Unit 9 -Topic 1-A

The key concept in the poem “Ozymandias” that the author Percy Bysshe Shelley is trying to get across to the reader is that once you die you cannot take valuable items with you. The imagery in this poem is a key concept in developing the theme. The fourth line states, “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown.” (Bysshe Shelley, 721). This helps the reader imagine that in the desert their lies a valuable piece, but at the same time nobody is able to see it, because after all it is in the desert. In this poem one gets to discover the multiple speakers that are presented. Each has their own different view, that add to the depth of the poem. The first one the reader encounters is the speaker. He is telling the story. This adds to the poem in the fact that this “great encounter” is worth telling and it shows meaning to the poem. The first line states, “I met a traveler form an antique land.” (Bysshe Shelley, 721). Right from the start one can tell that the information presented by the traveler is valuable, therefore it is worth telling to a complete stranger, the speaker. The traveler is also a speaker that gives meaning and relevance to the poem. The main point in this poem is that vanity items never last. However the poem describes some items that do last. Lines six and seven state, “Tell that its sculptor well those passions read which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,” (Bysshe Shelley, 721). This helps explain that passion and one’s own personality, dignity, and memories will never die, but their possession will in time.

My Last Duchess

The Duke is a obsessively jealous and possessive person. After her death, he has her picture painted where he can have it hung behind this curtain, with only he can pull that curtain to look at her or show to whomever he pleases "since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you, but I" Browning (703). His jealousy is seen throughout the poem, were she looks at Fra Pandolf and the Duke gets upset, thinking she should only look at him that way.

The poem states that he sees himself as very important and the duchess should see herself as grateful to have married such a great person, as he gave her his name. "My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old-name" Browning (703).

It appears that their marriage was not filled with much happiness, the once happy duchess who used to smile became very unhappy in her marriage. "Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped altogether" Browning (703). His need for possession lies in this painting on the wall of her. She was an object in their marriage that he could possess and control. Just like the painting on the wall. He can control the curtain that it hides behind.

"Iron Man"

When growing up, family, peers along with TV and magazines have a great impact on youth and society as a whole. They display the male figure as being very strong and tough. This is shown with the six pack abs and the huge biceps along with the pretty face.

When a boy grows up they may see themselves as not very attractive or scrawny. Giving them a negative body image of themselves. This is where increased steriod use is seen along with the need to lift weights and workout, to try and achieve this body image.

Parents also play a big role in the male image. The father expects his son to be tough not only on the outside but in the inside also "boys don't cry". The male is the one that is expected to join the military to fight for our country. They are the ones that get drafted during the time of war.

In society, the boys are the ones that play the tough sports, (Football, Hockey, Wrestling). Even though these days you see more girls joinging these sports, this was seldom ever heard of 20 yrs. ago.

Blog Entry #2 - Unit 9

"Barbie Doll"
Address how the imagery in the poem could be updated for a more modern take on the female experience:

In the first stanza, the speaker is describing what kinds of toys girls used to get such as "dolls that did pee-pee." Today, girls get dolls like Bratz Dolls or the big Polly Pockets Dolls that are similar to small barbies. Also in this stanza the speaker mentions "stoves and irons" which don't really have a replacement in today's world of little girls' toys. Some girls still get this kinds of toys only they do more - such as make noises of running water from the play facet or boiling water on the stove.

In the second stanza, the speaker discusses girls having "strong arms and back." Today there is more emphasis on exercise and physical activity instead of playing video games or watching television indoors. Years before, kids did not have those kinds of toys so they were more active and were forced to entertain themselves. One of the things in this stanza that has not changed a whole lot is appearance. In line eleven, the speaker states, "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs." Girls are constantly judging other girls based on appearance. Although there is more emphasis on being happy with what you have today, there is still some judging going on. Girls and women of all sorts are expected to be skinny before they can be beautiful.

in the third and final stanza, the speaker tells how a girl is advised to behave - coyly. The speaker goes on to say, "Her good nature wore out like a fan belt." This meaning that people can only take so much criticism before they have finally had enough and can not take it any longer. The speaker goes on to talk about the "casket" and the "undertaker's cosmedics" implying that a girl died. In lines twenty-four and twenty-five the speaker says, "Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending." These last two lines are meaning that the ultimate end or finish is here.

