Directions: Share with the class an example of a poem (provide the link to the example, or include the example in your response; see the D2L links for places you might find poems) and explain what you think it means. If you choose a song, use the explication guide for songs, but if you choose a poem, use the explication guide for poetry. Keep your response to 200 words or less.
Initial reply due before class on September 10th.
Reply to classmate: follow the link or look at your classmate's example in the blog reply. Ask a question about his/her explication.
Reply to classmate due by 5pm on September 12th.
Extra credit: Again, you can get up to five points of extra credit by responding to more than one blog (one point each) and/or answering the question posed by one of your classmates to clarify your meaning.
I chose to do a song because I feel I listen to musical poetry a lot.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sarabareilles/ichooseyou.html
I did Sara Bareilles and her song “I Choose You”, it’s one of my favorite songs
The tone is loving and light, she is singing to the guy she has chosen to be the one she is with for the rest of her life. Words that support this are “lifelong love letter, light in your eyes, unfold, beautiful start, choose you, forever, whole heart…” The audience is those in love and those who think they have found the person who will be the other half of them, the person you choose to fit your own love story. I am in love with love, and I feel I have chosen that same man for myself. The meaning to me is if you find that one person that makes everything feel right and takes your heart, no matter the fight or any imperfections, you should truly choose them to be your soul mate and forever love can truly start. The title is “I Choose You” basically summing up the meaning that I choose you to be the man I give my love to for the rest of my life. Overall tone is happiness. The music is continuous high tempo until the part about embracing the elements. I think it slows to show that hard times will come, love doesn’t have a manual, but she is prepared to take that leap and go for it. The slowness of the tempo here is to highlight that. Lastly the album is called “The Blessed Unrest”, her most recent album. The theme is light and happy, to discuss the ups and downs of love and discovering one’s self within this time.
Did Sara Bareilles write this song? When researching my song I was surprised to find another person wrote the song and for a different reason than why the band was signing it. Can the audience not only be those that have found love but also for those searching for someone to love?
DeleteHonestly I don't know how much of her music she writes, something I should probably look into, but I know a lot of artists do not write their own music today but pick the music based on their life right now and what really connects to them. And yes I think this song is really meant for anyone in love or open to love, or who just love love songs, It is an open concept.
DeleteI enjoy this song as well. I think this is for some who believe in love and strongly hope to gain it in the future.
DeleteI have chosen a poem that I grew up with. It is called “The Freedom Of The Moon,” by Robert Frost.
ReplyDeletehttp://lit.genius.com/Robert-frost-the-freedom-of-the-moon-annotated
My interpretation of the poem, is that you should take notice of the simple things in life and take the time to look around you and see the world as it truly is. In the poem, Frost breaks down small details of the moon and appreciates it in such a beautiful way! The way he seems to play with what the moon has to show; as he walks along, he views it through the branches of the trees, and takes notice of the reflection “wallowing” upon the water. People tend to overlook the little things about life, nature, or anything else that makes it unique. Our generation is so caught up in technology that they forget to appreciate small details and have a sense of curiosity for how life really is (I am guilty of this). I love this poem because of the meaning that I understand from it, and it is something that I like to continue to tell myself. We should not neglect all the smaller things that we are blessed to have in our lives, no matter what it is.
Why do you think Robert Frost chose to put rhyming words in the poem? Do you think they affect the way the poem is read?
DeleteIn this fast-paced world, I love this! I am guilty but also constantly try to bring myself back down to earth and realize the little blessings in each moment. I don't want to waste this life away without taking in all that is around me.
DeleteRobert Frost was known for his rhyming schemes. In “The Freedom Of The Moon,” Frost followed a more traditional rhyming scheme for both stanzas. A-B-A-C-C…A-B-A-C-C. I’m not surprised to find a poem by Frost where he has chosen a specific rhyme scheme. I don’t think that there is any sort of meaning behind it as much as I think that it is just his writing style. I believe that instead of picking key words in his poetry to create emphasis, the schemes that he uses in certain pieces puts emphasis on the entire poem.
