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                       The Passing of Grandison

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The Road Not Taken~ Robert Frost:  

 

This poem has an influencing message behind its curtains. At first glance one might think that the literal meaning of Frosts work in this poem is to help the reader envision a traveler taking a road less traveled, and simply that; however, given a CLOSE READING of the poem a swath of depth is unraveled! 

 

Lindsay does a great CLOSE READING of Frosts poem and unveils many openly interpreted points. Firstly agreeable, Lindsay states 

I think the poem is talking about life’s journey, and one’s role as the “traveler” in their life. 

The poem indeed describes life as a journey, and seems to enunciate that individual choices are incredibly important factors in the outcome of your life's journey. Frost breaths this thought life by stating,

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Taking the road less traveled was one of those incredibly important individual choices. In the end it made all the difference in the outcome of the journey. 

Later in the CLOSE READING Lindsay does a great job of examining how the title of the poem works with the poems content, how the poem rhymes, and how the poem is structured. The tile of the poem works very well with the content, as the title is directly related to the content, even used in the body word for word; this helps the reader by giving them a shot at something they are familiar with, rather than just going to town in the dark. Lindsay states,

If the poems title were different, I don’t think it would be nearly as authentic in term of the message of the poem.

 The message of the poem is that of the decisions one makes along their life's journey, and because the title introduces this theme, it does add an authentic touch; the reader is informed going into the text. Rhyming in this poem is not something word for word, rather as Lindsay states,

Although each line in the poem does not necessarily rhyme with the next, in a “sing song” way, there is a rhythm and beat to the poem, with a few lines scattered throughout that do rhyme.

This is true as Frost adds a textual sense of rhythm and rhyme diffused through his work. For instance showing in the third stanza of his poem, 

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Note how instead of directly rhyming the word "Lay" he waits until the lapse of another sentence to rhyme it with "Day." Structurally Lidsay believes, 

The poem does seem to have formal structure; as to what structure that is, I am not educated on formal poetic structure to convey this.

Agree able is the fact that the poem has some kind of structure, what ever structure it may be. Noticeably the poem is written in the traditional four stanza structure which Lindsay might convey as,

I do however think that structure gives this poem the limitations necessary express to the reader exactly what the author’s intent was and leaves the poem up to some kind of personal interpretation.

These important observations brought to light by Lindsay's CLOSE READING help to reveal the swath of depth in Frosts work.

Close Reading A Poem

After Apple Picking 

By~ Robert Frost

Robert Frost was a honorable poet of his time. His poem After Apple Picking is one of those wonderful pieces of literature that you can savor and maybe regurgitate later! Close reading this poem provides for a better understanding of it and its author.

First Impression:

Frost paints the mystical and congratulatory scene of an apple harvest that is exhausted and tucked in for the winter. The objects from which the harvest is capable cradled into their homes, some still in trees. Apple fragments and aftermaths spread around the harvesting areas grounds and even an apple or two left behind in the bows of a far off tree. One worn harvester seeing the last days work done and finished, seemingly filled up with his share of the harvest, happily tucking him self in for the long winter months to come. Of his dreams an endless commotion of apple picking detail, all the way up to the sound of the thuds given by the piling of apples in the cellar. His sleep, maybe compared to that of the woodchuck, pushed into deep slumber by nothing other than the hustle and bustle of an average year picking apples for a living.

 Close Read Impression:

1.  The poems title works directly with the text by informing the reader about what they are going to read. It immediately gives you the scene of being done picking apples, because its titled "After Apple Picking." You could be easily mislead by the title had it read "Before Apple Picking" because its not about before apple picking its about after.
2. Fleck and russet are two misunderstood words from the text. Fleck means "A tiny mark or spot." Russet means "A dark brown color with a reddish-orange tinge." It helps to understand these words before reading the text.
3.  The Poem rhymes very cleverly. Instead of directly rhyming one word after the other, Frosts rhymes tine in at the end of sentences with the ends of others. repeatedly hear through out the poem are the sounds "ll","ght","ss","ar","red","th".
4. What literally happens in the poem is not so different after the close reading. Basically, there is a man done with harvesting apples for the year, whom has had his fair share. He is admiring his work all tucked up for the winter, and he tucks him self away for the night to sleep possibly as long as a wood chuck after all his hard work. The reader is lead to believe that this is happening on the apple farm, there is nothing to prove or disprove this. maybe even the place is the mans own home. the only person in the poem is the one man whom has finished his apple harvest.
5. there are many different images produced in the readers mind in this poem. Firstly the beautiful apple field. Secondly you imagine the some what disastrous scene of what is left over after the harvest was over. Following is the picture that the farm is tucked up for winter, and everything is buckled down safe and sound for the next season to arrive. Fourth seen is the image of the harvester worn out and fast to sleep and his dreams of apple picking detail. Over all you get the entire picture of the whole Harvest being completed. 
6. The authors name is Robert Lee Frost. He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874 on March 26th. Named after the famous confederate General. Parents of Frost were Isabelle Moodie Frost, and William Prescott Frost Jr. Family separated while Frost was very young. Father died of Tuberculosis in 1885. Frost Published Poems in the high school news paper. He taught school. He worked in a Textile mill. Frosts first professional publication was "My Butterfly." 
7. I believe the over all tone of this poem is of a proud accomplished and finished type. Frost goes to give the reader the impression that all the work of the harvest has been done, and not a second too short. the reader gets the feeling that the harvester is happy to be finished, and that he is proud of his work. you get the sense of accomplishment in this text very strongly. Frost uses enlightening and upbeat words to uplift the tone of the text like:  Heaven, Essence, Scent, Well, Dreaming, Magnified, Bend, Sleep, Done, Winter.
8. The poem has not tell tail formal structure that the reader can pick up on. This is good however because poems can be hard to read because of some structures, and having none here you get the freedom feeling from the flow of the text, it is smooth and doesn't get the reader mixed up. 
9. There seems to be tension in the poem but not from any kind of conflict. Towards the end of the Poem, when the author is describing the dreams the harvester is having of the laborious apple picking, it comes off as intense apple picking detail, which is like the conscience of the person bring back the tension of the apple harvest.
10. Three resonating things from the poem are: "Essence of winter sleep is on the night," "and not let fall. For all," "just some human sleep."

