A Letter to Literature: Destination of the Winding Road

As the semester is coming to a close I am reminded of what I have done and from where I have come (academically speaking). I am not exactly the “literature” type of gal. I am not much of a reader either, but I must say that English 1102 with you, Ms. Bowser, has been both enjoyable and eye-opening. Our readings for class were intense and meaningful, each in their own way. How we dissected and analyzed the pieces that we read really encouraged me to see the motive behind each work of literature, those meanings that may appear hidden, and ultimately why writers write what they do. The best part about experiencing literature, I have realized personally, is the exciting quest of delving deep to find out the true meaning behind the words: investigating the author’s life in search of experiences, circumstances, and other influences that may have shaped their writing.

This way of looking at an author’s biographical details has been my main approach to writing and reading throughout the semester. It is always so extremely interesting to look into someone’s life to see what may have influenced them to write. This element of inquiry has encompassed the evolution of my writing, for the class, thus far. This has become my style, which has helped me to produce many of my papers and previous blog entries. In creating my final paper, I will explore the notion of biographical influence even further and I plan to look even more deeply into the idea of literature and why it is important.

Performance Poetry

Poetry is a unique form of literature and expression in itself.

When you add the variability of poetry to another unique style, that of performing poetry, you get a whole smorgasbord of greatness. I am, by no means in this world, a skilled poet or performer. However, there are some folks in this world that are! One of those, I think, is Ms. Monica Prince, who came as a guest to speak to us about performing and who also performed some of her personal work. She was excellent! Her poems were very moving, not just because of the weight of the words, themselves, but because of the way in which she presented them. She would take a deep breath at the beginning, drawing in the words, and then her words would burst forth with passion and vigor. She was so full of life and showed her enthusiasm for getting her message across to the audience. You could easily tell that she found confidence in the portrayal of her poems: being able to realize the significance of her voice speaking the words that her mind had brought together. She provided such a great example of the performance side of poetry, and I hope to be able to deliver my words on my chosen poet and poem with even a fraction of her ability.

I chose to read a poem about nature by Henry David Thoreau. He is one of my favorite authors (if I am going to read something, I wouldn’t mind reading his work) and the poem Nature spoke to me after I saw the title, even before reading it! I will be explaining why I chose this poem and I hope that it will show a little bit of what I am motivated by!

Poetry Round Two

Poetry can come in all shapes and forms. It can practically be anything and everything the poet wishes their work to be. There are many different definitions of poetry, but I have yet to see what actually makes something a poem. It is a “you know it when you see it” type genres of writing. In any case, poetry is quite interesting, whatever it is that actually makes it up.

So spoken word is a “sub genre” of poetry. It is basically, as far as I can tell, poetry that is spoken, but with much feeling. People develop a poem that can be anything from something similar to a monologue to a casual sermon. Then they usually share it with people by performing it in front of an audience. Like poetry in general, there are many variations of what a spoken word piece may be about or what each performance may consist of, but there are a few qualities that I have found, so far, to be a part of all spoken word pieces. The performances are always well rehearsed and the speaker is always very passionate about their subject. It proves to be a neat means of sharing poetry and is engaging for listeners.

I attended a poetry slam competition at Blackbird. It was an unusual but impressive event. Students performed their spoken word poetry one after the other and I can’t recall if there was a winner at the end of the evening, but it was still quite a competition as they all performed against one another. I was surprised at how well each student did with their performance and at the variety of subjects they all spoke on, but their was a common trait throughout. They all performed with passion and you could tell that they each had a point that they wanted to get across and they did it!

I am still not the biggest poetry fan, but I do think that spoken word and slam poetry are intense and eye-opening in that they get the author’s point across to the audience, making a statement while also providing interesting entertainment.

Let’s Go Deeper

I have always thought of poetry as flouncy and flowery, about love and romance, somehow signifying weakness and mediocrity. I have always thought of poets as being fragile and weird, writing from what I thought to be trivial emotions and feelings, describing sights, sounds, and experiences. However, my distaste has been silenced and an improved view has come forth to take its place.

“Facing It” is an intense, purposefully crafted poem by Yusef Komunyakaa, which has had a transforming effect on my thoughts on poetry. Komunyakaa was a child of humble beginnings as he grew up in Louisiana. He is now an accomplished professor and poet, as well as a veteran of the Vietnam war. His service as an army publications correspondent was worthwhile and courageous because he risked his life on the front lines of war. As is true for the majority of veterans, America’s heroes, coming back to civilian life, after spending grueling months on the bitter battlefields of foreign soil, can be just as excruciating as war itself. Komunyakaa felt the harsh effects of post-war; the memories of bloodshed and death from annihilation are not quick to leave a veteran, but are likely to stay ingrained in the brain forever. Being back in the United States and after visiting the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Komunyakaa began writing poems with the influence of the war as a clear, but melancholy motive. “Facing It” is a poem he wrote in remembrance of his own personal experience in Vietnam and the legacy represented by all of the names on The Wall. The poem also addresses the issue of inequality of the races. After growing up in the violence of the segregated south, Komunyakaa implies the importance of African Americans like himself serving their country alongside the white men while still being denied basic human and civil rights as American citizens.