DeleteNicole: It is a very wise way to live!:)
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/davidcrowderband/howheloves.html
ReplyDeleteI chose to do “How He Loves” by the David Crowder Band because it is one of my favorite songs. The tone of the song is one of awe and immense relief and thankfulness. The words that support this tone include “mercy, love, glory, beautiful, affections, and grace.” The audience for this song is all mankind. The meaning of the song is for every person to realize how much God loves them, regardless of how they feel about God. It is also a worship song to praise God for how much he loves. The title of the song is also the meaning of the song, how God loves. The overall tone of the music is happiness and reverence. The song starts out slow and continues that way until after the first chorus to really put emphasis on God’s love, and to make it easy to understand and sing along to. The instrument solo after the first chorus is to allow the listener to dwell on what the chorus is saying. The album that it is on is called Church Music and has a collection of Christian worship songs. The band is famous for singing Christian worship songs.
I also love this song :) And I think you covered the what the song it trying to get across to it's audience.
DeleteI agree! To me this song is also about a sense of relief in how utterly and completely we are loved, no matter what we do.
DeleteAwesome!! I love this song too. His love's like a hurricane, I am a tree. Simile/metaphor! ;) So glad you posted this! Would you say all Christian music is poetic?
DeleteHave you heard other versions of this? Do you think that it evokes the same emotion or is it this spacific artist? I've heard it done by Gungor, who has a bit of a different sound than The David Crowder Band, they also sing "Beautiful Things" which you might enjoy.
Deletehttp://www.poetrysoup.com/poems_poets/poem_detail.aspx?ID=556670
ReplyDeleteThe poem I selected is one by Casarah Nanse titled Little Wishes. This poem stuck out to me more than others because it is extremely relatable and meaningful. The poem is about, I suspect a mother, but could also be a father talking to their daughter as she goes through her different stages of her life. The narrator in this piece is telling their daughter that the world is hers, that if she follows her dreams she is able to conquer anything in front of her. The author uses a repetition strategy to start each stanza. By using this repetition it really helps bring in the idea of how this once little girl is growing up. For example the author says, “Little kisses from my now big girl, you’re growing up so fast it seems.” As I read the poem I actually felt as if it was my mother talking to me as I am growing up. Telling me to, “make some noise, play a beat” to go out and make my mark in this world. Although this poem is referring to a daughter, I believe that in general it is about how us young adults have the world in front of us; we can do whatever we set our minds to. Go make your mom proud of the wonderful human being she raised.
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ReplyDeletewww.alyrics.com/lyrics/taylorswift/aplaceinthisworld.html
ReplyDeleteI chose Taylor Swift’s song “A Place in This World,” because not only is this one of my favorite songs, but the mood and tone displays a true raw and sad emotion. The audience is for some who feel lost when they don’t know where they want to go, what to be, who to love and end up struggling to make it throughout the day. Many end up feeling alone. Mostly, I think this song tells a story that every person experiences, “Even though I’m not the only one, who feels the way I do.” This song describes the feeling everyone goes through while growing up and trying to figure out who they are. “I don’t know what I want, so don’t ask me,” is one of my favorite quotes because in my experience it’s a difficult path to truly understand what you want to do in life. The music is a slow tempo with a deep emotion that makes you wonder the true beauty and heart that you are in this world.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you described what this song was about. Listening to it you can clearly hear that it's about feeling lost in a world and simply trying to find yourself. Doing some research on the song Taylor Swift wrote it when she was 13 and just moved to Nashville so she was beginning to try and start her music career and find her place in the world/Country music and during our teenage years is when people normally start trying to find their place in the world and where they belong so I thought it was a very appropriate time for her to write this.
DeleteI chose to go with "Clint Eastwood" by the Gorrilaz. Needless to say it is indeed inspired by the film "The Good, Bad, and the Ugly".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lyrics007.com/Gorillaz%20Lyrics/Clint%20Eastwood%20Lyrics.html
For myself this song is addressing wishful happiness. The tone gives a feeling of musty push and pull with the lyrics and the beat. The lyrics "I'm useless, but not for long the future is comin'in on" is saying the future isn't something to reply on. The band is creating an atmosphere where listeners start to realize this perception of happiness. This is where I believe the fantasy crumbles. The sluggish off-beats start to give listeners control over the song. So it would appeal to an audience that likes to take charge. As an observer seeing people struggle with what happiness really is...makes me feel better since I'm just like that. So, why is the song called "Clint Eastwood"? It's a tribute to Clint Eastwood himself and his issues with morality. The song illustrates that good and bad tipping scale perfectly.
