Frank noted in her diary, "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one fell that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." (Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank, February 23, 1944) This description of the happiness found in nature fits

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Compare and contrast Wordsworth's Elegiac Stanzas and Auden's Musee des Beaux Arts. Show the way these poems convey the experience of human suffering. Explain which of the poems you find the most moving and consoling.

Compare and contrast Wordsworth's Elegiac Stanzas and Auden's Musee des Beaux Arts. Show the way these poems convey the experience of human suffering. Explain which of the poems you find the most moving and consoling. When looking at Auden's Musee des Beaux Arts and Wordsworth's Elegiac Stanzas the reader can notice that both poems contain a strong reference to suffering and death but their similar subject matter has been obtained from very different paintings. The reader can also find many points to contrast about the two poems, such as the very personal and romantic style of Wordsworth at a complete contrast to the colloquial and ironic tone of Auden. I will analyse the poems by considering the circumstances of when and why they were written. I will also look at which of the poems I find moving and consoling by looking at the truths behind the poems and the ways in which the poets communicate their ideas. After reading Wordsworth's Elegiac Stanzas and Auden's Musee des Beaux Arts the reader can see many differences and similarities between the two poems. It is noticeable that both poems contain human suffering and loss of life. In the case of Auden, the reader sees that when Icarus drowns, 'everything turns away' and the death is believed to be 'not important', no- one cares. Auden relates this to real life by showing that even if someone dies life '[sails] calmly

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The Pulse of Poetry.

2/03/2004 The Pulse of Poetry Nathan Tolkin Imagery is the heart of all poetry; it serves to enrich the plain literate meaning of its words. Imagery is in sense a incomprehensible language defined by a blend of symbol, allegory and myth. These three instruments of imagery bring limitless possibilities of analysis and serves to induce the senses of the human mind. The Bull Moose by Alden Nowlan is abound with strong mythical images and allegorical statements of humanity. The "Prize Cat" by E.J Pratt is a similar poem both in the literate and allegorical sense. Both poems portray a somewhat similar underlying message of human nature but use different methods of the literate to convey it. The literate narrative of "The Bull Moose" is basic and straightforward, it is simply about a "Bull Moose" who has been liberated, and now lives among the great Canadian wilderness "of white spruce and cedar" and "Tamarack Swamps". The Moose becomes trapped by a "pole-fenced pasture" and is tormented by the local people while the young men "pour beer down his throat". The Moose is ultimately shot dead by the wardens who feared he could be dangerous. What underlies the literate is a series of images and symbols, within a large allegorical framework, that depicts a strong message of the horrifying cruelty of mankind, toward each other and the natural world. Nowlan attempts to make a

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Chekhov describes 'Uncle Vanya' as "scenes from a country life." How adequate do you find the playwright's definition?

Chekhov describes 'Uncle Vanya' as "scenes from a country life." How adequate do you find the playwright's definition? Seonaid MacLeod VI CRB Chekhov's description of his play 'Uncle Vanya' could at first glance appear to be a controversial view of this tension-filled play. However, when one considers the implications of the playwright's words, one begins to see where he was coming from; although country life is characteristically seen as mundane, it is also a perfect environment for the tension that Chekhov builds up between the characters that breeds from their boredom and pent up frustration. Many of the characters, in particular Sonya and Vanya, take advantage of the slow pace of country life to dramatise their problems and work themselves into a worry about certain aspects of their lives. Through this, tension is built up and the audience can see that Chekhov was not, as one might first have thought, sadly mistaken but actually perfectly correct on many levels when he describes 'Uncle Vanya' as "scenes from a country life." Taking Chekhov's words at their face value, the setting of the play in the country is an extremely important as the characters find themselves isolated in one place together, which provides a perfect basis for breeding tensions. When the Serebryakov asks the other characters to meet with him for a meeting, the arguments that break out there are

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Prometheus Unbound" and Shelley's Prefatory Defense Against Critics

Joe Bohn ENG344W-01 Prof. Hubbell December 5, 2000 "Prometheus Unbound" and Shelley's Prefatory Defense Against Critics Towards the end of the 18th century, Great Britain experienced an unprecedented influx of innovation: the hydraulic printing press, gas lighting, steam-powered mills, optical glass and the first electric battery. Amidst all of this progress, authors found it increasingly feasible to publish their own literary works for mass consumption. Yet, while they were now able to make their works more readily accessible to the public, they were now also faced with the dilemma of having to choose a specific audience. And if this wasn't troubling enough, the author was now to be held accountable by literary critics with respect to any content, which could remotely be regarded as upsetting, radical or offensive. Authors like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Shelley were at the mercy of critics who were bent on politicizing any literary work and slandering authors at the slightest hint of a political agenda. Percy Shelley, in particular, attempted to defend himself the Preface of his Aeschylean epic drama, Prometheus Unbound, with anticipation of the critic's narrow-mindedness, ready to denounce any legitimacy to their claims (MM 1407-1409) Perhaps, it's best to begin discussing Shelley's defensiveness by looking to and contrasting him with his

