Chicago is poem about the town of chicago.
The first few lines name a few of the atrocities of the city such as its brutality, and wickedness. Each line presents a new idea about the city. However, in line 9 and on the author starts to speak more of how in the face of all of its wrong doings, there is no city prouder then chicago.
The word choice by the author is very masculine. He uses words like savage and bald headed and he speaks of things that are masculine(in the dirty, hard sense) like shootings, and prostitutes. The actions that he lists are all words of harsh or violent action.
The formation of the words is another key. WHen he lists actions, he stacks them like theskyscrapers of Chicago and of their standing pride. However, his regular lines are sprawling like the cities sprawled nature. It is a city of motion.
The final few lines really profess the power and pride of Chicagoers. it says " Proud to be a hog butcher...player with railroads....to the nation" This represents how, even though they are inglorious jobs that hold their centers in Chicago, they are proud and happy to do them because it gives them a pride in their town and nation.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Sheep Child Explanation
The Sheep Child is a Poem by James Dickey. He is telling of how a mutilated child, half sheep and half human, was born and how it stops farm boys from sexually assaulting animals.
The poem is divided into stanzas that are eight lines.
The first Stanza is based on the farms. It explains how boys couple with anything they can but avoid live animals.
The second Stanza however jumps to a museum in Atlanta wherethe mutilated creature is that keeps the boys away from the live stock.
The third stanza is in the past tense where the narrator looks back on those times and how they have changed.
Then the turning point happens and the poem is narrated through the mind of the demented creature in the museum.
This poem is split into two parts. the first part explains an evil from the eyes of the evil-doers. The second part is from the eyes of that which is harmed by it.
this poem could be interpreted as an explanation of how legends control and change our lives. The legend of the beast has kept kids away from sheep. However, it is physically imposible for that to happen. Just like the stories of lock-ness or Big Foot or the Jersey Devil. These are highly unlikely but they are myths and legends created for a purpose. In the sheeps case it is to protect sheep.
The sheep/man could be a symbol of satan as a mutilation of the human form. This would make sense because it represents greed lust and gross, disgusting things.
Another way to interpret this poem is to look at the second part as the most influential portion. The second part is more of the hopless plight of a young. "Dead, i am most certainly living In the minds of farm boys" this quote from lines 55-56 shows how the creature is a warden that keeps farm boys away from sheep even if it might not be real.
"I am he who drives them like wolves from the hound bitch and calf" from lines 56-57 is written by the author to solidify the creatures status.
The Second part could be interpreted as exactly opposite of the first. The creature could be considered a savior to its people(the sheep). It sacraficed itself to save its sheep. It was killed. It was saved in a museum, or just in the minds of boys, until the persecuters moved on. It died while it was still in the juices of birth and that represents new life, Jesus had new life after death.
The poem is divided into stanzas that are eight lines.
The first Stanza is based on the farms. It explains how boys couple with anything they can but avoid live animals.
The second Stanza however jumps to a museum in Atlanta wherethe mutilated creature is that keeps the boys away from the live stock.
The third stanza is in the past tense where the narrator looks back on those times and how they have changed.
Then the turning point happens and the poem is narrated through the mind of the demented creature in the museum.
This poem is split into two parts. the first part explains an evil from the eyes of the evil-doers. The second part is from the eyes of that which is harmed by it.
this poem could be interpreted as an explanation of how legends control and change our lives. The legend of the beast has kept kids away from sheep. However, it is physically imposible for that to happen. Just like the stories of lock-ness or Big Foot or the Jersey Devil. These are highly unlikely but they are myths and legends created for a purpose. In the sheeps case it is to protect sheep.
The sheep/man could be a symbol of satan as a mutilation of the human form. This would make sense because it represents greed lust and gross, disgusting things.
Another way to interpret this poem is to look at the second part as the most influential portion. The second part is more of the hopless plight of a young. "Dead, i am most certainly living In the minds of farm boys" this quote from lines 55-56 shows how the creature is a warden that keeps farm boys away from sheep even if it might not be real.
"I am he who drives them like wolves from the hound bitch and calf" from lines 56-57 is written by the author to solidify the creatures status.
The Second part could be interpreted as exactly opposite of the first. The creature could be considered a savior to its people(the sheep). It sacraficed itself to save its sheep. It was killed. It was saved in a museum, or just in the minds of boys, until the persecuters moved on. It died while it was still in the juices of birth and that represents new life, Jesus had new life after death.
