Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55 Commentary
Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour Five
2/21/09
The author’s purpose in Sonnet 55 is to show the immortality and beauty of poetry and this poem’s subject, love. The author achieves the purpose by comparing the subject and the poem to images of grandeur and by describing their resilience. The author finally reveals the subject of the poem in the ending couplet.
The first quartet introduces the subject of the poem and shows the enduring qualities of poetry. “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;” By comparing the sonnet to princely monuments and marble, the author shows that poetry is equally elegant and longer lasting than these images. “But you shall shine more bright in these contents/Than unswept stone besmear’d with sluttish time.” Here the author uses “you” to show the subject of the sonnet and the sonnet’s purpose of glorifying the subject.
The second quartet strengthens the subject’s imperishability by showing that war will not destroy it. “Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn/The living record of your memory.” The author brings in the powerful obliviator, war, to show that the subject is able to outlast it, unlike the aforementioned marble and statues.
The final quartet contributes to the author’s purpose by stating that even death will not slow down the subject. “Your praise shall still find room” this implies that immortal poetry will still be able to glorify the subject. The author uses this subtle allusion to strengthen both poetry and the subject.
The ending couplet of this sonnet is very important, because it finally reveals to the audience the subject of the sonnet, in addition to contributing to its enduring qualities. “So, till the judgement that yourself arise/You live in this, and dwell in lover’s eyes.” “Dwell in lover’s eyes” implies that the subject is love itself. The author also shows that this sonnet will keep love alive.
In conclusion, the author’s purpose in Sonnet 55 is to show the audience the immortality and beauty of poetry and of love. The author achieves his purpose through comparison to recognizable images of endurance and grandeur.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
An Unpleasant Incident
By Jake Wythers
An Unpleasant Incident
A drunken, naked man crashed through the door,
astounding all the party guests, and stumped
directly to the center of the floor.
Although his back was stooped and shoulders slumped,
his stare was so unnerving that we jumped
to make a path for him. With legs apart,
he stood and faced his audience bare-rumped.
We hushed, and when he cleared his throat to start,
we listened, half afraid that he would fart.
Without preamble, clearly free of doubt:
"Good poetry," he cried, "comes from the heart!"
With that, the bouncers came and threw him out.
Some jeered, some rolled their eyes, some held their noses,
while others smiled and mentally threw roses.
An Unpleasant Incident
A drunken, naked man crashed through the door,
astounding all the party guests, and stumped
directly to the center of the floor.
Although his back was stooped and shoulders slumped,
his stare was so unnerving that we jumped
to make a path for him. With legs apart,
he stood and faced his audience bare-rumped.
We hushed, and when he cleared his throat to start,
we listened, half afraid that he would fart.
Without preamble, clearly free of doubt:
"Good poetry," he cried, "comes from the heart!"
With that, the bouncers came and threw him out.
Some jeered, some rolled their eyes, some held their noses,
while others smiled and mentally threw roses.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Super Bowl Sunday
This year, I'm very excited to watch the Super Bowl. Last year, I considered not watching it because of the blowout it was expected to be. The world was stunned when the seemingly flawless 18-0 Patriots lost to the upstart Giants in an epic back and forth game. However, this year, the match up is expected to be intense. The high flying Arizona Cardinals' offense led by veteran quarterback Kurt Warner and stellar wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin will crash into the Pittsburg Steelers' lockdown defense of All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison. My prediction: Defense wins championships. Although I am rooting for the Arizona Cardinals as the underdogs (they have never won a Super Bowl) I expect that Kurt Warner will be unable to deal with the complex blitz packages that the #1 Steelers D will throw at him. And if he does manage to get the ball out of his hands, The Flyin' Hawaiian Polamalu and the rest of the secondary are athletic enough to get picks and pass deflections. A key player to watch will be Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who has been playing nothing short of amazing in the post season. He has already shattered the all time record for receiving yards in a single post season (held by Hall of Famer Jerry Rice), and he has one more game to go. If Fitzgerald can get involved in the game from the get go, the Cardinals could be hard to stop. On the other side of the ball, Ben Roethlisberger leads a potent Steelers offense against a somewhat improved but still shaky Cardinals D. The Cardinals have stepped up their defense in the playoffs from their hideous regular season play, but it still has major weaknesses in the secondary. Look for Big Ben to hook up with the physical and extremely talented wide receiver Hines Ward, who was the Super Bowl MVP from the Steelers victory three years ago.
