Poetry anthology: Poem 3

 Poem 1

Poem 2

Poem N° 3: 

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson 1830-1886

Please click here, It´s beautiful...http://vimeo.com/33318564

I really liked this lyrical poem because one of the messages of it seems to say that whatever life throws at the individual there is always the dove-like glimmer of hope that sits in all of us that is so strong that its voice can still be heard in the "gale" of stormy times. Everyone goes through stormy times in their life and no matter where you are on earth or from which "strangest sea" you inhabit but there is no need to despair.

I have chosen these images because of  Dickinson´s metaphor, "is a bird that perches in the soul of everyone", regardless of race, gender or status. It is clear that whatever the battles we may face, hope wins through in the end.

poetry anthology: Poem 2

Narrative Poetry

Narrative poems include ballads and epics, and tell of societies and heroic deeds. They can also be very dramatic when telling of a particular situation.

Poem N° 2:

              "The Canterbury Tales"

In days of old there lived, of mighty fame,

A valiant Prince, and Theseus was his name;

A chief, who more in feats of arms excelled,

The rising nor the setting sun beheld.

Of Athens he was lord; much land he won,

And added foreign countries to his crown.

In Scythia with the warrior Queen he strove,

Whom first by force he conquered, then by love;

He brought in triumph back the beauteous dame,

With whom her sister, fair Emilia, came.

With honour to his home let Theseus ride,

With Love to friend, and Fortune for his guide,

And his victorious army at his side.

I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array,

Their shouts, their songs, their welcome on the way;

But, were it not too long, I would recite

The feats of Amazons, the fatal fight

Betwixt the hardy Queen and hero Knight;

The town besieged, and how much blood it cost

The female army, and the Athenian host;

The spousals of Hippolyta the Queen;

What tilts and turneys at the feast were seen;

The storm at their return, the ladies' fear:

But these and other things I must forbear.

       Geoffrey Chaucer

       I have chosen this poem because it shows a sense of the language at the time, it also gives a rich, intricate tapestry of medieval social life, combining elements of all classes, from nobles to workers, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves.

These images represent a panoramic view of society, medieval social classes, and their differences.

poetry anthology: poem 1

Sonnets as Lyric Poetry

The word “lyric” comes from the Latin “lyricus" meaning “of or for the lyre.” Some of the best examples of lyric poetry come from Italian and English sonnets. In lyric poetry, the mood is musical and emotional. The writer of a lyric poem uses words that express his state of mind, his perceptions, or his feelings.

Poem N° 1:

Italian Sonnet

Turn back the heart you've turned away
Give back your kissing breath
Leave not my love as you have left
The broken hearts of yesterday
But wait, be still, don't lose this way
Affection now, for what you guess
May be something more, could be less
Accept my love, live for today.

Your roses wilted, as love spurned
Yet trust in me, my love and truth

Dwell in my heart, from which you've turned
My strength as great as yours aloof.
It is in fear you turn away
And miss the chance of love today!

James DeFord
July, 1997

I have chosen this sonnet because it is about the difficulty of love and while you are reading this poem, words are transforming into images that come from and to your heart... that make you experience deep feelings...

This image represents the moment when the author is talking about her roses wilting, it means her love for him is dying.

She fears that whatever happened the first time they both fell in love will happen again...

Post 3: After reading the whole play

                                         

The most important ideas or themes in the play are:

Love

Although Claudio and Hero’s courtly marriage is central to the plot, their relationship is the least interesting thing in the play. Instead, our attention is drawn to Benedick and Beatrice’s unromantic backbiting – it is this relationship that seems more believable and enduring.

By contrasting these two different types of love, Shakespeare manages to poke fun at the conventions of courtly, romantic love. Claudio uses highly contrived language when speaking of love, which is undermined by Benedick and Beatrice’s banter: “Can the world buy such a Jewel?” says Claudio of Hero. “My dear Lady disdain! Are you yet living?” says Benedick of Beatrice.

As an audience, we are supposed to share Benedick’s frustration with Claudio’s transparent, pompous rhetoric of love: “He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a soldier … His words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes.”

Deception

The most obvious example is when Don John falsely slanders Hero for his own mischief, which is countered by the Friar’s deception of pretending Hero is dead. The manipulation of Hero from both sides renders her a passive character throughout the play – she does very little and only becomes an interesting character through the other character’s deceptions.

Deception is also used as a force for good in the play, as in Beatrice and Benedick’s overhearing scenes. Here, the deception is used to great comic effect and to manipulate the two lovers into accepting each other. The use of deception to manipulate these characters is necessary because it is the only way they could be convinced to allow love into their lives.

It is interesting that all of Much Ado’s characters are so willing to be deceived – Claudio doesn’t stop to suspect Don John’s actions, both Benedick and Beatrice are willing to completely change their world view after the overhearing scenes, and Claudio is willing to marry a complete stranger to appease Leonato. Deception is weaved so closely into the play that it becomes second nature to its characters.

Power of words

Several times, throughout the play, visible turning points in the play have been achieved by a few words. Firstly, the power of Beatrice's words changed Benedick's mind from thinking of their exchanges as a game to a serious, in love commitment. Further on though, in perhaps what was the most catching scene, is where Hero's reputation as a moral, pure girl is destroyed as she is accused of having an affair. This is so serious to the point where her own father, Leonato disowns her. This shows that through a few words, the love of a family can be changed and the thoughts about another person can be reversed.

The title is very suitable because  it implies that a great fuss (“much ado”) is made of something which is insignificant (“nothing”), such as the unfounded claims of Hero’s infidelity. Indeed, much of the action of the play revolves around interest in and critique of others, written messages and  spying. 

What surprised me most about this play was how it shows standards of men very clear. Because they see unmarried women in one of only two ways: as innocent and pure, so ready to be married, or dirty and to be used solely for sex. The men themselves have very different standards. They might look for sex with a prostitute when they are young, but then expect to marry later in life (and insist on marrying a virgin). 

The play made me think about how easily we can manipulate or be manipulated by other people.

I would ask the writer: "Why doesn’t Hero defend her innocence more passionately at her wedding?". Because I tought she was going to do it in a different form...