The poem, Useless Boys,is one that portrays a feeling of indignation, rebellion and finally, understanding by two boys who grew up with bitter views of their fathers’ onerous jobs. The narrator believes that the only reason his father stays at his job is for the money. In his naivety the son does not realize that at times living selfishly is the way things have to be. Sometimes commitments are made in a self-sacrificial and cowardly manner. No matter how “wrecking” his father’s career, he stays in order to provide for his family.
Childhood doesn’t last forever. In this short story “Marigold” the author Eugenia Collier writes a story about a 14-year-old girl, Elizabeth. She lived in the great depression. There was a “witchy” old woman named Miss Lottie, she had a garden full of marigolds. All the children pressured Lizabeth into ruining Ms. Lottie’s garden, and one day Lizabeth sees her father crying because he can’t support the family economically.
Countless people start their lives in situations that they would not have picked for themselves if they had been given the choice. This seems to be the case in the poem “Blackberries” by Yusef Komunyakaa. The speaker reflects on what he had to do as a child and seems to feel guilty and regretful of his actions. The speaker in this poem seems to be reminiscing on his life as a child and the things he could not have yet in life.
The appeal of adulthood and independence reaches its apex in fervent children. However, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, poet of My Daughter at 14, Christmas Dance, 1981, conveys the paternal perspective of viewing one’s own kin experiencing the “real” world through her daughter’s first relationship. The Family of Little Feet, written by Sarah Cisneros, illuminates the negativities of young girl’s eagerness to physically develop in hope of acquiring attention from possible suitors. While both pieces of literature possess varying perspectives of epiphanies, Gillan and Cisneros divulge the significance of cherishing one’s youth, as the realities of maturity divest children of their innocence.
We often encourage people to actively pursue their happiness while also wanting to discourage them to escape from reality. However, avoiding your issues is also a way of pursuing happiness, even though this route will prove to be temporary. In the literary piece, “Horses of the Night” by Margaret Laurence, the author describes the story of a boy named Chris, who, due to his financial conditions, is forced to move from his home in Shallow Creek to dwell in Manawaka, in order to attend high school. Chris’ character is used to demonstrate the idea that individuals may escape from the miserable aspects of their lives in order to stay happy. Through the course of this work, you witness the changes Chris undergoes, through the eyes of his six-year-old cousin Vanessa, which ultimately lead to his downfall.
Comparing and contrasting Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” and Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”, one finds the two poems are similar with their themes of abuse, yet contrasting with how the themes are portrayed. Furthermore, the speaker 's feelings toward their fathers’ in each poem contrast. One speaker was hurt by the father and the other speaker was indifferent about how he was treated by his father. The fathers’ feelings toward the children are also different despite how each treated the child. Both poems accurately portray the parent-child relationships within an abusive home, even if they have different
Being a result of the environment he grew up around, the poet Yusef Komunyakaa has an extensive amount of poetry revolving around the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. However, it wasn’t until he was in college and able to process his experience through it all that he began to write poetry. Having many collections of poetry relating back to those days, one of his most notable works is The Chameleon Couch, which was a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry. In the book, he recounts his journeys in his life going on and into the future, while having it be defined by his past experiences. This is most evident through his poem “Blue Dementia”, which gives insight to his time in the Vietnam War, while also making subtle connections
In Sheila Heti’s short story “The Raspberry Bush” she presents the theme of the realization that Life is short, through the techniques of imagery, metaphorical parallels and character development. The imagery used to describe the Raspberry Bush represents the change between the young and elderly, and the physical life of the Raspberry Bush parallels metaphorically to human life and the passing of time. Both these techniques are used to develop Heti’s theme that life is short. The realization of this theme is seen through the protagonist’s reaction to the death of the Raspberry Bush and how it greatly affects her entire mental state. The use of each technique is carefully portrayed and helps to advance the reader’s understanding of Heti’s theme
One of the salient facets that distinguishes "Notes from a Young Black Chef" is the author's adept utilization of vivid and eloquent language that immerses the reader in his world. On page 14, Onwuachi eloquently writes, "My hands delved into the soil with a childlike curiosity, as the sun radiated warmth on my back." This evocative sensory detail paints a clear mental picture and transports the reader to the sensory experience of gardening alongside the author. Such masterful language is liberally sprinkled throughout the memoir, rendering it an enthralling and resonant read that captivates the emotions of the audience.
