Phillip Larkin's Here uses very descriptive diction in order to let the reader know how he feels about the places he describes. Larkin uses great imagery and figurative language in order to portray what he sees as going on in this narrative poem.
Larkin is describing a fast pace town and paradoxes it to his feelings. The tone of the poem is lonely in a way. There are a lot of people around the town and everything is moving fast, yet the people in it are alone. In the first stanza, line 7, Larkin uses a personification to describe the river with "slow presence" meaning everything around it is moving so fast, no one takes the time to look at their surroundings.
Larkin's use of imagery gives the reader a sense of what's going on in the town. In the 3rd stanza, lines to 19 to 24, the diction is extremely descriptive. Smells are used, all the different shops are described and some of the people are described too. The image Larkin paints for the reader shows that all of these activities going on through out the town, making the mood very chaotic.
Here is an allegory in a way, where people represent something more than what the naked eye sees. All of these people are moving so fast, they make no time to stop to see whats really going on. The people of the town represent emptiness someone might feel when no one is taking the time to pay attention.
"Loneliness clarifies. Here silence stands" is another great use of a personification in the 4th stanza, line 25. As the people all leave the town, the emptiness a person might feel is even more present. "Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach", the last line of the poem, shows that someones loneliness can be an outcome from others' negligence. Although there are people in the town, it's almost as if it doesn't matter because they don't have true emotions.
Larkin's narrative poem uses descriptive diction, imagery and figurative language to portray the real "emptiness" of the town. He shows the reader what the town in really like and the views someone might have from looking from the outside.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Metamorphosis Writing Prompt
Nicole Fujita
1st hour
12/12/08
The Metamorphosis Writing Prompt
In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is the main character who is morphed into a bug, but other characters throughout the novella go through a type of “morphing” as well. In the novella, Gregor’s sister morphs from a teenage girl to a young woman. Kafka demonstrates this with all of the changes and responsibilities Grete takes on. Gregor and Grete both morph, relating into the overall meaning of the book: Live life to the fullest by taking all opportunities and living for yourself, or consequences may occur.
Gregor spends his whole live providing for his family in order to get them out of debt, yet he doesn’t get any type of appreciation for it. He lives the same miserable, boring life everyday and never experiences anything. To his surprise, one day Gregor wakes up as a giant insect. Since Gregor cannot function as a bug, he becomes useless to his family. Although the situation is totally out of Gregor’s hands, he feels as if the circumstances are his fault and still wants to provide for his family. It is ironic that Gregor feels this way because as a bug he gets to see what his family is really like and how they really treat him poorly.
Since Gregor cannot function, his younger sister Grete decides to take care of him. Grete is a young seventeen year old girl who has never had any responsibility or a job and has never been recognized for any accomplishments. As Grete takes on the responsibility of looking after her older brother, her parents notice. Grete is favored by her parents now because they see her taking care of her brother as a sign of being responsible and growing up.
As a human, Gregor has the job of providing money for his family to live off of. His family does not even appreciate it and once he is turned into a bug, they feel he is a burden because he can no longer provide for them. Gregor lived this horrible, boring life as a human and never did anything for himself, since he did not; he is paying for it by being a bug that is useless. Gregor transformed from a human only useful for money to a bug that is completely useless. Once Gregor dies, he doesn’t matter at all anymore.
It almost seems as if Grete is reborn as Gregor dies. Grete transforms from an unaware young girl to a young responsible woman. She went from having no responsibility, to taking care of Gregor, getting a job as a salesgirl and being more mature. If it were not for Gregor’s transformation into a bug, this would have never happened. Grete decides to live for herself and make decisions to live life to the fullest.
Kafka demonstrates throughout the novella that Gregor transforms as well as Grete. Though the two characters transform in different ways, they both go through changes. Gregor’s change is physical while Grete’s change is mental. Kafka shows that in order to be happy, one must live for oneself and make decisions for oneself.
