Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Post for Friday, Jan. 7

Hello all, and welcome to the course blog!

For this first post, read the Academy of American Poets webpage about winter poems, and choose one poem at the bottom of the page that you find interesting or enjoyable.

In your post, give a brief explanation as to why you like that poem and what you think it says about the human condition; be sure to give your name and the name of the poem/poet.

39 comments:

  1. Lindsay Davis commenting on 'Spellbound' by Emily Bronte.
    While reading this poem the word 'determination' came to my mind. She is describing her surroundings as incredibly dark and drab yet she is unable to leave this dreary place. "A tyrant spell.." can be her own conscious not allowing her to give into the conditions which surround her. Either she is very determined to make it through a difficult point in her life or she is simply stubborn.

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  2. "The Sky is low, the Clouds are mean" by Emily Dickinson

    I like this poem because of the way the poet compares aspects of winter with human characteristics. The aspects that are pointed out, however, are all negative. Not only does this poem show that nature is not always beautiful, but how people manage to see themselves and their faults in inanimate surroundings.
    -Dakota Warren

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  3. In "Spellbound" by Emily Bonte, one word comes to mind; Challenge. Bonte describes how "The night is darkening round me," which could be a problem arising but ". . . [she] cannot, cannot go," which she chooses not to flee the problem but face it. Bonte goes on to describe how the day worsens, or the problem grows, but she cannot go or chooses to continue facing it. I believe she likes the challenge of a problem or situation, so she stands her ground and tackles it head on. This poem interested me because it describes a characteristic which I behold.
    - Edgar Moreno

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  4. Nancy Reyes English 101
    Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson
    I liked the poem because it explains the good and the bad about the winter. A good thing is that the snow looks beautiful when on the ground; it covers the whole place in all white and it makes it look like frosting. The bad about winter is that it's cold and when the cold wind hits you it burns. I believe that human tend to see the negatives about winter more than they see the positive. If people opened their eyes they’d see that the winter could be just as great as any other season.

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  5. JONI LAGERSTROM

    Winter-Time
    by Robert Louis Stevenson

    I thought this poem was slightly depressing but I liked it because I agree with Stevenson. The character in the poem is living the same life day after day. He get's up in the morning, welcomed by the winter air and darkness, and is greeted by the cold wind of winter as he goes outside.
    Human's become tired of a life made up of a routine. Being stuck in a routine during winter makes life seem dreadful.

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  6. In "The Snow Man," by Wallace Stevens explains how many people do not have the mind of winter and we as humans are not able to look at something without having something negative to say. In the poem, Stevens states, "[o]ne must have a mind of winter" that basically states his main point of the poem. I like that opening verse because it forces me to think about winter and how it makes me feel towards it.

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  7. Kamice's commentary on Emily Bronte's,"The Visionary"
    I like the poem because it makes you stop and consider how winter affects our mood in a positive or negative way. The author is definitely waiting on something to show up, but there are issues preventing this from occuring. It appears to me that she actually does not too much care for winter at times. Most humans think of winter as a sad season because of how eerie it seems at times. Most of us do not appreciate the good it does for the environment.

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  8. Katie Reed
    “Spellbound” by Emily Bronte
    I love the imagery in this poem, the darkening night and bent trees. I also feel this poem is about determination. There are moments when life is cold and dark. There is a feeling of hopelessness as the poem moves forward, and a loss of freedom. However, in the end it is clear the narrator cannot go by choice. She is determined to stay and face the winter. And, in the end, it is strength that shines through.

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  9. The Snowman
    by Wallace Stevens

    I like this poem because it really evokes the nostalgic and cold moment that winter brings with it from the point of view of Stevens. He show his opinion using "one" as himself, but it can also be interpretated as we, the readers and him.
    Stevens is showing in this poem the way he fells aboutall that comes with winter. Words like "cold", "long","misery", and "few", evoke his point of view thru de body of a snoman, without emotions and feelings. He share with us how humans can sometimes feel,be, and act like a snowman that its only action is to contemplate the cold winter, and it's not able to make something positive to change the cold and miserable sound of the wind.

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  10. Spellbound by:Emily Bronte
    Daniel Vaughn
    It seems like she has a lot of problems going on around her and decisions were closing in on her. As it says 'the night is darkening round me. 'The wild winds coldly blow seems like gossip that goes in and out her mind about some problems. Seems as if she is having a relationship problem and her husband his trying to have power over her and she can't make her own decisions so instead she doesn't go anywhere and she is hopeless or she is just a sttuborn person not trying to make decisions of her own.

