... home so she feels as though things are getting better and she's becoming more sane. Then in the last two lines of the stanzas she concludes by saying, "a women like that is misunderstood./ I have been her kind " (13-14). This gives a different feel then the rest of the stanza because here she is saying this ... that our speaker feels more alone. She starts by saying she has followed what she was suppose to, she has played her role as a women, but the roles of a women aren't as easy as they appear. She's walking through the motions everyday, doing what is expected of her but that is not...

• Word Count: 1020
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Emily Dickinson's "My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun- portrays women's role in the world of poetry during the 19th century. Women during this time period, in the literary world, faced scrutiny simply for being female. Dickinson attempts to reveal the ... The Owner passed - identified -/ And carried me away -". In other words, she is referring to fear that she felt as a result of society's resentment toward educated women like herself. This fear caused her to feel alone in the "corner-, or world of poetry, without support from anyone. From her newfound strength, she is "carried- ... society's d...

• Word Count: 782
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

William Shakespeare opens his sonnet, "Sonnet 29: When in Disgrace with Fortune and Men's Eyes," with a paradoxical comparison of his lack of social good fortune with his self-worth and love of his subject, a woman. Shakespeare uses the argument of good fortune in opposition ... -worth to allude to the tone of the author's state of misfortune and loneliness, which improves with wishing and desiring. After examining "Sonnet 29: When in Disgrace with Fortune and Men's Eyes," the reader sees that Shakespeare enters into the simplistic nature and purpose of the poem. Shakespeare is writing about ...

• Word Count: 393
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... as a blessing or reward. The speaker is repulsed because we have given our hearts away in exchange for money and material possessions, a "disreputable reward"." The setting of the sonnet is overlooking the ocean. As the speaker admires the ocean, he records the "sea that bares her bosom to the mood" (5). He goes on to mention that the winds will be howling ... , more primitive religions yet seemed to be at one with nature which is what the writer longs for. The final image of the sonnet has the speaker standing on a lea overlooking the ocean where he has glimpses that make him less depre...

• Word Count: 994
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... father it is even more poignant in the emotional weight the words convey. This poem radiates with intensity, in particular, the verse beginning: "wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight" is simply beautiful poetry. Addressed to the poet's father as he approaches blindness and death. The ... relevant aspect of the relationship was Thomas's profound respect for his father, tall and strong in Thomas's passionate mind but now tamed by illness and the passing of time. The acceptance of death and a peaceful rest afterwards are ... have danced in a green bay," evokes a wonder world of jo...

• Word Count: 811
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , a house where people come and go; but it is winter with your love" (Millay 34). Her heart is clearly broken, although she still stands tall in claiming that her heart has not changed. Rather, Millay critcizes her lover, as she had done in her personal life as well. She hardly criticized ... However, Millay adjusted nicely with the spirit and excitement of the Jazz Age. Although she struggled with intimacy, she was willing to give her body to men that she found worthy of her time. She enjoyed drinking, and socializing with others, but soon there were an increasing number of gentlemen who...

• Word Count: 1063
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... presents this poem to a somewhat younger audience from an elder's perspective. Herrick reveals the importance of seizing each day in attempt to prevent the reader and its present society in overlooking the possibilities of death; that of which was a frequent occurrence and important aspect during his lifetime. At the turn of the 17th century, lyric poets, including Robert Herrick, supported the ... cause of Charles I in the English Civil War during the Renaissance. These poets were known as the "Cavalier Poets." The "Cavaliers" were acknowledged to be courtly and well-educated men. The ...

• Word Count: 1153
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... teases him and claims to not believe him; therefore Eisenbart loses his sense of control over the relationship. In "An Impromptu for Ann Jennings", women are portrayed as ambitions and although they are still are mothers; they still had the determination to do other things which went against all the ... and be nothing. They were to pursue their ambitions. "Professor Eisenbart's Evening" is a typical example of how Gwen Harwood casts men in the role of destroyer and women as creators. In this poem Professor Eisenbart is portrayed as the dominant character, an intellectual who works all day...