That's all for now,
Jake
That's all for now,
Jake
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Inferno Commentary
Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
1/8/09
The Inferno Commentary
“Ever upon the pitch was my intent,
To see the whole condition of that Bolgia,
And of the people who therein were burned.
Even as the dolphins, when they make a sign
To mariners by arching of the back,
That they should counsel take to save their vessel,
Thus sometimes, to alleviate his pain,
One of the sinners would display his back,
And in less time conceal it than it lightens.
As on the brink of water in a ditch
The frogs stand only with their muzzles out,
So that they hide their feet and other bulk,
So upon every side the sinners stood;
But ever as Barbariccia near them came,
Thus underneath the boiling they withdrew.”
This is a significant and illustrative passage of The Inferno because it reinforces one of the most important themes in Dante's Divine Comedy. The Grafters in this circle of Hell face Divine Retribution for their sins, and their punishment is representative of their crime. Because the Grafters had “sticky” hands in life, stealing and embezzling money, they are condemned to spend eternity in sticky pitch. And just as their dealings were hidden from the world in life, their souls are now concealed in the dark pitch in death. In addition, as the Grafters took pleasure in taking advantage of their fellow man, they are now among demons who use every opportunity to take advantage of them. This symbolic retribution is a recurring theme in the Inferno and this passage exhibits it well.
This passage uses simile to describe the behavior of the Grafters boiling in the pitch. “As on the brink of water in a ditch/The frogs stand only with their muzzles out,/So that they hide their feet and other bulk,/So upon every side the sinners stood;” The sinners attempted to relieve their agony by exposing parts of their flesh above the pitch, and Dante likens them to dolphins and frogs in the water. Dante’s comparison shows that he perhaps feels empathy for the sinners being punished. The way Dante shows the sinners’ attitude toward the demons is also significant. “But ever as Barbariccia near them came,/Thus underneath the boiling they withdrew.” The sinners were so fearful of the demons that they were willing to submerge their whole bodies underneath the boiling pitch. “Withdrew” gives the image of cowering and submissiveness, and the line puts a strong image in the reader’s mind.
These lines from The Inferno were fun to read because of the easily identifiable symbolic retribution. Unlike other parts of Dante’s novel, which can be extremely difficult to analyze, the sins in this circle and their punishments could clearly be understood. The personal touch that Dante used to describe the sinners also made for an enthralling study.
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
1/8/09
The Inferno Commentary
“Ever upon the pitch was my intent,
To see the whole condition of that Bolgia,
And of the people who therein were burned.
Even as the dolphins, when they make a sign
To mariners by arching of the back,
That they should counsel take to save their vessel,
Thus sometimes, to alleviate his pain,
One of the sinners would display his back,
And in less time conceal it than it lightens.
As on the brink of water in a ditch
The frogs stand only with their muzzles out,
So that they hide their feet and other bulk,
So upon every side the sinners stood;
But ever as Barbariccia near them came,
Thus underneath the boiling they withdrew.”
This is a significant and illustrative passage of The Inferno because it reinforces one of the most important themes in Dante's Divine Comedy. The Grafters in this circle of Hell face Divine Retribution for their sins, and their punishment is representative of their crime. Because the Grafters had “sticky” hands in life, stealing and embezzling money, they are condemned to spend eternity in sticky pitch. And just as their dealings were hidden from the world in life, their souls are now concealed in the dark pitch in death. In addition, as the Grafters took pleasure in taking advantage of their fellow man, they are now among demons who use every opportunity to take advantage of them. This symbolic retribution is a recurring theme in the Inferno and this passage exhibits it well.
