ipl-logo

Wisdom In Elizabeth Alexander's Poem 19

1408 Words6 Pages

The Pursuit of Wisdom in Elizabeth Alexander’s Poem “Nineteen”

“The most valuable lessons aren’t taught. They’re experienced.” Indeed, experiences act as sculptors of one’s personality and psychological transformation. For each evolving being, they play a significant role in refining the individual’s future thoughts and behavior. Experiences provide us with empirical evidence that supports the lessons life teaches to all of us. In her poem “Nineteen”, Elizabeth Alexander suggests that psychological transformations are continually triggered by our curiosity of differences, our desire of learning from others and our pursuit of maturity. The author shares her reflection on one of her past summer experience in order to give advice to the readers about the coming-of-age through which everyone goes. Through the use of symbolism, tone and contrast, Alexander puts the emphasis on the coming-of-age of the persona, which is …show more content…

The author mentions the valuable experiences one retains from being open-minded and curious toward differences, as we greatly learn from understanding alternative perspectives. Also, the poem’s theme is brilliantly expressed, as everyone may relate to the subjects, such as sexuality, personal growth and the pursuit of freedom. Reflecting back on our own past experiences, just like Elizabeth Alexander does in this thoughtful poem, is a wise initiative, since introspection is a useful quality in being comfortable with ourselves. Indeed, being aware of our limits and following closely our own evolution permit us to anticipate the paths that will be proposed to us and make the appropriate decision, regarding our personal traits and preferences. All in all, introspection is an element of wisdom, that everyone should look

Show More
Related
828 Words | 4 Pages

Coming of age is the prolonged transitioning process of individuals to adulthood confronted with various challenges that requires human all endeavors to reach maturity. These universal ideas are demonstrated through ‘Raw’ written by Scott Monk and ‘Napoleon in Exile’ directed by Michael Lukk Litwak. In both text, the protagonists are challenged with various obstacles ultimately gaining maturity during the process. In ‘Raw’, one of the many ideas that is mentioned in the text is the understanding of independence and responsibilities.

Read More
1297 Words | 6 Pages

Teenagers have always sought to be their own person, forgoing rules and even recommendations in favour of self-determination. While an honourable undertaking, this path to self-discovery, leads them to experience new ordeals, where mistakes will be made. To reassure us that these mistakes are not necessarily bad, Elizabeth Alexander, in her poem "Nineteen", illustrates how youth 's desire for freedom¬ and to escape from their reality allows them to grow into adulthood and leads them to make choices that will impact their perception of the world. This theme will be analysed through structure, symbolism and contrast.

Read More
1138 Words | 5 Pages

Essay Outline (5%) 1. (Introduction) a) Thesis statement: In her poem “Nineteen”, in which she remembers about one summer, Elizabeth Alexander mentions the need for continuous psychological transformations, which are triggered by the curiosity of differences and the desire of learning from others. b) Plan of development: Through the use of symbolism, tone and contrast, Alexander puts the emphasis on the coming-of-age of the persona, which is significant regarding her personal growth. 2.

Read More
814 Words | 4 Pages

Aging is a phenomena not only of the body, but of the mind as well. It is situational in practice, giving each journey into adulthood its own “thumbprint”. One’s trials and tribulations gain emotional weight as they are encountered, but the weight one holds at certain periods of time can differ according to their background. The novels Flight, The Joy Luck Club, and The Glass Castle; however, enlighten the possibility of resembling another’s venture into maturity, despite distinct differences in general conditions. Together, these three novels endeavor into their protagonists’ personalities, and they thematically portray coming-of-age transformation.

Read More
1275 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
124 Words | 1 Pages

The author, Sandra Cisneros, uses literary techniques in “Eleven” to characterize Rachel by using metaphors, comparisons, and repetition. In the beginning of Sandra Cisneros’s short story, she states that when a person becomes an age older they will not feel a difference. The character Rachel explains that in different situations, for example, “Like some days you might say something stupid, and [you will feel ten]” a person might feel different from their actual age. She then competes growing old to layers of an onion, rings of a tree, wooden dolls that fit inside each other because, according to her, “that’s how being eleven years old is”.

Read More
1188 Words | 5 Pages

She also reflects on her upbringing and her childhood to highlight/renforcer the contrast between her family’s beliefs and hers/how she is. In a personal

Read More
1190 Words | 5 Pages

“Nineteen”, by Elizabeth Alexander uses language and tone to form a multi-sensory poem about remembering her youth and desire to connect to her past Vietnam vet lover. These aspects of language and tone are embedded in the outer form of the poem, as the author forms an imaginative recreation of her young adult life, which directly impacts the reader to allow for an enjoyable simple read. The elements of language and tone formation ensure the translation of Alexander’s emotions or feelings of her youth for the audience to relate and understand. In the first place, the language within “Nineteen” is casual and not really poetic.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

It is common for people in everyday society to conform to society’s expectations while also questioning their true desires. In the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the main protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess, "That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions." In other words, Edna outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly. Kate Chopin, uses this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning to build the meaning of the novel by examining Edna’s role as a wife, mother, and as nontraditional woman in the traditional Victorian period. Edna outwardly conforms to society’s expectations by marriage.

Read More
462 Words | 2 Pages

In the Freedom Writers Diary, the authors focus on the topic of the reality of what they have to deal with in their everyday world. Their teacher Mrs. Gruwell inspired them throughout their high school years by teaching them that it is possible for each and every one of them to change. They write with an uplifting and hopeful outlook on the world even if it not realistic in their present circumstances. In their writing, they establish an effective use of pathos by writing about their own lives and how they connect to others and us by using the selection of detail, metaphors, and allusions. Through these devices, we come to the idea that even though teenager’s in today’s world are faced with many hardships, they do not have to succumb to them.

Read More
849 Words | 4 Pages

Often times when a person is forced to outwardly conform while questioning themselves it leads to a struggle between their inner selves and what is expected of them. Outward conformity often oppresses a character’s true feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, leads a dissatisfactory life. She is stuck in a loveless marriage, and has children, all in an attempt to conform to the social norm of the Victorian woman. However, she inwardly questions whether or not she should try to break free from this life to find her own independence and happiness.

Read More
1720 Words | 7 Pages

As verbalized by the diarist Anne Frank herself, “‘Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands’” (Goodreads 1). Coming of age is a process depicted through movies and novels through the Bildungsroman plot line. The protagonist, in this form of a plot line, has to face society and its difficulties. The protagonist inclines to have an emotional loss, which triggers the commencement of the journey itself.

Read More
880 Words | 4 Pages

In conclusion, the short story "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury includes many possible life lessons that the reader can learn about such as the world keeps spinning even if one were to fade, everything goes through a cycle and there is always a new

Read More
803 Words | 4 Pages

Arnett has provided enough detail about the stage and how it is successful in some cultures compare to the other. This article has also shown how emerging adulthood stage helps prepare adolescence for better future and help them explore their identity while getting them ready for adulthood. This comes with the disadvantage because some young people can take longer till they fully contribute to society. This is a type of a luxury that can’t be afforded by everyone.

Read More
1008 Words | 5 Pages

Abstract This essay deals with comparing the childhood and adulthood as significant parts of life. Childhood as we all have experienced is the most beautiful period of one’s life. It is a period of joy pleasure where there are no tensions and no worries. In contrast adulthood is totally different from childhood.

Read More

More about Wisdom In Elizabeth Alexander's Poem 19

Related Topics

Open Document