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English 45C, 123902-200, image, image, image - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Both Vladimir and Estragon struggle with memory, which significantly hinders their ability to establish a true identity. They also lack recognition from Pozzo and the Boy in the second act during their second meeting, leaving them with no affirmation of their existence. To the reader, this makes the characters appear almost indispensable due to their lack of personality.
        
        In the first act, Didi and Gogo contemplate suicide to escape their seemingly unending wait for Godot. However, unlike Septimus Warren Smith (Mrs. Dalloway) or Quentin Compson (The Sound and the Fury), the possibility for suicide comes off as comical. This can be attributed to the lack of context or history the reader is provided with in Waiting For Godot as compared to other texts, making them less sympathetic.
      - Absurdism: In reliving almost the exact same day over and over, Vladimir and Estragon are left to question the purpose of their existence. They believe that Godot's arrival will save them from their miserable repetition, but he never arrives in the play's duration.
    - - "Nude Young Dancer" critically looks into the sexualized and exoticized portrayal of Black women in America by white people. It exhibits how these perceptions influence what roles Black women are allowed to play a part in opposed to those in which they are excluded.
      - There is a deeply exploitative cycle illustrated in this poem in how the sexualization of Black women forces them into sexualized work, which perpetuates the stereotypes of Black hypersexuality. This is deeply harmful to progress in achieving equality by reinforcing ideas of Black people being "primitive" or "savage" compared to their white counterparts.
  - - - Anatomy of Social Types: The ambiguous narrator begins the short story by accurately identifying people on the streets of London by social class and profession based solely on their outward appearance and behavior. The cohesion of the crowd places emphasis on how these particular stratifications create value in a modern society.
      - Although the old man follows a uniform daily pattern of behavior, he is unable to be defined by the narrator. The repetition of his behavior comes not in response to what typical society pushes him to do (e.g., work) but instead functions on his own accord as he traverses the streets of London. This abnormality pushes the narrator to contemplate why the old man acts in the way he does rather than question why everyone else elects to conform to societal norms.
        
        The old man relates to Bartleby by refusing to let societally understood conventions of behavior allow their lives to be dictated in certain ways.
        
        The supposed secrecy of the old man that the narrator expresses highlights his own ties to social conventions by perpetuating the idea that being "different" is inherently linked to criminality.
    - - "Spring and All" details the seasonal transition from winter to spring. In its simplest definition, the changing of seasons is a natural cycle that takes place every year around the world. The movement or flow from one season to the next, as portrayed in the poem's language, presents the change as renewing rather than redundant or oppressive.
      - Spring, specifically, brings into mind the symbolism of rebirth and hope in contrast to the immobility of the freezing winter. There is a strong sentiment of emancipation in the act of thawing that allows for a fresh start as the year once again begins.
    - - "I would prefer not to" In a capitalist society where work is championed as a determinant factor for social status, Bartleby asserts a unique extent of autonomy by refusing to do his job. Consequently, he frees himself from the economic system that depends upon production for success. Bartleby acts as a "blockage" in the corporate machine by continuously repeating his notable phrase, "I would prefer not to."
      - The Lawyer does not know how to function due to Bartleby's disruption of the typical work cycle that had previously been enforced, which undermines his authority as a boss. This evokes a new power dynamic between employer and employee by allowing the employee a heightened sense of freedom and equality.
        
        The Lawyer's attempts to rationalize Bartleby's behavior reveal his personal ties to capitalism, where logic is regarded as more valuable than emotions in creating profit.
- - - - Although Their Eyes Were Watching God can be characterized as a romance novel, it is more accurately understood as a story of maturity. The book focuses less on the existence of Janie's marriages than on the individual meaning she derives from or fails to derive from them. The story does not end in a marriage but with the end of Janie's marriage to Tea Cake- a sad ending, but one that signifies how much Janie has grown over the course of her three marriages.
      - The image of the pear tree is a recurring symbol throughout the novel, representing Janie's escape from her oppressive situations to experience a heightened sense of sexual liberation. Retaining this sense of desire, which women are often cautioned against, can be a form of quiet rebellion or self-determination in society.
      - The first catalyst that sparks the narrative direction of Janie's self discovery comes from when she first realizes that she is Black as a child after looking at a picture of herself with the Washburn children.
    - - Similar to The Dead, the narrator only truly begins to contemplate the meaning of life when confronted with the appearance of death and its pressing inevitability. The timelessness of artwork is contrasted with the ever-changing patterns of nature.
        