This poem and its author are both astonishingly excellent. “Facing It” has such a valuable historical context, and is unbelievably weighted in depth and meaning with resolute significance. Now, looking through the lens of poetry, I will have a new perspective because after reading such a memorable work I will be able to visualize the intention of the poem by first exploring the poets background and influences for their writing.

Poetry

When faced with the task of reading or writing poetry, I often ask myself, “What even is poetry? What is it even?” This thought seems juvenile and ignorant, but I have found that it is actually a valid question. So how can we define poetry? The dictionary defines poetry as the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative or elevated thoughts. This is what I think of when the word comes to my mind. I remember writing cute little poems for school when I was a little girl; I enjoyed writing lines about things I loved and I worked hard to create a rhyme and rhythm. However poetry seems to be much more of a vague type of art. Whatever it is, poetry is certainly an extremely unique genre of writing.

T.S. Eliot said that “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”

In many other types of literature the reader is supposed to look at a work with their own personal perspective, where we can interpret the meaning and purpose of a work for ourselves after trying to understand the intent of the author. Eliot described poetry as a form of communication rather than a puzzle meant to be figured out. I agree that poetry can actually be a group of words meaning anything and everything-poems are simply an expression.

The definition of a poet is also as subjective as that of poetry in general. I would say that anyone who writes poetry…is a poet!

Please disregard my sarcasm-I am too logical to care for poetry, myself, but I appreciate it just the same!

“What an eccentric performance.”

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is an exceptionally clever film! The 1975 low-budget British project is a satirical comedy that expertly displays many of the major elements of postmodernism. Viewers may see the film as a play on the story of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. The story, in the film, follows Arthur, King of the Britons, who is at first in search of knights to join him in Camelot. After he finds his knights they all decide against going to Camelot and instead embark on the heavenly quest of searching the land for the Holy Grail. They split up and go on individual adventures which show in their uniqueness how each knight received his name, like Sir Lancelot the Brave. Along the way they run into some crazy obstacles and outrageous characters and in the end they never even find the Holy Grail. The overall silliness and lunacy that characterizes the entire film is an aspect of postmodernism in itself because it is a challenge to official seriousness and a rejection of widely accepted ideas from history. It also exhibits other postmodern factors like magical realism, dark humor and sarcasm, as well as a rejection of any possible meaning.

The legend of King Arthur is a myth promoting equality and companionship illustrated through the relationships amongst the king and the other knights. Although the story may not be true, it is an integral part of history both of Great Britain as well as of literature in general. It is usually thought of as a serious tale that is studied in earnest and held in high regard. However in this film the story is expressed in a much lighter sense and is filled with humor and satire which is a fundamental aspect of postmodernism. Characters in a scene with King Arthur addressing an “annoying peasant” reveal sarcasm and mockery of different types of government. “Oh King, eh, very nice. And how’d you get that, eh? By exploiting workers- by hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society!” Obviously this comment is extremely sarcastic and is a direct jab at the faults found in certain types of government. This type of sarcasm aimed at society as well as the government and general authority is found throughout the film. Also, there are instances of exaggerated events from history. For example the Salem witch trials are made fun of in a hilarious scene dripping with sarcasm. The black plague is also made light of in a scene where a man pushes a cart through the city crying, “Bring out ‘cha dead!” as people just throw the deceased onto this wooden cart filled with dead people. These two historical events were obviously much more solemn and severe but this subversion of earnestness found throughout these scenes provides a perfect example of the postmodern era. Unfortunately despite the severity of these events, the way the film is created with its cheap effects and dramatic hilarity of circumstance and situation leave viewers with no choice but to laugh!

Aside from the excessive foolishness and the overwhelming amount of sarcasm found throughout the film there is yet another major postmodern aspect to the movie. The overall meaning is unclear. It could be one gigantic blow to society in general, or it may have another meaning that viewers have to interpret for themselves. However it is also possible that the movie could have no sincere purpose but to simply provide belly-laughing style entertainment on a hilariously cheap budget.

Postmodernism is a strange but newly lingering style. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a flawless display of many of the movement’s key elements. It, along with many other movies and countless works of literature and art, will continue to highlight postmodernism and will be the guide to future works of the same style and perhaps a whole new level of the same.

“The Peculiar Lives”

I have never really been one who goes to the theater to see plays just for enjoyment and I don’t exactly read plays for anything but required school reading. I do “appreciate the theater” and I think it is a wonderful form of art! I have seen several plays in my past and I do enjoy watching different actors perform as different characters. I like to think of the personality each character has and wonder what the actor/actress is like in their normal everyday life. Are they similar to their character? Are they total opposites? As Mr. John Brooke puts it, in Little Women, “I often think about the peculiar lives of the actors themselves.” This form of comparison can also show parallels, or dissimilarities, between movie actors and their characters as well as between  writers and characters they create.