Blog Entry #1 - Unit 9

Discuss how the poem "Ozymandias" develops the theme that "nothing lasts":

How does the imagery in the poem reinforce this theme?
In line one, the speaker makes reference to "antique land" which means that it's getting old. Something getting old makes a reader realize that "nothing lasts." In line two of this poem, the speaker says, " Two vast and trunkless legs of stone..." and by reading the information after the poem, the reader finds out that this line means that the statue had shattered in the desert, which the word shatter implies that the statue indeed did not last. In line four, the speaker states, "...a shattered visage lies..." again using shattered to imply that not even the visage (being the appearance of a human or even animal) does not last. In line seven the speaker says, "which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things..." which to the reader means that at that moment things are surviving, but maybe they find themselves asking at that point, how much longer will they survive? Also, this line allows the reader to acknowledge the fact that there are already "lifeless" things around. Both of these points imply that "nothing lasts." In line twelve the speaker says, "Nothing besides remains." This to the reader implies that "nothing remains." Also in this same line (line 12), the speaker makes reference to the word "decay" which means there has been some deterioration whcih also means that "nothing lasts."

How do the various speakers in the poem contribute to this theme?
It is hard to explain by writing or typing, but what a reader gets out of a piece of literature, especially poetry, has a lot to do with how the reader reads it. Changing how the reader reads the poem, gives them a different perspective and interpretation on the tone of the work, even on the imagery and irony they get out of the literature.

Though "nothing lasts" the poet seems to suggest some things outlast others. What outlasts what in this poem?
A reader might think to themselves after reading this poem that monuments outlast lives of any living thing because monuments are meant to last "forever." Living things are meant to reproduce and then die. That's how the world works.

Mr. Everything

If I had the opportunity to rewrite the poem "Barbie Doll," I would write about the conflicting pressures boys and men face in society today, and entitle my poem "Mr. Everything." Males of today are in a constant struggle to fit the ever-changing mold set for them by our society. We give young boys toy guns and trucks and superhero suits, yet expect them to be gentle, caring, and sensitive. Then when they are being sensitive, we tell them to be more manly. Yes, they face constant pressure to be masculine, so that no one will think they are gay, yet they can't act too masculine, or we will tell them they are chauvinistic or macho. We are frustrated when they don't share their feelings with us, but when they do, we tell them to toughen up, and that "boys don't cry." As the girl in " Barbie Doll" was teased for having a fat nose and thick legs, young men are teased for being fat, or skinny, or for having acne, or being too smart, or not smart enough. Is it any wonder that nearly every school shooting has been instigated by a young man? Just as the young girl in "Barbie Doll" killed herself due to her overwhelming sense of inadequacy, my poem would end with a young man killing himself and others to let out the feelings he felt he could never let out while living.

Theme to "Porphyria's Lover" by Leah Siewert

Robert Browing tells the story of a crazy lover in his work "Porphyria's Lover".  When one begins reading the poem the theme of love is shown.  One can see that the narrator has been waiting for this moment when he states, "And, last, she sat down by my side And called me.  When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist" (719). It is as if it is too good to be true that his love has finally come to him and he was unsure it was reality.

He described her, "So, she was come through wind and rain," showing she had defeated the elements in order to make it to her true love (719).  Also, prior, the reader sees the love in, "Murmuring how she loved me" (720).  In reading we believe that she does love him so and he the same.  We are somewhat happy in the fact that they have finally come together as from the writing we are given the impression it has been some time for this to finally be.

Suddenly, the story takes a turn in that he does not know what to do now that he finally has his love.  "Made my heart swell, and still it grew  While I debated what to do" (720).  He is over taken by his love for Porphyria, he is so happy she has come to him yet afraid she will leave him again, perhaps.  When he strangles her with her own hair he believes that she does not feel any pain.  

In the closing lines he knows what he has done yet focuses on them being together, "And all night long we have not stirred, And yet God has not said a word" (720).  He and his love are together as he had dreamed in the past.  

Barbie Doll

If I were to rewrite Barbie Doll in the man version I would rename it Ken Doll, because the male version of Barbie is named Ken. I would talk about the peer pressure that male go through like who is stronger than who, who eats more, who is better at sports, when in teenage years who is more mature than the others. The image I would want to present to my reader is that no matter how strong you are, no matter who is better at sports everyone is good at something, be proud of who you are and do not worry about what others are thnking or saying about you because in the end that is not what matters.

