Dead Poet's Society

After writing four poetry responses with still a few to go, I couldn't bring myself to blog about poetry also. However, I decided instead to write about the only other thing we've done in English class lately: Watch Dead Poet's Society.
I liked the movie so far, and the acting was good for sure. I loved that all the boys looked like they were going to pave their own way in the liberal arts field instead of the professional tracks their parents picked out for them. My parents haven't pressured me too much for college or a career, but I know they'd be upset if, for example, I decided to try to be a professional singer. I admired that the guy from House tried out for a play knowing his father wouldn't approve, and I was definitely excited that he was playing Puck, my favorite character in any Shakespeare play (and also a character that I played in fourth grade, no big deal!). So overall I'm really enjoying the movie, but I had a few reservations that probably have to do with it being set in the 50s.

For one thing, the characters kept pulling instruments out of absolutely nowhere. I definitely saw a recorder, bongos, and a saxophone come into the picture to play random music during the film. I found that extremely weird and a little confusing.
Also, the boys make the decision to start the Dead Poet's Society kind of randomly. Robin Williams says a few short sentences about it, and they go smoke pipes in a cave like that night. It was a cool idea, but they seemed way too excited about reading poetry out loud. I like the rhythm and sound of poetry a lot, but I don't usually sneak out and go hide in a cave to read it to a bunch of people. That part was a little far-fetched to me.
I was also a little skeptical about the lack of repercussions Robin Williams faced for having such a wild, eccentric teaching style. Based on that boarding school's reputation, I can't see them really being okay with a teacher that far outside of the box.

As critical as all of that was, I'd like to reinforce that I really liked the movie so far, and I'm excited to watch the end. I understand that the plot might not be entirely airtight, but the story is really good and, like I said, I like all the characters so far. Anyway, thanks Mr. Mullins for letting us watch it! You're awesome!

March Madness

Today, I want to talk about the "hidden message" in poems. Yes, I'm aware Mr. Mullins told us that we shouldn't call it hidden because it should be easy to find. It could be my stupidity, but I feel like 90% of the purpose of a poem is hidden somewhere in a way. For example, the last poem I analyzed for homework was:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wasted by June Jordan

You should slice the lying tongue of your love
into a billion bits of bile you swallow
one bilious element at a time
while
scalding water trembles drop
by drop between
(you hope)
between your eyes because
you said you loved me
and you lied
you lied

All you wanted was to rid me of my pride
to ruin me for tenderness
you lied
to thrust me monstrous from the hurt
you fabricate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obviously, on the surface this poem is about rejection in some form or another. But under the surface there is so much to analyze (which is probably why we have to analyze it in English class for homework, but you know).

There is alliteration (billion bits of bile), repetition (you lied) and onomatopoeia (drop) used within this short poem. There can be so much interpreted from these and other rhetorical devices. I think the "hidden message" is what's given away after careful analysis as opposed to a superficial reading. It may not be exactly hidden, but it is definitely harder to find. These devices add effect but I think much of it is also left up to interpretation by the reader.

Also, if anyone was wondering why I titled this "March Madness" and then didn't talk about it, UK's loss has left me speechless and I couldn't talk about it. But if you were wondering, I have Miami winning it all!

Poetry in Song

I've never been much for creative writing. I'm not really artistic or musical, besides singing, so I don't really know that much about poetry. I don't think I've ever written any besides what was required in school. So, when I found out we were doing a poetry unit, I was kind of scared. But I noticed on the list of poetry to read were several songs we had sung in choir, and that made me kind of hopeful. Here is one of my favorite songs written from poetry and the arrangement we sang.

Stopping By Woods On  A Snowy Evening - Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDH5R_BgheI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmpKiort2g

 

Now, maybe it's just because we sang it for so long, but I feel like I understand this poetry more from listening to the song than any poetry I've seen in just plain words. The music makes it more interesting and way more emotional than any other poetry I've read. I think I might try looking up arrangements of other poems we read to try to get more of a feel for them. Either way, this made me a little bit more excited about our poetry unit coming up.

The next adventure

With graduation approaching for most of us, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the rapid changes our lives are going through in the next six months or so. My life is going to be completely different, and it's hard to believe I won't be at Dunbar with all the friends I've spent the past 12 years or so getting to know.

My family is moving out of the house I've lived in for ten years, and I'm moving away to live on my own.
We're graduating. It feels so strange to say and to think that in less than three months, I won't be a high schooler anymore. It is super cliche but very true that this semester has flown by. In two months I have to decide where I will be for the next four years. Some of you may know that I despise decisions and take hours to decide even where I'm going to eat dinner. So this is especially stressful for me.
In August, I'll be 18, able to make my own decisions and even order my own snuggie over the phone.
At least most of my friends are moving out of Lexington. I haven't decided where I'll be next year, but some of my friends have decided they're getting out of here. I don't know what I'll do without you all (Lookin' at you, Sanch) but I just hope we'll all stay friends no matter how far away we are.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about graduation lately, and leaving to live on my own. I decided the most stressful part will be having no one to make food for me. Luckily, that's what meal plans are for. And as sad as I am to leave Dunbar behind, I can't wait to be at college and living on my own. I just wanted to say thank you to all my friends who have made high school, well, still high school, but at least we've had some really unforgettable times and I love you all. :)