So I've wrote my essay over the past week on Microsoft Word and now that I come to post it it isn't letting me? I'm not in the mood to retype everything over to this blog page so I'm going to paste it in the comment below me. Hope its alright. Let me know if there is any confusion.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Marriage is a union of two people and is common in many different cultures. While some people may think marriage and relationships are a blessing, others have ill feelings towards them. This timeless struggle to define true love, and therefore a successful relationship, is displayed quite differently through the use of metaphors, imagery, and irony in John Donne's A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, and Judith Minty's Conjoined. In "Valediction" Donne shows how the two are truly in love with each other and how time is priceless. The speaker knows that their time is almost up and that they have to face their true emotions before it's too late. For example, "As virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go." The speaker tells their lover that because they have no control over when it's their time to pass, and that have to acknowledge and that life goes on, no matter how hard it may seem to live without their loved one. Not only does the speaker refer men passing by, they also refer to a funeral scenario because they know tears are shed but emotions shouldn't be focused on death but rather on joyful memories. With metaphors such as "No tear-floods" or "nor sigh-tempests move" help the speakers way of comforting their lover. Just in the first two stanzas with metaphors and imagery Donne is able to show that marriage brought two people together and when it's time to finally part it is the hardest thing for them to deal with. Not only does Donne refer to marriage as a union, he also shows how when one person leaves they will still exist even though their body is gone. For instance, as the speaker tells about how mourning is unnecessary they say that they will always be around "Absence, because it doth remove/ Those things which elemented it." The use of diction is that even though one of them won't be on Earth for much longer, their memories and past will always be in the minds of the people who care for them and still will exist metaphorically. Donne is also able to portray marriage as a life commitment and able to show that when the "till death do you part" takes place, how hard it is for someone to accept it. Even though time is limited in the couples marriage, because of their union the speaker feels they have become one. Therefore because they feel united as one, the speaker reassures the mourner that they will never be separated. "Our two souls therefore, which are one/ Though I must go, endure not yet." Through the use of metaphors, Donne is able to prove that under marriage two people who are committed become united and eventually become one identity.
In contrast, while Donne portrays marriage as a uniting experience, Minty portrays it as being trapped with someone and creates a negative image of a couple. For example, in "Conjoined" Minty compares marriage to an onion and creates an image that marriage is a horror and a mistake. "The onion in my cupboard, a monster, actually/ two joined under one transparent skin." Through the use of imagery, Minty shows that a couple is together but they are not happy. Minty has a vile outlook of two people being together in marriage by stating it is "An accident, like the two-headed calf rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother's teats." The metaphor of a couple being a calf is that they have not fully matured and are either fighting constantly or struggling to keep their marriage from going under. Also another view on marriage is that people are incapable of making a marriage be a happy and successful one. Minty feels that marriage is not a union but instead a forcing connection that makes two people come together "Do you feel the skin that binds us/ together as we move, heavy in this house?" What Minty is attempting to convey is that a couple is stuck together and over time tension is created and makes it harder to live with one another. Factions such as tension and anger getting bottled over time make it difficult for a couple to function and through the use of metaphors Minty is able to portray that notion. Therefore she is showing marriage as a lifelong mistake and even though their may be a way out, in reality there really isn't "We cannot escape each other." According to Minty, marriage may seem like a union but in reality it isn't as good as it is said to be.
Both poems, "Valediction" and "Conjoined" share an exact theme but ultimately produce an entirely different message from one another. As Donne sees marriage as a union and love between two partners, while Minty shares an alternate view as to seeing marriage as a concept that two people are stuck together and cannot function properly. Through tough times, love conquers all.
Hey Jamie! First your thesis should say what the differnces are between the two poems. How are the author's point of views about relationships and marriage? I had this same problem with my thesis. Dominguez said we can write it as a two part thesis. Also when you reference a figuarative language maybe highlight what it is. For example, when you say teh author uses diction maybe show which word(s) prove the point you are trying to make. Very good over all. I thought you did a good job comparing the two poems. Only thing i would address is the generalization of phrases like "he/she uses metaphors...well which metaphor? So maybe add more evidence? Otherwise great job. The points you made were very welll thought out.
