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Character analysis

Possibly Shakespeare's most well-known and vivid female character is Lady Macbeth. Everybody, whether they have perused or seen the Macbeth play, has a perspective on her. She is frequently depicted as the epitome of evil in popular culture, and images of her appear on numerous occasions. She is typically depicted in photographs as a Disney character, a cross between Cruella DeVille and Snow White's wicked stepmother.

She is not quite Cruella De Ville or the wicked stepmother, despite having some of Shakespeare's bloodiest lines. The reaction she gets from the male characters recommends that she is a youthful, visually captivating lady and, for sure, in her work to impact Macbeth, she utilizes each strategy available to her, including the work of her sexual charms.

She is generally portrayed as serious areas of strength for a, lady and, in her drive to prompt Macbeth to kill Ruler Duncan, she has all the earmarks of being that, in any case, having succeeded, it doesn't take long for her to disintegrate and separate, obliterated by culpability, and she winds up ending it all.

There are no evil characters in Shakespeare. He has ordinary people, like you and me, put in situations that test and challenge them. Some of them, like Iago in Othello, have personality flaws; however, this is uncommon in Shakespeare, and Lady Macbeth is not one of them.

Different people respond differently to the challenges that Shakespeare presents to his characters. Woman Macbeth's test is that she finds that her better half has been enticed by an experience with three witches to take care of their expectation that he will become ruler. She is aware that the king would need to die in order for that to occur. She believes that they would have to kill King Duncan and that this is their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when she receives a message that he plans to spend the night with them at Glassy Castle. That is what is going on into which she has been pushed.

She is as ambitious as Macbeth, but she is aware that despite his bravery in battle, soldierly qualities, and diplomatic skills, he is fundamentally far too soft to seize the opportunity—"too full of the milk of human kindness." She decides to force him to do it.

She is correct about his lack of resolve; after they discuss it, he tells her that he simply cannot accomplish it. She accelerates and practically holds his hand throughout. Perseverance is one of her best qualities, and she demonstrates it here. Macbeth falters, evades, and hesitates, but she persists. She makes her case, she makes fun of him, making him question his manhood, she makes him feel like he is loyal to her, she puts him to bed, and she wins in the end.

When Macbeth kills Duncan while he is sleeping, their marriage starts to break down. They each fall into their own guilt-tripping cycle and rarely communicate. Lady Macbeth stays in bed, unable to sleep, and suffers from nightmares when she does manage to fall asleep, while Macbeth, fearing his political foes, leads a reign of terror as king. She falls into a moral, physical, and spiritual coma while walking and talking in her sleep about what they have done. At the point when Macbeth is hanging on by a thread, with the dissidents shutting in, he receives the message that she's dead. He says he doesn't have time to think about it at that point. He asserts, "She should have died later." Their marriage has been destroyed as a result of their partnership in this heinous scheme.

The commitment of solidarity that we find in her toward the start of the play is a deception. How the situation is playing out is stripped desire and an eagerness to follow up on it without having the assets to manage the results. We see how guilt can destroy you and eat away at your soul. Both in her journey and in Macbeth's, we see how empty ambition is.

★Macbeth's Dissimulation and cunning :

Lady Macbeth is well aware when she tells her husband to "leave all the rest to me" that she can plan and carry out the murder of Duncan with dissimulation and cunning so that neither Macbeth nor herself will be held in suspicion. At the point when she invites Duncan to her home, her direct shows that she is ideal in the craft of camouflaging:

All our service was poor and single business to compete Against those honors deep and broad with which Your majesty loads our house in every point twice done and then done double.

★Macbeth's presence of mind:

She only forgets herself and loses control of her emotions on one occasion. She betrays her excitement at the opportunity and exclaims when she learns that Duncan plans to stay at her castle:

"It seems crazy to say it." I. v. 29.

At the point when her significant other returns shaking and terrified from the homicide, she never loses her sound judgment, yet stays cool and even attempts to alleviate his apprehensions. She begs Macbeth to return and carry out the unfinished details of the plot when she discovers that he has taken the daggers from the dread chamber and has forgotten to smear the grooms with blood. He has no intention of going. At this she shouts:

"Confirm your goal!

I need the knives: The dead and the sleeping are just pictures: It is the child's eye that is afraid of a painted devil," II. i. 116-119.

what's more, does the unfortunate mission herself. She once again demonstrates her self-control upon her return. She convinces Macbeth to retire to his chamber while there is knocking at the cattle gate.

Lady Macbeth


Lady Macbeth character traits and Analysis

Green Land | June 03, 2023 | 0 comments

Character analysis

Possibly Shakespeare's most well-known and vivid female character is Lady Macbeth. Everybody, whether they have perused or seen the Macbeth play, has a perspective on her. She is frequently depicted as the epitome of evil in popular culture, and images of her appear on numerous occasions. She is typically depicted in photographs as a Disney character, a cross between Cruella DeVille and Snow White's wicked stepmother.

She is not quite Cruella De Ville or the wicked stepmother, despite having some of Shakespeare's bloodiest lines. The reaction she gets from the male characters recommends that she is a youthful, visually captivating lady and, for sure, in her work to impact Macbeth, she utilizes each strategy available to her, including the work of her sexual charms.

She is generally portrayed as serious areas of strength for a, lady and, in her drive to prompt Macbeth to kill Ruler Duncan, she has all the earmarks of being that, in any case, having succeeded, it doesn't take long for her to disintegrate and separate, obliterated by culpability, and she winds up ending it all.

There are no evil characters in Shakespeare. He has ordinary people, like you and me, put in situations that test and challenge them. Some of them, like Iago in Othello, have personality flaws; however, this is uncommon in Shakespeare, and Lady Macbeth is not one of them.

