The Meaning of a Poem

A poem is a piece of writing where the author is expressing themselves. It can be written in free verse or in a specific rhythm like iambic pentameter. Which ever it is, the writer is trying to get a point across. They could be telling a story about their life, love gained or lost, nature, anything you can think of! A writer could be writing because they are depressed, deeply emotional about a subject, or even just for the hell of it.

A person can make a connection with a poem that can change them or effect them emotionally. If someone reads a poem about the death of a lover or a family member, they could become emotional from the poem and connect it to their life. For me, I take poems about death very personally. If I read a poem about someone who dies or is abruptly taken from someone(in death) then I become very emotional. When I was in 8th grade my father died of a heart attack at work and I never got to say goodbye to him. When I read these poems, I know how the writer is feeling because I went through the same thing. Even though this is not a connection I would like to make, it makes me more connected to the poem and makes me appreciate it more.

Many people may not find a connection to the poem and therefore may not be able to appreciate it. I have had those poems that I read and my initial reaction is, "Okay, what was the point of that?" I do not like thinking this, but sometimes it happens. I like being able to appreciate poetry and finding the beauty in it. A poem can change a persons life, whether it be about life or death.

The Raven

Edgar Allen Poe is a great poet and short story writer. Although his writings are typically dark and dreary, he is a very popular writer. The Raven is a very popular poem that many people have read by the time they graduate high school. The raven is an animal that has many different meanings and can be misinterpreted very easily. "Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more." Most people view the Raven as a sign of death and destruction and often shy away from them. By the raven landing on the bust of Pallas, the Greek god of wisdom, the raven in a way is showing it's true meaning. It isn't there to frighten the man or to haunt him, but to show him he is there as a guide.

Many people interpret The Raven different and see the raven as a different meaning. In my eyes I do not see the Raven as a loathsome creature. Sure it is ugly and frightful, but it is not always a terrible creature.

The Minister's Black Veil

In The Minister's Black Veil Mr. Hooper shocks his congregation by wearing a black veil. The black veil sends a shock wave of emotion through the townspeople and instills feelings of caution and worry. The people even wonder if the person behind the veil is truly Rev. Hooper. "So sensible were the audiences of some unwonted attribute in their minister, that they longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing that a stranger's visage would be discovered, though the form, gesture and voice were those of Mr. Hooper." Although the people are afraid and confused by the black veil, they consume their attention to it. They shy away from the Reverend in person but when he leaves, their conversation revolves around him and the mystery of the black veil. "The next day, the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper's black veil. That, and the mystery concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street, and good women gossiping at their open windows."

Many people see the black veil as a symbol of sin. By choosing to wear the black veil, Mr. Hooper is making his sin knowledgeable to his peers. He chooses to wear the veil until the day he dies, and even upon his death bed he refuses to allow the veil to be removed. Although Mr. Hooper decides to visibly show his veil upon his face, everyone has their own form of a black veil. Every person is susceptible to sin, even if you are a Reverend. No body can hide their sin for forever, some just choose to compartmentalize it instead of coming right out and showing it. For Mr. Hooper, showing his sin to everyone caused an unsettling feeling through the townspeople. If I were Mr. Hooper, I would not have worn my guilt upon my face.

Acceptance of Death

One thing that I can't seem to get over when it comes to the Puritans is their acceptance of Death. They believed that when a person dies it is the will of God. They accept it and move on. How they can believe this is beyond me. When someone dies, it is a very sad and depressing event that takes some time to get over. But with the Puritans they can move on so quickly? I don't understand it. In Rowlandson's The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, Rowlandson must deal with the death of her child. She knows that her daughter is going to die, yet she accepts it calmly. If I were in Rowlandson's shoes I would not be so calm. I would be furious with God for taking my child from me at such an early age.

When people say to experience something through someone else's shoes, you don't really know how they're feeling. I do. My father died when I was 13 and I was angry as hell at God. I kept asking why he took my dad from me and why did he have to die. There is no way that I would be able to cope with death the way the Puritans do. I take death as a very serious situation and to be able to move on so quickly would be impossible for me. Seeing Rowlandson being able to deal with the death of her daughter calmly infuriates me. I believe that someones death should be mourned, not put out of memory right away.

Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children

After rereading Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children, I began to analyze it more and look deeper into it's meaning. As we discussed in class, we know that the flowers in the poem are Taylor's children. Throughout the poem, Taylor says, "A manly flowre out brake" and "another Flowre its sweet breathd mate", implying the birth of his first son and daughter. Although this part of the poem is happy and uplifting, the mood soon drastically changes to one of sadness and depression when we learn that the children die. After describing the sadness but also understanding that God took his children from his, Taylor rejoices in the fact that another son and daughter are born. How could a man be okay with fact that his children are dying? How does Taylor become angry with God for taking his children? Although Taylor lost his children(not all of them), he is calm in knowing that they are now with God. He is happy that the children are no longer suffering from illness or pain, but are now in Heaven where nothing can harm them.

