symbolism in To His Coy Mistress

In this poem there is an attempt to make a woman fall in love. The author uses symbolism to get his point across. "My vegetable love would grow" (783) the author is saying that even though he loves her already that his love would continue to grow over time. "But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near" (783) the author is say that he can hear the rumors being said behind his back and the deception that is arising behind him and he knows it.

Dictation in Porphyria's Lover

The author starts the poem by setting the calm mood when the woman comes in from out of the rain and finds warmth and comfort in his arms "she shut the cold out and the storm" (719) "she put my arm around her waist" (719). Later in the poem he strangles her in fear that she may leave him but the mood of the poem never alters it remains calm "In one long yellow string I wound three times her little throat around" (720) he feels no remorse at all it seems very natural he even sits her next to him later "and thus we sit together now, and all night long we have not stirred" (720).

"My Last Duchess"

The speaker in “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning is a jealous and selfish man. The way he comes across in the poem, he wants everything to himself, he is selfish. An example of the speakers selfishness is the name of the poem itself “My Last Duchess”, no one will ever have her as his wife because she is now dead. Another example that he is selfish and wants everything to himself is when he kept her picture behind the curtain so only but himself could see it (703). His jealousy came through when he realized he was not the only one that she (the Duchess) smiled at and they smiled back and once he realized this he made commands and the smiling stopped (703). The speaker wanted to make sure that his social status was good. He knew that even though his wife was dead that she gave him a good social status because she was a lady that could make others blush and she was a polite woman who thanked the men, which reflected his good taste in women (703). The word choice and tone of the speaker reflects him as a person who feels he is better than everyone else and that anything he gets isn't good enough for him. For example, he felt his last Duchess was "too easily impressed; she liked whate'er" (703)and this shows that she wasn't good enough for him that she could have been better or more strict like him.

Barbie Doll

In this poem the author talks about the physical appearance, today the ideal woman continues to get smaller and younger. The bratz dolls are much younger and all around smaller also. The pressure that is put upon young girls to fit into the category of what a woman should look like is very high. In this poem they talk about the girl having a big nose and fat legs this is still something a young girl my hear today. In fact the chance of it are even greater look at the name of the doll "Bratz" this is sending the message to children that it is okay to have a bad attitude and treat other people poorly. These dolls also were less and less clothes is really okay for a five year old to want to dress in a mini skirt and half a shirt. The bratz doll is the modern barbie she has more edge and attitude and looks more like a teenager than a barbie.

Ozymandias

In this poem a king who calls himself the "king of kings" (721) built a statue of himself at the hight of his power. Though he was a powerful man when he built the statue it know lies forgotten in the desert half buried in sand. He could have been the most powerful man of his world but has long been forgotten. His tribute to himself like the memory of him has been forgotten.

"Barbie Doll"

The poem "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is about society's view of young women. If I were to rewrite this poem by considering the outside forces that affect young men I would focus more the different ideas that society holds about young men. I would write about how society has different standards for young men that are considered the "norm". Young men are expected to be involved in sports and they are also expected to enjoy working and being outside. They may be expected to enjoy working with their hands and to not mind getting dirty. As far as appearance goes they are expected to be muscular and physically fit. Their peers and also their parents may expect them to hold in their emotions, it would be considered the "norm" to not cry if you are a male in our society. The title of my poem would be "The Experience of a Young Man", it is not too original but it explains everything that I would be trying to communicate to the reader of my poem. I would want the reader to imagine society's idea of masculinity by using words like; strong and athletic.

"Porphyria's Lover" Irony

“Porphyria’s Lover,” a poem by Robert Browning, focuses on the irony present in the relationship between the speaker and his lover. When Porphyria enters the speaker’s home we expect there to be a typical night shared by two people who are in love. Initially this is what the speaker’s tone suggests. When describing Porphyria he states, “She shut the cold out and the storm” (7). From this line we can see that the speaker is fond of his lover. However, upon finishing the poem the irony is quite evident. Although we expect the two people to spend an enjoyable night together, we eventually learn this is far from the truth. What began as a typical night ends in death. The speaker realizes that Porphyria’s adoration for him will eventually change, and he cannot deal with this thought. He kills her in order to preserve her love, which seems ironic considering she will no longer be capable of loving him at all now that she is dead. The irony provides a dramatic twist to the development of Browning’s poem.