1st hour
12/12/08
The Metamorphosis Writing Prompt
In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is the main character who is morphed into a bug, but other characters throughout the novella go through a type of “morphing” as well. In the novella, Gregor’s sister morphs from a teenage girl to a young woman. Kafka demonstrates this with all of the changes and responsibilities Grete takes on. Gregor and Grete both morph, relating into the overall meaning of the book: Live life to the fullest by taking all opportunities and living for yourself, or consequences may occur.
Gregor spends his whole live providing for his family in order to get them out of debt, yet he doesn’t get any type of appreciation for it. He lives the same miserable, boring life everyday and never experiences anything. To his surprise, one day Gregor wakes up as a giant insect. Since Gregor cannot function as a bug, he becomes useless to his family. Although the situation is totally out of Gregor’s hands, he feels as if the circumstances are his fault and still wants to provide for his family. It is ironic that Gregor feels this way because as a bug he gets to see what his family is really like and how they really treat him poorly.
Since Gregor cannot function, his younger sister Grete decides to take care of him. Grete is a young seventeen year old girl who has never had any responsibility or a job and has never been recognized for any accomplishments. As Grete takes on the responsibility of looking after her older brother, her parents notice. Grete is favored by her parents now because they see her taking care of her brother as a sign of being responsible and growing up.
As a human, Gregor has the job of providing money for his family to live off of. His family does not even appreciate it and once he is turned into a bug, they feel he is a burden because he can no longer provide for them. Gregor lived this horrible, boring life as a human and never did anything for himself, since he did not; he is paying for it by being a bug that is useless. Gregor transformed from a human only useful for money to a bug that is completely useless. Once Gregor dies, he doesn’t matter at all anymore.
It almost seems as if Grete is reborn as Gregor dies. Grete transforms from an unaware young girl to a young responsible woman. She went from having no responsibility, to taking care of Gregor, getting a job as a salesgirl and being more mature. If it were not for Gregor’s transformation into a bug, this would have never happened. Grete decides to live for herself and make decisions to live life to the fullest.
Kafka demonstrates throughout the novella that Gregor transforms as well as Grete. Though the two characters transform in different ways, they both go through changes. Gregor’s change is physical while Grete’s change is mental. Kafka shows that in order to be happy, one must live for oneself and make decisions for oneself.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
10 Questions on Ch. 3
1. When Gregor was working his parent’s debt off he was thinking about them so why did they exclude him?
Gregor’s parents did not really care about Gregor. Gregor was there to provide for the family and that was it. He really didn’t have too much of a relationship with them, so when he needed them, it didn’t really matter to them.
2. Do you think that they move the furniture in the room to kill him faster?
In a way, I do think that they moved the furniture in the room to kill Gregor faster. It might not have been the full intention in the beginning but, taking a way the furniture was taking away a part of Gregor’s past. They say the past makes people who they are, without the past, they are nothing. The sooner Gregor is gone and dead, the sooner the family can move away and be done taking care of him.
3. Why does Gregor feel depression at his family's reaction to him?
Gregor feels depressed because his family doesn’t have any sympathy for him and his current state. It is not even Gregor’s fault that he is this insect, but his family treats him as if this is a burden he has brought upon them. He feels sad and depressed because his family doesn’t want anything to do with him and they act as if it’s his fault he is this insect.
4. Does Gregor's family feel sadness at his death? Relief?
Gregor’s family feels sadness for about a minute after his death but then they feel relief. Since Gregor is gone and dead, the family can move on and focus on their future. They have the chance to move and start a family for Grete.
5. Why does Gregor want to kidnap his sister when he hears her playing the violin?
Gregor wants Grete to do something with her life. He loves hearing her play the violin and he thinks she is really good at it. He wants her to do it as her profession.
6. Why does Gregor's family stop believing that the bug Gregor is really Gregor?
The family stops believing Gregor is really himself because they do not even recognize him anymore. Gregor has changed so much that he is not even the same “person” anymore. He can’t even talk with his family and tell them how he feels. He doesn’t do anything anymore but just sit around and climb up walls. He has changed so much from what his family has known.
