Comments on: The Narrative Poem http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:27:29 +0000 http://lyceum.ibiblio.org/?v=0.34 by: a915500822a7 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-40730 Sun, 11 May 2008 02:21:59 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-40730 <strong>a915500822a7...</strong> a915500822a733211bb8... a915500822a7…

a915500822a733211bb8…

]]> by: Laura Harris http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29996 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:42:55 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29996 I come from a family who has lost a child, and after reading the poem Home Burial I realize how fortunate and blessed I am that the reaction captured in this poem was not the reaction of my parents. Miscommunication seems to be the most prevalent reason for an outbreak between loved ones. This kurfuffle between husband and wife came about from a difference in grief styles. The husband's style is more subtle, and can be observed through his physical actions of letting go of his child by digging a grave. The woman, on the other hand, refuses to let go at this point and finds her husbands actions almost offensive. Neither correctly interpret the others intentions. And I doubt that either person intends on hurting their significant other. It just so happens that in a state of extreme pain and grief, its hard if not impossible to be considerate of another persons intentions when feelings become overwhelming and overbearing of a person's normal for reasoning. There's speculation though out the poem, reasonably so, of weather or not the woman is going to leave the house thisi time to go to another man or she's leaving because the husband abuses her. Its inconclusive. I come from a family who has lost a child, and after reading the poem Home Burial I realize how fortunate and blessed I am that the reaction captured in this poem was not the reaction of my parents. Miscommunication seems to be the most prevalent reason for an outbreak between loved ones. This kurfuffle between husband and wife came about from a difference in grief styles. The husband’s style is more subtle, and can be observed through his physical actions of letting go of his child by digging a grave. The woman, on the other hand, refuses to let go at this point and finds her husbands actions almost offensive. Neither correctly interpret the others intentions. And I doubt that either person intends on hurting their significant other. It just so happens that in a state of extreme pain and grief, its hard if not impossible to be considerate of another persons intentions when feelings become overwhelming and overbearing of a person’s normal for reasoning. There’s speculation though out the poem, reasonably so, of weather or not the woman is going to leave the house thisi time to go to another man or she’s leaving because the husband abuses her. Its inconclusive.

]]> by: Cimone Phillips http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29985 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:12:13 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29985 While listening to the presentation of this narrative during class, I realized that I had not had the experience of losing a child, but had encountered the loss of my father at a very young age. My mom and I were still living with my Grandmother at the time, and the tension that resulted in our household was similar to that in this narrative. I guess that I was never able to face the truth of the situation, and was not willing to do so. Hearing this narrative opened so many raw emotions for me. I know that this is a little late, but I still wanted to at least get this off my chest. The rhythm of this poem just drags you right into the suspense. The repetition makes the memories flash even faster. I was trying my best to understand this from the other perspective…the loss of a child. No one wants to put the blame on anyone else, but we as humans try to cover our own faults with the acknowledgment of everyone’s around us. Talking things through may be more difficult for some people- and that too reminded me of my particular situation. My mother and I never talked through the death of my father. I was young, and she felt as if I wouldn’t be able to mentally bare the full truth at such an early stage in childhood development. This experience was not what I had in mind when beginning the reading for this poetry unit, but it was nice to have a different, emotional connection to the work. While listening to the presentation of this narrative during class, I realized that I had not had the experience of losing a child, but had encountered the loss of my father at a very young age. My mom and I were still living with my Grandmother at the time, and the tension that resulted in our household was similar to that in this narrative. I guess that I was never able to face the truth of the situation, and was not willing to do so. Hearing this narrative opened so many raw emotions for me. I know that this is a little late, but I still wanted to at least get this off my chest. The rhythm of this poem just drags you right into the suspense. The repetition makes the memories flash even faster. I was trying my best to understand this from the other perspective…the loss of a child. No one wants to put the blame on anyone else, but we as humans try to cover our own faults with the acknowledgment of everyone’s around us. Talking things through may be more difficult for some people- and that too reminded me of my particular situation. My mother and I never talked through the death of my father. I was young, and she felt as if I wouldn’t be able to mentally bare the full truth at such an early stage in childhood development. This experience was not what I had in mind when beginning the reading for this poetry unit, but it was nice to have a different, emotional connection to the work.