My first impression of the literal scene going on in this poem did not change after the close reading, however my understanding of the author and poem in general did.I did not know all those fact about frost until i looked them up, and I did not know what he meant by "fleck or russet" until i looked it up. I might have noticed a bit of structure after my first impression, but realized there is no structure at all to the poem, rather it as almost just written in simple sentences just as any other writings. the way frost uses rhyming in this poem is clever and unique and is a better way of rhyming when compared to directly rhyming a word one after the other.   

Robert Frost will always be one of Americas best poets. His work is worth studying, and the way he gets his message over to the reader is worth every penny you spent past what you bought. Close reading other poems might reveal subtle changes in their overall generality, might we all have a go at this?  

Washinton And Du Bois

Washington And Du Bois

 Two renowned authors of their time~ RavesZak Arnel 

    Booker "Taliaferro" Washington of "Up from Slavery"                                                                                  

"William Edward Burghardt" Du Bois of "The Souls of Black Folk"           

                      

These two authors help bring understanding to rising up against racial inequality during reconstruction. 

      Du Bois, the far more militant author in his view of how to settle inequality, seemed to be the author I would agree with most when it comes to his writings. I feel as if he may be a little too militant at times however; it comes off the tongue bitter to any awkward eye which would play to his disfavor in his time. I feel Du Bois's opinionated thoughts out weigh humanistic altruism, which was needed most at his time. Justly in his name though Du Bois had great motivation behind his almost, "Now or Never" voice for racial equality that pushed for absolute American liberty for all. Du Bois made his voice herd in a very candid way that stuck with anybody that heard his verbiage.

Washington is the far more conservative author when it comes to his writings. I believe that humanist promotion was key and passive resistance with a soft voice was necessary too, but Washington is so flaccid in his writings it reminds me of Grandison in the familiar story "The Passing of Grandison" by Charles Chesnutt. As we came to find out the great irony behind one of Grandisons conversations with the Colonel; Grandison is forced into acting softly given his situation, and he only goes on to show support of anti-liberty for all. The way Washington relates to Grandisons in that situation only differs in the sense that the supposed roots behind his writings was of pro-freedom seed. I feel if liberty for all was based on philosophy so captured by Washington writings that slavery and inequality would yet relapse, it simply wasn't strong enough potion.

After deeper reflection upon the origins of the men them selves and the states of freedom they were born into, I find a more intricate perspective and rather tactful strategy being deployed in their writings. As Washington was born into slavery yet seems conservative when reforming against racial inequality, I get the feeling he is going with the "Been There Done That" approach. He knows the oppression first hand inequality spawns, and wants to ensure it doesn't happen again by seeming like a threat by coming on too bold to the new reforms across the land. This is Washington's fear, going back into oppression. Du Bois uses the tyrannous militant approach to absolving inequality even though he was born into freedom having never experienced oppression first hand. Lacking this hands on exercise of conformity makes him unwise of it, it is unknown to him. This is Du Bois's fear, going into the oppression, going into the unknown. With that idiosyncrasy of his being so might he razz as much alarm as possible to ensure his fear is never furnished? Were these two men dedicated to making sure their worst fears were never materialized?

These deliberations rise striking controversy in my opinion towards both authors. Importantly, I am fonder of both and can appreciate their contributions to racial reforms during reconstruction with certified appreciation. I might also add that neither approach was either completely upheld or condemned effective in boosting reconstructive actions; so maybe required was an equilibrium of both.