• Word Count: 1000
• Approx Pages: 4

A person's body image is usually a sensitive subject, particularly for women. When discussing a woman's body image, chances are she will get defensive. Society, in fact, is what dictates how a woman should look. Whether that image is tall and slender, or voluptuous, woman should adhere to society's standards. In America, ... the previous decade. According to Dr. Barbara A. Cohen, who wrote "A Psychology of Ideal Body Image as an Oppressive Force in the Lives of Women," discusses how in the 1970's "Twiggy and other fashion models replaced the more "female figure". The ideal image was slim agai...

• Word Count: 346
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... became a four year struggle. When the guns finally did fall silent, the German, Austrian, Russian empires collapsed, and the greater part of a generation of young men lay dead. At the beginning of the war, most poets wrote about how it was patriotic to fight or even die for your country, "The Soldier" is ... many consider it too romantic compared to the gruesome works of some World War 1 poets such as Wilfred Owen, it gives a very good image of young men's attitudes when entering the world before they had been hardened by the experience of war. The poem "Futility", the heading says it ...

• Word Count: 983
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of three lines each. It is very easy to follow and each stanza deals with something different. The poem has no rhyming scheme so it kind of reads like a real short story. It is not like most poems. While most poems are deep in meaning or sad, "Variations on a theme- is all about fun. It's funny how Koch's poem comes off ... Williams hadn't eaten the plums, he would still have his summerhouse. In the second stanza, Koch talks about laughing at the hollyhocks and spraying the hollyhocks with lye. A hollyhock is a tall Chinese herb and lye is a strong solution for making soap. That would p...

• Word Count: 541
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... a poet to tell his family of the horrors of war. War killed many British and they needed lots of reinforcements for back-up. Many of the young men went to war seeking an adventure and a way to see the world for free. The British government wanted to keep it this way because they needed constant ... of his work. He wrote many poems about war and some were even published. Many of the poems written by Owen would have most certainly put most young men off going to war. His last letter home before his death describes the closeness to his fellow soldier but also tells of the horrors he faces e...

• Word Count: 756
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of decay, "lofty trees barren of leaves- and "white and bristly beard-. The metaphor of nature is continued in the fifth line. Life turns to death, just as trees once tall and full of leaves are now "barren-. The narration continues to embellish on how life turns to death with a metaphor of trees once being full of leaves and life, have ... in awe by the "splendour- of the "sun-. The narrator is happy to have had the "sun- for "one hour-, but the tone is of remorse that this was too short a time. The rhyming couplet implies that the narrator cannot blame his love for whatever pain or so...

• Word Count: 1204
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... married a South African freedom fighter and lived in Cairo. Later she also taught in Ghana. In the 1960's she said that being black, female, non-Muslim, non-Arab, six foot tall, and American made for some interesting experiences during her stay in Africa (Williams 1). Ms. Angelou accomplished many things in her life. She was the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian ... Conference at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was also appointed to the Bicentennial Commission by President Gerald Ford, the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year b...

• Word Count: 1089
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... married a South African freedom fighter and lived in Cairo. Later she also taught in Ghana. In the 1960's she said that being black, female, non-Muslim, non-Arab, six foot tall, and American made for some interesting experiences during her stay in Africa (Williams 1). Ms. Angelou accomplished many things in her life. She was the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian ... Conference at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was also appointed to the Bicentennial Commission by President Gerald Ford, the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year b...

• Word Count: 1089
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... married a South African freedom fighter and lived in Cairo. Later she also taught in Ghana. In the 1960's she said that being black, female, non-Muslim, non-Arab, six foot tall, and American made for some interesting experiences during her stay in Africa (Williams 1). Maya Angelou has accomplished many things in her life. She was the northern coordinator for the Southern ... Conference at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was also appointed to the Bicentennial Commission by President Gerald Ford, the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year by Jim...

• Word Count: 878
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Jessie Pope, who had published numerous patriotic poems in newspapers such as the Daily Mail and the Daily Express in an attempt to urge young men to enlist into the army. The subject of the poem can be seen to stem from a letter by Owen to his mother in which ... or passion, or grief, or distress. not only is this seen the movement, but we sense the state of mind behind it, and almost hear the men's march like a soundtrack to the next lines of the poem. By doing this, the author has attempted to illustrate the scene, and thus creates a ... deeper understanding by the reader. The repeate...