Monday, January 25, 2010
last few entries
237--"Now i know...never had time to see,"
This quote again discusses the idea of color and its effect on people. this is the first realization about why Baby liked color.
242--"maybe there is something else terrible enough to make her do it again"
FOreshadow that sethe could kill again. watch out for it.
Denver really starts to mature in part three. one sign of this is that she goes from likeing and trusting beloved, a two year old, to trusting adults like the community. She finnaly goes out into the community and helps people and recieves help. SHe gets a job and begins to realize that she must protect her mother.
The end of this book is very good. it fits into the theme that spirits control everything. Beloved is finally vanquished by the townspeople calling on spirits for help. Also it reinforces the idea of how women are more active then men.. It is all women who go to help Denver. Women show more compasion and are more of action. It also could be there motherly instinct to help a young lady, denver, in need.
This quote again discusses the idea of color and its effect on people. this is the first realization about why Baby liked color.
242--"maybe there is something else terrible enough to make her do it again"
FOreshadow that sethe could kill again. watch out for it.
Denver really starts to mature in part three. one sign of this is that she goes from likeing and trusting beloved, a two year old, to trusting adults like the community. She finnaly goes out into the community and helps people and recieves help. SHe gets a job and begins to realize that she must protect her mother.
The end of this book is very good. it fits into the theme that spirits control everything. Beloved is finally vanquished by the townspeople calling on spirits for help. Also it reinforces the idea of how women are more active then men.. It is all women who go to help Denver. Women show more compasion and are more of action. It also could be there motherly instinct to help a young lady, denver, in need.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
part 2 Analysis
What Happens:
Part two starts with Stamp Paid and how he goes about his life and his job of helping people. That is what he does for a living, he doesn’t save anyone but he helps a lot of people. Then the story advances to his interaction with 124. His history and relationship with Baby Suggs is covered as well as their big argument. Then the story switches to Sethe and the daughters and their first happy “family” time ice-skating. However, it is reinforced that seethe is still a freed slave not a free person. Babies life and all the times that she has been abandoned are covered. Stamp contemplates Babies life choices. The story returns to Sethe again where the idea of family is reinforced. Stamp sees Beloved and is shocked so he goes and finds Paul D and asks him about her. Sethe has a flashback to sixo’s philosophy about stealing and how sixo was a bad slave. But he was a happy person. She recounts her daily routine in slave life. This reinforces how slavery still affects her. They start to cover the plan for escaping from Sweet Home and Stamp ends the first chapter of section 2 talking about the weird voices around 124.
The next three chapters are each of the woman’s individual tales involving each other and their feelings. They are a reflection on the life of the family and the individual. Both Denver and Sethe sound obsessed with Beloved in theirs.
The next chapter is in the dialect of all three characters in conversation. This could be to show their unity as a family. This chapter explains A LOT about the characters and their goals.
The final chapter in this section is Stamp Paid finding Paul D on the steps of the Church and talking with him. This is the first part where Stamp really opens up on his own. His heart was broken open Beloved but now he opens it and actually speaks his piece to Stamp. He explains in detail the plan to break free from sweet home and how it went wrong and sixo’s death. This is his acknowledgement and releasing of the past. I am guessing that he will now no longer be held by slavery because he has let go.
How it Happens:
This section is largely told as a story by one person. A lot of it is reflection. Even if it is spoken to another character it is reflected in a story or thoughts. The only part where this is not true is where Stamp is speaking to Ella about where Paul could be and when Beloved, Sethe, and Denver have their own chapter where they tell stories. This could show progression. Especially for Paul who is finally letting slavery go. Beloved is maturing and Sethe is on the road to letting slavery go. Something that Baby Suggs couldn’t do.
How it relates to part 1:
Part two relates to part one because it shows the change in characters. Part 1 is all about the characters travels. This part gets deeper into the characters motivations and very meaningful aspects of their lives. Most importantly it shows their growth.
