The Great Gatsby - 8

"Lots of people come who haven't been invited." pg. 109

Gatsby has elaborate parties and people just show up uninvited. This further exemplifies the characteristics of the rich. This is a common theme throughout the novel. People think that just  because they have money, they can do whatever they want. I think that through the annoyed tone of this comment, it becomes evident that the author does not approve of the mindset of the upper class and wishes to restore what it used to be. Money should not be a source of power, and it should not influence social standing. People are using their money to create an image for themselves, but each of these images are superficial. They do not reflect quality individuals or sincere people. I think that this is a warning to the upper class, that if things are not altered, dignity and standards will quickly diminish.

Plot 2. How I Met My Husband

"So I said yes, and I went out with him for two years and he asked me to marry him, and we were engaged a year more while I got my things together, and then we did marry." pg. 146

I was very surprised by the way the story ended. I found it very ironic that the title is "How I Met My Husband," yet she describes him and their encounter in two paragraphs. I know that Edie's desire to receive a letter from her former lover, Chris Watters, was the reason she met her husband, but I thought the excessive detail of their meaningless fling was irrelevant to her meeting her husband.  The structure of the story provided suspense for the reader. I didn't know what was going to happen. I certainly didn't predict that she would meet and marry her husband within the last page. If we had known that Edie wouldn't end up with Chris, I wouldn't have been as engaged in the story. Because the story is told retrospectively, it makes sense that she wouldn't end up with Chris. As a young girl, she  fantasized about her dream husband, Chris. Now, based on Edie's tone, looking back at herself, she sees how foolish and naive she was. She realizes that logically she needs to be with a normal, nice guy, like Carmichael.

Pattern 5: Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead

"I don't think he's right. He's ready. I am not." lines 13-14

In this poem, the son and the father have two completely different views on death. The father sees death as a great opportunity. He will be able to start a new life in the presence of God. The son sees death as the ultimate end. He thinks that once he dies, that is it. Their views on immortality are different too. The father believes in a spiritual immortality, where as the son believes in a physical one.  There differences are clearly conveyed throughout the poem in lines such as, "he's ready. I am not." and "I don't think he is right." Although the tone seems to be pessimistic, I think the son will greatly miss the father when he dies. "I can't just say good-bye as cheerfully as if he were embarking on a trip," conveys that he doesn't know how to handle death. Through the son's description of the father's attitude, it seems that the father has been attempting to teach his son how to see death as a "new desire." But, the son cannot grasp the concept of afterlife.

Tone 4: Hazel Tells LaVerne

"ya little green pervert an i hitsm with my mop"

There were two things I noticed right away about this poem. The first was that there was no punctuation, like "next to of course god america i." But, this one was much easier to follow based on the structure. The second thing I noticed was that the speaker was uneducated. It is clear through her diction. One of the questions at the end of the poem is, "What creates the poems humor?" Personally I didn't find this poem humorous at all, besides when she refers to the frog as a "little green pervert." I thought that this poem was incredibly sad. I just pictured this poor uneducated young girl cleaning toilets and thinking to herself that she will never be worthy enough to be a princess. I think that is why she develops such a harsh tone with the frog. She sees it as a joke, or as if the frog is mocking her. She cannot even fathom the idea that kissing the frog would actually make her a princess. She puts on a rough exterior to mask the pain she feels in knowing she will never be anything more than she is. If she lets herself hope, then she will be seen as a fool. Her doubtful attitude towards the frog is simply a wall of protection, so she doesn't get hurt.

Tone 3: Getting Out

"We held on tight, and let go." line 24

The poem begins with the simile, "walking like inmates." This immediately implies confinement and unhappiness. It seems that this couple was once very much in love, but when they began living together, tension grew. Its like they couldn't adjust to living in each others lives daily. This is reflected by the tone, which is one of stress and unhappiness. After awhile of trying to coexist, "exhausted, we gave up." The end of this poem is rather sad. The couple seems to have rushed their relationship to quickly. Maybe they didn't know everything they needed to know about each other before getting married. Despite the way the couple treated each other, I think they deeply cared for one another. I thought this from the line, "Yet I think of the lawyer's bewilderment when we cried, the last day." By the way the couple acted, the lawyer was shocked they had any feelings for each other at all. I think their parting was bittersweet. Even though they loved each other, they needed to be apart.

Tone 1: My mistress' eyes

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." line 1

I find this poem to be very sweet and romantic. The speaker describes his lover in a very unattractive manner. His tone while doing this seems to be satisfied and nonchalant. Its as if he doesn't care and is almost pleased that she isn't  attractive. However, despite her unfortunate looks, the man loves her. It seems that he doesn't care that society would describe her "eyes nothing like the sun" and "black wires grow[n] on her head" as unattractive. Despite everything, this woman is perfect in his eyes. This is shown in the last line, "she belied with false compare." This basically means that all her imperfections make her perfect to him.

Imagery Poetry 1- London

"Marks of weakness, marks of woe." line 4

William Blake's poem, London, conveys a very depressing tone. It seems that all the citizens of London are imprisoned by something. Based on the first two lines, "I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow," I think the government is controlling and oppressing all of its' people. By using the word chartered in reference to the streets and the Thames river, I think this demonstrates the range of control possessed by the government.  Blake uses imagery to describe the emotions and feelings of despair the people posses. Through lines such as "In every cry of every man" and "Marks of weakness, marks of woe," we can feel the unhappiness in their hearts. I think Blake is trying to convey the hardships of living in London at every level, regardless of social class. From the "Runs in blood down Palace walls," to "How the youthful Harlot's curse," it is evident how class isn't a factor. I think that the "Marks of weakness" represent the fear the citizens possess about the powers hanging over them. As a result to the control, all the citizens live an unhappy and oppressed life.