sábado, 29 de agosto de 2009

"When I have Fears that I may Cease to Be" by John Keats

According to what we have learnt as the main characteristics of Romanticism, I think this poem deals with “nature” (the main subject of these kind of writing) as a means to reach human beings transcendence. These kinds of poems allow us to realize the value of nature and understand how the conscious communion with it may certainly be an inspirational tool for artistic creations. For instance, when Keats mentions the grain and the night's starr face I make sense of this relationship between human beings and nature. Furthermore, when he says that on the shore of the wide world he stands alone and thinks; I think that he is being inspirited by this spacious scenery that world and its nature provides him.

On the other hand, the writer does not mention several natural elements at all. Therefore, the main themes present in this sonnet are not very related to nature. In this poem, Keats’ main themes are willpower, fears, love, fame and nothingness. In this sense, I may identify how “reason” (another important subject of Romanticism) dominates his writing. What is more, I may clearly identify these themes with Keats’ lived experience in terms of how fame most of times means nothing because good writers are seldom recognized during their times.

sábado, 22 de agosto de 2009

Kubla Khan's Contemplation



As a particular way of expression, poetry may have certain patterns but as a free language manifestation it deals with several and assorted human affections. In this sense, the quotation which best points out the poem for me is: " “It is essential to poetry that it should be simple, and appeal to the elements and primary laws of nature; that it should be sensuous, and by its imagery elicit truth at a flash; that it should be impassioned, and be able to move our feelings and awaken affection”.

Indeed, in “Kubla Khan” Coledrige develops his thoughts by simply describing this place but at the same time calling readers’ attention with the use of sensuous and catchy words. He gives an account or representation of how the landscape flows and changes with the human beings intervention. How some natural elements such as caves, gardens and rivers can picture the majesty of nature and at the same time evoke us feelings of awe and fear. For instance, he calls the river “sacred” or tittles the place as a “charming abyss”.

In short, he moves our feelings and communicates truth by showing us this place as a picture from which we can infer how things occurred and how changes affect the landscape’s beauty and autonomy. It wakes our human retiring feelings up after a long time of indifference.

domingo, 16 de agosto de 2009

Thoughtful Poetry

Having discussed and analyzed the poem “The Little Black Boy”, the understanding of Blake’s world has become a bit clear for me because poetry is such a huge world of subjectivity that means it is impossible to agree with everybody. Many of the keystones presented in Blake’s poetry have been developed in this work.
One of the most important human characteristic represented in this poem is: the searching of equality. For instance, when the boy states that he is black but his soul is white what Blake is pointing out is that we are all the same and there is no skin color which makes us different or special. In other words, what really matter is the color of our souls.
Secondly, the mother and son relationship is representing eternity because there is no such real love and complicity as mother’s love. For example, here we have the image of a mother who is really present in her son’s childhood teaching him values and sharing with him experiences.