Tuesday 29 September 2015
Sunday 27 September 2015
Sunday 6 September 2015
Women's Literature Reflection
What is the purpose and benefit of the study of literature?
The typical reply to such a question would evolve developing ones skills in communication. This is true, as studying literature as a whole can develop the skills to share ideas through speech and writing, but it also develops ones ability to read and listen to the sharing of others ideas. Overall, literature is a mere sharing of ideas, and studying it helps us do so too. But, in my opinion, it's more than that; more than just learning to communicate. Engaging in timeless literature allows for us to connect with anyone, through the communication of ideas. Themes from centuries before can still be relatable today, and time and place is of no significance when considering the connection that a reader can have to the literature being read. Such sympathy can be felt for characters who feel pain, and extreme joy is experienced for the characters who feel joy as well, and this is regardless of when, where, or by whom the piece of literature was created.
What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it?
Most literature is written by men. This is why there is no specific name for the literature of men. However, women's literature is different. It provides any single reader with a different perspective on life. Countless real life struggles are written by women, and because only women have experienced these struggles, only women can truly express these feelings in words. Men could try to write about the struggles of women, but the perspective and depth would not be the same. That's why so much value lies in women's literature, as embedded in it are so many themes that are inexpressible by anyone else but a woman.
Why were the themes and values of Munro’s social realism so significant during the 1950s-1980s?
Alice Munro's work was significant during the second wave of feminism. This was when women wanted to separate from the social norms of society that forced them to carry out the roles associated with the female gender. Consciousness started rising, and this idea was expressed through her work. Rising out of her short stories was the awareness of the roles that women wanted to be freed from, and her works contributed in rising consciousness, and this was largely expressed through personal experiences, which is a value of women's literature.
Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality?
She shares her personal struggles through her work, and, as mentioned previously, those, contributes in rising consciousness, which led to a greater level of equality between genders. This was through her own personal perspective of life, which was quite influential. She might not be fighting for the right to be equal through her literature, but she does express personal experiences to raise consciousness.
What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?
Any person could research the facts of the discrimination against women and obtain all the information they need to paint a vivid image of reality back then. But there is nothing quite like reading a piece of literature from the perspective of one of the many women that suffered during this time. Personal experiences allow for a greater degree of connection with the author, as I experienced, and this was overall the intention of her work.
The typical reply to such a question would evolve developing ones skills in communication. This is true, as studying literature as a whole can develop the skills to share ideas through speech and writing, but it also develops ones ability to read and listen to the sharing of others ideas. Overall, literature is a mere sharing of ideas, and studying it helps us do so too. But, in my opinion, it's more than that; more than just learning to communicate. Engaging in timeless literature allows for us to connect with anyone, through the communication of ideas. Themes from centuries before can still be relatable today, and time and place is of no significance when considering the connection that a reader can have to the literature being read. Such sympathy can be felt for characters who feel pain, and extreme joy is experienced for the characters who feel joy as well, and this is regardless of when, where, or by whom the piece of literature was created.
What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it?
Most literature is written by men. This is why there is no specific name for the literature of men. However, women's literature is different. It provides any single reader with a different perspective on life. Countless real life struggles are written by women, and because only women have experienced these struggles, only women can truly express these feelings in words. Men could try to write about the struggles of women, but the perspective and depth would not be the same. That's why so much value lies in women's literature, as embedded in it are so many themes that are inexpressible by anyone else but a woman.
Why were the themes and values of Munro’s social realism so significant during the 1950s-1980s?
Alice Munro's work was significant during the second wave of feminism. This was when women wanted to separate from the social norms of society that forced them to carry out the roles associated with the female gender. Consciousness started rising, and this idea was expressed through her work. Rising out of her short stories was the awareness of the roles that women wanted to be freed from, and her works contributed in rising consciousness, and this was largely expressed through personal experiences, which is a value of women's literature.
Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality?
She shares her personal struggles through her work, and, as mentioned previously, those, contributes in rising consciousness, which led to a greater level of equality between genders. This was through her own personal perspective of life, which was quite influential. She might not be fighting for the right to be equal through her literature, but she does express personal experiences to raise consciousness.
What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?
Any person could research the facts of the discrimination against women and obtain all the information they need to paint a vivid image of reality back then. But there is nothing quite like reading a piece of literature from the perspective of one of the many women that suffered during this time. Personal experiences allow for a greater degree of connection with the author, as I experienced, and this was overall the intention of her work.
Tuesday 1 September 2015
I feel Analytical
"Time" - Pink Floyd
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell
Analysis
The song "Time" by Pink Floyd is a depiction of the progression of time, and how it seems to rapidly pass by over a lifetime. This is done through several intentionally incorporated techniques the help illustrate the passing of time, besides through the meaning of the words themselves. The flow of time is depicted through the structure of the song lyrics, as well as through metaphors, and the main idea of the song is effectively brought across through engaging the audience, by both literary devices and pronouns.
