spring and death

Death is a relevant theme throughout the poem and it is seen from the very first line, “By the road to the contagious hospital.” A hospital is a white pure place of healing and recovery, something that is contagious is usually harmful and dirty. Winter is used to describe how the plants appear before spring. “Twiggy stuff of bushes and small trees with dead, brown leaves under them leafless vines—Lifeless in appearance, sluggish dazed spring approaches. The plants are sluggish and dazed which are human characteristics. The plants are awakening from a cold sleep; they are stripped of life because they are leafless and naked. The cycle of life and death is apparent, “They enter. All about them the cold, familiar wind.”

            In For Jane Meyers by Louise Gluck, spring is introduced to be more warm and energetic. The plants in this poem are like new born babies crying for the first time in the world. Spring has just arrived, “The daffodils flocking and honking.” The daffodils are making the world aware that they exist and will continue to exist for an extended period of time. Life and death is also described in this poem, “Months, years, and then the dull blade of the wind. It is spring I we are going to die I.” Life explodes into existence just to die, it may take months or years but it will inevitably come.

love and clocks

In the poem As I Walk Out One Evening by W.H. Auden, there are several speakers with disagreeing perspectives. The lover deeply believes that he is invulnerable to anything. He expresses that by describing China and Africa meeting and rivers jumping over mountains; he implies that love conquers all. Rules and events have no affect on the lover but when these impossible claims reach their peak the clocks begin to chime and that suggest the start of the battle between the lover and the clock. The lover goes on to say he holds “the flower of the ages, and the first love of the world.” The lover reinforces his belief that their love is invincible because it is the first of its kind and it is so unique that another like it will not come for ages.  The clock retaliates by saying “Time breaks the threaded dances, and the diver’s brilliant bow.” The clock suggests that love is susceptible to aging and that love can only thrive in youth. Love itself not only love for another person but for objects and activities is subject to times will. I believe the clock speaks for societies rules as well.  In society there are several factors that can destroy love, one of them being death. The clock says, Time watches from the shadow and coughs when you would kiss.” Death can come at any moment and through any method such as an unexpected illness. “The glacier knocks in the cupboard, the desert sighs in the bed, and the crack in the tea-cup opens a lane to the land of the dead.” The fact that the clocks speak of societies influence on love is reinforced by the description of poverty which can lead to love’s failure.  Love and time are present together but coincide in different ways. The lover is full of emotions that lead he to be ignorant to times existence. The clocks know they are one of many of the lover’s weaknesses and repeat that fact throughout the poem using references like death and poverty.

bright star

 In both poems the “steadfast” of the stars eludes to eternity. In Bright Star by John Keats, the star forces the speaker to heavily question himself. In the beginning he idolizes the star for its position in life. It is an almighty observer that sees anything it wishes to see from a solitary place and point of view. The speaker wishes to see life in the same perspective but that glimpse at immortality shifts his feelings completely. The speaker has a lover and wishes to experience the ecstasy of love with her. If he were to take the immortal position of the star he would never be able to die with his lover, and that sparks a great controversy in how he feels towards the star. The star condemns itself by forcing the speaker to choose between it and his lover. Is it possible for a human to condemn a divine being like the star? I believe the speaker is simply seeking guidance that the star is incapable of giving. He wishes to know if eternity with his lover is out of reach and how can he utilize the little time he has left with her.

In Bright Star, the star is constantly being questioned and argued with, but the star in Choose Something like a Star by Robert Frost, is utterly accepted. The speaker begins by acknowledging the star’s greatness and not comparing it to himself. “We grant your loftiness the right.” He places the star on a high pedestal but allows it some space by not demanding all of the answers. I believe the star knows it is being worshipped and responds to the speaker’s plea by saying, “I burn.” The speaker longs for the star to elaborate but it doesn’t. The star’s response gave no aid to the speaker but yet every letter of it was analyzed and memorized. In Frost’s poem there is no perspective from the speaker he is merely a puppet at the mercy of the star. In Keats’s poem the speaker chooses whether or not to see the star’s omnipotence and that is the major difference between both poems.

? essay

Why are the plots of The Stranger and Metamorphosis so similar? Why do both main characters feel trapped? Why do they not see a way out of their problems? What’s the difference between Meursault and Gregor’s problems? Does Meursault imagine the future? Why does Gregor look forward to the future?

            Why does being confined to a room enlighten Meursault and Gregor? How does it enlighten them? Does Meursault see the world from the inside looking out? Why does Gregor see the world looking at him through his cracked open door? Is Meursault as self-conscious as Gregor?  Why does Meursault not care what people think about him, especially for putting his mom in a home?

            Where would both characters be without the women who deeply care about them? Does Meursault actually care about Marie or does he use her for sex and sex only? Why is Gregors love and concern for his sister met with hate and rejection? Does everything change when someone looses their value? What becomes of someone like Meursult who does not have any value to begin with?

            Does too much responsibility push people over the edge? How does Mersault not being able to provide for his mom shape him as a man? How does Gregor change when he loses the ability to provide for his family? Do expectations and pressure play a role in how both of these characters see the world?  

? essay

Why are the plots of The Stranger and Metamorphosis so similar? Why do both main characters feel trapped? Why do they not see a way out of their problems? What’s the difference between Meursault and Gregor’s problems? Does Meursault imagine the future? Why does Gregor look forward to the future?

            Why does being confined to a room enlighten Meursault and Gregor? How does it enlighten them? Does Meursault see the world from the inside looking out? Why does Gregor see the world looking at him through his cracked open door? Is Meursault as self-conscious as Gregor?  Why does Meursault not care what people think about him, especially for putting his mom in a home?

            Where would both characters be without the women who deeply care about them? Does Meursault actually care about Marie or does he use her for sex and sex only? Why is Gregors love and concern for his sister met with hate and rejection? Does everything change when someone looses their value? What becomes of someone like Meursult who does not have any value to begin with?

            Does too much responsibility push people over the edge? How does Mersault not being able to provide for his mom shape him as a man? How does Gregor change when he loses the ability to provide for his family? Do expectations and pressure play a role in how both of these characters see the world?  

queshion essay