You point out a good idea here. When you are trying to find the meaning of a song, the beat, the tempo, and volume of the music can all help to find the tone AND mood of the song! When explicating a poem the tone and mood are sometimes not as easily identified because you don't have the elements that a song does.
Deletehttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jackson5/iwantyouback.html
ReplyDeleteI chose the Jackson 5 song “I Want You Back.” I chose this song because it is one of my favorite songs from the 60’s. This song always makes me smile when I hear it because the tone and the beat of the music is happy and easy going. This song is different to me because it talks about how the guy made a mistake and that he wants the girl back. The audience I think is pretty broad, but also includes the girl who they are singing the song to. You can hear the passion in the main voice (Michael Jackson) to get the girl to come back. The music pretty much stays the same throughout the song. Even though this song was made in the 60’s it is still a popular song today for the right audience. Michael Jackson is the main singer in this song, but his back ground singers add a depth to the song.
This song is a classic and it's really upbeat and happy but in reality the lyrics aren't "happy". How do you feel this song is different from a song like Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man" This song also is a guy saying he messed up and hurt this girl that he cared about so much. Do you think the songs compare? They are both basically about the same thing, remorse in losing the girl they love and wanting to fix things.
DeleteIt's awesome that you chose a family group from the 60's. The Jackson's not only have good music, but a pretty brutal family background. Which makes it all the more interesting. Do you think that song poetry has progressed in a positive way towards relationships? Or is it a constant? Given this happened in the rebellious 60's.
Delete"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
ReplyDeletehttp://allpoetry.com/Stopping-By-Woods-On-A-Snowy-Evening
This poem describes the thoughts of a man riding through snow-covered woods on his horse. It harbors a sense of melancholy, and the reader can feel the chill of the dark and snowy night. Frost uses a simple vocabulary in his metaphor for depression. The lines are short, just like the way a cold winter wind cuts breath short. The man in the poem is depressed, and as he stops in the woods where no one can see him, he briefly ponders the comforts that death could bring. Even his horse recognizes that something is not quite right; they have stopped with no houses in sight. The man quickly stops himself from taking any action on his thoughts, as he has “promises to keep” and things to do before he is allowed the comfort of permanent sleep. The last line is repeated as if he is reminding himself over and over of his earthly duties. This repetition also indicates that he has a great deal of miles to travel before the welcome relief of death.
This poem speaks out to me. Not just for the atmosphere. It's like a sweet silent longing to be at peace. Thanks for sharing this one! Really liked it
DeleteI always love a good Robert Frost poem. He is always so thoughtful and so appreciative of everything that is around him. He gives his audience an optimistic vibe with his writing. How do you feel about Frost’s rhyming scheme in this poem? Frost was known for choosing certain tactics with his rhymes. Even though the sentences would not be same if the rhyming scheme was different, do you think that Frost would have been able to display the same mood through this poem if he had chose a different order for his rhymes?
DeleteI enjoyed this very much. His style of writing is interesting and drags the audience right in.
DeletePoeme, I do think he could have conveyed the same meaning even without the rhyme scheme, but then it would not be in true Frost form. Frost also uses the sounds of the words as much as the words themselves to give meaning to his poems, in this case pulling the reader back and forth between thoughts and reality. This analysis of the poem's sounds is pretty interesting: http://www.shmoop.com/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/sound-check.html Thanks for bringing that up, I hadn't really thought about it that way.
Delete“50 Ways to Say Goodbye” by Train
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/train/50waystosaygoodbye.html
“50 Ways to Say Goodbye” addresses the difficulty in accepting an uncomfortable truth. This theme is accompanied by a satirical tone which overplays the emotions of a breakup in order to make a point. The singer’s thoughts are filled with trite clichés about breakups, such as empty wishes about continuing to see his old date, the hope of finding a new girl who’ll REALLY appreciate him, and the ever common “It’s not you, it’s me.” The lies aren’t much better; the signer fabricates several outlandish claims about how his girlfriend “died” rather than admitting that they broke up. Linking the thoughts and the feelings is the lyric, “That’s cool but if my friends ask where you are I’m gonna say.” This lyric portrays the singer’s forceful removal from his thoughts in order to try and justify himself.