Different people respond differently to the challenges that Shakespeare presents to his characters. Woman Macbeth's test is that she finds that her better half has been enticed by an experience with three witches to take care of their expectation that he will become ruler. She is aware that the king would need to die in order for that to occur. She believes that they would have to kill King Duncan and that this is their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when she receives a message that he plans to spend the night with them at Glassy Castle. That is what is going on into which she has been pushed.

She is as ambitious as Macbeth, but she is aware that despite his bravery in battle, soldierly qualities, and diplomatic skills, he is fundamentally far too soft to seize the opportunity—"too full of the milk of human kindness." She decides to force him to do it.

She is correct about his lack of resolve; after they discuss it, he tells her that he simply cannot accomplish it. She accelerates and practically holds his hand throughout. Perseverance is one of her best qualities, and she demonstrates it here. Macbeth falters, evades, and hesitates, but she persists. She makes her case, she makes fun of him, making him question his manhood, she makes him feel like he is loyal to her, she puts him to bed, and she wins in the end.

When Macbeth kills Duncan while he is sleeping, their marriage starts to break down. They each fall into their own guilt-tripping cycle and rarely communicate. Lady Macbeth stays in bed, unable to sleep, and suffers from nightmares when she does manage to fall asleep, while Macbeth, fearing his political foes, leads a reign of terror as king. She falls into a moral, physical, and spiritual coma while walking and talking in her sleep about what they have done. At the point when Macbeth is hanging on by a thread, with the dissidents shutting in, he receives the message that she's dead. He says he doesn't have time to think about it at that point. He asserts, "She should have died later." Their marriage has been destroyed as a result of their partnership in this heinous scheme.

The commitment of solidarity that we find in her toward the start of the play is a deception. How the situation is playing out is stripped desire and an eagerness to follow up on it without having the assets to manage the results. We see how guilt can destroy you and eat away at your soul. Both in her journey and in Macbeth's, we see how empty ambition is.

★Macbeth's Dissimulation and cunning :

Lady Macbeth is well aware when she tells her husband to "leave all the rest to me" that she can plan and carry out the murder of Duncan with dissimulation and cunning so that neither Macbeth nor herself will be held in suspicion. At the point when she invites Duncan to her home, her direct shows that she is ideal in the craft of camouflaging:

All our service was poor and single business to compete Against those honors deep and broad with which Your majesty loads our house in every point twice done and then done double.

★Macbeth's presence of mind:

She only forgets herself and loses control of her emotions on one occasion. She betrays her excitement at the opportunity and exclaims when she learns that Duncan plans to stay at her castle:

"It seems crazy to say it." I. v. 29.

At the point when her significant other returns shaking and terrified from the homicide, she never loses her sound judgment, yet stays cool and even attempts to alleviate his apprehensions. She begs Macbeth to return and carry out the unfinished details of the plot when she discovers that he has taken the daggers from the dread chamber and has forgotten to smear the grooms with blood. He has no intention of going. At this she shouts:

"Confirm your goal!

I need the knives: The dead and the sleeping are just pictures: It is the child's eye that is afraid of a painted devil," II. i. 116-119.

what's more, does the unfortunate mission herself. She once again demonstrates her self-control upon her return. She convinces Macbeth to retire to his chamber while there is knocking at the cattle gate.

Lady Macbeth


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Summary:

The speaker of the poem describes a force that despises walls and repeatedly breaks them. Under a wall, the frozen water expands as a result of this force. It likewise makes the wall's upper stones tumble off its top in the glow of the sun. It creates gaps in the wall that are so large that two people can walk shoulder to shoulder in the same direction through them.

There are hunters who puncture the wall, but their method is unique. The speaker frequently comes to fix those spots. The trackers haven't left even a solitary stone in its place. They tried to let the rabbits that were hiding in the wall come out so they could feed their dogs and make their barking dogs happy. Nobody has seen or heard these holes in the wall when they are made. They are only seen there by the speaker and other nearby individuals in the spring, when it is time to repair the wall.

The speaker gets in touch with his neighbor on the other side of the hill. They meet on a spring day and go for a walk along the wall together. As they go, they begin filling in these gaps.

The neighbor of the speaker strolls on his side of the wall while the speaker strolls on his. On their side of the wall, they only fix stones that have fallen off. Some of them have the shape of bread, while others are round. They ask God to keep them where they are. They also rely on prayer to keep their balance on the wall's top. The speaker and the neighbor continue to say: Try not to fall back until we're gone from here!" Picking up the rough stones scratches their fingers. For them, it's just another outdoor activity. On their respective sides of the wall, they play this game. Nothing more is there.

As indicated by the speaker, there's no great explanation for a wall to be there. Pine trees are the only thing on his neighbor's side of the wall. On the speaker's side of the wall, there is an apple plantation. The speaker asserts that his apple trees will never exceed their capacity. They are unlikely to cross the wall and consume the pine cones of his neighbor. He tells his neighbor this, but all he says is, "Good fences are necessary to have good neighbors." Since it is spring and the speaker feels prankish, he supposes on the off chance that he could cause his neighbor to ask himself "are these walls and limits essential? Isn't that only necessary if you want to keep the cows of your neighbor away from your fields? There are no cows in this area.

The speaker states that if he were to build a wall, he would want to know what he was keeping in and out, as well as who would be offended by this. Some power doesn't cherish a wall. It intends to dissect it. The speaker suggests that the wall's cracks are caused by Elves, but they are not.

The speaker believes that his neighbor should think that it is out all alone. When he picks up stones, he can see him and firmly holds them in each hand. He behaves like a legendary warrior. He moves in deep shadow, and not just the shadow of the trees or the thick woods. He doesn't want to question his preconceived notions about the world. He enjoys so clearly expressing this concept. As a result, he repeats it: "To have good neighbors, you need good fences."

Analysis:

One possible meaning for this bit of family wisdom is: having clear limits among ourselves as well as other people prompts sound connections between neighbors since they won't drop out over trivial regional questions or 'attacking each other's space'.