This passage uses simile to describe the behavior of the Grafters boiling in the pitch. “As on the brink of water in a ditch/The frogs stand only with their muzzles out,/So that they hide their feet and other bulk,/So upon every side the sinners stood;” The sinners attempted to relieve their agony by exposing parts of their flesh above the pitch, and Dante likens them to dolphins and frogs in the water. Dante’s comparison shows that he perhaps feels empathy for the sinners being punished. The way Dante shows the sinners’ attitude toward the demons is also significant. “But ever as Barbariccia near them came,/Thus underneath the boiling they withdrew.” The sinners were so fearful of the demons that they were willing to submerge their whole bodies underneath the boiling pitch. “Withdrew” gives the image of cowering and submissiveness, and the line puts a strong image in the reader’s mind.
These lines from The Inferno were fun to read because of the easily identifiable symbolic retribution. Unlike other parts of Dante’s novel, which can be extremely difficult to analyze, the sins in this circle and their punishments could clearly be understood. The personal touch that Dante used to describe the sinners also made for an enthralling study.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Beowulf Commentary
Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/13/08
Beowulf Commentary
“But the earl-troop’s leader was not inclined
to allow his caller to depart alive:
he did not consider that life of much account
to anyone anywhere. Time and again,
Beowulf’s warriors worked to defend
Their lord’s life, laying about them
As best they could with their ancestral blades.
Stalwart in action, they kept striking out
On every side, seeking to cut
straight to the soul. When they joined the struggle
there was something they could not have known at the
time,
that no blade on earth, no blacksmith’s art
could ever damage their demon opponent.
He had conjured the harm from the cutting edge
of ever weapon. But his going away
out of this world and the days of his life
would be agony to him, and his alien spirit
would travel far into the fiends’ keeping."
This section of Beowulf is important because it characterizes Grendel as a nearly unstoppable foe, a monster who can’t be defeated by ordinary people. In turn, this makes Beowulf and his feat of slaying Grendel more extraordinary. Another interesting thing about this passage is that right after describing the power of Grendel, his inevitable spiritual doom is also foretold.
“No blade on earth, no blacksmith’s weapon could ever damage their demon opponent.” (Heaney 795) This sentence is critical in the passage and in the whole book because it tells the audience that no weapon could harm Grendel. This would make killing him a daunting task, because all the society knew to fight with were blacksmith’s weapons. By defeated such a foe with his bare hands, Beowulf becomes even more legendary and heroic.
This passage, like much of Beowulf, makes use of alliteration in nearly every line. The repeat of consonants calls attention to certain words, especially when read aloud. “Stalwart in action, they kept striking out on every side, seeking to cut straight to the soul.” (780)This sentence in particular has a lot of alliteration. The reader tends to focus more on the S words in the passage, and as such a clearer picture is formed in the reader’s head of the image being described.
Another important literary device in these lines is the usage of kennings. By replacing a common word with a combination of more interesting words, description of objects becomes much more interesting and powerful. For example, “ancestral blades” (796) used in place of “swords”, is a more captivating illustration. A reader becomes more absorbed into the text if there is engaging vocabulary such as this.
This passage was very powerful because of the damnation of the demon’s soul. It is very fascinating to read of the near invincibility of a creature in one line and then to read that he is doomed to suffer eternally in the next. This passage thus provided an engaging contrast between the two main parts of Grendel’s character.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. "Beowulf Fights Grendel" Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/13/08
Beowulf Commentary
“But the earl-troop’s leader was not inclined
to allow his caller to depart alive:
he did not consider that life of much account
to anyone anywhere. Time and again,
Beowulf’s warriors worked to defend
Their lord’s life, laying about them
As best they could with their ancestral blades.
Stalwart in action, they kept striking out
On every side, seeking to cut
straight to the soul. When they joined the struggle
there was something they could not have known at the
time,
that no blade on earth, no blacksmith’s art
could ever damage their demon opponent.
He had conjured the harm from the cutting edge
of ever weapon. But his going away
out of this world and the days of his life
would be agony to him, and his alien spirit
would travel far into the fiends’ keeping."
