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Thoughts on Poetry

Some of the greatest poetry that has ever been written, has been poetry that has created a language on its own. Shakespeare has some of the best poetry ever because it is his own poetry. Some of my greatest  poetry is good because I have my own voice and experience to write about. My best poetry come from the experience of my father being a firefighter, and the short time that I have been a firefighter. These experiences have given’ me my own voice and that what makes my poetry my own. 

From the experience of loosing a fellow fire fighter I have  written my best poetry, the five men. This poem shows how that it is really easy to put a person in a bag that you don’t know, but to put one of your own in the ground is impossible. 

Another good poem that talks about the brotherhood at fire departments is lroths brotherhood. This poem talks about what true family is all about. I can’t say much about this poem because you really need to read it and to understand what is really being talked about you have to be apart of this family. The family that I work with is “bustin’ ours, savin’ yours” and that is the only life I live by at the hall.

Tags: brotherhood, fire departments, firefighter, five men, shakespeare, true family
Posted in LA 10, poetry

The Dawn of Poetry

In Irving Layton’s “Shakespeare“, this man is asked about the greatest poet of all time, and of course the poet is none other than Shakespeare. The man describes Shakespeare with the concept of “God”, “Death”, or “the start of the world”. I see how Shakespeare can be compared to a god in the way he will never be forgotten, his life works have entertained and changed thousands of people and perspectives. Death because as he died so did the the greatest poet to have or ever lived, and seemingly poetry died the same day. But as he did his work inspired others which symbolized “the start of the world.” I know it sound controversial when I say that poetry died and began with Shakespeare, but he started poetry and his life’s masterpieces ended with his life, but will be remembered forever.

In this poem every stanza symbolizes a different mood, or setting. In the first stanza his six year old kid asks him who the best poet of all time is and if he will ever surpass the him. His son is starting to question those “eternal fixtures of the human imagination like “God” or “Death” or “the start of the world”. As a child I always thought my father was so cool and could do almost anything, and for him to say he is not the best or will ever be the best would be heartbreaking to me. The second stanza is talking about how Shakespeare is like an unclimbable mountain and will never be surpassed. The third stanza tells of his anger and  despair towards Shakespeare. Even though he has been dead for so long he is the most recognized poet of all time, and this isn’t likely to change. I would find it hard pursuing a career that I’d never be the best at, I would never top it. But in the fourth he realizes that his son may become a poet with his questions and childish accusations of the world saying poetic phrases such as “the rain is air crying“, and he thinks there may be a chance of a poet in the family.

The fact that Shakespeare is a forever unapproachable star can be inspiring of devastating to following poets. The fact that he is supposedly unsurpassable can inspire many poets the way Wayne Gretzky may have inspired Sidney Crosby. Before Crosby’s rookie year the big question was is this kid the next Gretzky or is he that overrated. I believe no one will ever top Gretzky’s skills as a hockey player, but if there ever was one I believe it would be Crosby. On the other hand many people may quit at their goal knowing they’ll never win, so what’s the point trying. Many times I have been in the place of the underdog but even if I lose it will just give me the inspiration to get better to surpass the best.

Tags: Eternity, losers, shakespeare
Posted in 5550, English 20

Outlooks of Personality

A revolting and humanistic character in a conditioned society based of behaviorism, John the savage. Everyday I believe I am a hero for myself because of what I accomplish and how I strive for my standards. The society in Brave New World needs someone like John. They need to learn from what he’s trying to bring to the table and live a true life and not be stuck taking soma everyday. I feel I have to become more of a super-ego instead of being a ego at times. Trying to change and making a difference, but I can’t change the way my friends act or the minds of criminals. I can only focus on changing myself and focusing on my morals, not anyone elses. John with his super-ego conscience is only thinking of turning the society in Brave New World around, but there is no way he can match the conditioning of every person in the society. John is trying to change everyone in society because he is more intelligent then the common id.

The society seems to be in a stable before John arrived. Once John arrived he tried to convince the lower state class into revolting against society to make it unstable. Now one of the World States mottos was Stability. These people are conditioned to follow the states motto and only do what’s best for them. No wonder he was unsuccessful trying this. John was repulsive living in a conditioned society and the only person in the text with identity and family. John resulted in reading Shakespeare when he was repulsive. It seemed Shakespeare was the perfect drug, soma, for John. Shakespeare’s writings state that death is virtuous and it brings eternal life, which influenced John. John was the exact image of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar. Both Stoic figures in their society. They were leaders in society not cake-eating epicureans. They wanted to make a difference in their society and stuck to it. They were the shepherds of the flock never the followers. John seemed to follow his morality and sense of guidance. He followed what his mother taught him, what he personally believed and stuck to his morals. He thought below a women’s waist was the devils pit, and believing this he rejected having sex with Lenina.