We may like our neighbors, but we don't want to wake up to find them dancing naked on our front lawn when we open the curtains. There are boundaries. Regarding each other's limits assists with keeping things common and friendly. Notwithstanding, does this imply that Ice himself endorses such an idea?

As Frost himself noted in 1962, shortly before his death, "Mending Wall" is frequently misunderstood. It is frequently misunderstood or interpreted incorrectly. However, he continued by saying, "The secret of what it means I keep." Let's face it: this doesn't exactly resolve the issue.

Nevertheless, we are able to analyze "Mending Wall" as a poem that contrasts two perspectives on life and human relationships: the approach that Frost himself (or at least the speaker of his poem) takes, as well as the approach that his neighbor takes. Rather than Frost himself or Frost's speaker, Frost's neighbor insists: Good neighbors are made by good fences.

The expression "good fences make good neighbors" has taken on the meaning of another Frost quote: In a wood, two roads diverged, and I chose the less traveled path. This line from "The Road Not Taken" is frequently misunderstood because readers believe Frost is proudly asserting his individuality when, in fact, the lines express regret for "what might have been."

Actually, the phrase "good fences make good neighbors" is more straightforward: Because they mistakenly attribute the statement to Frost himself rather than the neighbor with whom he (or his speaker) disagrees, people misunderstand the meaning of this line. As the main line of the sonnet has it, 'Something there is that doesn't cherish a wall': This clearly demonstrates that Frost disagrees with the notion that "good fences make [for] good neighbors," whether Frost said it himself or through the speaker of his poem.

It is also important to note that Frost did not invent the expression "Good fences make good neighbors." According to The Yale Book of Quotations, it appeared for the first time on June 13, 1834, in the Western Christian Advocate. 

Mending Wall


Mending Wall Poem Summary and Analysis

Green Land | June 03, 2023 | 0 comments

Summary:

The speaker of the poem describes a force that despises walls and repeatedly breaks them. Under a wall, the frozen water expands as a result of this force. It likewise makes the wall's upper stones tumble off its top in the glow of the sun. It creates gaps in the wall that are so large that two people can walk shoulder to shoulder in the same direction through them.

There are hunters who puncture the wall, but their method is unique. The speaker frequently comes to fix those spots. The trackers haven't left even a solitary stone in its place. They tried to let the rabbits that were hiding in the wall come out so they could feed their dogs and make their barking dogs happy. Nobody has seen or heard these holes in the wall when they are made. They are only seen there by the speaker and other nearby individuals in the spring, when it is time to repair the wall.

The speaker gets in touch with his neighbor on the other side of the hill. They meet on a spring day and go for a walk along the wall together. As they go, they begin filling in these gaps.

The neighbor of the speaker strolls on his side of the wall while the speaker strolls on his. On their side of the wall, they only fix stones that have fallen off. Some of them have the shape of bread, while others are round. They ask God to keep them where they are. They also rely on prayer to keep their balance on the wall's top. The speaker and the neighbor continue to say: Try not to fall back until we're gone from here!" Picking up the rough stones scratches their fingers. For them, it's just another outdoor activity. On their respective sides of the wall, they play this game. Nothing more is there.

As indicated by the speaker, there's no great explanation for a wall to be there. Pine trees are the only thing on his neighbor's side of the wall. On the speaker's side of the wall, there is an apple plantation. The speaker asserts that his apple trees will never exceed their capacity. They are unlikely to cross the wall and consume the pine cones of his neighbor. He tells his neighbor this, but all he says is, "Good fences are necessary to have good neighbors." Since it is spring and the speaker feels prankish, he supposes on the off chance that he could cause his neighbor to ask himself "are these walls and limits essential? Isn't that only necessary if you want to keep the cows of your neighbor away from your fields? There are no cows in this area.

The speaker states that if he were to build a wall, he would want to know what he was keeping in and out, as well as who would be offended by this. Some power doesn't cherish a wall. It intends to dissect it. The speaker suggests that the wall's cracks are caused by Elves, but they are not.

The speaker believes that his neighbor should think that it is out all alone. When he picks up stones, he can see him and firmly holds them in each hand. He behaves like a legendary warrior. He moves in deep shadow, and not just the shadow of the trees or the thick woods. He doesn't want to question his preconceived notions about the world. He enjoys so clearly expressing this concept. As a result, he repeats it: "To have good neighbors, you need good fences."

Analysis:

One possible meaning for this bit of family wisdom is: having clear limits among ourselves as well as other people prompts sound connections between neighbors since they won't drop out over trivial regional questions or 'attacking each other's space'.

We may like our neighbors, but we don't want to wake up to find them dancing naked on our front lawn when we open the curtains. There are boundaries. Regarding each other's limits assists with keeping things common and friendly. Notwithstanding, does this imply that Ice himself endorses such an idea?

As Frost himself noted in 1962, shortly before his death, "Mending Wall" is frequently misunderstood. It is frequently misunderstood or interpreted incorrectly. However, he continued by saying, "The secret of what it means I keep." Let's face it: this doesn't exactly resolve the issue.

Nevertheless, we are able to analyze "Mending Wall" as a poem that contrasts two perspectives on life and human relationships: the approach that Frost himself (or at least the speaker of his poem) takes, as well as the approach that his neighbor takes. Rather than Frost himself or Frost's speaker, Frost's neighbor insists: Good neighbors are made by good fences.

The expression "good fences make good neighbors" has taken on the meaning of another Frost quote: In a wood, two roads diverged, and I chose the less traveled path. This line from "The Road Not Taken" is frequently misunderstood because readers believe Frost is proudly asserting his individuality when, in fact, the lines express regret for "what might have been."

Actually, the phrase "good fences make good neighbors" is more straightforward: Because they mistakenly attribute the statement to Frost himself rather than the neighbor with whom he (or his speaker) disagrees, people misunderstand the meaning of this line. As the main line of the sonnet has it, 'Something there is that doesn't cherish a wall': This clearly demonstrates that Frost disagrees with the notion that "good fences make [for] good neighbors," whether Frost said it himself or through the speaker of his poem.

