ESSAY CEMETERY

At times it seems that art cannot help but be self-reflexive. In the poetry of both Shakespeare and Keats, literature and the creative process are themes that surface and dominate their work, even when the presumed subject of their work is entirely unrelated. Shakespeare's Sonnet "66" and "76", despite being written in a form that traditionally celebrates love, explore the difficulties of the artistic process. "Sonnet 66" addresses the issue of external hardships imposed upon the artist, whereas "Sonnet 76" concentrates on difficulties that originate within. John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" seems to be more of an ode to imagination and the creative process, defying its self-proclaimed subject, the urn. External examination of the vessel inspires questions as to the events depicted on it, resulting in speculation that goes beyond the urn and creates vivid, colorful poetry. Through the form of their poetry and the various sound...

In the poem "When You Are Old" by William Butler Yeats, love is a major theme. However, it is by no means a love poem. The poem describes a future in which the subject, the poet's beloved, reminisces about her past relationship with the poet, a relationship that is no more. Even though its opening lines relay a gentle, soothing mood, this sense of security is quickly upset, as the tone becomes labored and remorseful. The voice of the lover, too, diverges from the conventions of love poetry. There are few traces of the amorous, doting suitor. Instead of celebrating his beloved, the poet predicts for her a lonely future filled with regrets. The effect is that of a warning: since the future has yet to arrive, his beloved ought to examine her choices now, before it is too late. The first stanza of the poem seems to paint a pleasant enough picture. The poet addresses his beloved in a future he imagines, where the beloved is "full of sleep / And nodding by the fire...

The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald is set in post-World War I New York. Long hailed as one of the greatest American works, the novel presents a set of questionable values through an array of characters. The title character traverses class and economical differences, rising from poverty at a North Dakota farm to apparent glamour and success in New York. James Gatsby acts with relentless determination in pursuit of the woman of his dreams. Instead of a romantic tale of attainment, however, The Great Gatsby is a story of disappointment and disaster, at the core of which lies the corrupting, blinding motivator- money. Initially, Gatsby is presented as a somewhat mysterious figure, the obscure host of glamorous, exorbitant parties. He owns a huge house, much too big for the mere purpose of housing him. The vast majority of the guests at his parties come uninvited; most of them do not know who Gatsby is (47). He does not seem to be invested in his guests but rather in the spectacle...

Themes ·        The generation gap ·        Children criticizing parents ·        Mother's love for children ·        Mother being hurt by children ·        Mother spiting the children Style and devices ·        humor “so I deal in straight-up fiction myself, cause I value my family and friends, and mostly cause I lie a lot anyway.” ·        First person narrator ·        Very black dialect-y Keywords ·        Drums ·        Nice ·        Fixing stuff People and places ·        Bovanne ·        Joe Lee ·        Sister ...

  Preface When she writes "autobiographical fiction", Toni's family and friends get angry about the past or their characters, so she just sticks to plain fiction. The Story The narrator is at a benefit for a family member who is running for a political position with the black party. She is dancing with Bovanne a nice old man who is blind. He does handy work around the neighborhood. They dance close but it's not sexual. Joe Lee, her son, tells her off for dancing so close. Her daughter, Elo, too tells them off but she ignores her for the benefit of harmless, kind Bovanne. Her youngest son Task pulls her into the kitchen. In her defense she mumbles something about drums. They berate her for dancing like "a bitch in heat" or "a sex-starved" woman. She is on the verge of tears. She asks whether this is the "generation gap", and Elo denies that this exists in Blacks. She feels as though she is being interrogated. They criticiz...

  Themes and important elements ·        Indian tradition ·        Looking toward the past ·        Food preparation rituals ·        American-Indian interactions ·        Child-adult interactions ·        Eliot understands Mrs. Sen and his mother does not ·        Unhappiness in the US ·        Apparent coldness of Indian relationships ·        Happiness dependent on homelike things ·        The helplessness of children ·        The perceptiveness of children ·        Responsibility Style and devices ·        Third person limited narrator ·    ...