In “Leda and the Swan”, William Butler Yeats addresses a story from Greek Mythology. Leda is the wife of King Tyndareus of Sparta. Zeus comes to her in a shape of a swan. The swan and Leda has a sexual intercourse. Most probably Zeus rapes Leda, as we can also see in the general atmosphere of the poem. Leda lays two eggs with two children in both of them. One of these children is Helen, which will be the famous Helen of Troy. One other was Clytemnestra, who is the wife of the Mycenean Commander Agamemnon, and the murderer of him.
The poem starts with an end of an action, there is “a sudden blow”, where the swan comes on to Leda and his “great wings beating still”. We start to observe the rape scene from the middle, where the swan is holding her body with his wings and her neck with his beak. The effect of this, is that it draws the reader, into the action and into the poem easily.
Throughout the poem, Leda described in concrete words and the swan in abstract terms with synecdochies mainly. Leda is described as "the staggering girl" and the poem mentions "her helpless breast”, "her nape", and "her loosening thighs". The swan is never called as Zeus or even “Swan” (actually, Agamemnon is the only name mentioned). The swan is described as "great wings", "dark webs", "white rush", "indifferent beak" and "feathered glory".
Although the “Leda and the Swan” myth -therefore the poem,- has many connections with the Trojan War. Helen is the main reason of the war, name of Agamemnon can be seen in the fourth stanza, and Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon killed him after the Trojan War, because of jelaousy. Helen and Clytemnestra are Leda’s daughters, and Agamemnon was the Mycenean Commander.
The last line of the Fourth stanza is “And Agamemnon dead.”. Trojan War is accepted as an end of the Mythological Era and a start of the modern times, so we can infer that the rape ends at that line, like the war ended with Agamemnon’s death. Therefore, it may be a reference of “the loss of purity”, or an idea that “growth can only be achieved under force and hardships”.
To conclude, we can say that, "Leda and the Swan" is a violent poem and can be seen as Yeats's own perception to a mythological event. However the poem can also be widened to the whole time and than it can represent “women’s loss of purity against male domination”.
18.2.09
Imagery and Meaning in George Herbert’s “Virtue”
The poem, “Virtue” by George Herbert, mainly develops with the theme that the world and all living beings and unliving things are mortal, and everything in this world will eventually end or die. This theme is developed by three metaphors; first one is a “day”, second one is a “rose” and third one is the “spring”. All of these first three images are attractive things that people would want them to last forever and they are concrete images. Nevertheless in the last stanza, the reader can see an abstract image of “the soul” and by that image, the poem reaches a conclusion.
In the first stanza we see the image of the “day”; like all the metaphors used in the poem, first, it is shown some attractive traits of the image. Like it is sweet, cool, calm and bright, and in the second line it is said that the daylight is like the marriage of the earth and sky. Whenever the day turns into darkness, the morning dew mourns and cries with grief because the day must die. The dew here may also symbolize the youth, which is lost with the end of the life. There is a joy dominating the first two lines of the first stanza, whereas in the gloomy third line, the death theme can be seen. Also, while the periodic commas in the first line makes the line slower and longer to read, the constant “s” sound and repeated “so” words make an impression of perpetuation of the “day”, which will be wiped with the third and fourth lines.
The metaphorical image in the second stanza is the “rose”. The color of the rose is the color of anger, which is supposed to be red. It is also a brave and daring color, so it makes all people who are looking incautiously, wipe their eyes because it is bright and splendid. The rose is beaming with life, however as in the third line of the second stanza indicates, its roots are already in its own grave. That represents a natural bond between humankind and death, the eternal resting place for all men.
Third image is the spring which is the sum of the first two images. The spring has both sweet days and roses, it is the time of year which is compared with a box of compressed sweet. Its density of life and sweetness makes an impression of eternity again, as the first two metaphors, but spring has an end too. This “end” feeling is given with the word “close” which is the musical ending, or a final chord. Thus the spring and therefore life, compared with a musical piece or a song, that also will end eventually.
The last stanza is a bit different from others for it is not depicting an image or thing that will die or end. It shows the only thing that will survive; it is a virtuous and kind soul, only it would endure the eternal flames of the doomsday when the “world turn to coal”, the kind and virtuous soul would not turn into coal or dust, like an ember. It will glow with its faith and virtue. Thus only the soul can live rightfully and eternally which is the only thing that would not die.
To conclude, the poem “Virtue” emphasises on the loveliness of the world but also on the inevitability of death. Without making an argument, but using various kinds of imagery, the poem contrasts the mortal glories of the mortal world with the eternal glory of the immortal soul. Thereby it also contrasts the brief pleasures as day, rose or spring with the eternal pleasures of commitment to virtues.