Yo Jamarm. I thought your essay was overall pretty good, however I do have some things to say about it: First of all I your thesis you said they have different points of views on relationships, but you never said what the views were. You sort of explained the view of the poem, Valediction, in the body, but i think it should be more clearly defined within the thesis. Secondly, all the analysis' you made were clear and precise, i think could go a little deeper into the text. THis in turn would further the 'How' concept and deepen your analysis. Grood job though. k see ya
The first thing is your intro is bomb. It's like a real good poem in its self so well done on that. The thesis I would say is a little brief. To make it a little more specific you could go more into what each one says about the "timeless struggle". You had some decent quotes in it but you could incorporate a few more if you want, it wouldn't hurt. But the quotes were analysis really well i thought. so good one buddy, kay see ya.
I, for one, struggle with understanding and translating poems. However, it was obvious that the poems were very different on their views on relationships and marriage. It made it easier for me after reading both poems over a couple times to formulate what literary devices and themes both authors displayed throughout their poems. After reading over the comments from my classmates I got a lot of positive feedback and helpful tips in making my essay better. Kelsey, Trent, and Matt gave me helpful insight on ways on improving my essay and thoughts. They helped me with some minor error along with pointing out ways I could expand my thoughts. They pointed out some ways to revise my sentences to help them flow better and to make them less wordy and repetitive. Overall all the comments I got from my fellow classmates helped me in revising my essay. I feel a lot more comfortable about my essay knowing that my classmates enjoyed reading my work along with putting their input into making it better as well. I feel strongly in my interpretation of both poems and am satisfied with my essay. :)
Jamie Armstrong
ReplyDeletePeriod 6
FIRST 1/2!!!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Marriage is a union of two people and is common in many different cultures. While some people may think marriage and relationships are a blessing, others have ill feelings towards them. This timeless struggle to define true love, and therefore a successful relationship, is displayed quite differently through the use of metaphors, imagery, and irony in John Donne's A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, and Judith Minty's Conjoined.
In "Valediction" Donne shows how the two are truly in love with each other and how time is priceless. The speaker knows that their time is almost up and that they have to face their true emotions before it's too late. For example, "As virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go." The speaker tells their lover that because they have no control over when it's their time to pass, and that have to acknowledge and that life goes on, no matter how hard it may seem to live without their loved one. Not only does the speaker refer men passing by, they also refer to a funeral scenario because they know tears are shed but emotions shouldn't be focused on death but rather on joyful memories. With metaphors such as "No tear-floods" or "nor sigh-tempests move" help the speakers way of comforting their lover. Just in the first two stanzas with metaphors and imagery Donne is able to show that marriage brought two people together and when it's time to finally part it is the hardest thing for them to deal with. Not only does Donne refer to marriage as a union, he also shows how when one person leaves they will still exist even though their body is gone. For instance, as the speaker tells about how mourning is unnecessary they say that they will always be around "Absence, because it doth remove/ Those things which elemented it." The use of diction is that even though one of them won't be on Earth for much longer, their memories and past will always be in the minds of the people who care for them and still will exist metaphorically. Donne is also able to portray marriage as a life commitment and able to show that when the "till death do you part" takes place, how hard it is for someone to accept it. Even though time is limited in the couples marriage, because of their union the speaker feels they have become one. Therefore because they feel united as one, the speaker reassures the mourner that they will never be separated. "Our two souls therefore, which are one/ Though I must go, endure not yet." Through the use of metaphors, Donne is able to prove that under marriage two people who are committed become united and eventually become one identity.
SECOND 1/2!!!
