Close Reading of a Poem Essay - 1280 Words

Close Reading of a Poem Maria Clinton ENG 125 May 31, 2011 Tiffany Griffin-Minor Close Reading of a Poem ON THE AMTRAK FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK CITY: BY SHERMAN ALEXIE On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City is an emotionally provocative poem by the Native American Indian writer, Sherman Alexie. It describes a train journey from Boston to New York City in which an elderly white woman excitedly points out historical sites to her fellow passenger, a younger Native American Indian. The poem demonstrates how narrow minded the American Indian finds the white American culture; for, it does not go beyond any history prior to their coming to America. The white woman is only able to have a limited understanding of her surroundings;†¦show more content†¦These immediate images provoke other images in the Indian’s mind; these images are far more spectacular than those immediate images pointed out by the white woman. The two hundred year old house on the hill is linked in the Indian’s mind to the structures of his tribal ancestors which he describes in stanza three as â€Å"whose architecture is 15,000 years older†. The mention of â€Å"Walden Pond† in stanza three by the white woman is linked in the Indian’s mind to â€Å"there are five Walden Ponds on my little reservation out West and at least a hundred more surrounding Spokane,† in stanza four. These larger images once again demonstrate the incapability of the white Americans to look deeper into other cultures and their sites surrounding them. The only reason the white woman recognizes Walden Pond is because it was made famous by a white American, Henry David Thoreau who wrote a book about his life in a house next to the pond, in which he takes on a simplistic life which mimics the Native American Indian life style. The Indian on the train, is unimpressed by this because he states that â€Å"I know the Indians were living stories around that pond before Waldens grandparents were born and before his grandparents grandparents were born.†These lines display a certain amount of disdain by the Indian for what the whit e Americans believe to be historically important itShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley1165 Words   |  5 PagesPercy Bysshe Shelley in 1817. To read this poem and understand the complexities of it, one must analyze it through the lens of I.A. Richards’ concept of â€Å"new criticism,† which is now understood as close reading. In this essay, we will compare some of the aspects of criticism that Richards finds counterproductive and meaningless, such as irrelevant associations and sentimentality to his profound concept of new criticism and close reading. Through close reading, we as readers are able to find nuancesRead MoreThe Poem By Billy Collins1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, is about a teacher explaining to her students how to read and analyze poetry. Collins employs an abundance of figurative language, especially metaphors and images, to express the progressive steps taken to un derstand a poem for all that it encompasses. When beginning to read a poem, first we must look at the bigger picture, like we are working from the outside of the poem to the inside. Once we begin to understand the storyline, we must dive furtherRead MoreClose Reading In Safiya Sinclairs Cannibal900 Words   |  4 Pages In the book, Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair, her poem, Hands requires the use of close reading along with the use of figurative language like, personification, imagery, metaphor, and caesuras to focus on significant details. Close reading gives a deep and precise understanding of the complex meaning of her poem. Sinclair uses vivid and powerful figurative language throughout the poem to envelope readers in an emotional, honest, tragic yet hopeful atmosphere along with the structural element, CaesurasRead MoreDescribe The Learning Objectives Of This Course And The Type Of Best Practice That You Are Sharing999 Words   |  4 PagesDescribe the learning objectives of thi s course and the type of best practice that you are sharing. Literature of the Holocaust (EN113A) is a 100-level, elective English course that emphasizes extending EN 11 12 critical reading and writing skills, as well as mastering close reading of diverse fiction and non-fiction texts in a specific content area. The course is also included in the JUHAN and the Jewish Studies minor. I use as much visual art as I can to capture and enhance my students’ differentRead MoreLiterary Criticism Of Literature And Literature873 Words   |  4 Pagesthe text. New Criticism allows readers to pay close attention to literary devices—metaphor, irony, simile, paradox, and so on. The analysis of the literary devices depicted allow readers to engage with the text—in order to understand the interactions between the text s structure and meaning (â€Å"New Criticism | Glossary Terms | Poetry Foundation,† para.1). This paper will analyze Angelou s poem â€Å"Still I Rise† from a New Criticism perspective. Angelou’s poem uses a simile, hyperbole, and repetition. TheRead MoreAnalysis Of Anne Bradstreet s Writing1105 Words   |  5 Pagesher an advantage and allowed her to write about more advanced topics, however still keeping inside the guidelines of the Bible. Anne Bradstreet’s writing is that of her personal and Puritan life, when reading you are able to easily distinguish the two. In order to understand Anne Bradstreet’s poems, you should know certain things about her background. Bradstreet was born on March 20th, 1612 in Northampton, United Kingdom, and died on September 16, 1672 in Andover, Massachusetts. Her father was theRead MoreWhen Reading â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† By1142 Words   |  5 PagesWhen reading â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† by Dylan Thomas, â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† by Robert Frost, and â€Å"Sestina† by Elizabeth Bishops, the authors use unique imagery, symbolism, and metaphors to demonstrate a dark atmosphere during the poems. Each poem deals with dark tones such as depression, sadness, and death. By using imagery, symbolism, and metaphors, the authors are able to intensify the overall mood of the poems. Thomas uses metaphors to show different settings of his poemRead MoreEssay about Wild Geese by Oliver1304 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Wild Geese† is ve ry different from many poems written. Oliver’s personal life, the free form of the poem along with the first line, â€Å"You do not have to be good,† and the imagery of nature contributes to Oliver’s intent to convince the audience that to be part of the world, a person does not need to aspire to civilization’s standards. Oliver would write this poem because she did not conform to societies wishes. According to the Poetry Foundation, Oliver has never actually received a degree despiteRead MoreWild Geese By Mary Oliver1581 Words   |  7 PagesWild Geese† by Mary Oliver, is a poem that speaks deeply to many types of people with different personalities. This poem encourages the reader to let go of their shame of guilt and rather they should follow their heart, find the beauty, and become one with nature. Each and every one of us has a place on this earth, and although we all go through times of despair, the sun keeps shining and the earth keeps turning. When reading â€Å"Wild Geese† by Mary Oliver, I imagine the speaker being someone who hasRead MoreA Close Reading Of Sonnet 181280 Words   |  6 PagesA Close Reading of â€Å"Sonnet 18† â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?† (â€Å"Sonnet 18†) is one of Shakespeare’s most famous poems. It is the model English, or Shakespearean sonnet: it contains three quatrains and a finishing couplet.. The poem follows the traditional English sonnet form by having the octet introduce an idea or set up the poem, and the sestet beginning with a volta, or turn in perspective. In the octet of Sonnet 18, Shakespeare poses the question â€Å"Shall I compare the to a summer’s