from the blog of Bennett Parker Graff:
"So why do we teach students how to write literary criticism? Make no mistake, it is a form of writing that can approach art in the right hands. But even for beginners it is a far more difficult mode of nonfiction writing--in my humble view--than the standard nonfiction forms of narration, description, and argumentation. Technically, literary criticism is a subdivision of the last, but it remains one of the hardest to do well. I attribute this difficulty not only to the inability of [some] students to read well but also to the inherent complications of trying to formulate an argument about something as slippery as a finely crafted story or poem."
So I would like you all to try. Please select one of the following poems and devise an detailed outline for a literary analysis on it. Include at the top your thesis.
Poems to choose from--
"Porphyria's Lover" by Robert Browning
"Keeping Things Whole" by Mark Strand
20 comments:
Mark Strand - Keeping Things Whole
Thesis: While Mark Strands poem Keeping Things Whole provides incite on how he is feeling, it doesn’t appeal to everyone.
I. Inspiration
A. Personal
B. Professional
C. Insightful
II. Audience
A. Age Group
B. State of Mind
1. Worried
2. Calm
3. Stressed
C. Married or Single
D. Depressed or Other
III. Problems
A. Single Audience
B. One Sided
IV. Solutions
A. Wider Audience
B. Greater Detail on why he feels that way.
This has nothing to do with the assignment, but one of the quizzes was about English being a difficult language to master as a 2nd, so I googled this and this thread amused me...Read this, but if you are, make sure you read the whole thing!!
- - - - - - - - - -
We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn’t the plural of pan be pen?
If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a while set are teeth, why shouldn’t the plural of booth be beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethen, but though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim.
Some reasons to be grateful if you grew up speaking English
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he could get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to that object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into the sewer line.
16) To help with the planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
22) I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.
Screwy pronunciations can mess up your mind!
For example, If you have a rough cough, climbing can be tough when going through the bough on a tree.
Let’s face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or french fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea not is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham?
Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why don’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recital at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which and alarm goes off by going on.
- - - - - - - - - -
crazy, right?
Robert Browning-"Porphyria's Loveer"
This poem was a little demented because its about a guy that sees a woman he likes and instead of marrying her he kills her and keeps the body so she can never eave him. I think this guy needs counseling personally.what really is creepy about this poem is that he strangles her with her own hair and then he opens her eyes o make her look alive.
I. The lady
A. Her class
B. the way she looks
II. The love
III. Problems
A. marriage between classes
B. the possessiveness
IV. the murder
A. the brutality
B. the creepiness
C. the unwillingness to let go
V. Conclusion
Keeping Things Whole - Mark Strand
Thesis:
In my opinion, this poem is describing Mark's views of his importance to the world. To me, it seems rather vein. It can be interpreted as motivational if you apply it to your own life. If you see yourself as someone as important as Mark believes that he is, you can jump start your confidence and motivate yourself to strive and do well. After a second read I noticed that the first line can be interpreted that the author does not feel like he belongs in his society.
1.Being an outcast.
In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
2.Vanity
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.
3.Self Importance
When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.
4.Inspiration
We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.
Mark Strand: Keeping Things Whole
Thesis Statement: The writer thinks that anything and everything in the world revolves around him.
I. Introduction
II. Characters
A. What kind of person
B. What they do
III.Relationship
A. What kind it is
B. Secret?
IV.Understanding
A. What actually happened
B. Why he did it
V. Conclusion
"Porphyra's Lover" by Robert Browning
Thesis: I think this is Browning's view on the world around him at the time and how the social classes acted.
I. Inspiration
A. Society
B. Human Thoughts
II. Audience
A. Anyone of any social class
III. Problems
A. A little misleading.
B. Dark ending.
IV. Solutions
A. No clue.
"Keeping Things Whole"
by Mark Strand
There are several theses to this poem:
One could say that this poem is simply a boast of arrogance, that the idea of only a particular person's (in this case, the author) existence can complete any setting where they are present. Or another, more humble interpretation is that any setting is incomplete without human presence.
I. Audience Reaction
a. Because we are taught as a society that displaying vanity is a rude trait, most of the audience may feel resentful or disgusted (possibly wrongfully) towards the author.
b. Those who do not react with the majority are either interpreting the poem differently, or completely disagree with society’s disapproval of vanity.
II. Emotions of the Author
a. There are great feelings of self confidence and a high sense of self-worth displayed (but not necessarily) by the author.
b. Especially the second stanza grossly exaggerates this “conceitedness”, since the event described is scientifically true.
c. By “twisting words”, the author explains that his existence will not enhance a setting (meaning adding to what is already complete, and therefore its absence will not be missed), but will complete (providing what is lacking, but necessary) a setting.