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  11. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
    Robert Frosts poem was enjoyable to read, because of how well he describes the season winter. He includes the long winter nights, and the sound of winds. A man and his horse are also included in this poem. In the poem it is said that the man is not able to be at his house, which he sees in the snowy woods, until his tasks are finished.
    Marlyce Haugen

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  12. "Winter-Time" by Robert Louis Stevenson. I found this poem to be a bit gloomy, nonetheless, enjoyable. It is very easy to understand. The character in the poem seems to only depict the negative aspects of winter. The days during winter are shorter and its extremely cold, making it easy for the individual in the poem to fall into the same, daily routine. He describes the cold as "burning." Winter is a time most people dread, but I personally believe it can be made more enjoyable.

    --Alejandro Morales

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  13. Sharena Gonder commenting on 'Spellbound' by Emily Bronte.

    I enjoyed this poem becasue of the use of imagery and how it nakes the reader experience what she is feeling while reading the poem. As I was reading this poem I sensed determination to face the cold winter she is about to face and also a sense of hopelessness when she says, "But a tyrant spell has bound me. And I cannot, cannot go." To me it seems as though the tyrant she is referring to is herself rather than the weather or a spouse. When it comes to the human condition she is either determined to face her fear of the winter, or she is afraid of herself.

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  14. Fishing in the winter-

    I liked this poem because of the meaning it had behind it. The descriptions of the lake, and the colors that could draw attention was interesting. I liked how the story was about someone visiting a dad who was dead, which is kind of like winter. Winter and death both resemble each other because they both represent death, and both result in some kind of rebirth. It seems as if the person used to enjoy the fishing with his father, so he goes to a place that he knows he feels like he could spend time with him. This poem had really good meaning and description behind it.
    - Karlee Rodgers

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  15. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
    by Robert Frost

    The last stanza, "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep/But I have promises to keep/And miles to go before I sleep" this reminds me of times when you are doing something or you are at some place and you have to leave but you want to stay. He mentions his horse even harnessing his bells making sure that they are not their by mistake since it is so cold and not even the owner is out there. But he really wants to stay. When it comes to human condition it's like a dilemma of whether to stay or not to stay even if it's really cold.
    -Melissa Flores

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  16. Renelle Gisyer commenting on "Spellbound" Emily Bronte

    I really found this poem interesting. I loved how Bronte's word choice helped describe the way she was feeling and also told how the scenery was. This poem helped describe how the human condition can sometimes feel out of control, and not have any say in what is happening around them. I felt that Bronte was trying to describe how one would feel after dying. When she states that, "Clouds beyond clouds above me,
    Wastes beyond wastes below", I feel that she is writing about her transition into the afterlife. Even though there is a sense of unhappiness, uncertainty, and regret, I feel that Bronte feels like her life is over because she is leaving her loved ones, even though it truly isn't.

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  17. Spellbound by Emily Brontë

    What most interested me in this poem was the calm acceptance of the situation the narrator is in. It is not already dark, but just at the moment the sun is heading over the horizon. The wind is blowing, the trees are bending, and the storm is descending, yet the speaker is stationary, trapped. It is nothing physical that has trapped the speaker, but a spell, one that she has cast upon herself. At first, the speaker says “I cannot, cannot go” yet later, she says “I will not, cannot go”, which implies that the speaker has a choice, and is reaffirming the decision that has been made. With nothing around but “wastes and wastes below” and a storm approaching, the speaker has accepted that nothing can be done but wait, because there is no place to go. This shows that the speaker wishes not to run, but to face the dire, possibly hopeless situation with the grace, dignity, and pigheaded nature of mankind.

    Stephen Bowen

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  18. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"
    -Robert Frost

    While reading this poem I kept in mind, how it it relates to the human condition.
    I like this poem because it involve lots of human felt emotions that go into fulfilling goals and promises. The first stanza introduces the character and the woods. The character understands that the woods are owned by somebody else, but, just like some human beings, we'll cross the line to indulge ourselves, in this case, the character and the woods. To me, the horse resembled encouragement and common sense, trying to catch it's owners attention and asking him to continue on with their journey because of the harsh environment and the promise that has to be kept. Although those movements by the horse can be just random movements, the fact is, even the owner thinks that its nagging to continue on, and only owners really understand their companions. (Animals can also predict a storm from miles on out) Like I stated earlier, the environment played a key role as the "temptation to stay". Frost uses the words lovely, dark, and deep. I think Frost chose these words because the woods are beautiful to look at (lovely), the time takes place where the natural mood of a human would consider sleep (dark), and the best part is, there will be more of it that will be revealed(deep). The characteristics of the woods would make it a perfect candidate to stop and stay, but Frost's character understands that as tempting as it may be, there is still a long way to go and a promise that has to be kept before he can finally rest.