It is also important to note that Frost did not invent the expression "Good fences make good neighbors." According to The Yale Book of Quotations, it appeared for the first time on June 13, 1834, in the Western Christian Advocate. 

Mending Wall


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“Morning Song” was written in February 1961 by Sylvia Plath after the birth of her first child, Frieda Rebecca Hughes. The theme of the poem is motherhood and the process by which it is obtained. It deals with maternal instincts and its awakening. Plath avoids sentimentality in taking up the subject of becoming a mother in a fatherly way. A woman does not come to motherhood merely by giving birth to a child. New behaviour is learned in the process of bringing a child up. The being of the mother is as new as the being of the child. Even the speaker listening to the child’s sounds of cry and getting fascinated is not self-willed or under her control. She follows her instinct “one cry and I stumble from bed”. Her child sings to her with a “Morning Song” and a bond is established with the help of language gradually.

The theme has been presented by means of imagery, similes and metaphors in free-verse. The poem contains six stanzas and each stanza has three unrhymed lines of different lengths, thus giving it all the characteristics of a modern poem. 

“Love” is the initial word in the poem and simultaneously the mother speaker in this poem addresses her recently-born baby. The creativity of “love”, motherhood and midwifery is fore grounded in the opening lines. Using her often favoured figurative mode of the simile Sylvia Plath emphasises the golden-pink, “Titian”, shades of the infant’s flesh: “Love set you going like a fat gold watch”. 

All through the poem we find the great affection and tenderness, the mother feels for her child. She is protective, waking to listen to the baby’s cries to which she responds immediately. It is not that Sylvia Plath feels alienated from infant (as some critics have suggested). Rather she senses the child’s individuality. She knows that it is not simply an extension of herself. This why she says, “Love set you going.” In the third stanza, using the natural imagery of clouds and the wind, she reminds the child that she is not looking in a mirror when she gazes at it. 

The child’s natural aspect is projected at the beginning of stanza Four. Its soft breath is compared to “moth-breath” that “flickers” (vibrates) among the “flat pink roses” (lifeless soft roses). The comic picture of the mother may be traced in her earnestness, her physical and perhaps emotional ineptitude, her shapelessness (“cow-heavy”) and also her mild vanity. (She wears an anachronistic Victorian nightgown with floral motifs). Self-deprecating and self-effacing, she performs appropriate rites of motherhood, her natural as well as cultural duty. 

There are other lines that suggest that the mother is rather awestruck by the arrival of her first born, notably the second stanza. Here a celebration is taking place immediately after the birth (line 1), and in a daze, the new parents “stand round blankly as wall”. These words suggest that a life-changing event has occurred; but the image of the baby as a ‘statue’ in a ‘museum’ and the child’s shadow protecting its parents or threatening their safety seem to be ambiguous. However we feel that this child is a precious, unique creature. 

We can say that Sylvia Plath has successfully displayed in her poem “Morning Song”, the experience of being a pew mother, her reflective and occasionally uneasy joy at her firstborn child.

Write a critical appreciation of "Morning Song"

Write a critical appreciation of "Morning Song"

Green Land | May 29, 2023 | 0 comments

“Morning Song” was written in February 1961 by Sylvia Plath after the birth of her first child, Frieda Rebecca Hughes. The theme of the poem is motherhood and the process by which it is obtained. It deals with maternal instincts and its awakening. Plath avoids sentimentality in taking up the subject of becoming a mother in a fatherly way. A woman does not come to motherhood merely by giving birth to a child. New behaviour is learned in the process of bringing a child up. The being of the mother is as new as the being of the child. Even the speaker listening to the child’s sounds of cry and getting fascinated is not self-willed or under her control. She follows her instinct “one cry and I stumble from bed”. Her child sings to her with a “Morning Song” and a bond is established with the help of language gradually.

The theme has been presented by means of imagery, similes and metaphors in free-verse. The poem contains six stanzas and each stanza has three unrhymed lines of different lengths, thus giving it all the characteristics of a modern poem. 

“Love” is the initial word in the poem and simultaneously the mother speaker in this poem addresses her recently-born baby. The creativity of “love”, motherhood and midwifery is fore grounded in the opening lines. Using her often favoured figurative mode of the simile Sylvia Plath emphasises the golden-pink, “Titian”, shades of the infant’s flesh: “Love set you going like a fat gold watch”. 

All through the poem we find the great affection and tenderness, the mother feels for her child. She is protective, waking to listen to the baby’s cries to which she responds immediately. It is not that Sylvia Plath feels alienated from infant (as some critics have suggested). Rather she senses the child’s individuality. She knows that it is not simply an extension of herself. This why she says, “Love set you going.” In the third stanza, using the natural imagery of clouds and the wind, she reminds the child that she is not looking in a mirror when she gazes at it. 

The child’s natural aspect is projected at the beginning of stanza Four. Its soft breath is compared to “moth-breath” that “flickers” (vibrates) among the “flat pink roses” (lifeless soft roses). The comic picture of the mother may be traced in her earnestness, her physical and perhaps emotional ineptitude, her shapelessness (“cow-heavy”) and also her mild vanity. (She wears an anachronistic Victorian nightgown with floral motifs). Self-deprecating and self-effacing, she performs appropriate rites of motherhood, her natural as well as cultural duty. 

There are other lines that suggest that the mother is rather awestruck by the arrival of her first born, notably the second stanza. Here a celebration is taking place immediately after the birth (line 1), and in a daze, the new parents “stand round blankly as wall”. These words suggest that a life-changing event has occurred; but the image of the baby as a ‘statue’ in a ‘museum’ and the child’s shadow protecting its parents or threatening their safety seem to be ambiguous. However we feel that this child is a precious, unique creature. 

