Kevin+Solaka

Wiki Project 2010 By: Kevin Solaka

**Paul Laurence Dunbar**

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio and was one of the first African American poets to receive national literary recognition. Most of his works reflected the difficulties of being an African American and the struggle to achieve equality. His mother was a former slave and his father was an escaped slave. He was inspired by his mother to read and write poetry. As a student, Dunbar excelled in school. His first book, “Oak and Ivy,” was self published and he had to work off the debts himself. In order to do this, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator and sold his books to the riders. His second book, “Majors and Minors,” brought him fame and publishing support. Dunbar died in 1906 at the age of 33 (The Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar). "Sympathy"  I know what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals-- I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting-- I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,-- When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings-- I know why the caged bird sings!

Analysis:

In Dunbar’s “Sympathy,” the main focus is a caged bird. The bird is trapped behind bars while nature is blooming all around him, and other birds are enjoying what he cannot. The bird becomes increasingly frustrated as he beats his wings and flies around his cage wishing he could be free. This continued beating causes pain to return to the old scars of the bird, but he continues even though he is sore and exhausted. The narrator goes on to say he knows why the caged bird sings and it is not out of joy and happiness. It is because he is praying and pleading to heaven for freedom and equality.

The symbolism is this poem is very important. Because Paul Laurence Dunbar was and African American with family background in slavery, he understood the struggles of his race. In “Sympathy” the caged bird represents himself or fellow African American’s and their struggles for freedom and equality. He knows how these caged individuals feel and why they continue to try to gain freedom. The line “I know why the caged bird beats his wing till its blood is red on the cruel bars; for he must fly back to his perch and cling when he fain would be on the bough a-swing” shows his heartfelt understanding for his people and their struggles. The bird’s old scars symbolize the previous scars left by slavery and oppression that continue to pain him because he is still not entirely free. But the bird continues to beat and persevere through its hardships until he is released. Dunbar also uses an abaabcc rhyme scheme in all three stanzas and uses repetition at the beginning and end of his stanzas.

I personally like the way that this poem is structured and the symbolism behind it. The rhyme scheme and repetition helped the piece flow and drive home the main point. I also like how he compared African Americans to caged birds noting all the similarities between their behaviors and how they both long for freedom and will never give up until it is achieved. Dunbar took a simple everyday example like a caged bird and made a strong argument for African American struggle. I really like this approach and the strong message behind it.


 * Edwin Arlington Robinson **

Edwin Arlington Robinson was born in Alana, Maine in 1859. His name was chosen from a lottery because his mother had expected a daughter (Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Brief Biography). Because of this, his parents viewed him as a failure as he was always under the shadow of his older brothers. However, his brothers turned out to be failures themselves and their vices gave him inspiration (Edwin Arlington Robinson’s Life and Career). Robinson attended Harvard but was forced to drop out after his parents ran into financial trouble. As far as his writing style, Robinson was known to be a lyricist fascinated by the sound of words and vocabulary in general. In his writing career he received three Pulitzer prizes and gained the praise of President Theodore Roosevelt.

"Luke Havergal" Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal, -- There where the vines cling crimson on the wall, -- And in the twilight wait for what will come. The wind will moan, the leaves will whisper some -- Whisper of her, and strike you as they fall; But go, and if you trust her she will call. Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal -- Luke Havergal.

No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies To rift the fiery night that's in your eyes; But there, where western glooms are gathering, The dark will end the dark, if anything: God slays Himself with every leaf that flies, And hell is more than half of paradise. No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies -- In eastern skies.

Out of a grave I come to tell you this, -- Out of a grave I come to quench the kiss That flames upon your forehead with a glow That blinds you to the way that you must go. Yes, there is yet one way to where she is, -- Bitter, but one that faith can never miss. Out of the grave I come to tell you this -- To tell you this.

