What does Yeats hope to accomplish with his portrayal of a rape from mythology? What themes does this poem reveal about the present through its portrayal of the past?
1. When I read this poem, I was disturbed. It seems as if Yeats turns the tragedy of rape into artwork when it is nothing of the sort. I understand that it is not really a swan, but rather Zeus in the form of an animal, but why did he do this? Is this to make the reader forget of the rape and turn it into more of a romance or is this done to convince this reader it wasnt really a rape (more of an affair). It made me think of when rapists are caught and how they usually say, "Oh, she wanted it to start off with"especially the line where it says he caressed her thighs. During a rape, a woman would usually put up more of a fight than whats described in this poem, but maybe I'm wrong because this great blow described in the poem could've weakend Leda. Yeats uses words like staggering,terrified, and vague; this may prove that she was either hurt or frozen in fear (or shock). It's beautifully written and I enjoyed reading it (especially after doing some background research) but the major question in my mind is: Out of all the animals in this world, why is Zeus a SWAN?? Maybe, because the swan reminds some of things that are delicate and this adds to the shock factor when we figure out that the swan is raping Leda. I really dont know the reasoning behind this myth, but Yeats wrote his version beautifully and tastefully.
2.Yeats accomplish the task of turning this rape from tragedy to a romance. His usage of such soft language succeeds in making the reader forget the actual act taking place. He makes people think that maybe this wasn't the type of rape we think it is. Something might've taken place prior to this incident. Yeats poem makes me wonder what happened prior to and after the rape. I know Leda give birth to 2 eggs, but was she bitter towards Zeus? Zeus being the powerful god that he was, did what he pleased but I wish I could see into Leda. This romanticizes the past and takes away from the seriousness of the situation. History repeats itself over and over; but, poetry like this will take away from the true meaning and effect of a incident.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
First Blog EVER!
What does Porritt reveal about conventions of reading in "Read This Poem From the Bottom Up"?
Jennifer Woods
When I first looked at Porritt's piece,Read This Poem from the Bottom Up, I didn't think she was serious. I thought maybe she wrote that to catch the readers attention, but I also thought of how unusual and difficult a task that would be. So at first, I went with what I was used to and read it from top to bottom. Okay, sounds good, I thought until I actually read it from the bottom up. Totally different meaning!?!? I felt that reading it from the bottom up had a strong meaning that it actually took me to a place where I had never been.Porritt has taken poetry to a new level in which this poem has two different meanings, depending on which direction the reader decides to read it. I have never encountered such a work, but I was impressed. Porritt revealed to readers that the written word can have more than one message/meaning;but in the end, it all depends on how the reader interprets the material. We, as readers, are accustomed to reading from top to bottom, that we even doubt that something can make sense if read the other way. Porritt defeats this "belief" in that she provides readers with a work with a double meaning. I suppose she wanted us to interpret it as one of the many ways people can use the written word as an art form, but it also takes us out of our comfort zone. She reminds me of one of the purposes of the written word- to challenge the mind or to make us think/wonder about the possiblities. Yes, I will admit that I was uncomfortable reading it from the bottom, but as I read it (out loud, there was no other way for me to understand it) I began to understand Ruth Porritt. She is a poet who wants readers to explore all parts of written works, investigate, and question why a writer might have chosen that word OR placed it in that sentence. Readers often takes poems, novels, and short stories for granted. We think okay, this will have beginning,middle, and end;however, Porritt reminds us that when it comes to the written word, we, as writers have the power to change time and the way people percieve things. She urges us to take advantage of the power and use the element of surprise/awe for our audience. Readers have become use to beginning, middle, and end as ordinary and this poems encourages writers/poets to get rid of ordinary and put some new "flavor" in to the writing world.
Jennifer :)
Jennifer Woods
When I first looked at Porritt's piece,Read This Poem from the Bottom Up, I didn't think she was serious. I thought maybe she wrote that to catch the readers attention, but I also thought of how unusual and difficult a task that would be. So at first, I went with what I was used to and read it from top to bottom. Okay, sounds good, I thought until I actually read it from the bottom up. Totally different meaning!?!? I felt that reading it from the bottom up had a strong meaning that it actually took me to a place where I had never been.Porritt has taken poetry to a new level in which this poem has two different meanings, depending on which direction the reader decides to read it. I have never encountered such a work, but I was impressed. Porritt revealed to readers that the written word can have more than one message/meaning;but in the end, it all depends on how the reader interprets the material. We, as readers, are accustomed to reading from top to bottom, that we even doubt that something can make sense if read the other way. Porritt defeats this "belief" in that she provides readers with a work with a double meaning. I suppose she wanted us to interpret it as one of the many ways people can use the written word as an art form, but it also takes us out of our comfort zone. She reminds me of one of the purposes of the written word- to challenge the mind or to make us think/wonder about the possiblities. Yes, I will admit that I was uncomfortable reading it from the bottom, but as I read it (out loud, there was no other way for me to understand it) I began to understand Ruth Porritt. She is a poet who wants readers to explore all parts of written works, investigate, and question why a writer might have chosen that word OR placed it in that sentence. Readers often takes poems, novels, and short stories for granted. We think okay, this will have beginning,middle, and end;however, Porritt reminds us that when it comes to the written word, we, as writers have the power to change time and the way people percieve things. She urges us to take advantage of the power and use the element of surprise/awe for our audience. Readers have become use to beginning, middle, and end as ordinary and this poems encourages writers/poets to get rid of ordinary and put some new "flavor" in to the writing world.
Jennifer :)
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