Death of a Salesman was an interestingly compelling read. I was really drawn into this tragedy. I thought the characters and plot were both intriguing, not because they were extraordinary, but because they were quite ordinary. Even though Willy was crazy, the whole story was something that one may expect to happen in a typical family, with an expectant father, loving mother, and two strapping boys who don’t know what they want in life. I think this is definitely a common them with families: to set such high expectations for your loved ones that they can’t do anything but fall short. This is true for Willy, Biff, Happy, and even Linda in each their own way.

So to say I actually thoroughly enjoyed this drama, reading the play as well as watching the film, may actually be an understatement. It provided such classic but unique types of characters and the same strange uniqueness can be said to describe the overall story line as well. I would also, again, like to ponder the motive behind the creation of this drama; are these characters actually models of real individuals? Is Arthur Miller referring to what he knows from experience? & From a theater standpoint, do the actors in these movies and the actors on the stage share any similarities with these characters?

#introspective

The Moral of the Story

Realistic literature (realism) is something that is easily explainable and understandable. It is also applicable to our lives as readers because we can relate to the elements within the story. Some people prefer to read this type of literature, however others want to experience something new and amazing when they read: to be a part of something more than a harsh reality. This is where magical realism comes in! Webster defines magical realism as a literary style that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction. Within works of this genre of writing, readers can encounter fanciful characters while remaining in the realm of normality cushioned by the comforts of the world we know. The fun part is that we get to bring these extraordinary characters into our society as if they were just part of our normal way of life.

Oftentimes stories classified as works of magical realism contain a moral message, usually a hidden meaning that the author leaves for the reader to discover. After first reading the short story, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Márquez, I was unaware of its meaning and significance. Upon further investigation and through class discussion I was pleased to realize that there is an important piece of truth hidden within the text.

When introduced to the old man, I thought of him as a weird and suspicious character, but he is surprisingly favorable, influential, and even heavenly! He brings good to the town but the people look down on him because he is not perfectly angelic in his looks or behavior. In the end people lose what interest they had in him and he eventually flies away into the “horizon of the sea” like he was never even there to begin with.

So the moral of the story is to treat everyone with love and respect. Be welcoming to strangers and don’t judge people by their appearance. I am not big on fantasy or magic but I love the fact that magical realism is a medium through which authors, like Márquez, can spread a message and teach a lesson to the world.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hebrews 13:2

Iceberg

As I read Ernest Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants,” my mind was blown by my inability to comprehend anything that was going on in the story and what the purpose of the story was. I had absolutely no idea! However, according to Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” this was exactly the point.

The theory is based on the concept of… an iceberg. We see with the naked eye what small portion of the berg that extends out of the water. The remaining majority of the berg that is under the water represents the ambiguity of a literary work that an author creates mainly through the use of symbolism.

There is definitely evidence of symbolism within “Hills Like White Elephants.” After discussing the story in class my eyes were opened to all these symbols and the many different ways that this story could be interpreted. I never would have guessed that this story is about a man and woman contemplating abortion. The idea of the white elephant is one of the main reoccurring symbols in the story. It could represent this unborn child that nobody wants to speak about and that is a gift from Heaven that they don’t want to be burdened with.

I think abortion is a more serious subject that should not be discussed in such a nonchalant manner. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more prevalent and I would like to think that Hemingway is addressing the issue by saying that people should earnestly think about the decisions they make in life.

So the one good thing that I can find in my heart to say about symbolism is that each symbol can be interpreted by the reader to mean many different things. You can try to figure out the writer’s intentions or make something out of nothing!

Literature: What IS the Motive?

“Literature, we’re told, is one of the arts…”

Northrop Frye, in his consequential literary piece “The Motive for Metaphor,” describes the mind as having three levels: “the level of consciousness and awareness,” “the level of social participation,” and “the level of imagination.” Each of these has its own language which requires more thought as well as different aspects of thought.

The literature producing level of language is, perhaps, the most important in communicating a message that has meaning.

Throughout history there have been a multitude of great, and influential writers. However,only certain writers are considered part of the literary canon. So what we all want to know is, “What classifies a work as being part of this canon?” and “What is literature?”

Heart!

All of the writing within this magical canon evokes feelings from readers. These great writers aren’t important because of their status in the world and their personal art isn’t remembered for its use of elevated vocabulary. In contrast, they all wanted to send a message. They all intended to tell something of importance. The purpose was to make people feel, whether it be through a short story, a poem, a novel, etc.: to touch the hearts of humans and to force people to evaluate life for themselves.

Another question then can be raised. “Is literature even relevant to our world today?”

No matter your definition of literature, it is effective and crucial to humanity as is evident in the fact that we all have hearts and we all have souls. Therefore humanity as a whole will always be producing literature because being human insists that there is something inside us all that we desire to share with someone else. Since the beginning of time (Genesis 2:20-25) there is evidence that we are not meant to live in only the “level of consciousness and awareness.”

So, what is literature? It comes from inside. It comes from the heart!