Edgar Allan Poe is in my opinion Americas number one anti-transcendentalist. With his ere style of writing, he has been known bring chills down spines. With famous short stories and poems know world wide, Poe has been in the spotlight of literature for many years. Poe has always been a mystery all throughout his life, even upon his death. But what is with this guy? And why is he so weird. Fun fact: did you know that there is a movie currently being filmed titled ‘’The Raven’’!?!?. In the movie Poe’s girlfriend get kidnapped, and Poe ( just like in real life…. NOT!!!) goes on a killing spree! How historically accurate Hollywood is. So anyways on to the actual literature.
As we all know Poe wrote in a sort of taboo way. Writing about subjects death to more death and occasionally incest ( gross ). The only poet I could really compare Poe to is Whitman. I mean those two probably could have been best buddies. I can Imagine them sitting under a oak tree writing about weird stuff that comes up in their minds. Even though I can compare them I can also see some differences..
All right now we can assume that Walt Whitman is know as a transcendentalist, and well Poe is the opposite. Whitman writes what is on his mind on the moment. While Poe I think, takes his sweet time, and just makes it work. Either way, I think both men are crazy, but very intellectual.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier was a very interesting read. In his super long novel like poem titled ‘’ Snow Bound’’ I saw two different sides of Mr. Whittier’s writing. One side being a very dark a almost gothic type writer. The other side I saw was the sunshiny feel good touchy feely kind of writing. Either way, this blend of styles made for a great read.
I want to first take a look at the dark side of John Greenleaf Whittier. Whittier writes, ‘’Unwarmed by any sunset light The gray day darkened into night, A night made hoary with the swarm And whirl-dance of the blinding storm, As zigzag, wavering to and fro, Crossed and recrossed the wingàd snow: And ere the early bedtime came The white drift piled the window-frame, And through the glass the clothes-line posts Looked in like tall and sheeted ghosts. ‘’ (Whittier) Using words like ‘’ere, gray, sheeted ghost’’ I couldn’t help but be reminded about hoe Edgar Allan Poe wrote. Poe wrote in a similar style with a gothic look at life. Making everything sound dark and gloomy, like the world sucks and it is not a good place to be in. Whittier wrote like this in the beginning of this poem to describe the retched snow storm. I think the poem would totally suck if he described the snow storm as pleasant and delightful.
That is the dark side to Mr. Whittier, but there happens to be some good to come out of his poem. Now once Whittier describes the terrors and misfortunes of the snow storm. The mood seems to chance towards the middle of the poem. Whittier writes, ’’ Next, the dear aunt, whose smile of cheer And voice in dreams I see and hear, -- The sweetest woman ever Fate Perverse denied a household mate, Who, lonely, homeless, not the less Found peace in love's unselfishness, And welcome wheresoe'er she went, A calm and gracious element, ‘’ ( Whittier ) This passage describes his lovely aunt. Whittier changes the mood of the story from a ‘’ oh crap this may be a sad story’’ to a pleasant a delightful experience. Family plays a big role in his poem. Which is nice and warm feeling to read about. At the end of snow bound Whittier writes about what? THE SNOW MELTING! Hey! What a surprise the story end happily ever after.
In conclusition I enjoyed reading and doing research on Mr. Whittier. I would call him the greatest poet ever, but I found him to be a great read.
I want to first take a look at the dark side of John Greenleaf Whittier. Whittier writes, ‘’Unwarmed by any sunset light The gray day darkened into night, A night made hoary with the swarm And whirl-dance of the blinding storm, As zigzag, wavering to and fro, Crossed and recrossed the wingàd snow: And ere the early bedtime came The white drift piled the window-frame, And through the glass the clothes-line posts Looked in like tall and sheeted ghosts. ‘’ (Whittier) Using words like ‘’ere, gray, sheeted ghost’’ I couldn’t help but be reminded about hoe Edgar Allan Poe wrote. Poe wrote in a similar style with a gothic look at life. Making everything sound dark and gloomy, like the world sucks and it is not a good place to be in. Whittier wrote like this in the beginning of this poem to describe the retched snow storm. I think the poem would totally suck if he described the snow storm as pleasant and delightful.
That is the dark side to Mr. Whittier, but there happens to be some good to come out of his poem. Now once Whittier describes the terrors and misfortunes of the snow storm. The mood seems to chance towards the middle of the poem. Whittier writes, ’’ Next, the dear aunt, whose smile of cheer And voice in dreams I see and hear, -- The sweetest woman ever Fate Perverse denied a household mate, Who, lonely, homeless, not the less Found peace in love's unselfishness, And welcome wheresoe'er she went, A calm and gracious element, ‘’ ( Whittier ) This passage describes his lovely aunt. Whittier changes the mood of the story from a ‘’ oh crap this may be a sad story’’ to a pleasant a delightful experience. Family plays a big role in his poem. Which is nice and warm feeling to read about. At the end of snow bound Whittier writes about what? THE SNOW MELTING! Hey! What a surprise the story end happily ever after.
In conclusition I enjoyed reading and doing research on Mr. Whittier. I would call him the greatest poet ever, but I found him to be a great read.
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