We can say that Sylvia Plath has successfully displayed in her poem “Morning Song”, the experience of being a pew mother, her reflective and occasionally uneasy joy at her firstborn child.

Write a critical appreciation of "Morning Song"

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“Words” is a short poem in four stanzas of five lines each. It is written in an open form with irregular metre and only occasional rhyme. The theme of the poem is the creative impulse of a poet and his effort to write something of permanent value to make him immortal. 

The theme is presented by means of metaphors and many of the images, incorporated in this poem from other poems of Sylvia Plath: horses, water, the mirror, stars, etc. The tone of the poem is sombre. 

The poem is structured as a series of stanza-paragraphs, each exploring a different aspect of the subject. Distinct but interlocking images unify the ideas and reveal a progression of perceptions about the nature of the poetic utterance. The juxtaposition of the title and the one-word first line, “Axes”, links the two ideas. Words set to paper ring out like an axe set to wood. The almost physical sense of vibration coupled with the repetition of the word “echoes” links the ‘axe’ image to that of horses galloping. Plath often uses horse imagery to devote creative energy. In the second stanza the mood changes becoming quieter. ‘Welling sap’ ties this stanza to the preceding axe imagery, and likening sap to tears places the imagery in a human context. Like water seeking to dominate the rock, the poet has to struggle to establish her mastery over words. Sylvia Plath perhaps sees this as a battle to overcome death. Water is frequently linked to dying in her work, and here the rock-is “A white skull/ Eaten by weedy greens.” 

In the final stanza of the poem Sylvia Plath seems to be writing about encountering her own work years after composition. The words have taken on a life of their own; they are “dry and riderless”, with “indefatigable hoof-taps.” The use of the adjective ‘dry’ might seem negative, and perhaps indicates the poet’s dissatisfaction with the work she has produced. However, she recognises that while she will die (“fixed stars govern life”), her words will live on. 

We see that metaphor is the overriding device of “Words”. Because there is no narrative framework, even a superficial reading requires some interpretation of its metaphor. Plath does not make the reader’s task easy, but she does supply the clues. The interlocking nature of the metaphors unifies the poem and leads the reader to understanding. 

Thus through “Words” Sylvia Plath lays bare the emotional journey of her life from creative power to despair and death.

Critical Appreciation of the poem Words by Sylvia Plath

Critical Appreciation of the poem Words by Sylvia Plath

Green Land | May 28, 2023 | 0 comments

“Words” is a short poem in four stanzas of five lines each. It is written in an open form with irregular metre and only occasional rhyme. The theme of the poem is the creative impulse of a poet and his effort to write something of permanent value to make him immortal. 

The theme is presented by means of metaphors and many of the images, incorporated in this poem from other poems of Sylvia Plath: horses, water, the mirror, stars, etc. The tone of the poem is sombre. 

The poem is structured as a series of stanza-paragraphs, each exploring a different aspect of the subject. Distinct but interlocking images unify the ideas and reveal a progression of perceptions about the nature of the poetic utterance. The juxtaposition of the title and the one-word first line, “Axes”, links the two ideas. Words set to paper ring out like an axe set to wood. The almost physical sense of vibration coupled with the repetition of the word “echoes” links the ‘axe’ image to that of horses galloping. Plath often uses horse imagery to devote creative energy. In the second stanza the mood changes becoming quieter. ‘Welling sap’ ties this stanza to the preceding axe imagery, and likening sap to tears places the imagery in a human context. Like water seeking to dominate the rock, the poet has to struggle to establish her mastery over words. Sylvia Plath perhaps sees this as a battle to overcome death. Water is frequently linked to dying in her work, and here the rock-is “A white skull/ Eaten by weedy greens.” 

In the final stanza of the poem Sylvia Plath seems to be writing about encountering her own work years after composition. The words have taken on a life of their own; they are “dry and riderless”, with “indefatigable hoof-taps.” The use of the adjective ‘dry’ might seem negative, and perhaps indicates the poet’s dissatisfaction with the work she has produced. However, she recognises that while she will die (“fixed stars govern life”), her words will live on. 

We see that metaphor is the overriding device of “Words”. Because there is no narrative framework, even a superficial reading requires some interpretation of its metaphor. Plath does not make the reader’s task easy, but she does supply the clues. The interlocking nature of the metaphors unifies the poem and leads the reader to understanding. 

Thus through “Words” Sylvia Plath lays bare the emotional journey of her life from creative power to despair and death.

Critical Appreciation of the poem Words by Sylvia Plath

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Writing a book review may become an interesting writing journey and a source of self-reflection. Whether you are writing a book review for a blog post, Goodreads, or as a college assignment, there are some steps you can take to make your writing better. In the text below we will discuss the most efficient methods to help you effectively assess how the author addresses the subject and clearly deliver it to the intended audience.

EassyShark

Learn from examples 

One of the fastest ways to quickly understand how to write a book review is to read some examples available over the internet. Consider how the author approaches the topic, what they emphasize, and what tone they use. A good book review will have an organized structure that includes an introduction explaining why you have decided to review this particular book, a body containing a thorough evaluation and analysis of the text, and a conclusion summarizing your thoughts. Looking through different reviews can show you how to write one yourself and provide inspiration for topics to cover in your own review. 

Additionally, some book review writing services like EssayShark provide unique samples that can help you understand the best practices and serve as an example if needed. Services like these can provide expertise from writers with previous experience writing various book reviews. 

Consider a short example of a book review from a student writing about beer culture in the Medieval Ages:

In Drinking in Medieval Europe, Patrick J. Geary examines how alcoholic beverages were manufactured and consumed during the Middle Ages. The book is well-researched and detailed but is also surprisingly accessible to a general audience. Geary creates a vivid picture of medieval society via one of its most pervasive practices by looking at taverns, drinking festivals, religious views regarding alcohol intake, and even old beer recipes. He argues that understanding our connection with alcohol may still tell us a lot about our past and present culture in his concluding remarks, which have practical consequences for contemporary society.

