As you go through each of these particular poems, consider the history behind them. Once again, these American poets are engaging with nature as part of the American identity, but what has that identity become? Where Whitman and Thoreau celebrate nature as man and man as God, what and how do these poets view nature and God (as well as their relationship to man)? If, during the romantic period, there is a tone and temperment of celebration and joy in connecting with these things and embracing what it means to be an American, what can we say of these poets? Consider that the Industrial revolution takes place around the advent of the Modernist period. The exchange of ideas, information, and material on a global level has changed drastically. The first World War began in 1914, forever shaking the world's philosophy and traditional understanding of nations at war.
ROBERT FROST - BIOGRAPHY
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
This poem creates a dichotomy (split) of motivations and intentions. The speaker is torn between the "dark and deep" "lovely" woods and the "promises" he "has to keep." The imagery of the horses bells jingling after having stopped for some time to contemplate the darkness remind him of these social obligations.
The poem itself evokes a feeling of peace if the speaker were to stay in the woods, but the inability to do so. It's worth noting that the speaker and the horse, at the end of the poem, have not yet moved on. He has "miles to go before [he] sleep[s]" and the repetition of the phrase emphasizes the weariness of this thought. The speaker tells us he has and must keep choosing his social obligations, but the imagery and the tone ask us if this is reasonable, perhaps if it's even fair. The readers become equally mesmerized by the possibility of stopping in the woods and staying. It's beauty to the speaker suggests it's preferred state over the buildings and people nearby.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
This poem creates a dichotomy (split) of motivations and intentions. The speaker is torn between the "dark and deep" "lovely" woods and the "promises" he "has to keep." The imagery of the horses bells jingling after having stopped for some time to contemplate the darkness remind him of these social obligations.
The poem itself evokes a feeling of peace if the speaker were to stay in the woods, but the inability to do so. It's worth noting that the speaker and the horse, at the end of the poem, have not yet moved on. He has "miles to go before [he] sleep[s]" and the repetition of the phrase emphasizes the weariness of this thought. The speaker tells us he has and must keep choosing his social obligations, but the imagery and the tone ask us if this is reasonable, perhaps if it's even fair. The readers become equally mesmerized by the possibility of stopping in the woods and staying. It's beauty to the speaker suggests it's preferred state over the buildings and people nearby.
WALLACE STEVENS - Biography
Sunday Morning Text
This poem purposely evokes religious imagery discussing everything from Jesus to Jove and even compiling them into one entity that might equal the emotional self. This poem follows an unknown woman and the poet as they navigate this idea. The woman suggests that Nature is as much heaven and God as heaven or God might be and that, perhaps, believing in beauty and happiness is the key to the everlasting. Heaven, without change, seems like a potentially boring place to be. Earth, in fact, may be the only heaven we have. The poet sums all of this up at the end by indicating that without hope or belief in something, existence is an unexpected place. Though it may seem empty and meaningless it is full of unpredictable actions in unpredictable people. Something that is not necessarily bad.
Sunday Morning Text
This poem purposely evokes religious imagery discussing everything from Jesus to Jove and even compiling them into one entity that might equal the emotional self. This poem follows an unknown woman and the poet as they navigate this idea. The woman suggests that Nature is as much heaven and God as heaven or God might be and that, perhaps, believing in beauty and happiness is the key to the everlasting. Heaven, without change, seems like a potentially boring place to be. Earth, in fact, may be the only heaven we have. The poet sums all of this up at the end by indicating that without hope or belief in something, existence is an unexpected place. Though it may seem empty and meaningless it is full of unpredictable actions in unpredictable people. Something that is not necessarily bad.
WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS- Biography
This Is Just To Say Text
This poem is widely debated. It's form and lack of a speaker to tell the reader who is speaking, who is listening, and why, it's open to interpretation. It's written as a note left on a refrigerator which suggests, amongst other things, it's potential meaninglessness. The critics tend to wobble back and forth between the idea that the speaker in the poem is struggling with their sexual desire or that the speaker in the poem is struggling with their spirtuality. Are we talking about the inability to resist sexual fulfillment or the inability of the first man to resist the forbidden fruit? Could they possibly be parallel messages? The biggest question is what does the speaker "just want to say?"
This Is Just To Say Text
This poem is widely debated. It's form and lack of a speaker to tell the reader who is speaking, who is listening, and why, it's open to interpretation. It's written as a note left on a refrigerator which suggests, amongst other things, it's potential meaninglessness. The critics tend to wobble back and forth between the idea that the speaker in the poem is struggling with their sexual desire or that the speaker in the poem is struggling with their spirtuality. Are we talking about the inability to resist sexual fulfillment or the inability of the first man to resist the forbidden fruit? Could they possibly be parallel messages? The biggest question is what does the speaker "just want to say?"
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