1.) I think that Cummings is genius. The woman who he wrote this for most likely melted as soon as she was finished reading it. She went and told all of her friend and Cummings was immediately given the title of “best boyfriend ever”. If E.E. was my friend I would probably momentarily hate him for setting the bar so high. But since we have never met, I will use his smooth tactics in my own life.
2.) E.E. Cummings’ works, “i like my body when it is with your” and “since feeling is first” both involve the emotion of passion. In the first, the writer is passionate about a particular lady, while the latter is about love and connection. Cummings' unique form is evident as soon as the audience sees the title; there are no capitalizations. I believe that there are two explanations for this. One is that Cummings does not believe that the title nor the author is relevant, but the body is what the reader should focus on. This approach draws the reader away from the title and immediately towards the following stanzas; it is more of an introduction to the work than a label. It is from this introduction where the second explanation for his lack of capitalizations is formed. Cummings’ title is the exact same as his first line of his poem. This repetition displays obvious importance in the statement. When reading these two poems there is no possibility of overlooking the main idea of the poem because it is present two times within the first two statements you read of the poem.
Cummings uses his form to assist in explaining the progression of his story. In both poems he begins with a build up of emotion and detail that is continued throughout the body of the poem. This build up accumulates and is finished with a single statement rather than a stanza in both poems; comparable to an instantaneous climax. For example, in the sonnet, “i like my body when it is with your” describes what he likes to do with the woman; he walks you through every step detailing her body and how he yearns for it. Lines 1-12 are clustered as if he is waiting for an eruption; which is set up and delivered in lines 13 and 14. “since feeling is first” is slightly different than “i like my body when it is with your” in the fact that its large stanza is not in the very beginning but it is in the middle stanza. However, this stanza contains the large explanation of his desire of a woman; in this aspect the poems are similar. Prior to “the big finish” Cummings has a stanza containing a large amount of lines detailing his passion for a woman. It is with these large stanzas that Cumming is illustrating that the most important aspect of love is the passion and desire for one another; everything else braches off of this emotion.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Whitman vs. Hughes
1.) After reading these two poems I see that these two men are writing from completely different worlds. One is a member of the white blue collar society, while the other is on the outside looking in. Hughes, like most blacks in the past was rejected by this false notion of a great America that Whitman describes. It kind of reminds me (although I know it is not the most popular in our class) of Harry Potter whenever he is with his Aunt, Uncle, and Dudley. They make him sleep under the stairs and put him in his room when company comes over; I’m sure you know the story. But they accept him into their house but reject him as a member of the family. It is like although blacks who were "accepted" in the households of whites, were an embarrassment or an imperfection in what the storybook America looked like to outsiders. Or just what it looked like to those who refused to see it otherwise, like Whitman.
2.) America has often been described as the land of opportunity; a place where groups of individuals who would never had been acquainted become successful and one under the flag of the United States. In these contrasting poems, “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman, and “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes, the views and experiences of the two authors are quite different from one another. However, the theme of independence is supported with the mutual acknowledgement of brotherhood and separation by each author.
Whitman’s narrative begins by claiming that he hears America singing, but through ‘varied carols.’ He illustrates that although everyone is in fact singing, it is not in unison. Whitman further expresses the separation of groups by listing an assortment of tradesmen who are singing about the items only they possess. If this desire for independence and self success is not obvious to the reader throughout the poem, line 12 reads, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else.” This clearly shows that Whitman is trying to convey the fact that Americans are happy when they own something that no one else does. Although Whitman could continue with this independent almost selfish attitude he decides to demonstrate that Americans only live this life in the day, and at night come together to sing in unison. Whitman uses the break in line 13, as a symbol of the end of the work day and selfishness, and beginning of the night and togetherness.
Hughes also is a member of this society, however, an outcast. Although Whitman never directly claims that he is only speaking of white men and women singing, it is implied considering they were the only ones who held those types of jobs in his time. By stating that he is the ‘darker brother’ Hughes is describing himself and black people in society as the black sheep of America; but members nonetheless. By stating that blacks accept eating in the kitchen alone rather than at the table with company; Hughes is claiming that through the rejection of whites, blacks have grown together strong in unison. They do not have the varied carols described by Whitman because they are a union. When they become strong enough, they will force their way into society and whites after neglecting the proud and beautiful race, will offer them a spot at their table.
To every good side of a story, there is a bad one. Whitman’s America, although separated into groups and reliant on self independence, every person in his poem was cheerful and proud of what they had accomplished. To Whitman, a white man himself; this was America. Hughes responds from the other side of view. He speaks for the other group represented by America, the group who was given no choices and neglected. Unlike Whitman’s groups, who were all self determined and chosen by the members; the members of Hughes group were only there based on their skin color. Although blacks were segregated from whites in everyway possible; Hughes describes that there is a change coming. No longer will this disrespect be accepted by the blacks; they know they are strong and will make their impression in the white society.
Hughes’ response to Whitman is one with contradiction and promise. He says that Whitman’s America, although existent, does not represent his America. Whitman’s does not include those who were shunned and hidden to create it, but those who have suffered because of it will rise up and overcome.
2.) America has often been described as the land of opportunity; a place where groups of individuals who would never had been acquainted become successful and one under the flag of the United States. In these contrasting poems, “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman, and “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes, the views and experiences of the two authors are quite different from one another. However, the theme of independence is supported with the mutual acknowledgement of brotherhood and separation by each author.
Whitman’s narrative begins by claiming that he hears America singing, but through ‘varied carols.’ He illustrates that although everyone is in fact singing, it is not in unison. Whitman further expresses the separation of groups by listing an assortment of tradesmen who are singing about the items only they possess. If this desire for independence and self success is not obvious to the reader throughout the poem, line 12 reads, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else.” This clearly shows that Whitman is trying to convey the fact that Americans are happy when they own something that no one else does. Although Whitman could continue with this independent almost selfish attitude he decides to demonstrate that Americans only live this life in the day, and at night come together to sing in unison. Whitman uses the break in line 13, as a symbol of the end of the work day and selfishness, and beginning of the night and togetherness.
Hughes also is a member of this society, however, an outcast. Although Whitman never directly claims that he is only speaking of white men and women singing, it is implied considering they were the only ones who held those types of jobs in his time. By stating that he is the ‘darker brother’ Hughes is describing himself and black people in society as the black sheep of America; but members nonetheless. By stating that blacks accept eating in the kitchen alone rather than at the table with company; Hughes is claiming that through the rejection of whites, blacks have grown together strong in unison. They do not have the varied carols described by Whitman because they are a union. When they become strong enough, they will force their way into society and whites after neglecting the proud and beautiful race, will offer them a spot at their table.
To every good side of a story, there is a bad one. Whitman’s America, although separated into groups and reliant on self independence, every person in his poem was cheerful and proud of what they had accomplished. To Whitman, a white man himself; this was America. Hughes responds from the other side of view. He speaks for the other group represented by America, the group who was given no choices and neglected. Unlike Whitman’s groups, who were all self determined and chosen by the members; the members of Hughes group were only there based on their skin color. Although blacks were segregated from whites in everyway possible; Hughes describes that there is a change coming. No longer will this disrespect be accepted by the blacks; they know they are strong and will make their impression in the white society.
Hughes’ response to Whitman is one with contradiction and promise. He says that Whitman’s America, although existent, does not represent his America. Whitman’s does not include those who were shunned and hidden to create it, but those who have suffered because of it will rise up and overcome.
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