Overall, Drinking in Medieval Europe is a terrific book and a must-read for anybody curious about the origins of alcoholic beverages. Readers are given a special view into the past by Geary's insightful and entertaining observations. This is a must-read regardless of your interest in beer culture or your study of the Middle Ages.”

Read actively

What is active reading? It's not just skimming the text. It's about thoroughly examining the book content and addressing specific questions while reading. This step may require multiple readings, but it will help you to make a more accurate analysis of the book and craft an interesting review. Ask yourself the following questions while reading the book, but do not feel obliged to answer all of them as some of them may not be relevant to your specific book:

1. What motivated the author to write this book? Is the purpose of informing, amusing, persuading, instructing, or something else? 

2. Who is the target reader for this book? Young adults? Scholars? Middle school students?

3. Does the author achieve their purpose? Are you convinced, entertained, or informed by the text?

4. If applicable, is there a moral takeaway from the book that speaks to more significant issues of our time or provides life advice based on events and characters portrayed in the narrative?

5. How does this work fit into its genre or field of literature (romance novels, historical fiction, etc.), and what sets it apart from other works?

6. How does the author's choice of words impact the tone of the book?

7. Are there any features or elements that stand out to you (e.g., unusual word choice, interesting storylines, an unexpected twist)?

8. Was the work edited well? Is the pacing consistent throughout? Do characters develop in-depth over time or remain static?

9. How does this work compare to books by this author or others writing in similar styles/genres?

10. Did you finish the book with a sense of satisfaction, or were you left wanting more? Would you recommend it to others, and why or why not?

Tip: Don't forget to mark important passages with sticky notes or highlight them for further reference.

Take notes while reading

It's quite impossible to remember all essential points, characters, and a detailed plot with simple reading. Write down all important elements, interesting facts, and details you may consider in your future book review. Also, it will be good to write down your impression of characters, plot development, writing style, etc. Ask yourself questions: What does this character think? What motivates him? Why did the author use specific words or phrases in this sentence? By doing so, you will be able to form an opinion on the main aspects of the book.

Formulate a thesis statement and key points

After closely reading and analyzing the book, it’s time to form an overall opinion. It will become the basis for your review and take a single sentence or two. Typically, a thesis statement for a book review includes the book title, the author’s name, and your opinion of the book. 

For example, a book review thesis statement may look like this: 

“Patrick J. Geary’s Drinking in Medieval Europe provides insight into how alcohol consumption varied among different classes and regions of medieval Europe, offering a more nuanced understanding of the role that drinking played in society during this period.” 

Also, write down a list of critical points you wish to consider in your book review. It will help you view all the ideas and details to support your arguments about the book.

Research other reviews

See what others have said about this particular book. Do their opinions agree or disagree with yours? If you can find reviews from authoritative sources, such as book critics or literary magazines, pay special attention to those - they will likely have the most insightful analysis. For example, you can find well-written reviews in The New York Times Book Reviews section and The New York Review of Books.

Seeing other people's thoughts can give you new ideas and angles to work with when writing your review. You don't need to copy anyone else's opinion; understanding the range of views can help inform your assessments.

Wrapping Up

There are many ways to improve your book review, so we have highlighted some to encourage further development and find additional publications on the topic. Actively read the book to consider all necessary details and provide convincing arguments for the reader why the book is worth reading.

5 steps to make your book review better

Green Land | May 26, 2023 | 0 comments

Writing a book review may become an interesting writing journey and a source of self-reflection. Whether you are writing a book review for a blog post, Goodreads, or as a college assignment, there are some steps you can take to make your writing better. In the text below we will discuss the most efficient methods to help you effectively assess how the author addresses the subject and clearly deliver it to the intended audience.

EassyShark

Learn from examples 

One of the fastest ways to quickly understand how to write a book review is to read some examples available over the internet. Consider how the author approaches the topic, what they emphasize, and what tone they use. A good book review will have an organized structure that includes an introduction explaining why you have decided to review this particular book, a body containing a thorough evaluation and analysis of the text, and a conclusion summarizing your thoughts. Looking through different reviews can show you how to write one yourself and provide inspiration for topics to cover in your own review. 

Additionally, some book review writing services like EssayShark provide unique samples that can help you understand the best practices and serve as an example if needed. Services like these can provide expertise from writers with previous experience writing various book reviews. 

Consider a short example of a book review from a student writing about beer culture in the Medieval Ages:

In Drinking in Medieval Europe, Patrick J. Geary examines how alcoholic beverages were manufactured and consumed during the Middle Ages. The book is well-researched and detailed but is also surprisingly accessible to a general audience. Geary creates a vivid picture of medieval society via one of its most pervasive practices by looking at taverns, drinking festivals, religious views regarding alcohol intake, and even old beer recipes. He argues that understanding our connection with alcohol may still tell us a lot about our past and present culture in his concluding remarks, which have practical consequences for contemporary society.

Overall, Drinking in Medieval Europe is a terrific book and a must-read for anybody curious about the origins of alcoholic beverages. Readers are given a special view into the past by Geary's insightful and entertaining observations. This is a must-read regardless of your interest in beer culture or your study of the Middle Ages.”

Read actively

What is active reading? It's not just skimming the text. It's about thoroughly examining the book content and addressing specific questions while reading. This step may require multiple readings, but it will help you to make a more accurate analysis of the book and craft an interesting review. Ask yourself the following questions while reading the book, but do not feel obliged to answer all of them as some of them may not be relevant to your specific book:

1. What motivated the author to write this book? Is the purpose of informing, amusing, persuading, instructing, or something else? 

2. Who is the target reader for this book? Young adults? Scholars? Middle school students?

3. Does the author achieve their purpose? Are you convinced, entertained, or informed by the text?

4. If applicable, is there a moral takeaway from the book that speaks to more significant issues of our time or provides life advice based on events and characters portrayed in the narrative?