The music is also representative of the theme. Mariachi music heavily accentuates his thoughts, while also being laced throughout his lies. The cheesy music gives an air of falseness, perfectly demonstrating his false acceptance and his outlandish lies. In addition, rock music is also played during the lies, which shows off the loud and boisterous nature of his excuses.
I absolutely love this song! It's very playful and fun. I completely agree that he's addressing how hard it is to accept a truth. He just doesn't want anyone to know she broke up with him so he's making up lies of what happened to her and where she is. He would rather make up those lies than tell the truth and accept she doesn't want to be with him. Great song!
DeleteJabberwocky by Lewis Carroll http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/lewis_carroll/poems/6085
ReplyDeleteIt may seem childish, but this poem is one of my favorites. It starts off setting the scene of a typical day as a father tells his son about a dangerous beast. So the son sets out on a long journey to find it. He finds the beast, kills it and returns to his father, who celebrates. It ends in the same fashion of just being a typical day. The author takes the reader through several emotions through the boy’s journey. We go from relaxed, to frightened, to celebrating and back to relaxed. The meter of the poem is basic, but it gives continual flow to the piece that could make it easy to memorize and retell. Carroll uses many onomatopoeias which makes the poem almost come alive. The nonsense words in the poem are a trademark of Lewis Carroll, but I do not feel they hinder the understanding of the poem, it just takes you to another level of imagery. I believe a theme of this poem is the basic battle of good vs. evil.
I'm so glad you posted this! I was reading the poem, considering it to write about but couldn't make much sense of it. Awesome to have someone explain it! I love Lewis Carroll and his "nonsense" poetry.
DeleteI have eaten
ReplyDeletethe plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Reading this poem bought back so many memories of being a child. Those days when I would eat the last cookie, only to feel a sudden wave of guilt overcome me as I realized that I allowed selfishness and greed overcome me. However, the poem takes it even further as it comes apparent they did so knowing that someone else was saving the item for a later time. Thus, I imaged an elderly man sitting there enjoying the plums as the juice and flavors explode in his mouth. Unable to hide the smile of enjoyment. Yet as he savors the very last bite realizing that he was wrong as a tear rolls down his cheek. Therefore, I think this poem had a lot of deep meaning for being a simple poem and that we shouldn't allow desire to overcome us. We as humans should always try to do whats right even if it means denying ourselves pleasure.
I love the simplicity in this poem, I imagine it being taped where an empty bowl sits. When the author describes what the fruit tasted like was he feeling remorse?
DeleteI forgot to post the Title and Author of my poem, so here is the info!
DeleteThis Is Just To Say
William Carlos Williams, 1883 - 1963
I Drive Your Truck - Lee Brice
ReplyDeletehttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leebrice/idriveyourtruck.html
The song was written by Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander and is sang by Lee Brice. It was written after Connie listened to a story on the radio about a couple who had lost their son in Afghanistan and when asked how they coped with it the mother said "I drive his truck" and that is where the inspiration for this song came from. The story was very heartfelt and moving, empowering enough to write a song about thus coming up with "I Drive Your Truck". I chose this song simply because it is one of my favorites and most importantly because I can relate to it. The tone of this song is sadness and it's about loss and how someone copes with their loss. The lyrics "Eighty-Nine Cents in the ash tray" shows us this person spends a lot of time in the truck, he knows exactly how much change is in the ash tray. "Dog tags hangin’ from the rear view. Old Skoal can, and cowboy boots and a Go Army Shirt folded in the back" tells us the person this truck belonged to was/is in the military. "momma asked me this morning If I’d been by your grave, But that flag and stone ain’t where I feel you anyway" lets us know the person (who we assume to be is his brother because his momma is asking him if he has been to his grave) had passed away. This song is raw and true emotion. I can relate to this song and it helps me cope on those days when missing someone gets the better of me. For me the audience of this song is geared more towards military personnel and family/friends but anyone could relate to this song if they have lost someone so it's a very diverse song. Normally when you lose someone there is a special memory, item or location that just connects you more to this person. For Lee Brice his brother's truck is where he feels his presence rather than the "flag and stone".