There is the western gate, Luke Havergal, There are the crimson leaves upon the wall. Go, -- for the winds are tearing them away, -- Nor think to riddle the dead words they say, Nor any more to feel them as they fall; But go! and if you trust her she will call. There is the western gate, Luke Havergal -- Luke Havergal. Analysis:

In the poem, “Luke Havergal,” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, the main character is suffering from the death of a loved one. The narrator is haunted by a voice that tells him to go to the western wall and wait for his lover’s call. The voice goes on to say that there is no light at the western wall, only darkness followed by darkness. There is no hope in going to the eastern wall to escape the darkness because darkness itself is the only thing that will end the darkness. The voice tells him there is only one way to be reunited with his lover and that way is through death. The voice, apparently from the grave, tells Luke Havergal to go to the wall and wait for death to call if he trusts her.

The symbolism of death in this poem is great. The western wall that Luke is told to go to, symbolizes death and the end of life. As the sun sets in the west and ends the day, the wall represents darkness. The crimson leaves that fall near the wall represent the fall season, and the decay of life. Also, the gate he is told to go to represents the gate or transition from life on earth to the afterlife. There are several lines in the poem describing Luke’s hopelessness such as, “No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies to rift the fiery night that's in your eyes; but there, where western glooms are gathering, the dark will end the dark, if anything.” This basically means that there is no way out of his depression and suffering unless he goes to this western wall. Luke is suffering from the death of his lover and is realizing the only way that they will be united again is through his own death; “Yes, there is yet one way to where she is, -- Bitter, but one that faith can never miss.” This poem is very mysterious and eerie throughout. The voice telling Luke to go to the wall is mysterious and may be a haunting, his own conscience, or death itself. Also, it is unclear if Luke is debating his own suicide to join his lover in death. The mention of hell as “more than half the paradise” raises question of Luke’s intentions. The author, Edwin Arlington Robinson, uses a lot of natural elements in this poem. He uses nature’s characteristics and the symbolism of night and howling wind to add to Luke’s situation. He also uses rhyme and repetition to make the poem flow. The rhyme scheme in this piece is an AABBAAAA, and the last line in every stanza has a repeated element. For example, the line “Out of a grave I come to tell you this --To tell you this,” repeats in two lines and emphasizes the voice’s message.

I really enjoyed this poem because it really makes you think about what the author is really trying to convey. I like the voice that whispers to Luke and tempts him with thoughts and temptations of suicide after the death of his love. It was unclear to me whether the voice was in his mind or a haunting, and I feel like that really added to the mystery of the piece. The symbolism that E.A. Robinson uses really makes for a great piece. The symbolism of death and darkness is seen in almost every line, and adds to the hopelessness that Luke feels. The ambiguities of this poem are great as the reader is left with the mystery of the narrator’s identity and what Luke’s true intentions may be.


 * Amy Lowell **

Amy Lowell was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1874. She was born into Boston’s high society, attending private schools and traveling often (Amy Lowell). In school she was a menace often interrupting her teachers and loudly voicing her opinions. Lowell was very interested in the Imagist movement and was heavily influenced by its concepts. Along with these influences her writing included a mix of formal and free verse. She also had relationship with actress Ada Russell and lived with her until her death (Amy Lowell’s Life and Career).

"The Captured Goddess"

Over the housetops, Above the rotating chimney-pots, I have seen a shiver of amethyst, And blue and cinnamon have flickered A moment, At the far end of a dusty street.

Through sheeted rain Has come a lustre of crimson, And I have watched moonbeams Hushed by a film of palest green.

It was her wings, Goddess! Who stepped over the clouds, And laid her rainbow feathers Aslant on the currents of the air.

I followed her for long, With gazing eyes and stumbling feet. I cared not where she led me, My eyes were full of colours: Saffrons, rubies, the yellows of beryls, And the indigo-blue of quartz; Flights of rose, layers of chrysoprase, Points of orange, spirals of vermilion, The spotted gold of tiger-lily petals, The loud pink of bursting hydrangeas. I followed, And watched for the flashing of her wings.

In the city I found her, The narrow-streeted city. In the market-place I came upon her, Bound and trembling. Her fluted wings were fastened to her sides with cords, She was naked and cold, For that day the wind blew Without sunshine.

Men chaffered for her, They bargained in silver and gold, In copper, in wheat, And called their bids across the market-place.

The Goddess wept.