The general idea in the structure of the lyrics is that it begins with the view of life from a young age, but progresses to the view of life from the perspective of the older individual. "Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town..." This third line in the song symbolizes the beginning of a journey that is about to take place, symbolizing the younger phases of life. "You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today..." Another line, depicting the attitude towards time, which at a young age seems infinite; infinite enough to be wasted. However, the song gradually works it's way towards a point of no return: a man who has seen most of his life quickly pass him by. "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death..." A hard pill to swallow. The song hopes to portray how reality begins sink in too late in one's life. "Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time..." Ultimately, the song is brought to a point where time has travelled from one side of a lifespan to the other. This, in essence, is what effectively depicts the gradual progression of time through the structure of the lyrics, which is directly linked with the main idea of the song.
The depiction of the progression of time in this song also has great effect on the listener in terms of involvement. The common use of the pronoun "you" allows for the audience to put themselves in the reality that the lyrics describe, which will ultimately engage the audience more in spreading the message. This is the case for most of the song, before entering the last section where he focuses and reflects more on the reality of his own life. "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say..." This is the first appearance of a personal pronoun, and it remains at his perspective. It allows again for the audience to use the experience of others to examine their own lives, and realize how fast time flies by.
Additionally, there lies within a few metaphors that are incorporated to exemplify the rapid passing of time. "No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun..." Through this lyric, Pink Floyd draws parallels between an individual's life and a race. This lays the foundation for a section of the song that follows. As it continues, parallels are drawn between the aging of an individual and the sun. "And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking..." Here the sun is seen as another contestant in this 'race,' and is compared to the aging of any given person in the audience. "The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older..." The line portrays the sun as an aging human, also running the race of life, and it too will run out of time.
Lastly, some literary features can more effectively spread the main idea. Most involves repetition of phrases and alliteration. "dull day..." As sung in the first line of the song, this is an example of alliteration, whose effect can draw the audience's attention. "And you run and you run..." Repetition here contributes in illustrating an ongoing race and emphasises its length, which also depicts the passing of time itself. To the same effect, the lyrics "Home, home again..." are also an example of repetition, through which the audience can ultimately be drawn in.
In conclusion, there is a clear thread that through multiple techniques, including structure, metaphors and audience involvement, the main idea of the song, which is the rapid passing of time throughout life, is effectively depicted to the audience.
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell
Analysis
The song "Time" by Pink Floyd is a depiction of the progression of time, and how it seems to rapidly pass by over a lifetime. This is done through several intentionally incorporated techniques the help illustrate the passing of time, besides through the meaning of the words themselves. The flow of time is depicted through the structure of the song lyrics, as well as through metaphors, and the main idea of the song is effectively brought across through engaging the audience, by both literary devices and pronouns.
The general idea in the structure of the lyrics is that it begins with the view of life from a young age, but progresses to the view of life from the perspective of the older individual. "Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town..." This third line in the song symbolizes the beginning of a journey that is about to take place, symbolizing the younger phases of life. "You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today..." Another line, depicting the attitude towards time, which at a young age seems infinite; infinite enough to be wasted. However, the song gradually works it's way towards a point of no return: a man who has seen most of his life quickly pass him by. "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death..." A hard pill to swallow. The song hopes to portray how reality begins sink in too late in one's life. "Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time..." Ultimately, the song is brought to a point where time has travelled from one side of a lifespan to the other. This, in essence, is what effectively depicts the gradual progression of time through the structure of the lyrics, which is directly linked with the main idea of the song.
The depiction of the progression of time in this song also has great effect on the listener in terms of involvement. The common use of the pronoun "you" allows for the audience to put themselves in the reality that the lyrics describe, which will ultimately engage the audience more in spreading the message. This is the case for most of the song, before entering the last section where he focuses and reflects more on the reality of his own life. "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say..." This is the first appearance of a personal pronoun, and it remains at his perspective. It allows again for the audience to use the experience of others to examine their own lives, and realize how fast time flies by.
Additionally, there lies within a few metaphors that are incorporated to exemplify the rapid passing of time. "No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun..." Through this lyric, Pink Floyd draws parallels between an individual's life and a race. This lays the foundation for a section of the song that follows. As it continues, parallels are drawn between the aging of an individual and the sun. "And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking..." Here the sun is seen as another contestant in this 'race,' and is compared to the aging of any given person in the audience. "The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older..." The line portrays the sun as an aging human, also running the race of life, and it too will run out of time.
Lastly, some literary features can more effectively spread the main idea. Most involves repetition of phrases and alliteration. "dull day..." As sung in the first line of the song, this is an example of alliteration, whose effect can draw the audience's attention. "And you run and you run..." Repetition here contributes in illustrating an ongoing race and emphasises its length, which also depicts the passing of time itself. To the same effect, the lyrics "Home, home again..." are also an example of repetition, through which the audience can ultimately be drawn in.
In conclusion, there is a clear thread that through multiple techniques, including structure, metaphors and audience involvement, the main idea of the song, which is the rapid passing of time throughout life, is effectively depicted to the audience.
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