Part two starts with Stamp Paid and how he goes about his life and his job of helping people. That is what he does for a living, he doesn’t save anyone but he helps a lot of people. Then the story advances to his interaction with 124. His history and relationship with Baby Suggs is covered as well as their big argument. Then the story switches to Sethe and the daughters and their first happy “family” time ice-skating. However, it is reinforced that seethe is still a freed slave not a free person. Babies life and all the times that she has been abandoned are covered. Stamp contemplates Babies life choices. The story returns to Sethe again where the idea of family is reinforced. Stamp sees Beloved and is shocked so he goes and finds Paul D and asks him about her. Sethe has a flashback to sixo’s philosophy about stealing and how sixo was a bad slave. But he was a happy person. She recounts her daily routine in slave life. This reinforces how slavery still affects her. They start to cover the plan for escaping from Sweet Home and Stamp ends the first chapter of section 2 talking about the weird voices around 124.
The next three chapters are each of the woman’s individual tales involving each other and their feelings. They are a reflection on the life of the family and the individual. Both Denver and Sethe sound obsessed with Beloved in theirs.
The next chapter is in the dialect of all three characters in conversation. This could be to show their unity as a family. This chapter explains A LOT about the characters and their goals.
The final chapter in this section is Stamp Paid finding Paul D on the steps of the Church and talking with him. This is the first part where Stamp really opens up on his own. His heart was broken open Beloved but now he opens it and actually speaks his piece to Stamp. He explains in detail the plan to break free from sweet home and how it went wrong and sixo’s death. This is his acknowledgement and releasing of the past. I am guessing that he will now no longer be held by slavery because he has let go.
How it Happens:
This section is largely told as a story by one person. A lot of it is reflection. Even if it is spoken to another character it is reflected in a story or thoughts. The only part where this is not true is where Stamp is speaking to Ella about where Paul could be and when Beloved, Sethe, and Denver have their own chapter where they tell stories. This could show progression. Especially for Paul who is finally letting slavery go. Beloved is maturing and Sethe is on the road to letting slavery go. Something that Baby Suggs couldn’t do.
How it relates to part 1:
Part two relates to part one because it shows the change in characters. Part 1 is all about the characters travels. This part gets deeper into the characters motivations and very meaningful aspects of their lives. Most importantly it shows their growth.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Beloved Journal entries pg46-235
49--"Operating...walk,eat, sleep, sing...and a little sex"
Men as shown by this quote are portrayed as simple. They have simple and primitive needs. However, the other side is that this could be shown as men as uncomplicated and women as overly complicated. Men could have there lives figured out.
57--"the doomed roses"
the roses at the carnival are red. this ties into the motif of colors representing mood. The roses appear just as sethe becomes happy with Paul D and her life. they could be foreshadow that the relationship wont last and as the love dies more, more people will notice like they notice the dieing flowers.
59--"the shadows of three people still held hands"
This shows the unity of Sethe and her family. She is finally happy. the shadows are now infront of them however, this could mean that the happiness is in the future.
64--"Shes not sick"...the passion in her voice made them smile"
Denver is finally happy to have a "sister". she has been alone her entire life and cannot accept that beloved might be sick. She feels like she knows most about Beloved.
66--"in those big black eyes...no expression at all"
Beloved had no feeling in her eyes. no emotion. This is because she is a ghost. She also has never known Denver. She died before denver was old enough to make an impresion and before beloved was old enough to get an impression.
69--Beloved has changed Denver and Sethe. they have become more happy and satisfied.
75--"the questions beloved asked...how did she know"
At this point sethe and denver dontknow that beloved is a ghost.. is she a ghost or just someone who reminds them of sethes daughter.
76--"the quality of the green changed"
strawberries change color just before they sprout new fruit. women change moods haha....
81--"He saw them boys do that to me and let them keep on breathing air?"
Sethe now believes that Halle had seen her being raped and did nothing to stop it. She is furious and feels betrayed. Again this reinforces how week men are.
88--"In the dark my name is beloved."
Beloved is a ghost!! she talks about death and how dark it is.. Black is the absence of color which could mean that there are no emotions in death.
95--"When the busy day is done...Cometh lady button eyes."
Lady button eyes is Beloved but i dont completely understand this poem....I think it is showing beloved as an outsider to the family. She comes in the poem after sethe is rocking her baby.
Amy is going to boston to get a certain type of velvet. This shows a goal and a meaning in life. Unlike Baby Suggs who died because she had no reason to live. Amy has nothing but her goal.
101--Lay em down, seth...Dont study war no more"
Sethe was studying war against her past. She was told to put her sword AND shield down. Her shield was her gaurding against her pastand her sword was attacking the world for her hardships.