"Ozymandias"

In the poem "Ozymandias", Percy Bysshe Shelley uses many different words to create the image that nothing lasts. When he is describing the remains of the statue he uses words that make the reader imagine that this statue is falling apart, the trunk of the statue is separated from the legs. It is evident that even a statue of a mighty king does not last, "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies" (4). Towards the end of the poem the author used words such as; decay, colossal wreck, and bare. As the reader this made me imagine things that do not last or something that is falling apart. Even though the king in this poem was powerful at one time his power did not last and it is starting to sink back into the earth. The thing that did last in the poem were the sands. "The lone and level sands stretch far away" (14). Although everything around the sand is starting to fade away the author makes it clear that the sand will last over time.

Irony in Porphyria's Lover

Robert Browning uses irony in the poem Porphyria’s Lover. When the speaker finally realizes that Porphyria is truly in love with him he strangles her. Porphyia traveled through the storm to reach the speaker to prove her love for him and “she shut the cold out and the storm,”(719)
Porphyria “made her smooth white shoulder bare”(719) in giving herself to the speaker because of her love to him. She offers herself unconditionally and how ironic that the speaker would murder her with her own hair for such a gift.
The speaker was so proud, “Porphyria worshipped me,”(720) he says and because of this worship and love the speaker wants to preserve something so special he decides to kill her so he will always have her love, that she will not be able to give it to anyone else.
The last few sentences of the poem start off with “Porphyria’s love: she guessed not how Her darling one wish would be heard” (720) shows how the irony continues in the poem from the beginning to the end. Her one wish was granted, to be with the speaker, and now she will be with him forever.

Theme of "Ode on a Grecian Urn"

It is true reading between the lines is a critical element of interpreting poetry. However in “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” John Keats puts all necessary information into his rolling, poetic words. Although the language is a bit old, it shouldn’t be too difficult to understand this poem’s theme. First off, the title speaks in abundance; this poem is all about the ornate wooden carvings that this urn possesses, and more so, the stories it tells. It is clear in the first stanza that the speaker is talking TO the urn. It is important to notice how he is speaking to it, asking of its history: “What leaf-fring’d legend haunts about thy shape of deities or mortals…” (978) Another good indication of the ornate look of the urn is how many questions he asks of it. Clearly seven separate questions should indicate that this urn is not plain in any way.
The second stanza seems to apply to a courting couple. The speaker tells them even though they will never kiss, the man should not be sad because his lover “cannot fade” (979). Their love will always remain.
Stanza three also offers another portrait of never ending spring and the joy that comes with it. However, it takes on a bit of a sour note at the end stating the “happy love…leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy’d” (979). The speaker is saying it leaves the heart sick from too much sweetness.
Finally in the last stanza, the poem comes together. While all the other stanzas relate to the ornate story the urn tells, the last stanza relates to the mystery of existence. This urn is beautiful, but it only ends up reminding us of death; and long after we are gone, the urn will live on as a reminder to man saying: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” (980) True beauty can only be discovered through life. Beauty is reality and reality is beautiful.

"My Last Duchess" (Unit 9)

"My Last Duchess" written by Robert Browning is a poem written about the duke and his deceases duchess. The duke lived a very elegant and high class life style. Not only did he expect alot from his nobleman but also he had high expectations of his wife. The duke felt as if his wife shouldn't give anyone a smile but him. "Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. She thanked men-good! but thanked" (30-31 Browning). He believed he should be the only one to bring a smile to her face or to make her blush or feel intimate at all. "Somehow- I know-as if she ranked My gift of a nine hundred years old name With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame" (32-34 Browning). The duke being of a high social class he tends to be very erogant and controlling. He is te ruler of Farra but the poem makes it seem as though he ruled his wifes life as well. His attitude and the way he ruled his wife lead to her death and to have her murdered. "With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame this sort of trifling?" (34-35 Browning). He is showing no remorse and saying how should anybody blame him for wanting her to be dead.

Ozymandias

In the poem Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley uses the theme that nothing lasts. There are many words in this poem that reinforces this. Even though there is a statue with the words, “king of kings”, which makes a person think of something great and powerful, the irony is that even this great statue falls apart.
In the first sentence there is talk of “an antique land”. This represents something that is old. In the fourth sentence the words “half sunk” and “shattered” also represent something that is falling apart. While reading this poem, these words automatically put scenarios in my head of something falling apart, that it is old and decrepit. There are also words of “colossal wreck” and “remains” which are also descriptive words of something falling apart.
The various speakers represent a weak person and a strong person and that a strong person can become weak over time. This again is implying that nothing lasts.
The one thing that does last in this poem is the sand. It is in the beginning of the poem in the description of the “trunkless legs of stone, Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,”. It is also in the last sentence, “The lone and level sands stretch far away.” This tells me that the sand was there for the statue to crumble upon and that when you look out over the land the sand is always there.

