Poetry Packet

I think the poetry packet shows that poetry can be written for all ages and all people. The children's poem showed that kids can be involved in poetry. The Sexism poem showed how both men and women can be invovled in poetry. The songs described different styles of people in involved in poetry. "If I Were a Boy" reminded me more of the city type of people for some reason. "Sold" reminds me more of country or cowboys. Packet really shows the diversity in poetry.

The Flea

I feel that "The Flea" is about a couple that had sex outside of marriage and now they are pregnant. The flea would be the child from the line "And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;". Another line that states the flea may be a child would be "This flea is you and I,". Then when it goes on to say "Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead," means that it can not be told that the child is from them because it is outside of marriage. Another line about the child being outside of marriage may be "Though parents grudge, and you, we are met, And cloistered in these living walls of jet.". At the end of the poem it seems like the couple is scared for the baby's life and their own lives.

Expectations of Poetry

I have not had much experience with poetry. I know we did a little but not much in high school. I am kind of excited to learn more about poetry just because I really have not had much to do with it. I do have a feeling that, just like some of the stories, the wording of some of them may make them hard to understand. I will just have to take the poems line by line to figure them out.

My definition of poetry would be: lines of words that have meaning and have a rhythm to them. (They can not just be sentence thrown together in a paragraph. They need to be in stanzas.)

03/25/11

When Faustus and the scholars are talking about Helen of Greece really stuck out to me. I am wondering why Helen of Greece? What was so special about her and why not some other lady? I am not sure how I can turn this idea into a literary analysis instead of just a research historical paper. I know at the beginning of the play Faustus talked about how he had not found love yet and wondered if I can work this two incidents together to form an idea. Nothing has come to me yet but hopefully as I keep looking into it, I find something.

03/23/11

I really like our class discussions. They are really helpful for understanding the story. It shows me that there is more than one way to see each interaction. I really like hearing other people's opinions.

I have been having a hard time trying to think of a paper topic. I can't really find a concrete argument that I feel strong about. I plan on re-reading to see if I can find any part that really sticks out to me. Hopefully this will help.

Scene V

Scene V is when Faustus officially gives his soul to the devil. Mephistophilis tries to warn him about hell but he refuses because he wants to do black magic so bad. I feel the suspense already built up in the story. It makes you just want to yell at Faustus. Being an outsider we can see all the mistakes that are going to happen. I feel that the Good and Evil Angels really add to this effect too. You want Faustus to pick the Good Angel but over and over again he keeps picking the Evil Angel.

Dr. Faustus

I think that in this last part of the play, they are talking about all the different great things they are going to teach Faustus. They are building up his curiosity and adding more suspense to the story. I feel that if we continue discussing the play like we have that I will really like it. I find it hard to understand peices that are written in this language and having the group discussion makes it easier and much more enjoyable.