Hiding my face I fled, And the grey wind hissed behind me, Along the narrow streets.

Analysis:

This poem by Amy Lowell starts with the narrator seeing a flash of color over the rooftops of her town. The colors are vivid and beautiful compared to the dusty backdrop of the town’s landscape. The flash of color was identified as the goddess’ wings. She is now flying gracefully over the town and is quite a contrast to the setting around her. The narrator runs after the goddess through the city streets possessed by the beauty of the goddess’ colors. The narrator finally finds the goddess captured in the marketplace. She is bound and afraid as men are quarreling over her sale. The captured goddess’ wings are now bound as she cries. Seeing this, the narrator runs away as the cold world around her continues.

Lowell’s “The Captured Goddess” speaks out against man’s greed and corruption. Here, a beautiful goddess is flying above a dark gloomy town, captivating the narrator. She is then captured, stripped naked, and bound by man. Lowell uses a lot of imagery in describing the goddess’ beauty. She describes her vibrant colors and flash as intoxicating to the narrator. “My eyes were full of colours: Saffrons, rubies, the yellows of beryls, and the indigo-blue of quartz; Flights of rose, layers of chrysoprase, points of orange, spirals of vermilion, the spotted gold of tiger-lily petals, the loud pink of bursting hydrangeas. I followed, and watched for the flashing of her wings.” The narrator also uses this imagery to contrast to the dark and gloomy town that the goddess is flying over. In the narrator’s description when first gazing upon the goddess she says, “I have seen a shiver of amethyst, and blue and cinnamon have flickered a moment, at the far end of a dusty street. Through sheeted rain has come a lustre of crimson.” This gloom and darkness somewhat foreshadows the goddess’ treatment. The darkness of the town symbolizes the inhabitants as well. Just in the description of the marketplace, you get a sense that the townspeople do not care for beauty, just wealth. The fact that they find it ok to capture the goddess and try to sell her shows their ignorance and greed. When goddess is captured, her wings are bound ending her freedom. During this time, Lowell describes the weather as cold and dark, which goes along perfectly with the scene. When seeing this, the narrator hides her face and runs away as the cold wind blows in her face. She is ashamed at what society has done to the beautiful goddess and cannot bear the sight of it. The statement about the cold wind blowing in her face as she runs off, may symbolize nature’s cruelness, as man will continue to be consumed by greed and nothing will stop it.

This poem really speaks on our society’s greedy nature. We try to claim everything we can in order to turn a profit. Here a beautiful and free goddess is captured by man and treated like an animal. She is stripped and bound under the control of man. This theme is very important today and can be applied to many situations. I really enjoyed this poem because of the unexpected twist at the end. Lowell starts describing the goddess’ beauty contrasting the gloomy setting and the narrator’s captivation with her. However, the poem takes a turn for the worse when the narrator finally finds the goddess and is reminded of the world’s cruelty.


 * Elizabeth Bishop **

Elizabeth Bishop was born in 1922 in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was raised by her grandparents after her father’s death, and her mother’s commitment to an insane asylum. Because of this, Bishop was independently wealthy and traveled often (Elizabeth Bishop). She graduated from Vassar College considering going into medical school, but was convinced to stick with poetry. Bishop was heavily influenced by her friend Marianne Moore who backed her in her poetry career. She also won several national book awards and a Pulitzer prize for her works (The Biography of Elizabeth Bishop). Bishop spent several years living in Brazil with her lover Lota de Macedo Soares who later committed suicide (About Elizabeth Bishop). Bishop died in 1979 after a very long and reputable poetic career.