        There are also several biblical or religious allusions in the poem which elucidates the importance of religion in finding purpose and meaning in life for many people.
      - "Sailing to Byzantium" details an old man's desire to keep his soul alive for eternity by turning into a work of art. Byzantium is portrayed as a kind of paradise and a place of beautiful order. It is described as the only way for the old man to escape from the decaying effects of aging and find eternal meaning.
    - - Hughes' constant use of "I" to start lines functions as an assertion of the self to his audience. It presents a sense of confidence in himself and his identity as a Black man in America that is viewed as dangerous in a racist society.
      - In positioning himself to transnational locations like the Congo, the Euphrates, the Nile, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Hughes forms a venerable, unbroken lineage. This privilege has historically been denied to Black people through immoral institutions like the slave trade and slavery itself which has torn Black people from their culture and ancestors.
  - - - Septimus must die so that Clarissa may live: In a critical moment of the novel, Clarissa Dalloway reflects upon Septimus Warren Smith's suicide and decides that it was a good thing. The hardship of others prompts her to reflect on the scope of her own personal issues, ending with a realization that life should not be taken for granted. In this sense, tragedy is necessary for the growth of others.
        
        Suicide in Septimus' case is undoubtably constructed through a tragic lens, but also as a way for him to preserve his soul and autonomy in an oppressive society. Through this, the suicide is painted as a courageous choice rather than an act of cowardice.
      - Clarissa Dalloway functions effectively in her role as the perfect hostess by bringing people together in her home, an intimate location, after the devastation brought about by World War I. This connection requires that other petty differences be put aside for the greater good of the London society and their gradual healing to return to a state of normalcy. Shared misfortune acts as a unifying force rather than a destructive one.
        
        This idea strongly contrats the Compsons response to misfortune in The Sound and the Fury because they allow traumatic events to divide the family rather than unify them.
    - - "West Briton" Gabriel is teased at several parts of the dinner party for his allegiance to England despite being an Irish person from Dublin. He has a kind of superiority complex over several other characters for being more "worldly," although he is deeply detached from his own cultural identity. There is an apparent association between Ireland ("the motherland") and femininity, which may give reasoning as to why he elects to abandon this part of his identity.
      - After hearing his wife Gretta's story about the death of an old lover, Michael Furey, Gabriel realizes that he has never been that passionate about anything in his life. This inspires him to travel back to his home country to reconnect with the lost piece of his identity that he strayed from long ago.
        
        Snow is employed symbolically throughout the story to represent mortality. This aids in Gabriel's revelation by highlighting the impermanence of life and how Gabriel has been living a meaningless existence up until that point.
    - - Although Hughes utilizes the pronoun "I" for most of the poem, he evokes a sense of community by positioning himself as a representative for all Americans who have been discriminated against. Rather than lingering on racial or economic differences, he focuses more on the shared identity as Americans and, more importantly, as people deserving equal respect.
      - "Let America Be America Again" is a powerful poem that gives voice to marginalized communities by calling for the restoration of traditional American values such as "Liberty" and "Equality" for all. It possesses a hopeful tone, one that looks to overcome past injustices and looks forward to a brighter future in which everyone may exert the same rights and privileges.
- - - - The Governess serves as an unreliable narrator through her personal paranoia and suspicion. This leaves the reader to question how accurate her account of the situation is, especially in discerning whether or not the ghosts are real or manifestations of her repressed sexuality. In turn, the reader begins to question their own sanity as the novel progresses.
        
        The Turn of the Screw is an epistemological drama which embraces the act of interpretation.
      - The Governess's obsession with the children, particularly Miles, as well as her supposed desire for the master fosters a deep sense of delusion in establishing her role in the manor. The Governess romanticizes her role as the "mistress" of the household, and she struggles to maintain the motherly front as she feels she is losing control over the children.
        
