Sounds of Poetry

The sounds in poetry truly make the poem, and bring it to life. "Rhyme Scheme" is one of the most popular techniques and tools to use in poetry. It adds some spice, and a certain unique attitude to the poem. It also makes the poem more fun to read and it slips off the tongue as well. Each poem has their unique tools that they use. Another common tool is onomatopoeia. Examples of this tool are words like "Bang! Zap! Swoosh!". Words with sounds bring the poem to life as well. The language in the poem and the tools that the author uses are key to its uniqueness. Sounds and tools are key to a good poem, and one we haven't heard a billion times before.

Symbols

Symbols show up in all kinds of literature, and in just about every piece of writing. Whether you may catch them or not, there is symbolism in everything. Symbolism helps accentuate the theme, and the plot of the story. Symbolism can be present in different forms. Sometimes a simple metaphor, sometimes a prop, or even a piece of the setting. For example (this is broad but...) in Pride and Prejudice, Darcy's estate is a symbol of everything he is and what he stands for. It symbolizes his wealth and successes. Although this is quite obvious, like I said, symbols can be very broad. They are objects, settings, or props that imply something deeper.

Setting!

There are many differences between the setting in a play and the setting in a novel and story. In a play, unfortunately the setting can only be so limited. Although in a play, the visual props and sets can only be as realistic as you can imagine. Because at the end of the day, Darcy really isn't bathing and swimming in a lake... he is "swimming" behind a blue see-through drape that is assumed to be water. So although sets in plays can be quite beautiful and astonishing, at the end of the day it is more about the acting and the story. But with novels and books it is completely different. The setting is in your mind, so it is really up to your imagination to decide what the set will look like. Because the story might state that in this scene that they are at a beach, but your beach might be different from my beach, so really it is up to your mind and your imagination, which is really beautiful.

Charaters

Without characters there would be no plot, and without no plot, there would be no story. There are characters in every story, novel, poem, or play. And there also is always a protagonist, and sometimes an antagonist. The story revolves around the conflicts, hardships, romance, or routines of the characters, and they are what make the story interesting and relatable. In Hamlet, Hamlet is the protagonist while Claudius is the antagonist, and through their conflicts and problems comes the plot and the story. Without the characters in each play, there would be nothing to build the plot around. They are the key concept for a written work.

Plot

The plot is the conflict, it is the romance, it is the overall story or tale. Characters and plot go hand in hand. The reason is, because if there were no characters then there would be no plot. Characters make the conflict, and conflict makes the plot. Therefore, the story comes from the people who are involved. In Pride and Prejudice, the plot is more conventional. It comes from within the characters. Two people think they hate each other, they can't be together because of their different stature in society, they realize they are in love, and they make their love work! But in Hamlet, we have an external and internal plot. The external being all that is happening in Denmark with the change of Kings, etc. And internally because of the way the plot centralizes and focuses around Hamlet, and what he reveals to the audience (his emotions, and his internal changes and realizations throughout the play). Without a plot there would be no story, no play, no poem, no fairytale. Plot is everything.

My Essay

I felt like my Hamlet essay overall was good. I improved a lot since last time, and I think that now I am more confident in the ways that I need to improve. My main problem is being too redundant. Sometimes I will restate a sentence with different words, when really it means the same as the sentence before. If I fix these errors and proofread more closely I think I will improve even more than I did before.

"Coy Mistress" vs. "To The Virgins"

In Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Herrick’s “To The Virgins, to Make Much of Time”  both writers share similar topics and themes, while expressing different points. While Herrick argues to seize the day, and to not take time for granted, the narrator states that while you are young you must marry. He emphasizes the importance of marriage and urges young women to marry while they can, because their beauty and youthfulness will one day fade. On the other hand, in Marvell's poem his focus is mainly on sex. He forces the woman to give into his persuasiveness, and to not run out of time. He wants sex, while Herrick wants marriage. Although they both use the concept of time to get what they want, their motives and objectives are completely different. 

Comparison of 2 Poems!

"As I Walked Out One Evening" was my favorite poem that we have read thus far. I thought that the beginning was so romantic and deep, and the shift from sweetness to darkness is so smooth but prevalent that you almost don't know its happening until you really listen to the words. This poem is stating that although love is strong, time still can take its course and action whenever it may please. That although he loves her so much, and would do anything for her, she must understand that they still have a battle to fight, with time. I felt like this poem was so honest and true. It made me really think about how quickly time goes, and it honestly moved me. I felt like the words and the language was so fluid and the narrator and "lover" did a great job putting imagery to the phrases. I literally could imagine every line, and play it out in my head. The poem came to life right before me. It was great.
"To The Virgins, To Make Much of Time"
I felt like this poem was much different than "As I Walked...". In this poem, the narrator wants to persuade the virgin girls to have sexual intercourse now, rather than later. That they are wasting too much time and that they must act fast before their lives leave them. Although there are similarities to the concept of "Time" in both poems, "As I Walked.." had a completely different and romantic and honest tone. In "To The Virgins", the narrator does not have true feelings for the woman he is talking to. He merely wants to use her and persuade her to give into his pressure.
Despite the fact that I liked both poems. "As I Walked", definitely moved me and I thought it was the best we have read so far.

Shelley Vs. Cummings

While both "Ozymandias" and "Ponder" deal with the concept of time flying by and living in the moment, the poems are very different. In "Ozymandias" Shelley possesses a historic tone with much imagery in his poem. He describes every detail of the scenery while saying that time moves too quickly. In "Ponder" e.e. cummings demonstrates a different tone, one that is very matter of fact and to the point. Through his short, and staccato words we get his sense of his mocking attitude towards time. He basically is making fun of poems like "Coy Mistress" and others that use Carpe Diem. He mocks them and says that the girl needs to have sexual intercourse with the narrator because time is running out. The two poems are very different. I feel like "Oz" is more heartfelt and meaningful while "Ponder" is more mocking and making fund of time and other poems.