]]> by: Derek Sipe http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29584 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:41:14 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29584 This poem by Langston Hughes is narrative and tells a story from his past. He writes as though he is twenty-two but really he is much older and looking back. He talks throughout this poem about the race situation and how it affects him. He even says that he is the only colored student in his class. I cannot imagine the kind of abuse and discrimination he must have gotten in that situation especially at the time when Hughes was in college. Today is it nearly impossible, although it still exists, to comprehend how rough it must have been for Hughes. Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach. I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like the same things other folks like who are other races. I really like this part of the poem, because Hughes finds a simple way to inform people of how alike they are. He starts with eat, sleep, drink, and love which are things all humans beings not only want but need to survive. He then talks about the music he likes. The interesting part about that is how he mentions all different kinds of music, so that all humans are put in the same category. I really enjoyed this poem and I really like how clever Hughes was throughout. This poem by Langston Hughes is narrative and tells a story from his past. He writes as though he is twenty-two but really he is much older and looking back. He talks throughout this poem about the race situation and how it affects him. He even says that he is the only colored student in his class. I cannot imagine the kind of abuse and discrimination he must have gotten in that situation especially at the time when Hughes was in college. Today is it nearly impossible, although it still exists, to comprehend how rough it must have been for Hughes.

Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn’t make me NOT like
the same things other folks like who are other races.

I really like this part of the poem, because Hughes finds a simple way to inform people of how alike they are. He starts with eat, sleep, drink, and love which are things all humans beings not only want but need to survive. He then talks about the music he likes. The interesting part about that is how he mentions all different kinds of music, so that all humans are put in the same category. I really enjoyed this poem and I really like how clever Hughes was throughout.

]]> by: Mellissa Woltemate http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29526 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:41:59 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29526 I always think its interesting when a poet ties in their real life emotions with a poem, it gives a much deeper connection to the reading, because if you can't relate to it you can atleast imagine how the poet was really feeling. But I also believe that the Narrative Poem, had to deal a lot with the way men and women handles situations differently and with each other. When he doesn't really want to talk about the death of their child, and he just wants to go on with life, the women takes that as if he is emotionally detached from the situation. However that doesn't neccassarily mean he is. But a person might stereotypically put a man into that situation, and a women into the role of being over dramatic just like the woman was displayed in this poem. The level of emotion in this poem however feeling over bearing, the way the situation was set up sort of realistically allows you to sense the tension and anger, and put stress onto your shoulders as well. There is no need for a in depth description of the man and women because you only need to know what they are saying to imagine their facial expression and body language etc. The poem is an odd poem, but a good one. I always think its interesting when a poet ties in their real life emotions with a poem, it gives a much deeper connection to the reading, because if you can’t relate to it you can atleast imagine how the poet was really feeling. But I also believe that the Narrative Poem, had to deal a lot with the way men and women handles situations differently and with each other. When he doesn’t really want to talk about the death of their child, and he just wants to go on with life, the women takes that as if he is emotionally detached from the situation. However that doesn’t neccassarily mean he is. But a person might stereotypically put a man into that situation, and a women into the role of being over dramatic just like the woman was displayed in this poem. The level of emotion in this poem however feeling over bearing, the way the situation was set up sort of realistically allows you to sense the tension and anger, and put stress onto your shoulders as well. There is no need for a in depth description of the man and women because you only need to know what they are saying to imagine their facial expression and body language etc. The poem is an odd poem, but a good one.