• Word Count: 801
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... other through the battle field. "Bent double like old beggars under sacks." They are weak and exhausted, comparable to old women. "coughing like hags." The poet describes the unreasonable expectations of the fighting men, how they lost their boots and had to limp bare-foot through the battle grounds. "Many had lost their boots, ... but limped on." To start the second verse, a series of short one syllable words with exclamation marks are used, this shows the urgency. ... ." He then goes on to describe the slow, painful and horrific death of that man who never fitted his gas mask. Verse 3 ...

• Word Count: 577
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... to write was an aspect of life that was limited by the occupation that one participated in. Consequently writing became something that was reserved for the men due to the occupations that they held. Women were not allowed to hold these occupations and in turn were not taught how to write. The woman that could write had often received no formal education ... of writing were intended for personal use. The writing and publishing of Anne Bradstreet created and endless problem, because it was considered to be completely prohibited, and reserved for only men. If women were to be published the...

• Word Count: 1169
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

... of Hush-A-Bye in the days of Yore. A box is bound very tightly displaying a warning of war. The women and children obey the caution, while the men do not. The box is opened, a ball of war bounces out, and the innocent are the victims. The author states that ... of this poem is simply that war causes suffering among innocent bystanders and has no calluses to the destruction it induces. Abercrombie conveys that men have the wisdom to contain war and maintain peace; yet, mankind so far chooses to disregard this capability. The knowledge of the absurdity ... matter how civilized or technolo...

• Word Count: 806
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

This is a narrative poem which means that it tells a story. Liz Lockhead combines parts from the fairy stories in order to look at the relationship between men and women from a different point of view. It is a modern poem with feminist evidence. Unlike in traditional fairy tales, there is no happy ending. It ends in disappointment and disillusionment for the ... woman. (Linked with 'our love now'). Compared to traditional fairy stories, there is a difference in the presentation between men and women. In the modern poem, the man is the weaker character. He is treated as a 'sex object' in the p...

• Word Count: 839
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The art of seduction is a universal "hot" topic conversed by both men and women regardless of their race and culture. It is the means to satisfy our most primitive and biological desire as a human being which exactly seems to be the reason for it ... in his nature. Ultimately, they are both utilizing these divine notions just for the sake of accomplishing their goal; to get laid. In short, John Donne and Andrew Marvell are very much alike in their attitude for women. They take whatever is at hand and conveniently molds it's interpretation and presents them as an argument for persuading their...

• Word Count: 1015
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

"Jack and Diane", a song by Mellencamp John Cougar, was written to explain true love between two sixteen-year-old teenagers. This song tells a short story about two normal kids and what goes on during their everyday life. A ballad is a song that tells a story. "Jack and Diane" clearly fits the definition of a ballad. Since ballads ... . Most modern songs today tell stories insides its rhyme scheme. This song was different in its scheme and told more of a story. "Changes come around real soon, make us women and men- This part is interesting because, it is towards the ending of the song, and it...

• Word Count: 928
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... words that create a special effect by their sound? The verse by Milton below has lots of long vowel sounds. Watery sorts of sounds. Do the poets use long words or short words or a mixture of both? Does either poet repeat words or phrases to get a special effect? Alliteration is a way of putting words together that have some of the same sounds ... designed to be read aloud, declaimed to an audience? Or read silently, in private? Is it a narrative or an episode? Looking through my poetry books, I was struck by how few women poets were published in the past. At least that is changing now. ...

• Word Count: 1070
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ineffectual in challenging existing concepts of beauty. Although American Modernism was a time of literary change and advancement, women still struggled to gain an equal place to men with their work. Men's work in the early nineteen hundreds was more popular and more accepted than women's work of the same time period. Even today, male American Modernists are usually the first ones referenced when ... about or speaking of American Modernism. Take, for example, the list of American Modernists provided by Mr. Hamelin that included only one woman, Hilda Doolittle (HD), among many men. Thoug...

• Word Count: 538
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School