Class note #1: (9/13/10-9/17/10)

We went to the lab on 9/13/10 to work on the Wiki and close reading section

(9/14/10-9/17/10) 

Poetry:Language condensed to artistic effect. People have used it for centuries for universal language. It takes more time to explain it than read it. It is the most difficult yet rewarding literature of all times.

If people take more time read something than to explain it, it is a prose.

Example of poem:I, too, sing America.

It takes more time to explain it than to read it

The poem itself: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15615

Ex: Meaning of the poem: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/langston_hughes/poems/16945

Example of prose: Too kill a mocking bird by Harper Lee. It takes longer to read it than to explain what it means.

There is no correct answer in the Literature! There is no more guided tour anymore. Now we are in the wilderness, looking for the answers.

We analyzed the poem “Hidden meaning” by Dabney Stuart by doing the activity called Fish bowl. We saw molestation, autoerotism, and castration in the poem. In the end, we figure out that Stuart is criticizing roles of men and women in fairy tales. Men have to work hard and defeat huge monsters while women have to do wait for the prince charming.

Perrine’s Literature, Ch.2: Questions that you should ask while reading the poem:

1. Who is the speaker?
2. What is the setting in place?
3. What is the central purpose of the poem?
4. What is the occasion?

http://www.shmoop.com/poetry/how-to-read-poem/how-to-read.html is the great website to learn more about reading poetry.

Diction: Words choice that some authors use to create feelings of their works.

 Denotation:Dictionary meaning or meanings of the word.

 Connotation:Things that suggest beyond what it expresses.

 For example, let’s use the word “thin”

       Gaunt     Skinny                  Thin           Slender             Svelte

<------------------------------------------0------------------------------------------->

   Pejorative or negative feeling towards the Gaunt
Ex: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/250159223_4c0f005be4.jpg

Honorific or positive feelings towards the Svelte
Ex: http://www.rottentoons.com/images/cartoon-tutorial.jpg

Concreteness versus Abstraction.

Authors can use specific or vague words, depend on situations.
Ex: Clothes -> Pants -> jeans -> Levis
Too much abstraction is not good.

Let’s use the phrase “Girl danced as if she was caught on the fire” as an example
If we say girl’s clothes caught on the fire, it would be no longer funny. If we put jeans of clothes, it would get more specific. If we substitute jeans instead of clothes, we can create an image of girl’s jean caught on fire. However, if we put Levis, it would no longer be serious. Instead, it would be funny.

Precision:How specific should be the word be? “Good” or “Nice” contain no specific concept. It can be vague.
Ex: If I were to solve math problem correctly, my math teacher would say “Good job!” instead of “It’s about time! You’ve been calling out the wrong answers for weeks now.”

Elevation Versus Colloquialism: Different people have different meanings and levels for this. Let’s use slang and epic diction for example
Slang <---------------------------------------------------------> Epic Diction
 Colloquialism language (ex: What’s up, dawg)            Elevated language (ex: How are you doing, sir? )

Epic diction is used in important speeches such as Novel Prize speech or inaugural speech.

Slang is everyday use words.

Dialect, Jargon, Regionalism, etc.

Dialect:Language said by people in broad areas. Ex: In Southern areas, people say “y’all” instead of you all.

Regionalism:Words said by people in specific regions. Ex: When I moved to Tallahassee, Florida, the phrase “ain’t” was used. It is a shorten version of don’t. When I said “I ain’t have pencils. Can I borrow one? ” to a girl when I went to Oregon, she had no idea what I just said.

Jargon:Specialized language of profession. Ex: military’s jargon and cooker’s jargon are different.

             Imagery: Representation though language of sense experience.

Types of Imagery: 1) Visual imagery (vision, image) 2) Auditory imagery (sound) 3) Olfactory imagery (smell) 4) Gustatory imagery (taste) 5) Tactile imagery (heat and cold) 6) Organic energy (internal sensation such as hunger) 7) Kinesthetic imagery (Movement or tension in the muscles or joints)

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/imagery-examples.html shows some great examples of imagery.

Homework:Read and analysis “Kitchenette building” poem. Worked on finding imagery and diction with a partner. Comment on one aspect of both “The widow’s lament” and “The naming of parts”.