Barbie Doll

If I were to rewrite this poem from male perspective and aimed at the male gender, I think I would name the poem "He Man". This would give the idea of being strong, bold and manly. The poem would focus on the peer pressures involved with boys. Boys normally fight physically rather than with words so it would probably focus on boys trying to pick fights with other boys. Some of the issues boys get hurt over are physical strength, their abilities, the way they talk and the way they carry themselves. I would probably use more strong tones that focus on pointing out the strengths and weaknesses that are associated with the male gender.

My Last Dutchess

The speaker is a man who has lost his wife, his Last Dutchess. I think he is a wealthy man who could afford to have the best painter in his area paint this portrait. When I read this poem the first time, I thought this man to be selfish and uncaring because he was keeping hidden the portrait for only his eyes but when I read it through a few more times, I think he was a jealous man but yet he was saddened by her death at this young age. He is turning the portrait "into her" so to speak, making up for her loss by keeping the portrait close t him. He is seemingly an outspoken person on the outside but I think he is quite shy on the inside. Many of us try to cover out true selves by pretending to be someone we are not. It seems like he is talking to this count about the count's daughter and how he wants to marry her but he also seems to be talking to us, as an audience, trying to convey his true self.

Barbie Doll - GI Joe

If this poem where to be about men I would rename it “GI Joe”. In this poem I would use the classic all- American symbols for masculinity, such as sports, cars, dating (girls to be specific), and financial success. “Barbie Doll” speaks of the expectations young girls have today, I would do the same in “GI Joe” but for the opposite sex. Young men are supposed to be athletic and strive in any of the hundreds of sports out there; they are also expected to take an interest in cars, right? As far as dating goes, the more they bed, the manlier they are; and God forbid they are gay, then they wouldn’t be manly at all. As they grow up, a man will have a nice job to go along with his nice house.
I would use words that are hard, strong, and to the point, to portray to the reader that this is how it is and how it should be.
In reality, young people today are faced with enough pressure, peer or otherwise. “Barbie Doll”, “GI Joe”, or any other poem about the pressure society places on our youth is bringing to light the fact that these pressures are unrealistic; no one can be perfect.
FYI: I do not really believe in what I wrote about men; I was merely just getting my point across about unrealistic expectations.

"Barbie Doll" for Boys - Ken Doll - by Leah Siewert

Not a very original title to change it too but this writer is exhausted from the past week.

One could change this poem into one regarding young men physical and intellectual ideas may still be utilized. To liven it up even more one could change the state of a young gay man which would even fill in with the current writing.

In order to change it to a young man's poem one would look at the toys young boys play with. The trucks, guns, cowboys and Indian type games they played. They too may test intelligent. There are instances of young men who have issues with their looks just as young woman have. A male though may have an issue with being shorter than others his age or may have had a comment he could not let go regarding his masculinity.

This is a horribly written blog. Overall it is a sad poem in the fact that the young girl let the thoughts and ideas of others intrude upon her life in such a way. The same could happen to a young man and in all reality has done so over the years.

"My Last Duchess" by Leah Siewert

The speaker in "My Last Duchess" is a man who is speaking about a portrait of his wife who has passed on. In the fact that she is on the wall and in the first sentence is explained, "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall," gives the reader the belief that he has money. At first one believes he is explaining and reliving the love he had for her. When one reads, "My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name," if you haven't already, you begin to think he is more about his money, title, and one should be so lucky to be with him.

His tone seems rather condescending at times and makes it hard to like him.

It is a difficult poem to understand. The love of his Duchess is apparent throughout the reading, though is it true love he speaks of for her or having her hang on the wall only for himself to see?

Reading the poem and the information preceding it is given away that he is speaking to an emissary who is there to arrange the second marriage of the speaker of the poem.

Ozymandias

In Ozymandias the speaker directly says in line 12 that nothing remains, in other words nothing lasts, which is how he develops the theme that nothing does last. The imagrey in this poem reinforces the theme because they say alot about where they are like how "they are on antique land" and on sand, it really helps with imaging it in your head to see what it looks like. Ozymandias outlasts himself in this poem.

"Ozymandias"

One major theme of Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" is that nothing lasts. The diction and irony of this poem each help to develop the theme that all earthly things shall decay.
The speakers' word choices portray Ozymandias as a once great, now forgotten, ruler. The traveler initially describes the statue of Ozymandias as "Half sunk," shattered," (line 4) "wrinkled," and "cold" (line 5), as though he were describing a corpse. It is eventually revealed that Ozymandias was once thought to be the "king of kings," so the use of such diction implies a great change in the esteem of this leader.
The words on the pedestal present such an irony from the initial description of the statue. One is led to believe from the first five lines of the poem that the statue was worthless, discarded without care. However, the inscription tells the reader that at one point, the mightiest of rulers feared this man. Yet at his death, all of his power was stripped away, and he is now but a forgotten statue, broken on the "lone and level sands" (line 14).
Thus, both the diction and irony used within the poem help the speaker to support the theme that nothing lasts on this earth.

