Alienation Unit- Poem Three

APO 96225

By: Larry Rottman

Ironically, the poem APO 96225 presents the grave matter of the experiences of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam in both a symbolic and straight forward manner. The poem becomes ironic as the family that the boy rights to constantly asks him to say what war is really like. When he complies stating, "Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children," however, the family suddenly asks for less harsh truth. Thus, he returns to the symbolic writing by saying, "Dear Mom, sure rains a lot here." This simple statement is both pure and simple as well as complex and profound. The response takes greater meaning when analyzed from the prospective of a person experiencing the painful complexity of war who knows no way to update his family or express his experiences but by the coded terms of symbolism. Within the phrase, the words ironically represent more than just rain, but tears and sorrow. Similarly, "monkeys" could be seen as representing the Vietnamese people and the "sunsets," the loss of life. Further, the piece takes on more meaning once more when viewed through the perspective of the American people. Just as the mother yearns for the truth, the American people yearned to understand what the Vietnam war was truly like. Ironically though, once people began seeing the true sorrows and pains of war, they pleaded for it to go away and became fixed upon bias that the such actions could not be true. 

Alienation Unit- Poem Two

Much Madness is divinest Sense

By: Emily Dickinson

"Much Madness is divinest Sense-...Much Sense-the starkest Madness-..." Within the poem about sanity and insanity a paradoxical juxtaposition is presented. The central theme and idea is that insanity is a good sense and that good sense is insane. In the conclusion of the poem, though, the theme is spread further to scorning and refuting society for restraining individuals. 

In the first line of the poem, the first aspect of the paradox is presented as insanity is described as a good sense that allows one to look at things from a different perspective. The second aspect of the paradox then follows in the third line as the speaker describes a good sense as insanity. The speaker states that the majority have a good sense, but are insane. By following and conforming to society, one is considered sane, but if one strays from this sanity, then they dangerously challenge society. In living as the "majority" proposes, the speaker suggests that one becomes restrained by "chain." In analyzing the poem with an open perspective, I gain a clearer view of how one's insanity or differences from society restrain one from the good sense that is insane. 

Alienation Unit- Poem One

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

By: Emily Dickinson

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain (Page 776)." This powerful opening statement of Emily Dickinson's poem serves not only as an introduction which establishes the theme of the piece, but also as the chosen title of the work. This power implies the importance of the statement as an extended metaphor used throughout the duration of the piece. In representing the loss of one's sanity and mind control, the imagery of a funeral is used. 

Throughout the poem, imagery is used to form an extended metaphor of the speaker's mental state deterioration. Additionally, the poem invokes every sense but taste and smell through the imagery and metaphor of the funeral. Elements such as the description of mourners, the funeral service, the casket, and the final burial invoke imagery and the senses of a "beating" headache and "numb" disconnection from sanity and life.  The poem follows the progression of a funeral in connection to the deterioration of one's consciousness from the slow beginning to the abrupt end when the casket reaches the bottom of a grave and the speaker  loses connection to reality. Additionally, the speaker progresses from a crowd and raging mind to the solidarity of one's own confronting yet dying thoughts. Thus, from living thoughts the mind marches on to its own funeral. 

Alienation Unit- Bartelby, the Scrivener

Bartelby, the Scrivener

By: Herman Melville

Characterization is an attribute common to many short stories and literary works. It allows one to become connected and involved with the plot, viewing the story from the perspectives and interpretations of those involved. Within the short story, Bartelby, the Scrivener, much time is spent on fully establishing the characteristic qualities of each individual. This becomes an invaluable technique particularly in analyzing and trying to fully understand the antagonist, Bartelby. 

Bartelby appears as a complex yet simple character full of mystery and uncertainty. One of the most substantial qualities that come to trouble the other characters within the story is Bartelby's disconnection from society. Imprimis, the narrator and protagonist describes Bartelby's loneliness by saying, "But he seemed alone, absolutely alone in the universe (Page 662)." Upon first initially encountering Bartelby, Imprimis assumed that Bartelby would be the idea and dream worker and thus highers him as a balance to his other eccentric employees, Turkey and Nippers. As time passes though, Bartelby's true complexity and own eccentric qualities are revealed as he refuses to work or even leave. He becomes an influential character in the live's of those involved in the story as his passive style rubs off upon the other characters. His presence reminds and teaches the other characters to be more analytical of the challenges others face and less judgmental until one forms an understanding of the other's lives. As the short story closes, a revealing fact is presented that Bartelby had once worked in a career to destroy letters for the dead giving the reader and speaker back ground knowledge which helps explain Bartelby's reserved and separated character.  

 In discovering the character of a person, one discovers the person themself. In reading the short story by Herman Melville, one must look fully at each individual's character to understand the impact and relationships within the story. The characterization additionally helps in understanding the actions of the characters and the effects on each person. Most importantly, one can see the true person behind each name. 

Alienation Unit- Miss Brill

Miss Brill

By: Katherine Mansfield

“Tum-tum-tum tiddle-um (Page 184)!” The short story, Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield, is a performance in itself about a performance. Thus, throughout the production, various visual techniques of imagery are used to form a more full impression of the novel. Such an example is that of the onomatopoeia which verbally displays the actions of the story. 