John also had an epicurean side to him. He was able to make Lenina show feelings and love even though they were taught not to love a man. Lenina is the definition of epicurean. Young, beautiful and always willing to go out and have a great time. Lenina is more interested in the pleasures in life rather the more important values. Lenina has a longing want to have a long lasting relationship with one guy, a desire that is considered ugly and dirty in a society that believes promiscuity is healthy. In Brave New World Lenina is very high of herself, and thinks getting around with numerous men isn’t a sin. Typical epicurean or Id that want to fill themselves with childish acts and tones of pleasure. I never understood why women like Lenina let themselves be so easy to pick up. Its disgusting and unattractive. The amount of diseases and infections you have a chance in getting is sick. Why in hell would you want to have the killer AIDS or any other HIV there is out there. Lenina has some serious issues she needs to fix.

While reading Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychic apparatus I found John and Lenina could be compared to this apparatus. Lenin’s easy because she is the child or the Id explained in this theory. Whatever makes her have such peculiar drives? Whatever it is she does whatever she can think of to fulfill these drives. Lenina was the biggest epicurean in this book and showed the most significant characteristics of the common Id. If its was from being horny and wanting pleasure all the time or just the desire for soma. Lenina never thought about her happiness she was only doing it to support these addictive drives. She acts exactly like child neglecting her problems. On the other hand I think John is a good example of a super-ego. He had a strong conscience, spiritual goals, and had passion in what he did. Coming from a savage reservation you’d think he wouldn’t have strong values and true identity, but he did. He never gave up and always did what he believed what was morally right. John wasn’t just concerned about his life he worried about every class that had been taking soma. Every since his mother died he knew soma had to go or others would have ended up like his mother. Towards the end John had an immense amount of stress building up inside. This stress made him an Id possibly causing his death. He just couldn’t handle it anymore, giving up.

Julius Caesar and Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychic apparatus were great sources to relate the characters and how they reacted and changed throughout the book. The character’s personalities were easy to relate to one another with stoic and epicurean thoughts and the different stages of Sigmund Freud’s theory of Id, Ego, and Super-Ego. While looking up Id’s, Ego’s, and Super-Egos i began to realize many of these characters everyone fit into a category but many of the 5 classes of people were Id’s. They acted so childish and the related to soma for relief. What kind of life would that be being and acting the same as everyone else. These people have no self responsibility and can’t think for themselves, their pretty much useless robots. They only work, get high of soma, and have sex to meet their needs. Yes we all have inner Id’s but living the same life styles, thinking and, having the same values would be horrible. People in Brave New World were just living with a false sense of happiness.

I

Tags: Brave New World, savage, shakespeare, Sigmund Freud
Posted in Brave New World

Becoming Immortal

In Brave New World Pope gives some Shakespeare books to John. It’s cool to know that the same things we study and learn are also being learned five hundred years from now. Even though Shakespeare died a long time ago his stories will live on forever, I’m sure similar things can be said about bands like The Beatles, Led Zepplin, or ACDC. I’ve often wondered what will be remembered about me when I die, and how I’ve impacted other peoples lives, this motivates me to be the best I can be.

Tags: Brave New World, Immortality, shakespeare
Posted in Brave New World, English 20

Hamlet: Getting Started

Hamlet raises many questions that you may recognize from your own life. Thinking about some of these issues will make your experience of the play more interesting and rewarding. Discuss some of the following questions in your blog or the forums. Record in your blog any ideas you find interesting or thought-provoking. When you begin to read and discuss the play, refer to your responses to these questions and keep track of any changes in your opinions, or any surprises you find.

1. We all have procrastinated about something important that we had to do, sometimes disappointing other people and often disappointing ourselves. Why do we procrastinate?
2. Most people have purposely “played the fool” at some time. Why do people do this? If a person for some reason plays the fool or pretends to be disturbed for a long time, do you think the person eventually can become truly disturbed?
3. Isolation and loneliness are feelings common to most people at one time or another. Sometimes external circumstances create this situation, and sometimes people deliberately withdraw from those around them. What can friends or relatives do when someone has purposely withdrawn and chosen to be alone with his or her problems?
4. Disillusion is a common experience of growing up. We find that people in the adult world whom we once idealized are less than ideal, and that situations we considered innocent are actually corrupt. How do young people encountering the “real world” for the first time handle these discoveries?
5. In Shakespeare’s time, insane people were regarded as sources of entertainment. What is our society’s attitude toward mental illness?
6. What is the difference between “taking revenge” and “getting justice”?
7. Privacy is highly valued in our society. How would you feel if you found out you were “under surveillance” at school, at your job, at home, or among friends because of some change in your behaviour?

Having thought about this wide variety of topics, you are ready to explore Hamlet.

Tags: adult world, attitude, blog, discoveries, English 30, external circumstances, feelings, fool, Hamlet, isolation, job, loneliness, long time, mental illness, real world, relatives, shakespeare, surprises, surveillance, taking revenge
Posted in English 30

Prepare for English Language Arts Finals

For those in the midst, or looking ahead at finals in my LA classes(9, 10-1, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, 30-2).

Consider the outcomes we’ve tried to achieve.

Enhancing the artistry of communication has been a strong technical focus. Skills mastered include using online blogging tools, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, even graphical enhancements using Photoshop or audio/video podcasting tools have been included where time permitted and initiative taken. Participation on an online forum has generated a myriad of useful tips/reminders, questions/answers. There will be no speadsheets on the final, the use of Word will be necessary for English 30.

