Step One:
Select One poem from each chapter and post your response
before the beginning of class on the specific dates mentioned above.
Step Two: Prepare a poetry SOAPTone paragraph response to your poem. (Subject/Theme, Object, Audience (s), Purpose, and Tone, Shifts, and brief personal response by making connection to yourself, text, or world)
Step Three: ***IMPORTANT: Have the CONFIDENCE to analyze this selected poem on your OWN! Do not Google or look up anybody else’s analysis of your poem! Remember…the GREAT thing about poetry is that everyone can interpret it DIFFERENTLY.
Step Four: After positing your response using the Blog, your will present your poem selection orally in class. First read the poem clearly and with expression. (It should NOT sound like you’re reading this poem for the first time. Then explain the meaning of the poem and your rationale for choosing it.
Discuss each selected poem using a poetry SOAPTone paragraph
response to the selected poem (Subject/Theme, Object, Audience (s), Purpose,
and Tone, Shifts, and brief personal response by making connection to you,
text, or world). Elaborate your
response. Please note that you should support your response with textual
evidence. To get the full number of points, I require
one post a week. Each post should be a minimum of one paragraph- no less than
250 Words.
14 comments:
In the poem “Address to Slavery” from Voices Beyond Bondage, the speaker delivers a message to slavery. In other words, he addresses his primary audience, namely the slave owners, to inform them that slavery soon will be over and one day the voiceless will have their freedom in the near future. For example, he states, “ Hope God by His power will save them at last, / And bring them as Israel in ages that’s past, / Out of the reach of proud slavery’s chain, / To enjoy the sweet comfort of freedom again.” This textual evidence demonstrates that the speaker has hope in God and his powers. Basically, he believes that when the time is right, God will grant all slaves their freedom.
The speaker delivers his message also to the judges and magistrates informing them to take control and fight for what’s right. He tells them that it is in their hand too, they can make life better for all slaves. For instance, states, “Slavery, O Slavery! I cannot conceive / why judges magistrates do not relieve / My down-trodden people from under thy hand, / Restore them their freedom, and give them their land.” This quote underscores the speaker’s outcry demanding for the Supreme Court to take action and deliver the oppressed from their daily shackles. This poem is cry for freedom. It connects to me because I once felt like I did not have the freedom to be who I really wanted to be because of society. I believed that society once had control over who I was and want I believed in. I prayed to be accepted and feel free. One day, I believe God heard my prayer. I realized my true perpetual and I knew that if I wanted to be something in life I had to make changes and start believing in myself. I started to accept myself more for who I am. I did not let people or society’s view of me break me or take control of me. That day I felt like I gained my FREEDOM and today I feel like I gained a more powerful gift back, my LIFE!
In the poem "Song of the American Eagle" from Voices Beyond Bondage delivers the message of freedom. The poem "Song of the American Eagle" depicts an eagles life as the animal builds its nest, tend to its eaglets and soar through the sky. The eagle is depicted as majestic and simplistic. For example in the poem it states, "For I love to play in the noontime ray, And bask in a blaze from the throne of Day. This example demonstrates simplicity of the eagles freedoms, liberty and enjoyment. The speaker also uses figuartive language/imagery when demonstrating the eagles detailed movements and feelings.
The poems message of freedom is represented as an eagle. For example in the poem it states, "For my spirit free henceforth shall be, A type for the sons of liberty". This example depicts the eagles freedom spiritually and liberty. Another example from the poem is "Away I spring,with a tireless wing, On the feathery cloud I poise and swing; I dart down the steep where the lightning leap, And the clear blue canopy slowly sweep: For dear to me is the revelry Of a free and fearless Liberty. This example demonstrates the eagle soaring tirelessly through the azure sky boisterous of its freedom and fearless Liberty. The speaker demonstrates/depict freedom by talking about an eagles freedom, liberty, luxury, spirit and fearlessness.