In the first stanza of the poem, I noticed it talks about true love which led me to believe the first stanza is talking about his wife. "It was the True-Love Knot, more sweet than spice/And set with all the flowres of Graces dress/Its Weddens Knot, that ne're can be unti'de/No Alexanders Sword can it divide." My interpretation of this is that he has found his true love, and the true love they share cannot be broken by anything (Alexanders Sword). Even though the lines are simple I can feel the passion in which Taylor had written them. He truly loved his wife and his children, and this poem greatly exemplifies this.

As Weary Pilgrim

Every English class that I've been in I have never been good at determining the meaning of poems or been able to analyze them. I always over think it and try too hard to find out the meaning. With As Weary Pilgrim, I was able to figure out it's meaning easily.This poem is clear and concise with its meaning. It is very easy to determine that it is about two people and a loss of a loved one.

As Weary Pilgrim is about the loss of a loved one and the yearning to be with them again. Throughout the poem, the narrator is constantly stating things that the pilgrim will never do again or will never experience. "The burning sun no more shall heat, nor stormy rain on him shall beat" is just one example of an experience or event that will no longer happen to him. By dying he is now in a place where there is no pain and suffering but happiness and bliss.

Even though the pilgrim is now at rest, the narrator yearns to be with him. From this we can assume that the narrator is a wife or lover who is suffering from the loss. "Lord make me ready for that day, then come, dear Bridegroom, come away" is showing that she is ready to be reunited with him. She has lived out her life and is ready to die. "Oh how I long to be at rest and soar on high among the blest".

I am a huge fan of Disney movies. I love everything about them and as a little girl I would watch them all the time. Pocahontas has always been a favorite of mine because of the love story between her and John Smith. In a way you could compare her to a teenager of our time falling in love for the first time. She's a young girl sneaking around to see him and keeping him a secret from her father who would disapprove. This love story has been viewed by millions of people but they have all been fed a lie. Disney led on that Pocahontas and John Smith would fall in love and live happily ever after but that was not the case.

Pocahontas was not her real name. It is a nickname that means "the playful one", quoted from our Bedford Anthology of American Literature book. Pocahontas was the daughter of chief Powhatan. It turns out that Pocahontas first met John Smith in an attempt to save him from being executed by her father. Apparently the execution was a ritual for the Indians, and Pocahontas was only playing a part. Incidentally this part helped them become friends. After Smith returned to England Pocahontas was captured and held hostage in Jamestown. During her captivity she was converted to Christianity and married and englishman John Rolfe. She followed Rolfe to England where she died shortly after being unable to withstand diseases.

The story of Pocahontas is known by millions and most of them may not know the truth. They may still be under the impression that she and John Smith lived happily ever after. Even though the Disney movie is misleading and not historically accurate, many still fall in love with it.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was born in Spain in 1475. Balboa was a bankrupt nobleman who needed to escape form creditors due to his bankruptcy. He escaped on a voyage to Hispaniola aboard a ship being commanded by Martin Fernandez do Enciso. Together they founded a town they called Santa Maria de la Antigua de Darien. Eventually Balboa and Enciso had their differences and the colony was split between the two. Balboa no longer saw his allegiance with Enciso and decided to explore the country. During his exploration, Balboa gained the trust of the natives by treating them fairly unlike Enciso who outcast them. In time, Balboa heard of a southern sea and a land with gold. He set off to find this sea and eventually found it on September 25, 1513. He named it the “Mar del Sur”. After a short exploration of the area, he set home for Antigua and reached it in January 1514.

Upon his return, there was a new governor residing in Antigua, Pedrarias. The King of Spain heard of Balboa’s great discovery and decided to fund him to explore the “southern sea”. He also granted him the title of governor of Panama and Coyba. After holding Balboas funding for a small amount of time, Pedrarias allowed Balboa to begin his voyage and also promised him his daughter in marriage. During the expedition, Balboa heard a rumor that Pedrarias had been suspended and sent his friend Garabito to investigate the rumor. Learning that the rumor was false, Garabito told Pedrarias that Balboa would not marry his daughter. Infuriated, Pedrarias had Balboa and four other companions executed on counts of treason.

Although Balboa came over with nothing, he discovered the Pacific Ocean and incidentally was executed for a simple misunderstanding. Had Balboa not been executed what other findings might he have discovered?

Info found at http://virtualology.com/hallofexplorers/VASCONUNEZDEBALBOA.COM/

Native American Creation Stories

Native Americans have been portrayed by explorers and immigrants as savages and incompetent people, when really they have an intelligent and insightful way of looking at life and religious views.

One story that stood out to me was from the Alsea tribe. The origin of death was portrayed by two cousins and their two sons. One mans son became sick and died and mourned him for five days. On the fifth day he visited his cousin and asked if his child should come back and his cousin replied, no you should become well again. Shortly after, the other cousins child became sick and died. After visiting his cousin and asking the same question, his cousin replied, "you didn't want it this way at first. Therefore, people will always die but will never come back."

After reading this many thoughts began to flow through my mind. What if the first child came back? Would everyone who died be able to come back? Sometimes I wonder if people really would come back from dying if that first child had.