My Last Duchess

The speaker in “My Last Duchess” is a very narcissistic man. He rants and raves about his last Duchess “as if she were alive” (line 2), but he is merely talking up his painting and the fact that some well know artist has painted it. He is more proud of his painting than of his beloved dead wife. He is a controlling man, and an even more controlling husband. He states that his wife had “A heart – to soon made glad” (line 22), this represents his self centeredness. This man saw his wife as an object and not a woman who was just a naturally happy person. She seemed to like everybody and this drove him insane. He also appears to be of a higher social status, as he clearly lets whomever he is talking to know. He makes sure to let them know that he gets only the finest things in life, and that he is the one calling all the shots. The more he talks about his late wife the more he sounds like a self centered little man; he doesn’t have any confidence in his wife or himself. He thinks because he is giving her his “nine-hundred-years-old-name” (line 33) she should just succumb to the life being his eye candy. His grossness is proven when he has his wife killed; he obviously is more concerned with his social standing than finding true love.

Barbie Doll

If this poem were to be written from the perspective of this man, it would probably be a protest against the emasculating post-feminism mindset wrought in corporate America. I would probably call the poem "Neo-Masculine" , or even "Nice Guy." There are pressures on man to conform by society, but none as strong as the threat of androgyny. It's as if women are being asked to be more masculine and men, more feminine. I have seldom been condoned in attending a corporate meeting while donning a beard, much less, an untrimmed beard. It is sad that a natural beard is seen as unsterile and threatening to the impotent environment that is the corporate boardroom. The untrimmed beard is likened to an unwashed body. We are asked to be politically correct, and generally accepting of all things we inherently would like to fight, but are discouraged by society from doing so. We want to hire men we can relate to, but our frivolously judicial society threatens that if we don't hire enough women, we will have no rebuttal in corporate sexual harassment cases. We are then discouraged from bravery, as our society tells our men that they need to act like their women. When our banks get robbed, our men lose their jobs for being men, and fighting threats to our women and our friends. Men want to self-sacrifice, but we are told that we can only fight for what the company wants us to fight for. Our safe society has killed chivalry and caused the repression of our natural masculine aggression. Stigmas and labels have been placed on aggression, as if it were all negative. Our reality has been constructed for us by the all-powerful media, controlled by the big corporations, who finance their political candidates. There is no fight left in man, no chance of protection against tyranny, we all do as we are told. The repression of aggression, as caused the only manifestations to be unnatural, when they explode to the surface, only reinforcing the negative stigmas surrounding this and other defining male characteristics. These are the ideas that I would like to convey. Through working, I would attempt to paint the picture of a figuratively neutered man, who has to fight who he is all of his life, in order to be considered acceptable... to be considered a "nice guy."

My Last Duchess

The speaker in "My Last Duchess" is a Duke who thinks quite highly of himself. The Duke may not necessarily think of himself as chronically unique in greatness, but he certainly believes that his family name is something that she be revered. The Duke believes that his late Duchess may have "ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody's gift." (Browning, 32-34) The Duke is a man of his time and a product of his upbringing. The Duke could have confronted the Duchess about her lack of appreciation for this gift, but there is no evidence of this. There is also no evidence of wrongdoing on her part either. It would seem that the Duke believed that his "munificence" (Browning, 49) should warrant the Duchess's affection alone. The Duke has been raised to believe nothing else, but status and name, bring affection and praise. He didn't want to mention his contention as claims it would require stooping (to her level), and he "choose(s) never to stoop." (Browning, 42-43) He believes that she should have come to him properly trained and so he is trying to express to the company of a possible suitor, what is required of his name. He wants to convey that the woman should treat him with special regard, and her, a piece of property. The poem ends sounding as if the Duke has moved on to his next piece of art nonchalantly.

The only previous experience I have with poetry would be when I was in high school. I enjoy it because each individual one is so different. It had been a long time since I had read poems so I was not sure what to expect. I think my beliefs about poetry did not change at all. It was very interesting learning more about the smaller details of poetry.