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, while Donne portrays marriage as a uniting experience, Minty portrays it as being trapped with someone and creates a negative image of a couple. For example, in "Conjoined" Minty compares marriage to an onion and creates an image that marriage is a horror and a mistake. "The onion in my cupboard, a monster, actually/ two joined under one transparent skin." Through the use of imagery, Minty shows that a couple is together but they are not happy. Minty has a vile outlook of two people being together in marriage by stating it is "An accident, like the two-headed calf rooted in one body, fighting to suck at its mother's teats." The metaphor of a couple being a calf is that they have not fully matured and are either fighting constantly or struggling to keep their marriage from going under. Also another view on marriage is that people are incapable of making a marriage be a happy and successful one. Minty feels that marriage is not a union but instead a forcing connection that makes two people come together "Do you feel the skin that binds us/ together as we move, heavy in this house?" What Minty is attempting to convey is that a couple is stuck together and over time tension is created and makes it harder to live with one another. Factions such as tension and anger getting bottled over time make it difficult for a couple to function and through the use of metaphors Minty is able to portray that notion. Therefore she is showing marriage as a lifelong mistake and even though their may be a way out, in reality there really isn't "We cannot escape each other." According to Minty, marriage may seem like a union but in reality it isn't as good as it is said to be.
Both poems, "Valediction" and "Conjoined" share an exact theme but ultimately produce an entirely different message from one another. As Donne sees marriage as a union and love between two partners, while Minty shares an alternate view as to seeing marriage as a concept that two people are stuck together and cannot function properly. Through tough times, love conquers all.
well there is my essay/thoughts! im so confused on why i wouldnt post in my blog? sorry everyone! i hope this is accepted!
ReplyDeleteSee me on Friday. Let's try to figure out why this wouldn't work. Maybe we can get it posted if we put our heads together.
ReplyDeleteHey Jamie! First your thesis should say what the differnces are between the two poems. How are the author's point of views about relationships and marriage? I had this same problem with my thesis. Dominguez said we can write it as a two part thesis. Also when you reference a figuarative language maybe highlight what it is. For example, when you say teh author uses diction maybe show which word(s) prove the point you are trying to make. Very good over all. I thought you did a good job comparing the two poems. Only thing i would address is the generalization of phrases like "he/she uses metaphors...well which metaphor? So maybe add more evidence? Otherwise great job. The points you made were very welll thought out.
ReplyDeleteYo Jamarm. I thought your essay was overall pretty good, however I do have some things to say about it:
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I your thesis you said they have different points of views on relationships, but you never said what the views were. You sort of explained the view of the poem, Valediction, in the body, but i think it should be more clearly defined within the thesis.
Secondly, all the analysis' you made were clear and precise, i think could go a little deeper into the text. THis in turn would further the 'How' concept and deepen your analysis.
Grood job though. k see ya
The first thing is your intro is bomb. It's like a real good poem in its self so well done on that. The thesis I would say is a little brief. To make it a little more specific you could go more into what each one says about the "timeless struggle". You had some decent quotes in it but you could incorporate a few more if you want, it wouldn't hurt. But the quotes were analysis really well i thought. so good one buddy, kay see ya.
ReplyDeleteCOVER LETTER:
ReplyDeleteI, for one, struggle with understanding and translating poems. However, it was obvious that the poems were very different on their views on relationships and marriage. It made it easier for me after reading both poems over a couple times to formulate what literary devices and themes both authors displayed throughout their poems. After reading over the comments from my classmates I got a lot of positive feedback and helpful tips in making my essay better. Kelsey, Trent, and Matt gave me helpful insight on ways on improving my essay and thoughts. They helped me with some minor error along with pointing out ways I could expand my thoughts. They pointed out some ways to revise my sentences to help them flow better and to make them less wordy and repetitive. Overall all the comments I got from my fellow classmates helped me in revising my essay. I feel a lot more comfortable about my essay knowing that my classmates enjoyed reading my work along with putting their input into making it better as well. I feel strongly in my interpretation of both poems and am satisfied with my essay. :)