5. How does this work fit into its genre or field of literature (romance novels, historical fiction, etc.), and what sets it apart from other works?

6. How does the author's choice of words impact the tone of the book?

7. Are there any features or elements that stand out to you (e.g., unusual word choice, interesting storylines, an unexpected twist)?

8. Was the work edited well? Is the pacing consistent throughout? Do characters develop in-depth over time or remain static?

9. How does this work compare to books by this author or others writing in similar styles/genres?

10. Did you finish the book with a sense of satisfaction, or were you left wanting more? Would you recommend it to others, and why or why not?

Tip: Don't forget to mark important passages with sticky notes or highlight them for further reference.

Take notes while reading

It's quite impossible to remember all essential points, characters, and a detailed plot with simple reading. Write down all important elements, interesting facts, and details you may consider in your future book review. Also, it will be good to write down your impression of characters, plot development, writing style, etc. Ask yourself questions: What does this character think? What motivates him? Why did the author use specific words or phrases in this sentence? By doing so, you will be able to form an opinion on the main aspects of the book.

Formulate a thesis statement and key points

After closely reading and analyzing the book, it’s time to form an overall opinion. It will become the basis for your review and take a single sentence or two. Typically, a thesis statement for a book review includes the book title, the author’s name, and your opinion of the book. 

For example, a book review thesis statement may look like this: 

“Patrick J. Geary’s Drinking in Medieval Europe provides insight into how alcohol consumption varied among different classes and regions of medieval Europe, offering a more nuanced understanding of the role that drinking played in society during this period.” 

Also, write down a list of critical points you wish to consider in your book review. It will help you view all the ideas and details to support your arguments about the book.

Research other reviews

See what others have said about this particular book. Do their opinions agree or disagree with yours? If you can find reviews from authoritative sources, such as book critics or literary magazines, pay special attention to those - they will likely have the most insightful analysis. For example, you can find well-written reviews in The New York Times Book Reviews section and The New York Review of Books.

Seeing other people's thoughts can give you new ideas and angles to work with when writing your review. You don't need to copy anyone else's opinion; understanding the range of views can help inform your assessments.

Wrapping Up

There are many ways to improve your book review, so we have highlighted some to encourage further development and find additional publications on the topic. Actively read the book to consider all necessary details and provide convincing arguments for the reader why the book is worth reading.

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, one of the best known of Eliot's poems, was published in 1917 in the volume of poems called, Prufrock and Other Observations. It marks a complete break from the 19th century tradition of poetry, both in technique and content. The setting of the poem is urban which reveals the ugliness of modern civilization and the theme is the conflict of dilemma of a modern man who is unable to take a decision about making the proposal to the lady he loves. 

The lover in the poem is unheroic in his approach to love. He suffers from indecision and lack of nerves which makes him incapable of being bold enough to make a proposal of marriage or love to 8 woman. The poem portrays not only the indecision of modern man but also the triviality, artificiality, hypocrisy and emptiness of contemporary urban civilisation. The title of the poem shows it to be a love song but, in fact, it is a poem about failure in love. Actually it is an anti-romantic poem with a tone of irony throughout. 

The title of the poem is followed by an epigraph which is taken from Dante's Inferno. Dante meets in Hell a character called Guido who agrees to tell Dante of his past only because he knows that like him, the poet also is a lost soul, and so he will never return to earth to tell the people of his confession. The epigraph suggests the theme of the poem. 

The poem is in the nature of an ‘interior monologue’. it probes deep into the subconscious mind of the protagonist, renders his actual thought process on the move, and in this way highlights his neurotic nature and moral cowardice. 

Eliot has discarded the traditional verse form and rhythm. He believes in the freedom of the writer and in the flexibility of style. The verse form varies to suit the turn of thought and feeling. The metrical base is iambic, but we have short lines and long lines, and the rhyme scheme is irregular as is the stanza pattern. There is such a terse line as “Do i dare?” and we have the repetitive rhythm of the hne: *For decisions and revision which a minute will reverse.” This impose that the business of making up one’s mind is a monotonous activity. Further we find the languorous rhythm of the lines which decade the behaviour of the fog. 

The imagery of the poem is asleep Wendell. faith is entirely Untraditional Only the metaphysical poete of the 17th century could have used the image of the evening “spread out against the sky like a etherised upon  table”, to convey a mood of inactivity and listlessness,.

Modern poetry the Indirect and this indirectness has becs Maintained by Eliot in his use of ‘objective correlative’ in The Love Bong of J. Alfred Prufrock. Here Prufrock is the objective correlative or the medium through whose character Eliot portrays the dilemma of a modern man.

The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

Write a critical appreciation of The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

Green Land | May 25, 2023 | 0 comments

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, one of the best known of Eliot's poems, was published in 1917 in the volume of poems called, Prufrock and Other Observations. It marks a complete break from the 19th century tradition of poetry, both in technique and content. The setting of the poem is urban which reveals the ugliness of modern civilization and the theme is the conflict of dilemma of a modern man who is unable to take a decision about making the proposal to the lady he loves. 

The lover in the poem is unheroic in his approach to love. He suffers from indecision and lack of nerves which makes him incapable of being bold enough to make a proposal of marriage or love to 8 woman. The poem portrays not only the indecision of modern man but also the triviality, artificiality, hypocrisy and emptiness of contemporary urban civilisation. The title of the poem shows it to be a love song but, in fact, it is a poem about failure in love. Actually it is an anti-romantic poem with a tone of irony throughout. 

The title of the poem is followed by an epigraph which is taken from Dante's Inferno. Dante meets in Hell a character called Guido who agrees to tell Dante of his past only because he knows that like him, the poet also is a lost soul, and so he will never return to earth to tell the people of his confession. The epigraph suggests the theme of the poem. 