In the first stanza we see the image of the “day”; like all the metaphors used in the poem, first, it is shown some attractive traits of the image. Like it is sweet, cool, calm and bright, and in the second line it is said that the daylight is like the marriage of the earth and sky. Whenever the day turns into darkness, the morning dew mourns and cries with grief because the day must die. The dew here may also symbolize the youth, which is lost with the end of the life. There is a joy dominating the first two lines of the first stanza, whereas in the gloomy third line, the death theme can be seen. Also, while the periodic commas in the first line makes the line slower and longer to read, the constant “s” sound and repeated “so” words make an impression of perpetuation of the “day”, which will be wiped with the third and fourth lines.
The metaphorical image in the second stanza is the “rose”. The color of the rose is the color of anger, which is supposed to be red. It is also a brave and daring color, so it makes all people who are looking incautiously, wipe their eyes because it is bright and splendid. The rose is beaming with life, however as in the third line of the second stanza indicates, its roots are already in its own grave. That represents a natural bond between humankind and death, the eternal resting place for all men.
Third image is the spring which is the sum of the first two images. The spring has both sweet days and roses, it is the time of year which is compared with a box of compressed sweet. Its density of life and sweetness makes an impression of eternity again, as the first two metaphors, but spring has an end too. This “end” feeling is given with the word “close” which is the musical ending, or a final chord. Thus the spring and therefore life, compared with a musical piece or a song, that also will end eventually.
The last stanza is a bit different from others for it is not depicting an image or thing that will die or end. It shows the only thing that will survive; it is a virtuous and kind soul, only it would endure the eternal flames of the doomsday when the “world turn to coal”, the kind and virtuous soul would not turn into coal or dust, like an ember. It will glow with its faith and virtue. Thus only the soul can live rightfully and eternally which is the only thing that would not die.
To conclude, the poem “Virtue” emphasises on the loveliness of the world but also on the inevitability of death. Without making an argument, but using various kinds of imagery, the poem contrasts the mortal glories of the mortal world with the eternal glory of the immortal soul. Thereby it also contrasts the brief pleasures as day, rose or spring with the eternal pleasures of commitment to virtues.
Imagery and Diction in Walt Whitman’s “A Noiseless Patient Spider”
Imagery is the most common literary technique in the poem, while most of the lines have a concrete image in it that helps the reader in seeing exactly what the poet intends them to see. The first example occurs on the first line; “A noiseless patient spider.” This visual image brings pictures of small, perfectly still, spiders sitting on their perfect webs for days at a time, completely unmoving, no sign of life at all. It is amazing all the thoughts those words can bring to mind. The image of the motionless spider, completely alone and isolated, as depicted in the first three lines of the poem introduces the idea that the speaker feels alone in the world. The image of the “vacant vast surrounding” also hints at the speaker’s doubt in the meaning of life. If the spider is the speaker’s soul, then the surroundings should be the rest of the universe, and if the rest of the universe is empty and there are no other souls or things for the filaments to connect to, then what is the purpose of “tirelessly speeding them” on?
Another image can be seen in second stanza, “surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space, ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,” is a clear reference between the spider's duty and the speaker's. Both the speaker and the spider seem incapable of finding anything else in the universe, or at least anything meaningful. However they both keep trying, either with optimistic hope or blindness. Also the speaker can be incapable of admit the idea that there could be nothing else in the universe besides himself, “the vacant vast surrounding” and is so optimistic or too incapable of that terrible realization to stop launching “forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself.”
The last two lines of the poem can be interpreted as supporting the idea that the speaker is habitually optimistic. One other interpretation can be disproving the idea that the speaker is alone in the universe; “till the bridge you will need be formed, till the ductile anchor hold, till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, o my soul.” What ever interpretation the reader chooses to take from these lines, the images in “A Noiseless Patient Spider” holds great importance inside the poem.
The words that Whitman chooses to use in his poem often have secondary meanings. For example, at line four, “it launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,” could be stated that the spider was making a web, but the words Whitman chooses to use carry more meaning. The idea of the spider “launching” filament supports the idea that there is a correlation between the spider and the speaker and symbolizes the speaker’s attempts to make connections in the universe. The words “out of itself” also support this idea, it leads the reader to think of the filaments as attempts by the speaker’s soul to find meaning, and since they are coming from deep inside the reader, they are coming “out of itself.”
To conclude, we can say the poem can be interpreted in two ways, one is the pessimistic, vast vacancy of life, and one is hopeful search of a place in a society. With its word choice and image usage it is an exceptional poem, and they help to build up the main message of the poem.