In conclusion the poem "Song of the American Eagle" from Voices Beyond Bondage delivers the message of freedom. The poems message of freedom is represented by an eagles fearless, free and liberated life. The poem "Song of the American Eagle" depicts an eagles life as the animal builds its nest, tends to its eaglets and soars through the sky's freely and fearlessly. In the poem it repeatedly demonstrates the eagle freely,carelessly and fearlessly soar through the azure skies revelry of liberty. The speaker repeatedly demonstrates the eagles freedom to get his message to his intended audience and to get his point/message understood and recognized by the reader/audience. Lastly the poem "Song of the American Eagle" is about freedom, library and fearlessness.
In “Slavery,” from Voices Beyond Bondage the speaker communicates the struggles of being a slave. Emotionally he feels as there is hope of freedom, those thoughts get shot down. For example, the text illustrates, “How oft this tantalizing blaze /Has led me through deception’s maze; /My friend became my foe — /Then like a plaintive dove I mourn’d, /To bitter all my sweets were turn’d, /And tears began to flow.” This quote justifies that the ones that he trusts often turn around and become the ones he can’t trust. Also this justifies that he is often lead through a deceptive maze that does not lead anywhere but back to where he is. The message that is be conveyed is, through all the hard work of Slavery, it’s all finally over. The years of oppression have finally ceased and he is a freedmen. For example, the text states, “The wicked cease from trouble there; /No more I’d languish or despair — /The weary there can rest /Oppression’s voice is heard no more,/Drudg’ry and pain, and toil are o’er. /Yes! There I shall be blest.” The quote illustrates the years of hard work are honored by the ending of slavery. This poem can be connected to tragedies of the world today. For example, homosexuality. These days, people are not allowed to get married because they are the same sex. They are almost looked at as things instead of people that you can control. They are labeled as a different group in which the government makes laws to restrict what they can do, as they did slave. Although homosexuals were not used for hard labor or humorous harm, they are a set of laws set out just for them.
In the poem “The Slave Auction” from Voices Beyond Bondages , the speaker describes how the slaves felt during auctions. In addition, the speaker advertises the poem to slaves so they would understand one of the many horrific situations they will go through. For example, “And saw their dearest children sold; / Unheeded rose their bitter cries, / While tyrants barter’d them for gold.” This quote explains how the speaker has been through this situation and is trying to describe it to other slaves. Moreover, the text explores the theme of terror and panic. The speaker tone express the impact that the slaves have through the auctions that he illustrates through the words: anguish, stifled, desolate and rudely. The purpose of this poem is to communicate about the horrifying experience that all slaves go through and how little they feel when this happening knowing they cannot do anything to save their children from it. This poem relates to me because even though I did not cross the broader I have heard some shocking stories about what happens. People get tortured if you fall into the wrong hands. You would probably never see your family again. They see things that they won’t speak about ever again. No one should go through things like this, back then or now.
The poem "The African's Dream" addresses sorrow, hope, and freedom. The speaker illustrates the dream he had about his wife who died. For example, "That wife, the faithful and the fair, Came with her lovely face-- With well known voice, and cheerful air. She rushed to my embrace, And pressed my lips, while smiles and tears Stole from my heart the grief of years." This quote proves that the woman's spirit came back and connects the speaker's feelings toward the woman. The tears of pity and hurt were directed from the grief he held for years. The woman was loved and respected by the country. In fact, the speaker states "Brothers and sisters, kindred, all, With the sweet voice and eye, Welcomed the lost one from his thrall, To native land and sky; Their tears of pity, fast and warm, Fell as they marked my scar-wreathed form." This explains that all of the woman's loved ones welcomed her back. The speaker also clarifies that he's a slave and gets beaten. He develops a sorrow for himself and wishes death upon himself. He not.only wished to die, but he anticipated freedom that death brings. In fact, the speaker exclaims "Why did ye wake me from my sleep, To unavailing tears! My heart is o'er the mighty deep, Mid scenes of other years: Better that i had waked no more, Or died upon my own bright shore." He questions the reason for waking him from his dream because he wished to have never weaken up. He didn't want the visit of the lost one to end because of how much she was greatly missed. His heart no longer held onto the pity he held for himself over time. Though he's received closure, he feels that it would be better to die and be free. Actually, " Well, I shall weep--and toil--and die! Then, when my soul is free, How quickly will it soar and fly. My native land, to thee! There I shall roam as free as air, With the loved ones that wait me there." The speaker asserts his feelings toward living. He does not sympothises himself or wishes for a better life. He simply wishes to to become part of his beloved land through his spirit with the loved ones who is doing the same.