This section of Beowulf is important because it characterizes Grendel as a nearly unstoppable foe, a monster who can’t be defeated by ordinary people. In turn, this makes Beowulf and his feat of slaying Grendel more extraordinary. Another interesting thing about this passage is that right after describing the power of Grendel, his inevitable spiritual doom is also foretold.
“No blade on earth, no blacksmith’s weapon could ever damage their demon opponent.” (Heaney 795) This sentence is critical in the passage and in the whole book because it tells the audience that no weapon could harm Grendel. This would make killing him a daunting task, because all the society knew to fight with were blacksmith’s weapons. By defeated such a foe with his bare hands, Beowulf becomes even more legendary and heroic.
This passage, like much of Beowulf, makes use of alliteration in nearly every line. The repeat of consonants calls attention to certain words, especially when read aloud. “Stalwart in action, they kept striking out on every side, seeking to cut straight to the soul.” (780)This sentence in particular has a lot of alliteration. The reader tends to focus more on the S words in the passage, and as such a clearer picture is formed in the reader’s head of the image being described.
Another important literary device in these lines is the usage of kennings. By replacing a common word with a combination of more interesting words, description of objects becomes much more interesting and powerful. For example, “ancestral blades” (796) used in place of “swords”, is a more captivating illustration. A reader becomes more absorbed into the text if there is engaging vocabulary such as this.
This passage was very powerful because of the damnation of the demon’s soul. It is very fascinating to read of the near invincibility of a creature in one line and then to read that he is doomed to suffer eternally in the next. This passage thus provided an engaging contrast between the two main parts of Grendel’s character.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. "Beowulf Fights Grendel" Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Beowulf LRJ 3
Jake Wythers
Ms. Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/9/08
Beowulf LRJ 3
In this section of Beowulf, "The Battle With the Fire Breathing Dragon", the most important value is pride. Beowulf, the greatest hero, maintains his strong pride even in his old age. "Yet the Prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague" (Heaney 2430) Beowulf made an important decision to face the dragon himself. He saw it as a challenge for himself alone and was proud to face it without any assistance. Beowulf was also too proud to avoid facing the dragon, even if it meant certain death. "I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away." He went in to the fight knowing death was likely, but fought the dragon anyways.
In this final section of Beowulf, the reader sees a much weaker side of the hero. Beowulf is no longer the almost invincible figure read about in the first two sections who fights monsters with his bare hands and swims underwater for a day. "I would rather not/ use a weapon if I knew another way/ to grapple with the dragon... But I shall be meeting molten venom/ in the fire he breathes so I go forth/ in mail-shirt and shield" (2518-2524) Before now, Beowulf did not give any thought to his own safety when going up against foes. This shows that he is more worried about vulnerable and mortal as opposed to the impregnable warrior he was before.
One important reason that Beowulf's death was honorable was that, as a king, it was his job to protect his people. He died while destroying the greatest threat to his kingdom there was. Beowulf knew he was going to die soon as he was old so he went out to take something down with him. Another reason his death was honorable was how stoicly Beowulf accepted the end of his life. "...he still spoke/ for he well knew his days in the world/ had been lived out to the end: his allotted time/ was drawing to a close, death was very near" (2725-2728) It is very wise to be content with your given lifetime, and Beowulf showed that wisdom.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Ms. Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/9/08
Beowulf LRJ 3
In this section of Beowulf, "The Battle With the Fire Breathing Dragon", the most important value is pride. Beowulf, the greatest hero, maintains his strong pride even in his old age. "Yet the Prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague" (Heaney 2430) Beowulf made an important decision to face the dragon himself. He saw it as a challenge for himself alone and was proud to face it without any assistance. Beowulf was also too proud to avoid facing the dragon, even if it meant certain death. "I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away." He went in to the fight knowing death was likely, but fought the dragon anyways.