In analyzing the actions of the short story through the eyes of Miss Brill, one is able to not only analyze the society with which she lives, but also her qualities as an individual. As the story opens, one is able to picture Miss Brill walking through the town park on the brisk Sunday afternoon as the leaves fall signifying the passing seasons. Imagery is created as Miss Brill recounts the fine details and predicts the behaviors of those around her. One quickly discovers that these predictions, that an admirable skill, are not true predictions, but rather analysis from many Sundays of watching. As she watches, Miss Brill becomes disheartened that not everything is as grand or exciting as it once seems. In contrast though, she becomes inspired and excited once more as she realizes that the fascinating part of this behavior is that everyone involved is both an actor and the audience, including herself. The "play" takes a dramatic turn, however, when the young heroes arrive and make fun of Miss Brill and her fur. The vivid descriptions and emotional connection that is formed with Miss Brill's hurt allows the reader to then further understand the loneliness felt by Miss Brill. Thus, as the play closes, one is able to visualize and imagine, just as Miss Brill does, that the fur is crying as it is forever packed away. In other words, Miss Brill becomes disconnected from culture and society as her emotional sadness makes her disheartened and lonely. 

Death Unit- Poem 4

Death, be not proud

By: John Donne

"Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me (Page 971)." John Donne, the author of "Death, be not proud," uses many figures of speech throughout the poem about death to illustrate his idea. One such powerful technique is depicted in the phrase above as personification gives death a living a personable quality. This method of writing influences the direction of the poem as it illustrates both the power and weakness of death as an eternal comfortable and natural rest. By describing death as human-like in its susceptibility to fate and chance, death becomes more approachable. In being related to the qualities of humans, death becomes less scary and fearful. 

In reading the poem about the weaknesses of death, I was reminded of the Spanish's approach to death. In Hispanic culture, death is not seen as something to be feared, but rather celebrated. For example, death is given its own holiday as the Hispanic culture celebrates the Day of the Dead. In this celebration, the Spanish welcome back the spirits of those who have passed away and celebrate the lives they lived by making alters of pictures, objects, and food related to that person. Through such celebrations, death becomes something not feared, but human-like and embraceable. 

Death Unit- Poem 3

Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night

By: Dylan Thomas

"Do not go gentle into that good night...Rage, rage against the dying of the light...(Page 969)." The powerful refrain used throughout Dylan Thomas's poem not only names the masterpiece, but also sets and establishes the theme of death. The contrasting yet similar phrases work together to create various meanings through the same words. Most importantly, the refrains present the vivid emotions and tone of the piece.

The two refrains which are alternated throughout the piece additionally alternate ideas. In the first phrase, positive words such as "gentle"and "good" are used to describe deaths simplicity and naturalness while the words "rage" and "dying" present the conflict experienced by the speaker. Through this contrast, a tone of desperate resistance against death is presented.  The speaker is begging death to spare their father who is daunted by its power and pull. In the speakers plea to spare their father, the speaker correlates the darkness of night with that of the ending of life.  Finally, the refrain gains further meaning as the poem progresses and the writer shifts from alternating between the two refrains to repeating the second more desperate section. Thus, the writer illustrates the gravity that progresses as death draws nearer and the seriousness of the fight to resist darkness. 

Death Unit- Poem 1 and 2

Crossing the Bar and The Time of Year

By: Alfred, Lord Tennyson and William Shakespeare

In both poems, "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and "The Time of Year" by William Shakespeare, structure becomes a crucial element in presenting the themes of the poems. Both follow a quatrain structure of four lines joined to form a unit. Within each unit, themes of death are presented. 

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's use of the quatrain structure follows an ABAB rhyme scheme pattern. The four sets of four are used to illustrate four individual deaths. The first quatrain presents death in departure while the second depicts death's boundlessness. The third quatrain illustrates death's darkness and finally, the fourth quatrain depicts the separation of life and death in the crossing of a sandbar.  

William Shakespeare also uses a rhyme scheme within the quatrains as the first three quatrains follow a pattern of ABAB. Additionally, like Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, the poem presents a different image of death within each quatrain. In the first quatrain, death is illustrated by the dormant approach of winter. In the second quatrain, death is presented sunset and the darkness of evening. Finally, in the last quatrain, death is illustrated by the ashes of fire. 

Death Unit- A Rose for Emily

A Rose for Emily

By: William Faulkner

"She carried her head high enough-even when we believed that she was fallen (Page 286)." The first person plural narration illustrated in the previous line serves as a substantially important aspect of the presentation of the short story. The mysterious narrator tells the story from the viewpoint of the town's people and reflects their opinions toward Emily Grierson. Most importantly though, the narration type adds power and support to the information presented by making it a single objective view of collective opinions. 

The narrator remains separated from the story, but also posses knowledge greater than that one would expect of a general towns person. Throughout most of the story, the narrator is considered part of a plural group as they address opinions and beliefs about the Grierson family as a unit through the terms "we." The single presentation of the group opinion makes the narrator's opinions believable and trustworthy as they are reflected by many. Most importantly though, the narration adds a connection to the story by presenting it as a tale of a small town's past. When the narrator separates them-self from the town view, the reader is then able to see the true opinions of the narrator and the emotional draws experienced toward Emily Grierson. Thus, through the first person narration, the short story begins a more reliable tale with an emotional attachment. 

Death Unit- The Lottery

The Lottery

By: Shirley Jackson

"Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered the stones (Page 271)." "The Lottery" is both a tragic and futuristic story that addresses the faulty aspects of traditions such as persecution. In Shirley Jackson's short story, this theme is presented through the use of symbols.

In "The Lottery," the lottery acts as a symbol within itself of the faulty aspects of traditions that are simply followed and accepted without true understanding. The lottery, unlike modern lotteries where the reward is unimaginable wealth,  being drawn as the winner of the lottery is a dreaded victory of death. The lottery is an unaging tradition in which a citizen is blindly persecuted. Although no one within the town understands the purpose of the lottery, it is followed simply because it is a tradition. Within the symbol of the lottery is another symbol, the black box. The fragile and aged box represents the lottery's past which has made tradition. It represents the flaws in following the tradition as parts of the practice have been changed yet the box remains the an intricate part of the tradition simply because of its quality. Thus, through the symbols of the box and lottery itself, the implications of traditions and death are presented.