In the poem “Slavery “the author George M. Horton is trying to convey and express the personal experience of being a slave. As known being a slave wasn’t at all an easy life, slaves went through harsh times trying to achieve freedom that was rightfully deserved. George uses selective writing tools such as similes and metaphors to compare the days and nights of the life of a slave. The author says “How oft this tantalizing blaze” this was a description of the excruciating heat that slaves endured during this time. Also throughout the poem the author explains how the slaves soon began doing what they could for themselves. In stanza three it says “My friend became my foe” this states that to survive the former friends began to work against each other to survive. George does an outstanding job expressing and going into detail to really help me, the reader understanding what slaves endured due to the vicious acts of other races.
I chose "Slavery" by George M. Horton. The subject or theme explained to not being free and didn't understand why they were not. The objective clarifies Horton hiding and running away from slavery and trying to be free. The audience is directed towards someone who cages others, someone who is caged up. The purpose to the poem is wanting to be equal like everyone else was. The tones is about determination and dedication towards his goals. In the end of the poem it shifts to Horton not being free because of the color of his skin. This poem connects towards me because I feel like society cages the people who aren't noticed which affects people like me and others all around the world. People including me just wish we could have all the good things that the society notices about celebrities or up coming celebrities. I would love to have the best and happiest personality but everyone has went through a major time where it changes you forever. Vocabulary: transient means lasting only for a short time. Sublime is of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Vile means extremely unpleasant. Tantalizing means to torment or trade someone with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable. Questions: 1.Did he run away?
2.In the end was Horton free?
3.Did he ever almost get caught?
4. Where did he go and was living free ever hard?
The name of the poem I read was "God Never Made a Sin." I really enjoyed this poem because it gives people new found hope and reassurance. The poem mainly talks about slaves and the things they go through. It also says how God is not to blame for this, that he did not make a slave. I say this because throughout the text the author may state all of the hardship he goes through as a slave but at the end of every stanza he says "But never, never made a slave." By saying this the slave is showing that he gives no blame to God. That he still has hope and still loves God. The author writes this poem to address other slaves that have lost faith and to let them know that it is not God's fault. Throughout the poem the tone of the poem was hopeful and forgiving. I say this because not once in the poem did the author lose faith and blame God or anybody for the position he is in.
The subject is someone’s sister died; death. The objective is the sister who died is gone to heaven and her family will not cry and be happy she’s in a better place. The audience is someone who lost a sister or someone special to them, religious person. The purpose of the poem is to show the happiness in death. The tone is happy, proud, some sorrow. The shift is when the poem started talking about Jesus, and blessings. This poem relates to me because my grandmother died a few years ago and I feel that if she was still here my life wouldn’t be up side down like it is. I have to understand that God needed her to be out of pain. This poem connects to the world also. It relates because everyone has lost someone special in their life they probably don’t understand why they had to die but need to understand that they needed to go, God needed them.
Based on the poem “The Dying Fugitive” in Voices Beyond Bondage by Frances Ellen Watkins the subject/theme of this poem would be to keep your eyes on the prize meaning if you want something bad enough keep trying until you just can’t anymore. The object of this poem is to educate their readers about the struggle in which they went through to get there freedom. “He started for his freedom… But before he won the guerdon, Came the message-he must die.” Meaning that while trying to achieve his goal along came challenges he had to face. The audience is the new generation and anyone interested in learning about earning freedom back then. “Thankful that so near to freedom, he with eager steps had trod- E’er his ransomed spirit rested on the bosom of his God.” I think the main purpose of this poem would be to inform readers that they should appreciate the freedom they have now because it was not easy to come across and instead of us having to work for it we get it free. The tone of this poem would be didactic because the author informs us about how earning freedom back then is not the same. In this poem the author goes from the character wanting to fight for his freedom then all of a sudden gave up. The poem relates to the real world because one day one might have this destiny and would do anything to achieve it until the obstacles get big enough that you just give up.