"The Fish"

I caught a tremendous fish and held him beside the boat half out of water, with my hook fast in a corner of his mouth. He didn't fight. He hadn't fought at all. He hung a grunting weight, battered and venerable and homely. Here and there his brown skin hung in strips like ancient wallpaper, and its pattern of darker brown was like wallpaper: shapes like full-blown roses stained and lost through age. He was speckled and barnacles, fine rosettes of lime, and infested with tiny white sea-lice, and underneath two or three rags of green weed hung down. While his gills were breathing in the terrible oxygen --the frightening gills, fresh and crisp with blood, that can cut so badly-- I thought of the coarse white flesh packed in like feathers, the big bones and the little bones, the dramatic reds and blacks of his shiny entrails, and the pink swim-bladder like a big peony. I looked into his eyes which were far larger than mine but shallower, and yellowed, the irises backed and packed with tarnished tinfoil seen through the lenses of old scratched isinglass. They shifted a little, but not to return my stare. --It was more like the tipping of an object toward the light. I admired his sullen face, the mechanism of his jaw, and then I saw that from his lower lip --if you could call it a lip grim, wet, and weaponlike, hung five old pieces of fish-line, or four and a wire leader with the swivel still attached, with all their five big hooks grown firmly in his mouth. A green line, frayed at the end where he broke it, two heavier lines, and a fine black thread still crimped from the strain and snap when it broke and he got away. Like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering, a five-haired beard of wisdom trailing from his aching jaw. I stared and stared and victory filled up the little rented boat, from the pool of bilge where oil had spread a rainbow around the rusted engine to the bailer rusted orange, the sun-cracked thwarts, the oarlocks on their strings, the gunnels--until everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! And I let the fish go.

Analysis:

“The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop is about a narrator catching a beautiful fish and releasing it. As simple as it may seem, there is much more to the story. The beginning of the poem starts with the narrator catching a fish and holding it out of the water. She describes the fish as passive, giving her no fight. She describes his skin and features using imagery, similes, and metaphors. In the process of describing the fish, she notes his gills struggling to breathe in the air and pictures all of his internals. She goes on to admire the fish’s eyes and jaws until she comes across his mouth. When the narrator examines the mouth she notices five pieces of old fishing line lodged in its mouth. These lines and hooks were described as the fish’s trophies for escaping previous attempts to be caught. She then feels accomplished by catching this fish that has eluded most others, and is filled with an unexplainable joy and happiness. She then releases the fish with no further explanation, and the poem comes to a close.

In addition to the literal interpretation of catching a fish and releasing it, this poem also has a symbolic meaning. The poem deals with age and wisdom as well as the ultimate respect of these traits by the narrator. In catching the fish the narrator sees that he has been through many battles and has still found a way to freedom. In a sense the fish is a veteran who has seen its fair share of days. Another important element is that the fish didn’t struggle when caught by the narrator. Since in the past the fish has found its way to freedom it is strange that he did not resist in this instance. The fish has more than likely accepted defeat since he has been so lucky in the past. Bishop also personifies the fish referring to it as “him” and gives it human features and characteristics in the line “I admired his sullen face.” She also compares most all of his features to common objects such as wallpaper and rags.

I really like the fact that this poem has a very literal and symbolic meaning. At first glance, it is about a narrator catching an old battered fish and releasing it. But a more in depth reading brings out a much deeper meaning. I like the imagery and comparisons she makes when describing the fish as well as his human characteristics. The description makes the fish seem like a human veteran and is probably why the narrator connected with this fish leading to his release. I think in the end, the narrator realizes and identifies with the fish’s struggle and lets him go. There are suggestions that the narrator was older as well. Clues about the rusted and cracked boat may lead the reader to assume an aged narrator which would make the connection with the fish more logical.


 * John Ashbery **

John Ashbery was born in 1927 in Rochester, New York. His career included over 20 books of poetry as well as the achievement of nearly every American poetry award (John Ashbery). He was grouped with the New York School of poets and was considered a language poet (The Norton Anthology of American Literature). Ashbery graduated from Harvard University and received his masters from Columbia College. Along with his poetry, he had a great interest in art leading to another profession as an art critic (John Ashbery 1927).

"Illustration"

I

A novice was sitting on a cornice High over the city. Angles

Combined their prayers with those Of the police, begging her to come off it.

One lady promised to be her friend. “I do not want a friend,” she said.

A mother offered her some nylons Stripped from her very legs. Others brought

Little offerings of fruit and candy, the blind man all his flowers. If any

Could be called successful, these were, For that the scene should be a ceremony

Was what she wanted. “I desire Monuments,” she said. “I want to move

Figuratively, as waves caress The thoughtless shore. You people I know

Will offer me every good thing I do not want. But please remember

I died accepting them.” With that, the wind Unpinned her bulky robes, and naked

As a roc’s egg, she drifted softly downward Out of the angel’s tenderness and the minds of men.

