The poem "Here" by Phillup Larking contains the use of personification, simile and imagery. These techniques are used to convey the authors attitude toward the places he describes.
In line 25, "Here silence stands", there is a use of personification. Silence cannot stand thus there is an inanimate thing that has a human characteristic. This expresses the authors attitude toward the place. No one likes to be alone in complete silence so the author is showing a dread for this place.
Simile is also used. "Like heat", line 26, follows the personification in line 25. It uses the word "like" which indicates a simile. The silence stood like heat; heat rises and is above everyone so the author is implying that he does not like this place because the heat is above him and in control.
Lastly, the author uses imagery to express his feelings of "Here". In the beginning of every stanza, Larkin sets the scene of a place. "Rich industrial" (1), "lard town" (9), and "urban" (17), all describe different places. Larkin describes these other places that he doesn't want to be. Since he describes the scene so negatively, the reader sees the negative attitude toward "here".
Phillup Larkin describes "Here" with a negative attitude toward it. He can express himself in this way by using personification, simile, and imagery in his poem.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Metamorphosis - Writing Prompt
In the novella "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa is turned into a gigantic bug. Critics say that this transformation is called morphing because he is a human that wakes up as a bug. Grete, Gregor's sister, is affected by Gregor's metamorphosis. The metamorphosis affects Grete and Gregor's view of themselves, others and the world around them. Grete and Gregor's views contribute to the overall meaning of the work: sometimes one only goes to family for money.
When Gregor's metamorphosis happens, it affects both Gregor and Grete's view of themselves. Gregor sees himself as useless because he cannot provide for his family anymore. He brought the money home for his family since no one in his home worked. Gregor also feels like he is letting his family down. Grete helps Gregor when he is a bug. She gives him food and cleans up his room because no one else will. She feels that she is being loyal to her family because she is taking on the responsibility of taking care of Gregor.
The metamorphosis also affects Grete and Gregor's view of others. Gregor sees Grete as such a good sister because she is taking care of him. He feels that his mom is so brave for coming into his room and he feels terrible for scaring her with his hideous looks. Grete is terrified of Gregor and thinks that he should not try to scare her even though he does not try to.
The views of Grete and Gregor toward the world in general are affected by Gregor's metamorphosis. Gregor thinks that the world will not miss him because he is a nobody. Grete is excited to finally get into the world. Grete has no job and no relationship so she believes that soon she will be able to have these things when she leaves.
When Gregor's metamorphosis affects the views of him and Grete, it contributes to the overall meaning of the work which is sometimes one only goes to family for money. Once Gregor turns into a bug, his family sees that he can no longer work and make money. Since Gregor is of no use to his family economically any more, they abandon him by ignoring him. When Grete and Gregor 's views change, the feelings of the family change toward Gregor. Gregor's metamorphosis morphs his family's views toward Gregor because they can't go to him for money anymore: thus the message of the novella.
The views of Grete and Gregor change due to Gregor's metamorphosis. Their views of themselves, others and the world all contribute to the Samsa family changing their views of Gregor. The family can no longer use Gregor economically so they leave him because he cannot make money which is the message of the novella.
When Gregor's metamorphosis happens, it affects both Gregor and Grete's view of themselves. Gregor sees himself as useless because he cannot provide for his family anymore. He brought the money home for his family since no one in his home worked. Gregor also feels like he is letting his family down. Grete helps Gregor when he is a bug. She gives him food and cleans up his room because no one else will. She feels that she is being loyal to her family because she is taking on the responsibility of taking care of Gregor.
The metamorphosis also affects Grete and Gregor's view of others. Gregor sees Grete as such a good sister because she is taking care of him. He feels that his mom is so brave for coming into his room and he feels terrible for scaring her with his hideous looks. Grete is terrified of Gregor and thinks that he should not try to scare her even though he does not try to.
The views of Grete and Gregor toward the world in general are affected by Gregor's metamorphosis. Gregor thinks that the world will not miss him because he is a nobody. Grete is excited to finally get into the world. Grete has no job and no relationship so she believes that soon she will be able to have these things when she leaves.
When Gregor's metamorphosis affects the views of him and Grete, it contributes to the overall meaning of the work which is sometimes one only goes to family for money. Once Gregor turns into a bug, his family sees that he can no longer work and make money. Since Gregor is of no use to his family economically any more, they abandon him by ignoring him. When Grete and Gregor 's views change, the feelings of the family change toward Gregor. Gregor's metamorphosis morphs his family's views toward Gregor because they can't go to him for money anymore: thus the message of the novella.
The views of Grete and Gregor change due to Gregor's metamorphosis. Their views of themselves, others and the world all contribute to the Samsa family changing their views of Gregor. The family can no longer use Gregor economically so they leave him because he cannot make money which is the message of the novella.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Metamorphosis Ch 3 Questions
1. When Gregor was working his parent’s dept off he was thinking about them so why did they exclude him?
They don’t need him anymore. They just used him for extra money. They all could have gotten a job but they didn’t need to because of Gregor. Even after his metamorphosis, they don’t need him because they can work themselves.