III. Construction and Completion of the Poem
a. The writing style of the author is very effective, as it successfully conveys its message to the audience in only six sentences.
b. Again, exaggeration is key to stirring these mixed emotions from the audience!
c. “We all have reasons for moving. I move to keep things whole.” This line reiterates point 2-C! The authors existence completes, and not merely just enhances, wherever he is present!
William Carlos Williams' poem, The Red Wheelbarrow, creates a portrait of the thoughts and fears of the 1900s.
Introduction: Farming is life. It equals prosperity vs. poverty, worry.
Wheelbarrow:Tools used, physical demands stress.
Rain: Life depends upon nature.
Chicken: sign of hope, food, provider.
Conclusion: So much depends upon a single item. All things need to work together to gain success. Must rely on others.
Keeping Things Whole
Mark's poem is a short one with a very subtle meaning. You have to read it over and over to understand what he is saying. I believe he is simply saying that wherever he is, there is an absence of the element of nature. Like putting a piece of ice in water. Were the ice is there is no water. But when we remove the ice the water fills that space.
I believe that in the first part:
In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing
The field would be the water and he is the ice cube. And he just reinforces that idea with the second part of the paragraph. He just takes his example and applies it to every aspect of life.
And in the 2nd part:
When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.
This part of the poem describes the water filling in the gap the ice cube took.
These reasons i believe support my water and ice cube theory. And the last part is saying that he wants to move so that he isn't the reason something is not whole.
In “Porphyria’s Lover,” the speaker justifies, to himself, murdering the woman he loves.
I. Introduction
II. Their differences
A. Social class
B. Devotion to the relationship
III. The consequences
A. She seems grateful
B. Not even God thinks it is wrong
IV. Conclusion
Thesis: Mark Strand’s poem “Keeping Things Whole” is an interpretation about how he has no purpose in life.
1. Lacking existence
A. His presence
B. Surroundings
2. Being a Nuisance
A. To the people
B. To the world
3. Understanding the meaning
A. Get out the way
B. Keep it moving
Mark Strand- Keeping Things Whole
Thesis: He's simply displaying an importance within the world he views from his own prospective. Without existence, there can be no story. No meaning. No purpose.
The importance of people within this world and the desires to be better. Whether suited or not. A painted picture with white paint on a white canvas can not be seen ten feet away. Yet, if you walk closer, the picture is shown and marveled. War & Peace... Pain & Pleasure... Power & Weakness.
Thesis: Porphyra Lover
he kills the women he loves
I. Introduction
II. Their differences
III. The consequences
Mark Strand - Keeping Things Whole
Thesis: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. By law if you keep things in motion you will remain whole.
I. Desolate - In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.
II. Self Awareness - When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.
III. Ambitious - We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.
The poem “Keeping Things Whole” by Mark Strand can be interpreted in several ways. One could assimilate the poem to that of a husband and wife’s relationship. Without the complete presence of both parties the marriage would not exist. Mental, physical, and spiritual characteristics all play a vital part to the relationship. The poem is written from the man’s point of view implying that if he does not keep moving in the right direction that he cannot provide for his family. The way that the poem is written sounds somewhat chauvinistic or self centered, when really he is saying that he has to fulfill many obligations to be able to take care of his wife. One must look at the big picture before passing judgment.
Many of you did an excellent job here. I like Eyesack's and Daryl's approaches, and Sharmaine's as well!
Porphyria's Lover...
thesis:
"...That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around, 40
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore 50
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word! ..."
My first interpretation of this poem led me to feel the following:
The rain set early in to-night,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break..."
I think he struggled with his love; with extreme ups and downs. I think they loved each other too much. Maybe the storm wasn't a storm at all, maybe it was a symbol for a nightly, reoccurring fight with Porphyria; as the line: "...The rain set in early tonight..." hints. The sullen wind awaking, gives the impression of familiarity, again as if it awoke on a nightly basis. "...I listened with heart fit to break..." is him taking it in and feeling his heart getting closer to breaking.
"...When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,..."
Despite how upset he may be, he can't help but feel warm when she's around.
"... And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me--she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me for ever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain..."
In the beginning of this section, he ignores her, showing that he is upset with her. She is probably sorry for the way she may have acted so she tries to get closer to him.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her.
Finally in a moment of mutual love, he kills her. He may have killed her because he knew that it was either one last moment of true happiness or what could be a lifetime of deep, dark lows and blissful, short-lived highs. I think he killed her because he loved her too much.
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