103--"She told them that the only grace they could have wa the grace they could imagine"
Sethe is saying that there pretty much is no hope. If you want good fortune then u should make it up because it doesnt just happen.
113--"jammed full of iron"
what does this mean???
113--"Somebody choked me...Grandma baby, i reckon"
Another ghost. this story is controled by them. this time the ghost starts the great connection between the family.
118--milk symbolizes love
122--"she was trying to get upstairs...The Baby"
They hear the baby trying to get upstairs!!!! why is the baby back..... is it because they visited the field.
138--Beloved seduces Paul...She is the key to unlocking his heart... Women are stronger than men.
SHE KILLS HER OWN BABY!!! WITH A SAW!!!??? this book is crazy... the baby is a sacrafice to save the family's bodies. However the family is destroyed by it.
199--"but sneaking was his job"
again men are weaker then women! men are sneaking around. He is scared off by a womens household.
201--"and right there was the thorn"
Stamp has put the thorn in the families side. or has he. every rose has its thorn. he drove off Paul but in the long run the women were happy alone.
206--"on al fours"
Sethe is still an animal!
209--Baby Suggs had countless hardships in her life...it sucked. this is contrasted to denver who hasnt had many other than lonliness.
213--"never fixed on red"
he hopes that she wont be sad because red means sad.
215--"the voices that ring 124 like a noose"
The book is coming to a climax. soon the noose will close!!
228--"flies settled all over your face"
beloved was covered in flies. possibly a sign that she was destined for something. flies appear when something is going to die.
Men as shown by this quote are portrayed as simple. They have simple and primitive needs. However, the other side is that this could be shown as men as uncomplicated and women as overly complicated. Men could have there lives figured out.
57--"the doomed roses"
the roses at the carnival are red. this ties into the motif of colors representing mood. The roses appear just as sethe becomes happy with Paul D and her life. they could be foreshadow that the relationship wont last and as the love dies more, more people will notice like they notice the dieing flowers.
59--"the shadows of three people still held hands"
This shows the unity of Sethe and her family. She is finally happy. the shadows are now infront of them however, this could mean that the happiness is in the future.
64--"Shes not sick"...the passion in her voice made them smile"
Denver is finally happy to have a "sister". she has been alone her entire life and cannot accept that beloved might be sick. She feels like she knows most about Beloved.
66--"in those big black eyes...no expression at all"
Beloved had no feeling in her eyes. no emotion. This is because she is a ghost. She also has never known Denver. She died before denver was old enough to make an impresion and before beloved was old enough to get an impression.
69--Beloved has changed Denver and Sethe. they have become more happy and satisfied.
75--"the questions beloved asked...how did she know"
At this point sethe and denver dontknow that beloved is a ghost.. is she a ghost or just someone who reminds them of sethes daughter.
76--"the quality of the green changed"
strawberries change color just before they sprout new fruit. women change moods haha....
81--"He saw them boys do that to me and let them keep on breathing air?"
Sethe now believes that Halle had seen her being raped and did nothing to stop it. She is furious and feels betrayed. Again this reinforces how week men are.
88--"In the dark my name is beloved."
Beloved is a ghost!! she talks about death and how dark it is.. Black is the absence of color which could mean that there are no emotions in death.
95--"When the busy day is done...Cometh lady button eyes."
Lady button eyes is Beloved but i dont completely understand this poem....I think it is showing beloved as an outsider to the family. She comes in the poem after sethe is rocking her baby.
Amy is going to boston to get a certain type of velvet. This shows a goal and a meaning in life. Unlike Baby Suggs who died because she had no reason to live. Amy has nothing but her goal.
101--Lay em down, seth...Dont study war no more"
Sethe was studying war against her past. She was told to put her sword AND shield down. Her shield was her gaurding against her pastand her sword was attacking the world for her hardships.
103--"She told them that the only grace they could have wa the grace they could imagine"
Sethe is saying that there pretty much is no hope. If you want good fortune then u should make it up because it doesnt just happen.
113--"jammed full of iron"
what does this mean???
113--"Somebody choked me...Grandma baby, i reckon"
Another ghost. this story is controled by them. this time the ghost starts the great connection between the family.
118--milk symbolizes love
122--"she was trying to get upstairs...The Baby"
They hear the baby trying to get upstairs!!!! why is the baby back..... is it because they visited the field.