II

Much that is beautiful must be discarded So that we may resemble a taller

Impression of ourselves. Moths climb in the flame, Alas, that wish only to be the flame:

They do not lessen our stature. We twinkle under the weight

Of indiscretions. But how could we tell That of the truth we know, she was

The somber vestment? For that night, rockets sighed Elegantly over the city, and there was feasting:

There is so much in that moment! So many attitudes toward that flame,

We might have soared from earth, watching her glide Aloft, in her peplum of bright leaves.

But she, of course, was only an effigy Of indifference, a miracle

Not meant for us, as the leaves are not Winter’s because it is the end.

Analysis: The poem “Illustration” by John Ashbery is about a nun leaping from the top of a building. The poem starts with a nun sitting on top of a tall city building. The townspeople and police begged and bribed the woman to come down. She was offered everything from friendship to flowers and candy, but the nun refused. Instead of material possessions, she desired what was not worldly. Naked, she jumped from the top of the building and took her life. In the second part of “Illustration,” Ashbery describes the attitude and reasoning behind the nun’s suicide. He explains the most of what is beautiful on earth must be ignored in order to become better people. Much of what people do is unexplainable, and Ashbery compares this to the reason why moths climb in into flames. This flame is compared to the reason why the nun committed suicide. Ashbery ends by saying that the nun was a miracle that could not be understood by man.

This poem has several messages dealing with material and worldly possessions and somewhat compares to some of Anne Bradstreet’s works. For example, Bradstreet’s poem “The Flesh and Spirit” deals with two sisters and ones argument for worldly wealth and the others argument for spiritual wealth. Ashbery’s piece has some very common themes. The nun’s refusal for friendship and material bribes shows that she wants more out of life. The line, “’I desire monuments,” she said. “I want to move figuratively, as waves caress the thoughtless shore’” shows her desire for something greater. What they offer will never please her and because of that she takes her own life. In the second part of the poem, Ashbery offers an explanation of the nun’s thoughts. He says that in order to transcend and become a better being, one must shed all worldly vices. Most of what society has deemed as beautiful and desirable does not help an individual become better. The moth analogy explains why people may do things for not apparent reason. The moths fly into the flame just to be in it, even though it kills them. People’s attitude to this flame, may be an attitude to an unknown desire. The desire to do something that no one else understands. The last line, “But she, of course, was only an effigy of indifference, a miracle not meant for us, as the leaves are not winter’s because it is the end,” may mean that her desire is not meant to be understood. The reason for her suicide is not for us to judge as it is not our right.

This poem was one of the more difficult pieces for me to interpret. However, I like how Ashbery gives the reader a story then an explanation. Reading this for the first time I thought the explanation in the second part of the poem would detail why the nun required other desires. Instead he talks about motive, and why people do the things they do. I do agree with his reasoning in that people have to shed much of what society has established as beauty in order to become better people. Much of what we are told is desirable and good is actually the opposite. However, as moths climb into the flame just to be in the flame, people will make their own decisions with no apparent explanation. I think the flame in the part is the most important element. From the way I interpreted it, the flame is the desire that people have. In the line “So many attitudes toward that flame, we might have soared from earth,” Ashbery explains that everyone has a different attitude toward each other’s desires. The reason why we do what we do is not for everyone else to understand, as the nun was a gift not meant for us to understand.

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Dinneen, Marcia B. "Amy Lowell's Life and Career." //Amy Lowell's Life and Career//. University of Illinois, 1999. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. .

"Elizabeth Bishop." //Poets.org//. Academy of American Poets. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. .

"John Ashbery." //Poets.org//. Academy of American Poets. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. .

"John Ashbery 1927." //Kirjasto//. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. .

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lensing, George S. "About Elizabeth Bishop." //Modern American Poetry//. University of Illinois, 2000. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/poets/a_f/bishop/about.htm>.

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