Dana Gioia’s poem, “Planting a Sequoia” is grievous yet beautiful, sombre story of a man planting a sequoia tree in the commemoration of his perished son. Sequoia trees have always been a symbol of wellness and safety due to their natural ability to withstand decay, the sturdy tree shows its significance to the speaker throughout the poem as a way to encapsulate and continue the short life of his infant. Gioia utilizes the elements of imagery and diction to portray an elegiac tone for the tragic death, yet also a sense of hope for the future of the tree. The poet also uses the theme of life through the unification of man and nature to show the speaker 's emotional state and eventual hopes for the newly planted tree. Lastly, the tree itself becomes a symbol for the deceased son as planting the Sequoia is a way to cope with the loss, showing the juxtaposition between life and death.
Hardships are never easy things to overcome, everyone goes through them; some more than others. Just like we go through them, we also have different ways of handling them. In the short story, “Blackberries in June,” by Ron Rash, every character goes through a hardship. While most deal with them in the same way, there are three characters who are polar opposites. Linda, Matt, and Jamie both face some pretty tough problems, but while one likes to play the blame game, the other looks on the bright side.
LONG-LIVED AND DEPENDABLE, blueberries are among the easiest fruits to grow organically. Different species are native to various regions of North America, but you can grow some type of blueberry bush almost anywhere. The limiting factor is soil acidity: except for saskatoons, blueberries require acidic soil with a pH below 5.0. Blueberries can also be grown in containers filled with an acidic bark-based planting mix. healthy berries, as well as stunning red and orange fall foliage.
Literary comparison of ‘Blackberry Picking’ by Seamus Heaney and ‘Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity’ by John Tobias Who doesn 't like reminiscing back to their childhood? Remembering all those joyful and unforgettable moments, wishing to go back. In these two poems, ‘Blackberry Picking’ by Seamus Haeney and ‘Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity’ (referred as ‘Watermelon Pickle’) by John Tobias both incorporate this concept of nostalgia. This essay will include a close examination of John Tobias’ and Seamus Heaney’s poems and how they compose these poems distinctively in tone however, they both demonstrate the theme of nostalgia and childhood with the utilization of sensory language. Sensory Language is vital part of both ‘Blueberry Picking’ and ‘Watermelon Pickle’ and they show
The poem is constructed into seven stanzas, organized in iambic pentameter containing a rhythm of “ababcdcd”, throughout the rhythm of the poem comes reflection to the emotions of the speaker whom is a slave. In one stanza the slave uses his curiosity to ask god why cotton plants were made (the slaves mostly worked through picking cotton plants). “Why did all-creating nature Make the plant for which we toil? and how horrible it is for anyone to be a slave, Think, ye masters iron-hearted... How many back have smarted For the
Childhood is a prime era in the creation of oneself as a whole, your morals and dreams and the role and influence older generations such as parents play on a child’s development. Within all four chosen texts the portrayal of childhood has played a pivotal role in both the destruction and creation of their central characters, each providing different methods and reason of escape from childhood which is ordinarily known as a happy period, ‘where the real meaning of life is located’. Childhood should be classed as a happy, carefree period full of happy memories and adventures, these protagonist face a life of hardship and decision making beyond their years leading to their attempt to blossom into adulthood leaving behind miserable childhoods. The Catcher in the Rye written by JD Salinger, set in New York City, presents young Holden Caulfield and follows his life as he flees to New York in order to escape a world of phonies.