]]> by: Eddie Poff http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29298 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:43:40 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29298 Home Burial is incredibly written. It is interesting because it clearly is nothing like a real conversation between people - it is much too well written for that. It is as if two amazing poets had an argument in purely poetic form, or maybe like a regular argument between people is dramatized and romanticized by a poet. The truth one can observe from this statement is that real arguments are not so beautiful and tragic, they are sometimes petty, stupid, and meaningless, stemming from the truly ignorant state of man. However, this poem also illustrates a few points about the way that men and women relate together in a relationship, and also the way that men and women deal with mourning. It appears that in this poem, the woman is unsure how to approach her husband after watching him bury their son outside. She almost appears afraid of him, and it is as if she cannot yet understand that her son is dead. She combines the sorrow that she feels for her son's death with the anger that she feels against her husband for not adequately expressing his feelings, and the combination almost makes her blame her husband for her son's death. Interestingly, their argument is based on her being upset about the way he is dealing with his grief, as if he is pretending it never happened. Yet in action, he has dealt with the death in a physical way because he had to bury his own son. Perhaps the root of the problem is that he has come farther than she has in his grief because of how "final" a burial really is - especially if you are the one doing it. Meanwhile, even though the reader cannot surmise the whole story, it seems as if for the wife, the son was alive one day and gone the next. She hasn't completely faced his death because she wasn't responsible for putting him in the ground. Home Burial is incredibly written. It is interesting because it clearly is nothing like a real conversation between people - it is much too well written for that. It is as if two amazing poets had an argument in purely poetic form, or maybe like a regular argument between people is dramatized and romanticized by a poet. The truth one can observe from this statement is that real arguments are not so beautiful and tragic, they are sometimes petty, stupid, and meaningless, stemming from the truly ignorant state of man. However, this poem also illustrates a few points about the way that men and women relate together in a relationship, and also the way that men and women deal with mourning.

It appears that in this poem, the woman is unsure how to approach her husband after watching him bury their son outside. She almost appears afraid of him, and it is as if she cannot yet understand that her son is dead. She combines the sorrow that she feels for her son’s death with the anger that she feels against her husband for not adequately expressing his feelings, and the combination almost makes her blame her husband for her son’s death. Interestingly, their argument is based on her being upset about the way he is dealing with his grief, as if he is pretending it never happened. Yet in action, he has dealt with the death in a physical way because he had to bury his own son. Perhaps the root of the problem is that he has come farther than she has in his grief because of how “final” a burial really is - especially if you are the one doing it. Meanwhile, even though the reader cannot surmise the whole story, it seems as if for the wife, the son was alive one day and gone the next. She hasn’t completely faced his death because she wasn’t responsible for putting him in the ground.

]]> by: Trey Overholt http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29288 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:55:05 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29288 I liked Hughes' poem a lot. At first, I thought it a bit "easy" in concept; I mean, he just wrote about his processes of walking back to his room, documenting the places and the thoughts that he had throughout the travel. But, on second and third readings of the poem, I realized that there was much more depth than I had originally realized. The part that I liked most about the poem were these lines: So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white--- After the first few stanzas of accounting for similarities between his character and the whites (the similarities between people in general), he then highlights the still undeniable and unchangeable difference between the two races; one is white, and one is black. Even if Hughes were to write the most "white" poem or feeling, his backgrounds and his life experiences would still provide the undertones of the work. That is why he writes that the paper would not be white; he does not say that it will be black though. Maybe the paper will be a blend of the two, as his character was obviously immersed in an atmosphere of white influence. At either rate, this stanza is a great account of observation. It states (for me at least) that one's history will always be present in one's work; it does not mean that people's works will vary in negative and positive ways because of background. No, it just means that the works will differ from each other. That is why the character's paper cannot be white, and the professor has to be a part of the paper too, because he assigned it. The two are different, not vertically, but horizontally; they are different, but on the same level. yet a part of me, as I am a part of you I liked Hughes’ poem a lot. At first, I thought it a bit “easy” in concept; I mean, he just wrote about his processes of walking back to his room, documenting the places and the thoughts that he had throughout the travel. But, on second and third readings of the poem, I realized that there was much more depth than I had originally realized. The part that I liked most about the poem were these lines:

So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white—

After the first few stanzas of accounting for similarities between his character and the whites (the similarities between people in general), he then highlights the still undeniable and unchangeable difference between the two races; one is white, and one is black. Even if Hughes were to write the most “white” poem or feeling, his backgrounds and his life experiences would still provide the undertones of the work. That is why he writes that the paper would not be white; he does not say that it will be black though. Maybe the paper will be a blend of the two, as his character was obviously immersed in an atmosphere of white influence. At either rate, this stanza is a great account of observation. It states (for me at least) that one’s history will always be present in one’s work; it does not mean that people’s works will vary in negative and positive ways because of background. No, it just means that the works will differ from each other. That is why the character’s paper cannot be white, and the professor has to be a part of the paper too, because he assigned it. The two are different, not vertically, but horizontally; they are different, but on the same level.

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you

]]> by: David Kent http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29171 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:54:30 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29171 Being someone who enjoys theater, I think Home Burial is a particularly powerful piece. There was some discussion outside poetry class that really struck me. It has completely passed over my head how poets like Shakespeare and Frost combine the theatrical with the poetic. In this case, Home Burial, it is a very beautiful combination. When looking at the text, its meter, forced rhyme, alliteration, and other tools used by the poet, one can tell that the melding of the two together forms an alliance that is quite powerful. It mixes the physical of the theatre with the emotional and metaphorical of poetry. For instance, the use of imagery from lines 21-31 are something one would only be able to find in the most poetic of pieces. The alliteration and the wording used make the character's argument even more convincing. Another great aspect of writing for the theatre in poetic form is the fact that you can more effectively separate thoughts. The stanza's used here keep a continious flow of conversation, but are able to solidify the main arguments of the piece from person to person. It is not as though the separate lines break up each argument. It is more driving and concise. There is also a great ability to use metaphore enabled the author when using poetry. The characters themselves use it very well. In line 114-115 the male character states "Close the door. The heart's gone out of it: why keep it up?" Being someone who enjoys theater, I think Home Burial is a particularly powerful piece. There was some discussion outside poetry class that really struck me. It has completely passed over my head how poets like Shakespeare and Frost combine the theatrical with the poetic.

In this case, Home Burial, it is a very beautiful combination. When looking at the text, its meter, forced rhyme, alliteration, and other tools used by the poet, one can tell that the melding of the two together forms an alliance that is quite powerful. It mixes the physical of the theatre with the emotional and metaphorical of poetry.

For instance, the use of imagery from lines 21-31 are something one would only be able to find in the most poetic of pieces. The alliteration and the wording used make the character’s argument even more convincing.

Another great aspect of writing for the theatre in poetic form is the fact that you can more effectively separate thoughts. The stanza’s used here keep a continious flow of conversation, but are able to solidify the main arguments of the piece from person to person. It is not as though the separate lines break up each argument. It is more driving and concise.

There is also a great ability to use metaphore enabled the author when using poetry. The characters themselves use it very well. In line 114-115 the male character states “Close the door. The heart’s gone out of it: why keep it up?”