I love this song too! Do you think the audience could be anyone and making them better understand the toughness of losing a loved one? I thankfully have not lost anyone close to me but this song gave me a greater sympathy for those who have.
DeleteAt evening when the lamp is lit,
ReplyDeleteAround the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.
Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.
There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter's camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.
These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.
I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.
So when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear land of Story-books.
My mum read many of Stevenson's poems to me as I was growing up, they hold a replace my heart. I like this one especially because it revels in the imagination of a child. Imagination fueled by reading. I myself am quite fond of reading, especially reading books that trigger the imagination; fantastic stories, rich characters, and infatuating settings. I love the sort of books that drive me to "call about the dark wall of my toy gun" (yes I am a college student, and yes I still do this). Almost reminds us to be a little bit silly, not to take things too seriously, but to play and enjoy the delight that brings.
What a wonderful picture of boyhood! Do you think that this is gender specific, could a little girl identify with this poem as well as a boy?
DeleteI like that this poem is about reading and the imagination that comes with it, and within the poem it uses imagery like "And there the river by whose brink The roaring lions come to drink". The whole poem is playful like you said, and I think that describes reading in itself.Why do these poems continue to stay in your mind over the years? Besides it connecting to your hobbies...is it something with the rhymes? Or the imagery? or just what the author likes to talk about?
Deletehttp://www.lyricsmania.com/rooftops_lyrics_kye_kye.html
ReplyDeleteI chose the song "Rooftops" by Kye Kye. They are a unique Christian group that poetically uses verses in their own words in each line of their songs. Each line specifically correlates with a certain verse in the Bible. I think this is so beautiful because their songs are taken directly from God's word and crafted into a compilation for each song. "Rooftops" is about crossing the line and living fully for God. God is calling the artist to a life of joy and light, a life where the burdens of the world can be lifted off of their shoulders and they can rejoice and feel comforted and loved. The artist wants to shout from the rooftops the good news; that she is saved! The song (poem) continues to enlighten listeners with the truth about how God has seen where she's been in life and still takes her in and adores her. Now, in her new walk of faith, she can fight for a purpose, "a given end". This song is joyful and almost relieving. It sets a peace in hearts of listeners. The audience might be any Christian who has a newly found Christ or anyone at all who wants to lay down their burdens and live life with a beautiful purpose that is bigger than what the world has to offer. The bright tinkering instruments (maybe a xylophone or bells?) suggest a delicate, renewing tone. The tone is hopeful, at peace. The band could be considered "Indie" or brushing the edge of that genre; not what you would hear on a regular Christian radio station. It has appealed to much larger crowds than just Christians and can be found in many "dubstep" remixes. I wonder if the listeners at those concerts know that the lyrics are from the Bible? Cool.
*has newly found Christ*
DeleteI agree the tone is very soothing. What words in the song do you feel contribute to this tone?
DeleteHonestly, this song has one of the best forms of allusion heard in any genre of music. I know that most Christian music refers to the bible, but the verses and lyrics feel so intertwined with each other in this song that it would be difficult to tell the two apart; and, you know, I think that also ties in with the message too. She and God are one, intermingled, stuck for the better, and you can feel that mesh with the lyrics in the song.
DeleteWhile the audience may seem to be Christians, you mentioned in your explication that its lyrics have even gone outside the supposed demographic, which got me wondering. Do you think that this song was meant exclusively for the Christian crowd, or it it addressing an even larger audience?
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/176996
About a year ago I stumbled upon the poem One Art by Elizabth Bishop, it really spoke to me and where I was at that time in my life. The poem has a lighthearted rhythm, which is not reflected in the words. The tone is playful in the first 3 verses; verse 4 moves to a more serious slow tempo. In the poem One Art Bishop explores loss. Throughout the poem Bishop compares loss to a disaster, and attempts convincing herself that loss is not difficult. The author begins with things that can either be replaced or things that don’t matter, then moves to tangible objects that have meaning and cannot be replaced. Verse 4-6 have a more serious tone, with the loss she continues on with things that cannot be owned, like rivers and places. Bishop is trying to convince herself that losing on any level is easy; it doesn’t matter if it is time or an idea or a place or a person. Bishop ends by forcing herself to write that losing love is not hard.