Each course has been structured around Focus Questions and related questions: English 10, English 9.

Emphasis on social networking, peer review/support/criticism has been critical for developing critical thought and reflection for writers defending an idea.

Each course has a reading list: English 10, English 30. Not every title has been studied intensively(or at all), but the proportion of attention paid to those pieces that were studied in class deserve the same level of attention on the final. Of course, those who choose additional literature from the list to focus on in the final deserve to have that initiative rewarded as well. If you choose to focus on Shakespeare, your audience gets tougher, I’ve noticed.

An English 30 paper looking at how the images/symbols/archetypes of Sophocles and Kingsolver relate to personal freedom to would be intriguing. Why not an English 10 paper discussing the threat of fanaticism by comparing the speeches of Mark Antony, Joseph Strorm, and Eamon De valera? What does Søren Kierkegaard have to do with every page you’ve ever read or written?

Extras, everyone should be able to link to Wikipedia for literary terms, difficult vocabulary, or just the odd or eccentric idea; can anyone incorporate the Hayflick Limit into their paper? Everyone has seen video and heard an mp3, but are any daring enough to Podcast their final essay? A carefully edited U2 mp3 snip, an embedded flash video of Ophelia Simpson, a slideshow?

The only limit is to abide the first line of every rubric you’ve ever attached to any assignment:

I _________________ honestly declare that the work is what I have done. In circumstances when I have quoted a certain authority, I have clearly indicated what is a quote and the author. 

A Blogger’s Code of Ethics contains truths far older than the phenomenon of blogging.

English 30s will have no access to internet, filesharing, etc etc. English 10s can have it all.

Tags: archetype, archetypes, artistry, audience, blog, communication, diction, English, English 10, English 30, english language arts, essay, Final, focus, focus question, focus questions, freedom, iblog, idea, image, images, language, language arts, Limit, literature, Man, participation, process, question, reading list, reality, right, rubric, self, shakespeare, Social, stj, Structure, support, symbol, Thinking, use, video, view, wit, writer
Posted in Pingo Lingo

To Make a Dadaist Poem

1. Take a news article (from your RSS aggregator, for example)
2. Take some scissors
3. Print the article
4. Get a small bag (pencil case, ziplock, lunch bag)
5. Cut the article into bits, one word per bit.
6. Put the bits into the bag
7. Shake gently(the bag, duh!)
8. Take out each bit one by one and copy conscientiously in the order each bit left the bag
9. The poem will resemble you

And there you are – an infinitely original author of charming sensibility, even though unappreciated by the vulgar herd.

BTW: Dada, Dadaism, Dadaist

Tags: diction, English 9, herd, literature, poe, poem, print, shakespeare
Posted in Pingo Lingo

After Act 5 (English 30)

Respond to one of the following:

1. Do you think Rosencrantz and Guildenstern deserved to be put to death? What alternatives might Hamlet have taken? Examine Hamlet’s reasoning and consider whether you think Hamlet was seeking justice or revenge?
2. Why does Horatio tell Hamlet he will lose the contest? Why is Horatio correct?
3. Throughout most of the play Hamlet has seemed unwilling to do what he knows he must do. Is it only in the final scene that Hamlet seems fully willing to accept his destiny? What do you think has caused this change in Hamlet?
4. Death is personified twice in the final scene: a police officer(by Hamlet) and a hunter(by Fortinbras). Why has Shakespeare chosen these two particular occupations. What other jobs could death, as a person, perform?

Tags: change, English, Final, form, Hamlet, job, reason, Respond, shakespeare, use
Posted in English 30

I wish to dwell on Ophelia (Eng. 30)

Many scholars discuss the significance of Ophelia only as far as she impacts the development of the character of Hamlet. I hate that. Ophelia is far more important than the 5 scenes in which she appears. The tragedy of Ophelia deserves more considered attention. Write about the life and death of Ophelia. Write about the effect others have had on Ophelia. What makes her unique, distinctive? What ideals does she hold? What are her doubts and fears? What brings her joy, inspiration, fulfillment?

Hazlitt says, “Ophelia is a character almost too exquisitely touching to be dwelt upon.”

Dwell on her I say, dwell now.

Trackback here.

Tags: doubts, fears, fulfillment, Hamlet, idea, Ideals, inspiration, Man, shakespeare, significance
Posted in English 30

An Interpretation of Hamlet

(30-1) For hundreds of years, scholars have written about problems of interpreting this play. Complete any of the following statements and develop your thoughts in an entry in your blog. Trackback, SVP.

• What puzzles me most about Hamlet’s behaviour is . . .
• I don’t understand why Shakespeare included (didn’t include) . . .
• My first impression of _________ has changed because . . .
• I’m not sure whether . . .
• There seems to be a contradiction . . .

(30-2) In your blog, write about a time when, under pressure, you acted in a way that surprised you.

Tags: blog, change, diction, Hamlet, interpretation, shakespeare, State, use
Posted in English 30