        This obsession can be read as psychosexual, especially in the context of Sigmund Freud's studies. Sexuality is not confined to the act of sex itself but also a kind of energy that projects itself into multiple spheres of life. This reading connects to the children's "purity" that is lost due to the Governess and her delusions.
    - - Prufrock experiences a progressive deflation of his ego and confidence throughout the poem. This is first evident in his comparison to Michelangelo's David, a representation of the ideal male body. Later, he reduces himself from Hamlet, to which he shares inaction with, to merely the Fool. These allusions give insight as to why Prufrock may be too afraid to express his feelings to his ambiguous romantic interest.
      - The entire poem revolves around the reader's expectations, as set by the poem's title, being thwarted. As time progresses, there is less and less hope for Prufrock to actually gather the courage to express his feelings. This notion is completely abandoned when the verb tense switches from "should" to "would," suggesting that some event happened that eliminated his chance.
      - Repetition of certain lines, such as "known them all" and "how should I presume," underscores his ability to move forward and say what he wants to. This inability only adds to his personal despair and self-deprecation.
    - - "Eurydice" was written during World War I, which helps us understand why the poem itself was written. There are strong sentiments of anger and despair that permeate throughout the lines, expressing this shared, universal confusion during a time of intense conflict. Therefore, it is not only Eurydice herself who experiences a mental decline, but perhaps H.D. Williams herself as well.
      - "Eurydice" serves as a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from a feminine perspective. There is a clear devastating tone in the poem as Eurydice has to grapple with the consequences of the actions of her husband, leaving her to journey the Underworld alone.
  - - - The loss of Caddy's virginity through becoming pregnant with Miss Quentin serves as one of the first events that lead to the eventual collapse of the Compson family. The Compsons live in a time period in which feminine sexuality was something to be restrained, so Caddy's promiscuity becomes something needing to be hidden and to be ashamed of.
      - The deaths of Mr. Jason Compson and Quentin Compson due to alcoholism and suicide, respectively, convey the stark differences in understanding of mental health between the early 1900s and today. While in the modern context their deaths would be viewed as a result of mental illness, Jason and Mrs. Compson view it through the lens of personal inconveniences or tarnishes to their family's societal reputation.
    - - In Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people slowly lose their traditional culture after white Christians begin to colonize the land and convert the people within it. This is displayed through a shift in narrative voice where the novel's storytelling aspects fade away more as the society changes.
      - Okonkwo desperately attempts to save his culture by exerting his masculine dominance, but others are not as emotionally invested in the fight. This lack of support from his community ultimately leads to his suicide. His suicide, on a greater scale, represents the complete death of the culture through the elimination of the one man who was set on preserving it.
        
        The Tragic Hero: Unlike Waiting for Godot, the discussion of suicide in this novel is seen as deeply saddening due to the immense meaning tied to it. While Okonkwo is not portrayed as a perfect man, his and his culture's fate far exceeds the crimes he committed. Criticisms of the culture of Ibo society do not equate to justification for cultural domination and colonization.
    - - "Easter, 1916" details the tragic event of the Easter Rising in Ireland's struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. This historical event ended with the repression of Ireland and the execution of many of the Irish leaders of the rebellion. The names of these martyrs are included in some of the poem's final lines, preserving their efforts in text forever.
      - "A terrible beauty is born." This repeated line in the poem brings into question the extent to which people are willing to go to achieve their independence. In the making of a national people, death is almost certainly required. The idea is questioned alongside the concept of a nationalist identity in general through the notion of "love."
    - - The devastation depicted in the poem is mirrored by the devastation of World War I that was occurring in the real world during the poem's creation. "The Second Coming" brings to reality all of the worst fears that manifested due to an upending of a world once characterized by progress and improvement.
      - There is a transition from objective description to subjective narration in words like "surely" that express doubt about what the future holds. In the face of intense change brought about by war, pessimism becomes much more apparent as the concept of returning to what once was becomes more bleak.
- - - - The use of the word "apparition" develops Ezra Pound's subjectivity in relation to the image by expressing a kind of unsureness or ghostly, supernatural presence.
      - With respect to Pound's own assertions made in "A Few Don'ts by an Imagiste," he elects not to attempt to depict the subject in this poem but rather compare it to something else that the reader could understand. This image is captured in two lines, acting almost as a photograph for a single moment in time.
        