]]> by: Brittany Kappauf http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29149 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:15:02 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29149 While an individual’s race is an important asset of their identity, Theme for English B explores the possibility of there being more behind one’s concept of themselves. The central theme of this poem is the contemplation over whether one’s identity really is a simple concept. The speaker begins to identify himself by listing basic autobiographical details in lines 7-14; age, birth-place, school, race, and where he currently lives. He then however begins to delve deeper into the complexity of this topic. Is one’s identity found in merely what they enjoy? The speaker begins to spill off another list in lines 21-24, this time of interests. Yet again however, it comes back to the color of his skin pouring out onto the page when the speaker asks “So will my page be colored that I write”. I however feel that his tone upon this subject is positive. I believe that the speaker is joyous or at least content to come to the realization that his sense of self is most deeply linked to the Harlem he envelops and celebrates. His focus on the experience of Harlem illuminates the fact that his identity is somewhat created by his community. The speaker of this poem journeys to express and explore himself, only to find that he understands himself as an integrated part of his community, both giving to and receiving from it. This again, like jazz and Hughes’ poetry, personifies the community and city of Harlem bringing it a unique life and movement. Hughes seems to seek to bring this sensory experience to life not only with rhythm but with strong sensory cues. For instance, when attempting to reflect on Harlem, he chooses not to reflect on an event or a place but the sounds, sights, and feelings that this community provokes. In addition, Hughes then personifies Harlem claiming “Harlem, I hear you; hear you, hear me—we two- you, me, talk on this page.” The way in which the speaker seems to be able to hold conversation with Harlem yet again seems to bring life to the city and the movement. While an individual’s race is an important asset of their identity, Theme for English B explores the possibility of there being more behind one’s concept of themselves. The central theme of this poem is the contemplation over whether one’s identity really is a simple concept. The speaker begins to identify himself by listing basic autobiographical details in lines 7-14; age, birth-place, school, race, and where he currently lives. He then however begins to delve deeper into the complexity of this topic. Is one’s identity found in merely what they enjoy? The speaker begins to spill off another list in lines 21-24, this time of interests. Yet again however, it comes back to the color of his skin pouring out onto the page when the speaker asks “So will my page be colored that I write”. I however feel that his tone upon this subject is positive. I believe that the speaker is joyous or at least content to come to the realization that his sense of self is most deeply linked to the Harlem he envelops and celebrates. His focus on the experience of Harlem illuminates the fact that his identity is somewhat created by his community. The speaker of this poem journeys to express and explore himself, only to find that he understands himself as an integrated part of his community, both giving to and receiving from it. This again, like jazz and Hughes’ poetry, personifies the community and city of Harlem bringing it a unique life and movement.
Hughes seems to seek to bring this sensory experience to life not only with rhythm but with strong sensory cues. For instance, when attempting to reflect on Harlem, he chooses not to reflect on an event or a place but the sounds, sights, and feelings that this community provokes. In addition, Hughes then personifies Harlem claiming “Harlem, I hear you; hear you, hear me—we two- you, me, talk on this page.” The way in which the speaker seems to be able to hold conversation with Harlem yet again seems to bring life to the city and the movement.

]]> by: Kyle Hey http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29073 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:15:52 +0000 http://blogs.messiah.edu/poetry_class/2008/02/29/the-narrative-poem/#comment-29073 I really enjoyed both of these poems. As Marah mentioned earlier in the blog, the poem "home Burial" is a very dramatic poem. The dialogs in this poem create a tense atmosphere that the readers can bury themselves in. With including the dialog, that author makes is much easier for the reader to relate to the situation. Rather then just describeing the situation you are put right in the middle of the situation. I reall felt that the poem also did a great job at exploring gender roles and the reactions of the different genders to grief. The father seems diconected by the wife but the wife seems to over dramatic to the husband. But if you take eithers arguement speratly it makes sense. I feel that this is where the power of the poem is. It tries to sort out the feels of indviduals. Instead of forces emotions into catgeories or data but rather explores them and gives value to them. I really enjoyed both of these poems. As Marah mentioned earlier in the blog, the poem “home Burial” is a very dramatic poem. The dialogs in this poem create a tense atmosphere that the readers can bury themselves in. With including the dialog, that author makes is much easier for the reader to relate to the situation. Rather then just describeing the situation you are put right in the middle of the situation. I reall felt that the poem also did a great job at exploring gender roles and the reactions of the different genders to grief. The father seems diconected by the wife but the wife seems to over dramatic to the husband. But if you take eithers arguement speratly it makes sense. I feel that this is where the power of the poem is. It tries to sort out the feels of indviduals. Instead of forces emotions into catgeories or data but rather explores them and gives value to them.

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