7. How does Gregor's family get over losing Gregor so quickly?
The family gets over losing Gregor so quickly by trying to look at the bright side of the situation. The family realizes they no longer have to take care of Gregor and they can move into a better apartment. Losing Gregor is a gain for the family because they don’t have to worry about their past and debt, and they can just move on.
8. Why does the family abandon Gregor?
The family abandons Gregor because it’s easy for them. They don’t even feel like he is the same person and they don’t really want to worry about him. After abandoning him, they don’t have the burden of worrying about him in his unusual state.
9. Why does Gregor still have love and affection for his family even after they start to forget about him?
This family is all Gregor has. He has no friends, no relationships with anyone else. Although the relationship Gregor has with his family is not necessarily good, it’s all he knows. He is used to providing for his family and they are a big part of his life. His whole life is based off his family and he feels love for them.
10. Why does Grete NOW choose to get a job? Both her parents are getting them so what is the point?
Grete feels a sense of responsibility now that she is taking care of Gregor. Her parents are starting to notice her and give her attention. She likes the feeling of being responsible and getting rewarded for it.
Gregor’s parents did not really care about Gregor. Gregor was there to provide for the family and that was it. He really didn’t have too much of a relationship with them, so when he needed them, it didn’t really matter to them.
2. Do you think that they move the furniture in the room to kill him faster?
In a way, I do think that they moved the furniture in the room to kill Gregor faster. It might not have been the full intention in the beginning but, taking a way the furniture was taking away a part of Gregor’s past. They say the past makes people who they are, without the past, they are nothing. The sooner Gregor is gone and dead, the sooner the family can move away and be done taking care of him.
3. Why does Gregor feel depression at his family's reaction to him?
Gregor feels depressed because his family doesn’t have any sympathy for him and his current state. It is not even Gregor’s fault that he is this insect, but his family treats him as if this is a burden he has brought upon them. He feels sad and depressed because his family doesn’t want anything to do with him and they act as if it’s his fault he is this insect.
4. Does Gregor's family feel sadness at his death? Relief?
Gregor’s family feels sadness for about a minute after his death but then they feel relief. Since Gregor is gone and dead, the family can move on and focus on their future. They have the chance to move and start a family for Grete.
5. Why does Gregor want to kidnap his sister when he hears her playing the violin?
Gregor wants Grete to do something with her life. He loves hearing her play the violin and he thinks she is really good at it. He wants her to do it as her profession.
6. Why does Gregor's family stop believing that the bug Gregor is really Gregor?
The family stops believing Gregor is really himself because they do not even recognize him anymore. Gregor has changed so much that he is not even the same “person” anymore. He can’t even talk with his family and tell them how he feels. He doesn’t do anything anymore but just sit around and climb up walls. He has changed so much from what his family has known.
7. How does Gregor's family get over losing Gregor so quickly?
The family gets over losing Gregor so quickly by trying to look at the bright side of the situation. The family realizes they no longer have to take care of Gregor and they can move into a better apartment. Losing Gregor is a gain for the family because they don’t have to worry about their past and debt, and they can just move on.
8. Why does the family abandon Gregor?
The family abandons Gregor because it’s easy for them. They don’t even feel like he is the same person and they don’t really want to worry about him. After abandoning him, they don’t have the burden of worrying about him in his unusual state.
9. Why does Gregor still have love and affection for his family even after they start to forget about him?
This family is all Gregor has. He has no friends, no relationships with anyone else. Although the relationship Gregor has with his family is not necessarily good, it’s all he knows. He is used to providing for his family and they are a big part of his life. His whole life is based off his family and he feels love for them.
10. Why does Grete NOW choose to get a job? Both her parents are getting them so what is the point?
Grete feels a sense of responsibility now that she is taking care of Gregor. Her parents are starting to notice her and give her attention. She likes the feeling of being responsible and getting rewarded for it.
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