138--Beloved seduces Paul...She is the key to unlocking his heart... Women are stronger than men.
SHE KILLS HER OWN BABY!!! WITH A SAW!!!??? this book is crazy... the baby is a sacrafice to save the family's bodies. However the family is destroyed by it.
199--"but sneaking was his job"
again men are weaker then women! men are sneaking around. He is scared off by a womens household.
201--"and right there was the thorn"
Stamp has put the thorn in the families side. or has he. every rose has its thorn. he drove off Paul but in the long run the women were happy alone.
206--"on al fours"
Sethe is still an animal!
209--Baby Suggs had countless hardships in her life...it sucked. this is contrasted to denver who hasnt had many other than lonliness.
213--"never fixed on red"
he hopes that she wont be sad because red means sad.
215--"the voices that ring 124 like a noose"
The book is coming to a climax. soon the noose will close!!
228--"flies settled all over your face"
beloved was covered in flies. possibly a sign that she was destined for something. flies appear when something is going to die.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Pg 1-- "Sethe and her daughter... were it's only victims...the sons had run away by the time they were thirteen years old."
This shows sethe as a strong woman and swts the tone for a feminist book. It also shows that the boys, as soon as they reached manhood, ran away and are therefore weak. The house can be looked at as society because it is punishing the strong woman just as society frowned upon strong women at that time.
Pg 1-- Setting: In Ohio just outside of Cincinnati. Around 1870.
Pg 2--"She couldnt get interested in leaving life or living it"
Baby suggs feels that she is bored with life but not ready for death. This line seemed important but i dont know why.
Pg 2--"For a baby she throws a powerfull spell...No more powerfull than the way I loved her"
Love is a spell...It is evil and blinds people. This is a motif. It shows again on pg 25 when Sethe has sex with Paul D and immediately regrets it. She was blinded by lust.
Pg 7-- "Try as she might to make it otherwise...She could never forgive her memory."
Sethe remembers more about the trees and nature then her children and friends. This could show that she was above her peers and more to the level of nature or that she sees deeper than just friends. She finds comfort in nature.
Pg 8--Paul D has peachstone skin and a straight back. He has emotions although he only shows them when he chooses to. He is a very caring man. He is a wanderer and maybe a fugitive.
Pg 10--"Straight into a pool of red light"
red light symbolizes sadness and the ghost.
Pg 12--"They were young and so sick with the absense of women they had taken to calves."
WHAT THE HELL!!!! This is a disturbing book! Very graphic... this however does reinforce the idea that women are superior to men because men must wait for the woman. They are forced to degrade themselves to the level of cows.
Pg 14-- "Looking....like a girl instead of...Denver had known her entire life"
This again shows the degrading effect men have. Women are usually "queenly" but Paul D made Sethe a lesser woman by suduction. This is not right.
Pg 15-- Theme: Absence: there are alot of absent figures such as Denvers father, Baby suggs after she dies. alot of the children of various women die.
Pg 16--Ghosts are a motif. there is a ghost in the house. Baby suggs talks of ghosts... there was a ghost on the sweet home.
Pg 18-19-- The tree that was wipped into Sethes back is a symbol for sethes strength. She is strong like a tree. It is also an ugly testament to male brutality.
Pg 26--They encouraged you to put some of your weight in there hands....ran her children out and tore up her house."
What baby suggs says of men. Reinforces that men are lower beings. That they are dirty and unlawfull and mean. Also the righteousness of women.
Pg 29--"He asked the redman's presence"
Another spirit. Ghosts and spirits seem to control this story. The control through fear. It also gives the story a religious outlook.
Pg 32-33--How loose the silk...Loose and free"
This is Sethe thinking back to the time her afnd Halle had sex in the fields but it is describing corn husking. why is she comparing corn husking to sex?
Pg 35-36--'The dress and her mother...helping out the other'
The dress(a ghost) is again controling the story. it is the strongest figure in this scene.
Pg 42--"Anything dead coming back to life hurts"
Amy says this while she is helping sethe. This could be foreshadow to the death and haunting of Sethe by her baby.
Pg 44-- "If it's still there..nothing ever dies"
This is a comment on religion by the author. She is expressing a belief in afterlife and ghosts.
Pg 46-- Color is becoming a motif. Color is a part of life Suggs longed for it just before she died and now Sethe is wanting more color.
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