Barbie Doll

If I had to switch the title of “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy to fit a man’s perspective I would change the title to, appropriately, Ken Doll. With just some minor changes in the poem, it could easily be written about a boy rather than a girl. Most all kids when going through adolescence face the same issues of what people believe you should look like and what you accomplish, whether it was 50 years ago or in today’s time.
In the first stanza I would change the sentence “dolls that did pee-pee” to guns that made noise. I would also change “miniature GE stoves and irons” to footballs and dirt bikes. I would think that to a boy, being made fun of their physical body, as in being scrawny would hurt their pride, along with being book smart. In my mind, boys like to be seen as “jocks” or the big man on campus, who has it all, including; athletic body, great hair, and pretty girls that hang on them. It usually does not include being the smartest one in class.
The second stanza would have to change in the manner that a boy would not go around apologizing for who they are as a girl would. A boy, I would imagine, would let the criticism infest inside him until he exploded. Think Columbine!
I think that girls are more advised to try to change themselves and their images than boys are. Girls are more emotional seekers than boys are and they like to think of everyone liking them.
The last three lines of the poem is the most powerful. “Doesn’t she look pretty? Everyone said. Consummation at last. To every women a happy ending.” This means that the girl finally made everyone think that she is pretty and that they all like her even though she had to take her own life to make it happen.

My Last Duchess (Unit 9)

"My Last Duchess" written by Robert Browning is a poem about a duke and his a painting of his late wife that he has hanging on the wall. He is talking to the father of his possible future wife. This poem is very complex in it's words but in the end it all comes together and the reader realizes the story the poem is trying to tell. The duke is the very possessive and jealous type of husband. His late wife had a wondering eye, "..Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere." (Lines 23 and 24, Browning) He felt as though she did not appreciate him or who he was because "she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody's gift." (Lines 33 and 34, Browning) He was of a high social class because he was the duke of Farrara and he did not appreciate his wife straying herself and her wondering eye. The poem gives the feeling that he possibly murdered her or had her murdered. "Who'd stoop to blame This sort of trifling?" (Lines 34 and 35, Browning) Basically this says who would blame him for wanting her dead? If she does not want to appreciate him, then she will not be able to appreciate anybody.

My Last Duchess

In Robert Browning’s poem, “My Last Duchess,” we learn a great deal about the speaker’s character based on his characterization of his recently deceased duchess. Being born into a nine hundred year old family name has made the duke both selfish and domineering. As an important nobleman, the duke appears to believe he should be catered to, especially by his wife. Throughout the poem the duke suggests that his wife did not live up to his standards. He suggests that his wife was quite flirtatious, possibly even adulterous. While discussing the look on the duchess’ face the duke states, “Sir, ‘twas not her husband’s presence only, called that spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” (13-15). The duke expects that he and only he should bring a smile to his wife’s face or blush to her cheeks. One could first assume these lines suggest that the duchess was not faithful to her husband. However, the duke’s tone throughout the poem suggests that he could simply be paranoid. His tone also makes him seem especially controlling. His controlling personality leads him to have his wife killed, but we learn that he has easily moved on and is now talking to a representative for the count. He is preparing to marry the count’s daughter, but in order to prevent his marriage history from repeating itself, he warns the representative of his expectations. To this authoritative man, a wife is worth no more than an object.

Laura Brown

Ozymandias End

The poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley has the theme that all things truly do come to an end. The imagery in the poem gives the sense that even someone as powerful as this ruler of long ago was, his reign had ended. The only thing left of his realm is his crushed sculpture scattered and half buried in the vast desert in which “lone and level sands stretch far away.”(14) Ozymandias’ facial expressions on his decapitated head from the sculpture reveals that he was a very harsh ruler “a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command.”(5) He thought of himself as a king that was great and even brags by the inscriptions in the remains of the statue’s base that he is “Ozymadias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”(10) Even though this ruler was indeed a great and powerful king his reign over a kingdom had truely come to an end.