5. Why does Gregor feel depression at his family's reaction to him?
Gregor feels depression because he was the one holding the family together. He made the money and in that time period whom ever made the money was the runner of the house. Since he could no longer go to work and make the money he feels that he in letting them down.
6. Does Gregor's family feel sadness at his death? Relief?
I think Gregor’s family feels more relief than sadness. They no longer have to deal with him and thank him for all he has done. Now that Grete is older and can work they don’t need Gregor anymore and since he was family they couldn’t just kick him out. Since he died the family had a big burden lifted off its shoulders.
12. Why does Gregor stop eating?
Gregor stops eating because no one cares for him anymore. He thinks that there is no point in living if you have no one to love, especially family. They have given up on him and in turn, he has given up on them and life.
13. How does this chapter satirize American families today?
This chapter says that families don’t stick together anymore and support each other. A family is supposed to love each other no matter what and even when they are put up against the hardest thing ever, a family member being turned into a bug, they push him away. Kafka is saying that in his society no one sticks together because the Samsa family neglects a family member and then leaves them behind.
14. Why does Grete all of the sudden start playing her violin now?
The Samsa family has guests over for the first time in the novella (the roomers) and her father wants her to play for them. She also hasn’t had anytime since the metamorphosis and Kafka doesn’t mention anything about that past except his job. Gregor also mentions that he wants to send Grete to the Conservatory for music and if she doesn’t play music then there isn’t any proof that he should send her there.
15. If Gregor is a bug, why do his feelings tend to be more humane than when he was a human?
He shows more emotion now because he doesn’t have to deal with his job anymore and he now has time to show his feelings.
19. What is the significance of the violin? Of all the choices of instruments, why does Kafka choose the violin for Grete to play?
The violin was invented way back when so maybe Kafka is portraying Grete as an old fashioned, original girl.
21. Is there significance why the Maid finds Gregor dead and not one of his family members?
Gregor’s family just doesn’t care anymore. If someone in the family found him dead then they would either have to show remorse or not care at all. If they showed remorse than that would kill the whole mood of the story because the mood develops to the point where the family doesn’t care anymore. If the family found Gregor and they showed no remorse than if would show how heartless they are and that just has to be implied and not put out there.
22. The third paragraph from the end of the chapter says that once the 3 family members left, they all went on a walk together and that they "absolutely needed one". Is there a tie between the first and last thought of the family walking?
The walk probably means that life is back to normal for the family.
They don’t need him anymore. They just used him for extra money. They all could have gotten a job but they didn’t need to because of Gregor. Even after his metamorphosis, they don’t need him because they can work themselves.
5. Why does Gregor feel depression at his family's reaction to him?
Gregor feels depression because he was the one holding the family together. He made the money and in that time period whom ever made the money was the runner of the house. Since he could no longer go to work and make the money he feels that he in letting them down.
6. Does Gregor's family feel sadness at his death? Relief?
I think Gregor’s family feels more relief than sadness. They no longer have to deal with him and thank him for all he has done. Now that Grete is older and can work they don’t need Gregor anymore and since he was family they couldn’t just kick him out. Since he died the family had a big burden lifted off its shoulders.
12. Why does Gregor stop eating?
Gregor stops eating because no one cares for him anymore. He thinks that there is no point in living if you have no one to love, especially family. They have given up on him and in turn, he has given up on them and life.
13. How does this chapter satirize American families today?
This chapter says that families don’t stick together anymore and support each other. A family is supposed to love each other no matter what and even when they are put up against the hardest thing ever, a family member being turned into a bug, they push him away. Kafka is saying that in his society no one sticks together because the Samsa family neglects a family member and then leaves them behind.
14. Why does Grete all of the sudden start playing her violin now?
The Samsa family has guests over for the first time in the novella (the roomers) and her father wants her to play for them. She also hasn’t had anytime since the metamorphosis and Kafka doesn’t mention anything about that past except his job. Gregor also mentions that he wants to send Grete to the Conservatory for music and if she doesn’t play music then there isn’t any proof that he should send her there.
15. If Gregor is a bug, why do his feelings tend to be more humane than when he was a human?
He shows more emotion now because he doesn’t have to deal with his job anymore and he now has time to show his feelings.
19. What is the significance of the violin? Of all the choices of instruments, why does Kafka choose the violin for Grete to play?
The violin was invented way back when so maybe Kafka is portraying Grete as an old fashioned, original girl.
21. Is there significance why the Maid finds Gregor dead and not one of his family members?
Gregor’s family just doesn’t care anymore. If someone in the family found him dead then they would either have to show remorse or not care at all. If they showed remorse than that would kill the whole mood of the story because the mood develops to the point where the family doesn’t care anymore. If the family found Gregor and they showed no remorse than if would show how heartless they are and that just has to be implied and not put out there.
22. The third paragraph from the end of the chapter says that once the 3 family members left, they all went on a walk together and that they "absolutely needed one". Is there a tie between the first and last thought of the family walking?
The walk probably means that life is back to normal for the family.
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