Another image can be seen in second stanza, “surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space, ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,” is a clear reference between the spider's duty and the speaker's. Both the speaker and the spider seem incapable of finding anything else in the universe, or at least anything meaningful. However they both keep trying, either with optimistic hope or blindness. Also the speaker can be incapable of admit the idea that there could be nothing else in the universe besides himself, “the vacant vast surrounding” and is so optimistic or too incapable of that terrible realization to stop launching “forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself.”
The last two lines of the poem can be interpreted as supporting the idea that the speaker is habitually optimistic. One other interpretation can be disproving the idea that the speaker is alone in the universe; “till the bridge you will need be formed, till the ductile anchor hold, till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, o my soul.” What ever interpretation the reader chooses to take from these lines, the images in “A Noiseless Patient Spider” holds great importance inside the poem.
The words that Whitman chooses to use in his poem often have secondary meanings. For example, at line four, “it launched forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,” could be stated that the spider was making a web, but the words Whitman chooses to use carry more meaning. The idea of the spider “launching” filament supports the idea that there is a correlation between the spider and the speaker and symbolizes the speaker’s attempts to make connections in the universe. The words “out of itself” also support this idea, it leads the reader to think of the filaments as attempts by the speaker’s soul to find meaning, and since they are coming from deep inside the reader, they are coming “out of itself.”
To conclude, we can say the poem can be interpreted in two ways, one is the pessimistic, vast vacancy of life, and one is hopeful search of a place in a society. With its word choice and image usage it is an exceptional poem, and they help to build up the main message of the poem.
“The Soul Selecets Her Own Society”: Walls
People built walls without knowing what are left behind. Sticking with only one life perspective is the reason to all these. You can select whoever you want to be with you, that is true but that surely means that you left somebody you would want in your life, outside.
Though, the walls are useful to protecting yourself. You would nor worry about getting harmed or disturbed. With your best friends and beloved ones near you. You would only listen to them as they are “your society”. You will take their advices, their beliefs are yours now also. But, what if you made a wrong choice to take them inside your walls? How would you cast them out now from these gateless ramparts?
Thus, I think walls should be built only for protecting self, not keeping all people outside or inside. Make a door to welcome some people in, if they are needed, and just get out of the door sometimes and look at your wall, at you from a distance.
Put some windows to your wall and see the sparkle of the differences of the world. That's how a home is built, that's how a castle is risen, that's how an empire expands.
Though, the walls are useful to protecting yourself. You would nor worry about getting harmed or disturbed. With your best friends and beloved ones near you. You would only listen to them as they are “your society”. You will take their advices, their beliefs are yours now also. But, what if you made a wrong choice to take them inside your walls? How would you cast them out now from these gateless ramparts?
Thus, I think walls should be built only for protecting self, not keeping all people outside or inside. Make a door to welcome some people in, if they are needed, and just get out of the door sometimes and look at your wall, at you from a distance.
Put some windows to your wall and see the sparkle of the differences of the world. That's how a home is built, that's how a castle is risen, that's how an empire expands.
“The Story of an Hour”: Roles
Throughout the ages women are being repressed by male dominated society. It is not just based on mere discriminative point of view in my opinion, it is also a gender role. Men would not (and do not) know what to do if the women would do the same things with themselves. Men should be the hero, the martyr, the suffered and the survived. These are the so called manly powers. In our day, most women have these powers and they are seen as the superior women in our society. The successful, knowledgable and dominant woman figure can be seen now.
However, while women figure changes, the feminine qualities are staying the same. Attending the household, taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning, keeping the family together, still burdens to the modern women. These are the basic woman qualities, but if a man has them, unlike the vice-versa, is not appreciated enough. The gentleness make the man “unmanly”. I think there is still a discrimination, whether it is positive or negative, manly qualities are being praised, while womanly qualities are staying the same level.
In my opinion, Turkey has the most concrete family life within keeping these traits to the respective gender. That is not a good thing obviously, but we are not that different from the Mallard’s.
However, while women figure changes, the feminine qualities are staying the same. Attending the household, taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning, keeping the family together, still burdens to the modern women. These are the basic woman qualities, but if a man has them, unlike the vice-versa, is not appreciated enough. The gentleness make the man “unmanly”. I think there is still a discrimination, whether it is positive or negative, manly qualities are being praised, while womanly qualities are staying the same level.
In my opinion, Turkey has the most concrete family life within keeping these traits to the respective gender. That is not a good thing obviously, but we are not that different from the Mallard’s.
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