    -Ezekiel V. Espanola

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  19. Jevan Lane
    “The Visionary” by Emile Bronte

    I chose this poem as I believe it gives a great outlook as to how humans tend to entertain themselves while trying to compensate for a cold, snowy winter; in which the author Emily Bronte did a great job in describing. I believe this poem is referring to a women in which is looking forward to an upcoming visitor possibly, her boyfriend/husband. However, due to the blizzard, she is left only with an expectation, as the current conditions may not permit. To make the best of the situation, the author utilizes the house as a symbolization of the woman's eagerness. For instance, something that stuck out to me was the light, which represented her optimistic view/outlook on the situation as a whole. This was illustrated when Bronte states “Burn, then, little lamp; glimmer straight and clear.”

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  20. "Spellbound" Emily Dickinson
    In the poem Bronte expresses her internal conflict as she is trapped between the carnal and the spiritual world "but nothing dear can move me". Despite the difficulty of her position Bronte remains due to fear of what awaits and of this she reminds the reader in the conclusion of each stanza " I can not go". She personifies her last moments with a bitter cold winter, thus, creating gloomy images in the mind of the reader. I enjoyed this poem because I agree with Bronte's idea that death is an inevitable aspect of life that humans fear and when the moment comes we will not want to depart.
    Carmen Medrano

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  21. "Spellbound" by Emily Bronte

    This poem perfectly describes us when we are caught in an unbearable situation or a time in our life. Although it is something difficult we are unable to turn away because there is something in us that always wants to know what will happen. As much as she wants to leave she does not want to. Emily Bronte’s choice of words paint a picture of a cold winter, but it also paints a picture of somebody fighting internally with one self.

    Briana Palma

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  22. Spellbound
    by Emily Brontë

    In the poem I believe she’s stuck in a situation where she is very hesitant to do anything but stay in the same spot. Bronte states in the poem “but nothing dear can move me, “and the environment itself, seems like frozen hell to me. Yet this stubborn lady sticks to her guns, and will not change her mind. Whatever it is she’s contemplating, she best make up her mind before she freezes. Then nothing dear will move her…..that’s for sure.
    Manuel Gutierrez

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  23. In "Spellbound" by Emily Bronte, "a tyrant spell has bound me And I cannot, cannot go."I think that this poem is describing how she is facing her challenges in life and is not going to turn away from them. She is facing her problems to work through them and not run from them, she is working through a difficult time in her life. Maybe she is even resisting death and cannot go.

    By Jaime Nelson
    Engl 101-MWF

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  24. "Winter-Time" by Robert Louis Stevenson

    I truly enjoyed reading "Winter-Time" because out of all the other poems I found this one to be a neutral poem when it came to depicting winter. Yes, it did mention the cold unpleasant weather, but he also mentions going out in a sled and exploring the outdoors that are frosted "like a wedding cake". Stevenson's poetry isn't entirely glum or cheerful but has a balance of both which can be applied to the human condition. There are people who see the negative in everything, like the unpleasant feeling of waking up and being cold, but there are also those who see the positive, like embracing and exploring nature and seeing the snow as frosting.

    -Elizabeth Fernandez

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  25. Now Winter Nights Enlarge
    by Thomas Campion





    The winter nights are longer, the clouds turn dark and the winter storms seem to let the rain fall. The chimneys begin to burn their fire and candles start to burn. Time seems to go by without being kind to the years that go by. Summer comes and goes with many great things you remember as well as winter has its great things. The many things that make the time enjoyable are merely toys that keep you entertained that help the night seem shorter. I believe it is talking about how we go through life in the seasons and how the years do not go unoticed. The coldness we go through in the winter months as night seems longer as we begin to burn on the chimeney.



    Gloria Gonzalez

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  26. The Snow Man/ Wallace Stevens

    One who enjoys winter, and actually sees the real essence of the season can take in the antiqued pine trees, because its boughs are filled of snow. The shrubs that shine because they are covered in snow. The trees from a distant glisten from the winter sun glaring off of the ice. The wind is blowing and leaves are being blown away because of it creating empty floors yet that nothing on the floor is the something that you initially take in.

    I enjoyed this poem because although it does not talk about a snow man, the title somehow is perfect when describing a snowy winter day.

    grace vega

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  27. Fishing in Winter
    by Ralph Burns

    I like this poem because I could kind of relate to it because when we go visit our dead family members we always remember them by something. The guy went to go visit his dad. The dad is dead but I guess it brings him back memories.

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  28. The poem is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost. In this poem is that someone comes across a beautiful scene, but he or she is force to continue his or her journey home while he or she crosses the forest in a snowy day. In this poem I got the idea that people cannot hold to sometimes forever that something people need to move on and continue without it.