~Political Funny~

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                       The Passing of Grandison

In Regards To...  A Well Composed Peer Post from one linzersamples

 Lindsay describes a great verbal irony from Charles Chestnutt's narrative The Passing of Grandison.

•  Verbal Irony: The actual meaning of speech contradicts the expressed meaning.

 The direct verbal irony characterized in her post: 

"He deserves a leather medal, made out of his own hide tanned."

I agree with Lindsay that this is verbal irony, as she states how it is irony saying, "The irony being that this type of physical punishment would be the opposite of what a devoted servant deserving of a medal would receive." This is a good use of verbal irony because the actual meaning of a medal is contradicted by the expressed meaning. When somebody deserves a medal, this is typically associated with something good they have done, and they are being rewarded for it. Grandison by all means deserves a medal but if the medium used to create it was his own tanned hide, this is no reward, rather, a twisted punishment. 

 

 Through this use of verbal irony the author describes a foes rationality of impatience for Grandison not a praise in which a medal is commonly associated with. Chestnutt's ability to numerously blend verbal irony such as this into his text stands as a testament to his renowned narrative skills and contribution he made to amercian literature.

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Chesnutts Irony: The Passing of Grandison

The Passing of Grandison

 

There are many instances of verbal and situational irony in Chestnutt's "The Passing of Grandison."

Verbal Irony: The actual meaning of speech contradicts the expressed meaning.

•  "The poor nigger could hardly crawl along, with the help of a broken limb." Nobody is helped by a broken limb besides the guy getting paid to break it! The actual meaning of the word help is not typically used to express the affects of a broken leg on a person; when it comes to his mobility that is, and not what he is yelling. This is a good example of verbal irony because the word help is expressed as something that has hindered Grandison along the forwarding of his two way pilgrimage to freedom. 
• "The colonel killed the fatted calf for Grandison, and for two or three weeks the returned wanderer's life was a slave's dream of pleasure." Colonel Owens founded his wealth with hard work enough to fund a land one hundred slaves strong, would he now then in his age butcher such a tender morsel with his own clutches? What Grandison really experienced was the colonel's most hospitable treatment, not a hand slain baby cow, and treatment for weeks to tend his wounds and pamper him back to fine tuned working condition; a great verbal irony example dating back to the days of giants referring to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, commonly found in the bible under (Luke 15:11-33). http://www.realchrist.info/3-13.html

Situational Irony: The outcome of a narrative is the opposite of the expected results.

• "Every night when Dick came in he hoped he might have to wait upon him self, and every morning he looked forward with pleasure to the prospect of making his toilet unaided." This is a good example of situational irony because of what dick wants, and what he should want as a slave owner. Slave owners as know to the public want and need their slaves around for every reason, including help with bedding down at night and waking up in the morning. This is what is to be expected from Dick, is it not? What is being expressed here is the opposite of the expected, because of the situation, Dick wants to be slave free; a great example of situational irony because the outcome of the narrative is the opposite of the expected results.
• "Sleep on, faithful and affectionate servitor, and dream of the blue grass and the bright skies of old Kentucky, for it is only in your dreams that you will ever see them again." In these lines situational irony seems to later on appear, as the outcome of the story is the opposite of what is described here. Dick thought that Grandison would never set foot in Kentucky again, but to his utmost surprise later on Grandison would at last see his home yet again!

Irony is rich in this story and I am exited to learn more about it; irony is all around us. Is it not a little bit of situational irony that I am in this English class?  Two semesters ago I thought I was done with English because I earned all of my required credits, but here I am.....

   The good guys and the bad guys; a theme to be continued on into the future after all it has done for us in the past.
Bierce's short writing "Chickamauga" and Twain's "A Private History" do originally interpret and deliver a telling of warfare of far different types. Resonating over the overall lay of both works does potentially draw out overlapping relevance. These are not two tales of the Civil War on the front line, taking heavy fire and watching casualties of both sides suffer in misery under amber waves of grey. They are not two tales glamorizing the heroism of high ranking generals, or celebrating the brilliance behind war changing battle strategy's! these are not two compilations of verbiage expressing the brilliance of the war, what it stood for and what it accomplished. These are two works of grammar that highlight the gloomy reality of what its like for those who did not fight the war face to face, and these stories do have their importance. These works provide a dramatic look into the lives of those who were indirectly affected by the civil war. The people who did not pay the ultimate price of death, yet suffered a crippling blow to the quality of life they were living before the war. These reading show how the civilian population was affected by the war, which is a battle fought, yet seldom heard. Aside from this over theme that i feel from these works, i can sense a stylistic similarity in the authors ability to paint the visual imagery of woodland scenes in the readers mind. Both stories have parts that walk you through the woods, and both authors did a great job of making you feel like you have been their and done that. There is also a slightly apathetic humor behind both works, which gives all around horrible circumstances a twisted bit of uplift.