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Original writing coursework

Furness abbey The Abbey was busy. Children running around everywhere, noise, sound all around. Guides were showing round groups of rowdy tourists from all countries eager to see the sights of the beautiful wrecked monastery. Every Language flying round in the air like bees buzzing round a hive, all proclaiming the same thing in there own tongue. The fact that the monastery was so beautiful. Everywhere there were people and children. All the words were indistinguishable, just becoming one of many that rose up like a great cry to the heavens. The abbey was like a bright and vibrant tear in the tranquil and peaceful countryside. No animals were to be seen amongst the stonewalls some so high and beautifully adorned that you wondered whether you were still in the north west of England, or whether you were in another world of pure beauty. Others were so meagre and ruined that it was impossible to see how they could have been walls at all. All of nature looked dulled in comparison with the vibrancy of the abbey. Here it was clear that humans had total and complete control and Mother Nature had no power. The sun was high in the sky shining brightly overhead bearing down with hot burning fingers piercing the skin and tearing at the flesh within. A slow stream snaked lazily round a bend, licking the corners but never quite touching them it seemed. Then the stream rose up to meet

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Comparison of Wordsworth and Malouf.

Wordsworth and Malouf In the poems of Wordsworth and the novel An Imaginary Life by David Malouf, the theme of gaining understanding of our environment through actively engaging with it is a central one. Through William Wordsworth's Romantic poetry and David Malouf's 'An Imaginary Life', I have been able to compare and contrast the ways in which each composer evaluates the wild and draws an understanding about the relationships of humanity to the world. Malouf's prose fiction is written as an interior monologue comprising of no dialogue, which aids us in identifying completely with the narrator, accepting his ideas and his perspective. Wordsworth, representative of his 19th century Romantic literary context reflects in his language the rural, harmonious landscape and the inspirational, spiritual presence in solitary rambling of childhood. In An Imaginary Life, the author takes its protagonist the Roman poet, Ovid to exile from Rome, the centre of culture at the time, to the extreme bleak wilderness at Thomis. Cut off from civilization in an alien landscape, Malouf's truncated description of nature 'No flower. No fruit' emphasizes the emptiness of the land. It is through this exile that Ovid undergoes many changes which eventually lead him to an enlightened state of oneness with nature. Without language, Ovid is lost, a child who has to relearn "Will I have to learn

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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How do poets use the theme of nature in their poems?

How do poets use the theme of nature in their poems? I chose the poem Storm on the Island by Heaney, October by Clarke and Patrolling Barnegat by Whitman from the pre-1914 poetry bank. These three poems are all linked by a central theme of natural destruction, storms and nature. The three poems consisted of many of the same details and descriptions of the storms and each poem had a unique section to that poem. How each of the poems was written was relatively similar and all three poets had used metaphors with two of them using personification. The purpose of October and Patrolling Barnegat are very similar, but Storm on the Island is quite different. All of the poets also use sympathetic background or pathetic fallacy. What is said in the poem is very similar. All three poems have lots of description, such as in Storm on the Island, "...exploding comfortably down on the cliffs," and in October, "...dead arm in the bright trees." At the end of Storm on the Island, Heaney writes about fear and this gives us an insight into the purpose of the poem. In October there is a very vivid description of the scene, "Wind in the poplars and a broken branch..." and this sets the scene very well for the reader, and gives them a very good picture inside their head. The experience that Clarke has when she knows that her friend is dead brings her to write an excellent poem that captures her

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Are we observers or participants in this world?

Are we observers or participants in this world? The natural world is defined as everything that we see around us, nature and animals, as well as the people that we live and interact with. Even though, many people see themselves apart from nature and merely as passive observers, others believe that all humans are active participants and are a part of this whole that we call nature. Many people view nature as being apart from them, a separate organism by itself, with no connection to the whole. The vision of this paradox is what blinds them from seeing that we are as a part of nature as the nature is a part of us. These "observers" define nature as only the natural world and the animals, but it is much more than that. Humans are also considered to be an element of this big whole. For instance, Stephen Jay Gould in his essay "Women's Brains" sees women as not being part of the whole or the nature. He sees the role of women in being beautiful, bearing children and performing any number of "feminine" or "house-work" tasks. He draws a clear line between "masculine" and "feminine," and puts them into separate, binary spheres. He promotes and supports his view in quoting Topinard: "The man...who is constantly active in combating the environment and human rivals, needs more brain that the woman, who [is] lacking any interior occupations, whose role is to raise children, love and

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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With reference to the poems of Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, and Federico García Lorcas tudied in the course, discuss the uses of poetry and the ways in which the three writers exploit this medium.

SPPO1120 - modern writing Louise Maddison Student No. 020-861-829 With reference to the poems of Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, and Federico García Lorca studied in the course, discuss the uses of poetry and the ways in which the three writers exploit this medium Poetry is a vast genre of literature that is used to express emotions, feelings and ideas. Every writer has different reasons for expressing their ideas through this medium. Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez and Federico García Lorca were all Spanish poets who lived around the same era. Does this mean their uses of poetry were the same? Did they write poems for the same reasons? In order to discuss how they have used poetry it is necessary to understand their poems in more detail. At first glance it seems that Antonio Machado explores nature and the beauty of it in his poetry. In his poem Crepúsculo Machado describes a nature scene. Although he doesn't use the first person, it is clear from the content that the poem is implicitly about him. He has therefore, used nature to mirror himself. The cold images of stone and marble in the poem, like the statue of Cupid, communicate a lack of expression on the poet's part. With Cupid having connotations of love and with the statue being constructed from stone it is possible to say that Machado finds it difficult to express love. Antonio Machado,

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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