In this final section of Beowulf, the reader sees a much weaker side of the hero. Beowulf is no longer the almost invincible figure read about in the first two sections who fights monsters with his bare hands and swims underwater for a day. "I would rather not/ use a weapon if I knew another way/ to grapple with the dragon... But I shall be meeting molten venom/ in the fire he breathes so I go forth/ in mail-shirt and shield" (2518-2524) Before now, Beowulf did not give any thought to his own safety when going up against foes. This shows that he is more worried about vulnerable and mortal as opposed to the impregnable warrior he was before.
One important reason that Beowulf's death was honorable was that, as a king, it was his job to protect his people. He died while destroying the greatest threat to his kingdom there was. Beowulf knew he was going to die soon as he was old so he went out to take something down with him. Another reason his death was honorable was how stoicly Beowulf accepted the end of his life. "...he still spoke/ for he well knew his days in the world/ had been lived out to the end: his allotted time/ was drawing to a close, death was very near" (2725-2728) It is very wise to be content with your given lifetime, and Beowulf showed that wisdom.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Beowulf LRJ 2
Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/9/08
Beowulf LRJ 2
1) One value that became very apparent is the importance these people place on boasting and pride. "This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well" (Heaney 439) This was the lady of the hall's response to Beowulf's boast of slaying Grendel that would seem too prideful today. This shows that the culture valued strength enough that bragging to show pride and confidence was acceptable.
Another important value in this society is bravery. "Beowulf arrayed himself in armor, not at all worrying about his life" (682) Bravery is extremely valuable in a leader such as Beowulf because it inspires respect for allies and fear into enemies. The leader of the Geats is an exemplary hero because he thinks nothing of the danger to himself but would throw himself against any foes to save his people.
2) In "The Battle with Grendel" Beowulf's strength is an unrealistic quality. Beowulf was powerful enough to rip the arm off a fiersome beast like Grendel. "The monster's whole body was in pain, a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. Sinews split and the bone-lappings burst." (816) No one could possibly be strong enough to rip apart the very tendons of a monsters arm. This exaggeration elevates Beowulf's power to make him even more of a hero. The listeners to the story would hold Beowulf to be an icon of strength for their society.
3) My favorite quote in "The Battle with Grendel's Mother" is "The hero observed that swamp-thing from hell, that tarn-hag in all her terrible strength." These colorful descriptors really added a great image for Grendel's mother. They still allow the reader room to picture the monster as they imagine her, however.
Another great quote is "Suddenly the god-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair." This description of Grendel's first attack on the hall is the first time he the reader gets a picture of Grendel. It's very exciting to think of a monster being able to grab 30 people at once to take them away.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
12/9/08
Beowulf LRJ 2
1) One value that became very apparent is the importance these people place on boasting and pride. "This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well" (Heaney 439) This was the lady of the hall's response to Beowulf's boast of slaying Grendel that would seem too prideful today. This shows that the culture valued strength enough that bragging to show pride and confidence was acceptable.
Another important value in this society is bravery. "Beowulf arrayed himself in armor, not at all worrying about his life" (682) Bravery is extremely valuable in a leader such as Beowulf because it inspires respect for allies and fear into enemies. The leader of the Geats is an exemplary hero because he thinks nothing of the danger to himself but would throw himself against any foes to save his people.
2) In "The Battle with Grendel" Beowulf's strength is an unrealistic quality. Beowulf was powerful enough to rip the arm off a fiersome beast like Grendel. "The monster's whole body was in pain, a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. Sinews split and the bone-lappings burst." (816) No one could possibly be strong enough to rip apart the very tendons of a monsters arm. This exaggeration elevates Beowulf's power to make him even more of a hero. The listeners to the story would hold Beowulf to be an icon of strength for their society.
3) My favorite quote in "The Battle with Grendel's Mother" is "The hero observed that swamp-thing from hell, that tarn-hag in all her terrible strength." These colorful descriptors really added a great image for Grendel's mother. They still allow the reader room to picture the monster as they imagine her, however.
Another great quote is "Suddenly the god-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair." This description of Grendel's first attack on the hall is the first time he the reader gets a picture of Grendel. It's very exciting to think of a monster being able to grab 30 people at once to take them away.
Works Cited
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
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