        The shortness of the poem evokes the idea that every word chosen to be included possesses a purpose in conveying meaning. Even the title of the poem, "In a Station of the Metro," works to provide crucial context in establishing a setting that defines the image being created.
        
        The lack of verbs within the poem's two lines furthers the idea of an image by eliminating any kind of movement in the metro.
    - - "Oread" presents two contrasting images of the water and the forest. The enigmatic narrator possesses an overwhelmingly commanding tone that directs the ocean to crash its waves onto the rocks. "Oread" serves as an allusion to the mythological mountain nymph.
      - Similar to The Turn of the Screw, there is a supposed libidinal energy that permeates through the poem. Nature is charged with a kind of non-referential spirit that manifests itself in natural, earthly processes.
    - - In "Sea Rose," H.D. Williams brings a unique approach to imagism by reconstructing an archetypal feminine symbol as more coarse and rough. This prompts a new strain of thought regarding how constructions of gender influence our perception of certain natural images.
      - Similar to its commentary on gender, the poem also questions societal factors that determine what is considered "beauty." The harsher language used in the poem suggests that true beauty lies in strength and resilience, not in physical appearance.
    - - Pound warns against sharply cutting lines off and instead encourages the inclusion of rhythm within poetry. He expresses that the poet must not only be able to act as a poet but also as a musician in the creation of musical phrase.
      - "A Few Don'ts by an Imagiste" serves as a guide for poets to create an image in their poetry. One point of emphasis he conveys is that the poet should not use superfluous language. He suggests that every word must have a purpose in contributing to the creation of an image. Pound also expresses the constraints of a poet by reminding us that the painter will always be able to describe a landscape more effectively.
  - - - The last line of each stanza stands out by "falling short" in syllables compared to the other lines. Despite the narrator's clear conviction that this journey will fulfill them, the short nature of the last lines creates a slight tone of doubt. However, it could also be interpreted alternatively as a definitive line that further establishes their stance.
      - The poem details a person's desire to escape modern, urban society and find solace in nature. Innisfree, an actual Irish island, is described with romantic language that conveys the appealing or even mystical aspects of the paradise.
        
        The image of Innisfree within this poem strongly connects to another Yeats poem, "Sailing to Byzantium." Both poems illustrate Edenic locations in which the narrator can find eternal peace.
    - - The last two lines present two starkly contrasting ideas as answers to the initial question: sagging and exploding. "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load" is a much more stagnant and almost pessimistic conclusion that Hughes draws, while "Or does it explode?" gives the impression that he has not given up yet in the fight for equality.
        
        The juxtaposition of these conclusions contribute to the overall ambiguity that persists by the end of the poem. Although all of these ideas are suggested, there is no direct mention of future action that is to be taken.
      - "Harlem," although a relatively short poem, proposes several ideas about what happens when "dreams" like racial equality are continuously treated as less important. It provides crucial insight into the African American experience by detailing the grotesque consequences it has on these communities.
    - - There is a strong emphasis on how feeling or emotion is both created and understood within poetry. Eliot proposes that a poet must write for something greater than themself and input emotions that can be universally understood. It is then the reader's interpretation of how a work makes them feel, which is portrayed as an output rather than an input.
        
        The concept of rejecting individuality conveyed in the essay has garnered criticism in contemporary contexts, where marginalized groups utilize artistic forms to express their voices. One strong example of this is Langston Hughes, whose poetry is deeply rooted in his identity as a Black American.
      - Eliot's essay serves as a guide for both readers and poets in approaching poetry, particularly in terms of how works of the past influence modern writers. Eliot suggests that a reader must actively interact with any given text by confronting its meaning, while poets must be aware of their temporal positionality.
    - - In the last stanza, the singer appears to become the man he sings about through the references to being "dead." This could symbolize how deeply the singer is connected to Black culture through his connection with the song's subject.
      - "The Weary Blues" expresses the woes of the African American community in living in a racist society through a rhythmic pattern that mimics the sound of the blues. The rhythm is powerful in its meaning because it incorporates an emerging aspect of Black culture in America into a longstanding tradition of poetry. This represents just one of many examples of how Black culture began to fuse with popular culture during the Harlem Renaissance.