Theodore Doughty Miller's "God Never Made A Sin," is a powerful revelation in changing the readers mindset on slaves. The speaker is a slave/former slave that knows how it feels to be looked down upon. The purpose of this poem was the ideology of the slave. The speaker was trying to break the mold of how people thought of slaves because "God, our creator, made [man] free; ... But never, never made a slave." The subject of the poem is to change how people think about a slave, because all men are created equally, "God made the man, and man made the slave." The speaker was writing this piece during a time of disdain towards "negroes." The speaker's audience are the American people, specifically White-Americans at this time. Most of them (not all) believed that a black persons purpose on earth was to be a slave. The speaker has a didactic tone because he is trying to educate the reader in the subject of "the slave." A man made another man a slave, go made no slaves. Everyone was born from a woman, and every man is created equally so all men should be treated equally.
Based on, “Address to Slavery” from Voices Beyond Bondage, the speakers, message is to slavery. He addresses slave owners and other slaves, in order to tell them that one-day slavery will be over and they will all be free. For instance, he states, “Hope God by His power will save them at last, / And bring them as Israel in ages that’s past, / Out of the reach of proud slavery’s chain, / To enjoy the sweet comfort of freedom again.” This quote demonstrates that the speaker believes in his heart one day God will use his powers and free all slaves. He also is talking to judges and people with higher power. He tells them that they can help all slaves by setting them free. The speakers shows a strong sense of hope. He highly believes that His God will one day, soon, set all of his people free. In order for them, to get there life back. Throughout the poem, the speakers is consist of letting they reader know what he mainly is trying to deliver to slave owners. This poem connects to me because it shows me that back then my people was not able to be themselves. They were basically control by people who didn’t even respect or care for them. It is kind of like today, people often are control by people they think care about them. However, they are just using them for their own satisfaction.
In the poem “The Tears of a Slave,” from voices beyond bondage delivers the message of hope. The poem depicts a slave that is separated from his family. The slave, born on free-land who has been separated from his wife and children is torn by sorrow. The slave reminisces on the memory of his mother and friends, enlightens him with hope. In addition, the slave has been sold off to labor for gold, to pamper the pride of the knave and weep sad tears. The slave thinks about death more often than hope.
The message the author implies is hope. The poems message of hope is represented by a slave. An example of hope by the slave is “Ye Sons, of the free and the wise, your tender compassions I crave,” he also show a sign of hope when he stated “When, I think on mother and friends, And the joy their countenance gave” this quote shows that the author give the character a desire of hope to survive the things he is going through in slavery. The text connects to me in a special way because my great grandfather was in slavery.
In conclusion, hope is a way to escape the feeling of pain, also to clear your mind from the negative to bring positive. The author audience in this poem is to people who has lived through slavery and people who family members were slaves. The author intentions in this poem is to get the readers and his audience to understand there will always be hope. No matter what you go through just believe that you can get through it and you will make it through the thickest forest.
In the poem "The Slave Auction"from the book Voices Beyond Bondage, the speaker delivers a message of slavery. He describes what occurs during a slave auction, he describes the emotions of the family to have to see their other family members or friends being sold to a white man. The quote that touch me the most was "And mothers stood, with streaming eyes, And saw their dearest children sold; Unheed rose their bitter cries, While tyrants barter'd them for gold. The reason this quote stood out to me because its so sad how cruel the word was back in time, taking innocent children holding them for ransom and they have to live another life with a new identification and staying with people who treat them terrible and have no care for them. Slavery hasn't really changed in my opinion is the same as jail. Even though I have not been a victim to the jail system I have family members real close family member's at that that has been or who are. Also i feel like our black males are targeted the most with police white police men at that i think they get pleasure of taking them away from their family and future and into the cells and i'm talking about the innocent ones. I hope one day the segregation stop because even though its not the same as back in the day it is still happening in today's world all over and still has an affect.
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