The poem is in the nature of an ‘interior monologue’. it probes deep into the subconscious mind of the protagonist, renders his actual thought process on the move, and in this way highlights his neurotic nature and moral cowardice. 

Eliot has discarded the traditional verse form and rhythm. He believes in the freedom of the writer and in the flexibility of style. The verse form varies to suit the turn of thought and feeling. The metrical base is iambic, but we have short lines and long lines, and the rhyme scheme is irregular as is the stanza pattern. There is such a terse line as “Do i dare?” and we have the repetitive rhythm of the hne: *For decisions and revision which a minute will reverse.” This impose that the business of making up one’s mind is a monotonous activity. Further we find the languorous rhythm of the lines which decade the behaviour of the fog. 

The imagery of the poem is asleep Wendell. faith is entirely Untraditional Only the metaphysical poete of the 17th century could have used the image of the evening “spread out against the sky like a etherised upon  table”, to convey a mood of inactivity and listlessness,.

Modern poetry the Indirect and this indirectness has becs Maintained by Eliot in his use of ‘objective correlative’ in The Love Bong of J. Alfred Prufrock. Here Prufrock is the objective correlative or the medium through whose character Eliot portrays the dilemma of a modern man.

The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

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J. Alfred Prufrock is the protagonist of Eliot’s famous poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. He is a middle-aged fop, a neurotic and tragic figure who is unable to take a decision about making the proposal of marriage to the lady he loves. Let us now consider some of the important traits of his character. 

Prufrock is an aging romantic fellow who dresses smartly, smiles to the ladies but is unable to express his inner mind. His excuse for postponing the making of the love proposal arises from neurosis and from his fear of rejection. He is conscious of his old age and besides, there is “a bald spot in the middle” of his head. His hair is also growing thin. His hands and legs are also thin. He is afraid of people's criticism, “But how his arms and legs are thin!” For this reason, he is in a dilemma whether he will propose to his lady or not. 

Prufrock may be regarded as a tragic character. His tragedy lies in the fact that he is unable to commit himself to any faith that would sustain him. Prufrock’s timidity is his tragic flaw. His inability to establish a satisfying love-relationship torments him. 

Prufrock shows a Hamlet-like temperament, which is central to Shakespeare’s great tragedy. In Hamlet we find that the hero suffers intensely because of his over-consciousness. His philosophical speculations paralyse his will to act and so he suffers from procrastination. The desire of the heart failing to find fulfilment ip action, begins to feed upon itself, and the emotional impulse to act of to come to a decision is repressed by over-scrupulousness. The result is emotional frustration, and self-dissection or self-deprecation. If the case of Prufrock the problem is complicated by the fact that he is  smart but middle-aged man who is naturally more timid in love’ making than a hot-blooded youth. 

Prufrock is a man of dual personality. He suffers from both mental and physical weakness. He is old and impotent. But at the same time he has no power to reach a decision whether he should propose to his sweetheart or not. He is timid and indecisive. He represents a split consciousness. In fact he has two selves — romantic and realist. His heart is his romantic self and his head is the realist self. His romantic self persuades him to go to his beloved and propose to her. But his realist self advises him not to hurry. This is actually the cause of his indecision in making a proposal to his ladylove. 

Prufrock is a daydreamer, romantic fellow who often has visions of beauty. Unable to face realities, he longs to escape from life to some world of romance and beauty. His romantic inner-self has always been submerged by the actualities of life. So he is utterly helpless; he wants to escape but cannot.

Sketch the character of J. Alfred Prufrock

Sketch the character of J. Alfred Prufrock

Green Land | May 25, 2023 | 0 comments

J. Alfred Prufrock is the protagonist of Eliot’s famous poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. He is a middle-aged fop, a neurotic and tragic figure who is unable to take a decision about making the proposal of marriage to the lady he loves. Let us now consider some of the important traits of his character. 

Prufrock is an aging romantic fellow who dresses smartly, smiles to the ladies but is unable to express his inner mind. His excuse for postponing the making of the love proposal arises from neurosis and from his fear of rejection. He is conscious of his old age and besides, there is “a bald spot in the middle” of his head. His hair is also growing thin. His hands and legs are also thin. He is afraid of people's criticism, “But how his arms and legs are thin!” For this reason, he is in a dilemma whether he will propose to his lady or not. 

Prufrock may be regarded as a tragic character. His tragedy lies in the fact that he is unable to commit himself to any faith that would sustain him. Prufrock’s timidity is his tragic flaw. His inability to establish a satisfying love-relationship torments him. 

Prufrock shows a Hamlet-like temperament, which is central to Shakespeare’s great tragedy. In Hamlet we find that the hero suffers intensely because of his over-consciousness. His philosophical speculations paralyse his will to act and so he suffers from procrastination. The desire of the heart failing to find fulfilment ip action, begins to feed upon itself, and the emotional impulse to act of to come to a decision is repressed by over-scrupulousness. The result is emotional frustration, and self-dissection or self-deprecation. If the case of Prufrock the problem is complicated by the fact that he is  smart but middle-aged man who is naturally more timid in love’ making than a hot-blooded youth. 

Prufrock is a man of dual personality. He suffers from both mental and physical weakness. He is old and impotent. But at the same time he has no power to reach a decision whether he should propose to his sweetheart or not. He is timid and indecisive. He represents a split consciousness. In fact he has two selves — romantic and realist. His heart is his romantic self and his head is the realist self. His romantic self persuades him to go to his beloved and propose to her. But his realist self advises him not to hurry. This is actually the cause of his indecision in making a proposal to his ladylove. 

Prufrock is a daydreamer, romantic fellow who often has visions of beauty. Unable to face realities, he longs to escape from life to some world of romance and beauty. His romantic inner-self has always been submerged by the actualities of life. So he is utterly helpless; he wants to escape but cannot.

Sketch the character of J. Alfred Prufrock

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