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  29. In the poem "Spellbound" by emily Bronte
    - The first thing I thought of when reading this poem was certain obstacle's in life that affect each individual in many different ways. For example in "Speellbound" Emily states "The night darkening around me" is one of lifes obstacles that you have to over come. I chose this poem because i felt like i have had many obstacles in the past.
    ALFREDO MORENO

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  30. "Like Brooms of Steel" by Emily Dickinson
    My thoughts on this poem is that it brings out some emotions that I am able to relate to on a cold winter day. This poem I believe is relating the weather and people together. The fact that it is cold outaide, brings about dead silence within the earth. People tend to move slow in the winter time and the weather is associated death. I believe this poem is also saying that this particular place used to be a place that life thrives, and even the birds fly all about the day. The particular line that I thought was interesting was : "The Silence tied....His ample - plodding Steed." I believe this is saying that the two compare almost exactly. In as much as they are different.
    Janene Wendrick

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  31. As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII
    Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
    By: William Shakespeare

    In the poem, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, Shakespeare expresses how the poet is miserable because he believes that friendship is colder than the winter season. I like this poem because it shows how deranged and depressed writers sometimes, write the best poems. Shakespeare states that friendship is like winter because it is short lived. Using the poet as an example, humans have the tendency to fear any situation where they can get hurt. He later explains that friendship is pretense a fake, which shows that sometimes as humans when something is too difficult, it becomes as something they begin to hate. The winter season like friendship can sometimes be difficult and the coldness of another person can sting the heart like the weather of the season, but if you put in effort and show some compassion anything can become beautiful and war, no matter the degree outside.

    -Daisy Gonzalez

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  32. "Fishing in Winter" by Ralph Burns
    I enjoyed this poem because I felt that the writer was emotional at this time and was doing something he did frequently with his father, if not frequently, at least held it as something they both shared as a hobby. When he sees his father and he wades out to join him and follow him to where the good strikes are, I believe he sees an image of his father telling him where to be to catch the best fish. He might already know because his father might have always told them when they went fishing. The longs for the time when his father and himself went fishing.

    -Bryan Lainez

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  33. Brandi Woolsey
    "The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy
    I enjoyed this poem because it affirms how people can find the good out of what may seem like a bad situation. People tend to think that because they are faced with uncomfortable situations that they are therefore allowed the opportunity to have a crutch for being miserable. The narrator of the poem was succumb to this idea because the season of winter and the things associated with it never seemed to have any positive aspects involved. But the narrator soon realized because of other peoples positive outlooks through what seemed like miserable times, there is some good hope. People can sometimes have myopic views on life, and as a result may only see one outlook of how something is(such as views on winter).

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  34. Breane Brothers posting on " Winter Time" by Robert Stevenson. What I like about the poem was that I could relate to it. I'm don't favor winter time so when robert said lines like " the cold burns my face" I knew exactly what he means becuase I hate when it's that cold that you face or hands burn. Robert saying about the human condition is that every human goes through being cold and living a normal life while being cold like " close by the jolly fire i sit and try to warm frozen bones" because winter time can be so bone chilling.

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  35. David Maciel GonzalezJanuary 7, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    The Snow Man by Wallace Stevens
    Summer is thought of bright and fun, neverthless, seasons set our emotions. Winter can persist among us as a sad season. Stevens demonstrates that winter is a time to be happy as well. "Seasons set our emotions," (Maciel) if us humans were to face the same depressing situation among winter and summer, we would most likely be less depressed among summer. Due to warmth, more drama happens in summer compared to cold days like winter. Stevens shows us that we can still be happy during winter season.

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  36. Yareli Lopez
    "Spellbound" by Emily Bronte
    The poem "Spellbound" by Emily Bronte is about her facing a challenge. Bronte says, " The night is darkening round me" by this she is interpreting that she has no more time. Bronte feels the pressure, yet she is not willing to give up. She continues to face the challenge with firmness. I like this poem because I can relate to it and at times I also feel like if I'm running out of time to accomplish my goal.

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  37. Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson.

    Although the poem itself is easy to understand it contains imagery and similies. This makes it interesting because as the reader, we can see and feel what the narrator is talking about. In the line, "And tree and house, and hill and lake, are frosted like a wedding-cake," one can visualize the houses with snow everywhere. I like the fact that we can relate to it, waking up early everyday to do our daily routines in the cold weather, which can become tiresome.

    -V.Zamago

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  38. "Spellbound" by Emily Brontë

    The poem "Spellbound" seems to be an extended metaphor that's comparing problems in the persona's life to harsh weather conditions. The speaker is trying to express that she cannot escape their problems regardless of the situation. The speaker claims that a "spell" is keeping her trapped in her problems, which makes me believe that she wants to leave these problems but there is no escape from them.

    -Steven Marquez

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  39. In "Flood" Eliza Griswold describes how the walls told her that she was wasting her life living in disappointment and that night she packed her bag. I think this is a symbolic message about a women who was in a position that she didn't like and prayed to GOD and he talk to her as a dorm of a wall and told her to get out of that situation and enjoy life while she has it.

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