Tone/Reactions - Porphyria's Lover

"Porphyria's Lover" by Robert Browning, is a unique poem that uses an interesting tone as well as dramatic monologue, that adds to its' twisted story. This poem starts out just like any 1800's love poem, using phrases like, "The rain set early in to-night, The sullen wind was soon awake" (1,2) and "I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight" (5,6). Using these descriptions, Browning sets this relaxing, yet exciting tone. Like that of two lovers meeting at a given place where they always meet to make love. This tone is sustained until "She put her arm about my waist, And made her smooth white shoulder bare" (16,17.) Now at this point, the way a reader reacts switches from being relaxed and exciting, to just exciting! It looks like it's setting up to be a steamy romantic scene, this tone is maintained with lines like, "Murmuring how she loved me -- she Too week, for all her heart's endeavour" (21,22). Then, all of the sudden, the tone in the midst of the love and affection, deep passionate descriptions of these two apparent lovers comes to an utter halt, when the speaker says, "Three times her little throat around, And strangled her. No pain felt she" (40,41). The feelings as a reader drops like a book off a shelf, as a reader, your heart can't help but find a desolate break. The tone finishes off the poem in the mind of a crazed psychopathic killer, twisted in his obsession with the desire to contain her whole heart, which is why he killed her in that "Perfectly pure and good" (37) state. The odd thing about this poem, is that the tone of the speaker although varies at certain times, remains a steady dull tone, which adds to the creepiness of the story.

Barbie Doll

Barbie Doll written by Margie Piercy. This poem was written about how society perceives how young woman should be. If I were to re write this in comparison to how society perceives our young men I would compare it to WWF wrestlers. I think society puts alot of pressure on our young men. I believe society thinks our young men should be the bread winners, Stronger than women. Young men that grow up with no male interaction struggle with identity. Some young men tend to play alot of video games which sometimes leads them to trouble down to road. Men and woman are labeled unfairly. People do not look at what on the inside, instead are only concerned with the outside appearance. Society puts alot of pressure on how a person should look and in return that causes people to suffer from eating disorders and ect trying to achieve the look that society pressures us to have.

"Barbie Doll" - Perfection Required for Everyone

The pressures of living in today’s society are enormous. Whether you are a Barbie or a Ken, everyone is expected to be successful, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to be beautiful both inside and out. When Marge Piercy wrote “Barbie Doll” in 1973, these same pressures to succeed were already in place for the young people coming up in the world. Throughout the ages, it has always been difficult to be a female and to mold to whatever role you were destined to play, whether it was as a scullery maid, a housewife and mother, or a powerful player in the business world. We sometimes forget those same pressures were and are put on young men as well. They have always been expected to be the provider, the protector, and the powerful businessman. Above all, look your best.

Piercy is focusing on the outside beauty in this poem, and what happens when someone smashes a young girls self esteem. But where Piercy writes “Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:/You have a great big nose and fat legs” (lines 5,6) she could have been writing about a male or a female. The passages that refer to feminine items and ideas could easily be changed into masculine form. Where the young girl is “presented dolls that did pee-pee/and miniature GE stoves and irons/and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy” (2-4), a young boy would be given plastic soldiers, toy guns, racing cars, little pretend shaving kits. Where “She was advised to play coy” (12), a young man could be advised to be strong. When “she cut off her nose and her legs/and offered them up” (17,18) the only thing that would have to change, and still show the horror that this young person must have been living, is the word she to he.

When we, as a society put such pressure on our children to be perfect, there can only be an unhappy ending. In real life, there is no fairy tale existence, and we must each be happy with the way we are. Piercy knew this, and this poem is screaming at us to get that point across.

Barbie Doll

The poem "Barbie Doll" is about society's pressure, that even a doll, puts on women to look perfect and have the perfect body figure. Men have the same pressure as well, however slightly different. Men have dolls that are muscular and have masculine jobs like a GI Joe doll, for an example. GI Joe is the great American hero, boys could get the idea that they are the hero and that they need to save the damsel in distress. There are also things like guns, knives, and cars that are available at the store for them to buy, but girls do not have these in their toy isle. Toy makers put too much emphasis on making girl toys more for women to stay home and take care of the home and children. Whereas boy toys are based more around violence, the "gatherers" of our societies family structures. It puts the pressure on men to be tough, and don't show your weak side. If I were to invent a toy for boys that is the equivalent to the Barbie doll for girls, it would have to be called Paul Bunyan. I know that this name is already a well known name, but think about what Paul Bunyan would represent to us if we did not know who he was. He has an ox, carries an ax with him, and works out in the woods. He has a job that takes strength and brute to be able to cut down trees. He also is very manly looking with muscles and plaid shirts. The perfect example of what men should be, even if it may seem unrealistic to us.