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Summary
Since my early teenage reflections, I have always been asking myself a question what is the meaning of all my actions, hopes, and aspirations? What is the direction of my life, and am I doing everything right? I should admit that these issues cannot be perceived as unique, and humans have been trying to solve them from the very, very beginning of it all. On my way to the desired answers, there has been a plethora of significant literature, ideas, and suggestions from actually recognized authors starting from literals and ending with scholars. However, for me, it seems to be poetry that contributed to answering the above questions to the greatest extent.
This form of literature always touches on my deepest feelings, concerns, and expectations, causing a variety of emotions that indicate my connection with being, confirming that I am part of the latter. I believe that these emotions affirm our genuine reaction to fluctuations of reality and, hence, reaffirm our metaphysical intersection with it. The mentioned factor serves as a foundation for understanding reality appropriately, as there is a grounded recognition that I am an integrated element of it.
Heidegger once claimed that being has a subtle resonance that only true philosophers and poets are able to distinguish, perceive, and reflect on it. This resonance is a key to understanding reality and should be interpreted properly and significantly. Following such a notable idea, I never miss the opportunity to search for crucial answers in numerous stanzas, creative rhymes, and memorious rhythms. Moreover, I suggest that each piece of art may be a phenomenon that can push one to understand themselves and specific aspects of life.
I assume that a human continuously reflects, and art may be a factor that can inspire us to look at things from different perspectives, born fresh ideas, and create. Each of us unconsciously aspires to resolve every question arises, as well as to direct an obtained energy from the answers into creating. This process is everlasting, and one cannot help but figure out how to make it coherent and consistent. Here, I should stress again that art might be an essential prerequisite to attaining such a state of affairs.
This anthology is dedicated to the described theme of the role of art in our lives how it might guide people within different frameworks, and how it may contribute to our everlasting search for answers to never-ending questions. I divided this work into two parts; the first one contains two poems that show the general meaning of art to history and particular events, while the second one involves three poems that are being considered as pieces of art that may help one in self-reflection and finding a purpose of life.
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley will depict the majesty of art by referring to images of the statue of the Egyptian pharaoh, his furious belief in the absoluteness of politics and power, and how his ideas turn to nothing before art. In turn, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus will demonstrate how a great embodiment of art the Statue of Liberty can be mighty in uniting people and bringing hope to their hearts. These two poems form the first part of this anthology.
Then, On His Blindness by John Milton will be an example of how a poem can motivate an individual to look for his or her vocation and talent, as well as to bring it into life. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou may be considered a hymn for ones in desperation, as a call not to give up and put ourselves together. Finally, Ash by Tracy K. Smith may cause in-depth self-reflection due to a solid metaphoric poetic device stressing contradictions in a humans existence. Thus, within the scope of this anthology, the five mentioned poems are united by the idea that art is crucial for people both in the general and individual sense.
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows worldwide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she
With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Analysis of The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
America can be a refuge for all suffering from discrimination it is here that its people can gain the desired freedom until the creation of their own land. The torch in the hand of the Statue of Liberty was the symbol of peace of mind, illuminating the refugees to the best life. After all, it was the torch that the legendary Colossus Rhodes kept in his hands more than two thousand years ago, illuminating the ships on the way to Greece the cradle of democracy. That is why Emma Lazarus called her sonnet The New Colossus.
In these and many others, its lines feel a call for unity, for the participation of everyone in the fate of their people. Discrimination against immigrants has always been an integral part of American history. Nowadays, many policymakers want to ban the entry of immigrants arriving from Asia, Europe, and Africa. However, we also see people who defend immigrants and fight for their rights. These people feel that immigration is useful for a nation.
Moreover, aside from the political context of the poem, a notable aspect here is that the Statue of Liberty is used here as a strong metaphoric device. A torch in its hands is a symbol of lightening up the virtue of unity I lift my lamp beside the golden door (14). Here, it seems rational to emphasize that the Statue of Liberty is a piece of art that shows people away in their search for a better life. Art unites people, regardless of their nationality, language affiliation, or political or religious beliefs. Creativity is considered the highest manifestation of the Human Spirit. Touching the treasury of global culture enriches the personality, and one of the most important factors is to share the fruits of their work with like-minded people and fans.
In this world, there are a great many nations. Each has its own culture, original and original. Everyone has their own customs and traditions, abdicated over the centuries. Some cultures are separated from each other and in time, and spatially (they are shared years, and kilometers). Therefore, the rapprochement of peoples through art is often the bridge that binds generations and countries. Whether one understands this or not, he or she is surrounded by various art forms everywhere. It may be sculpture, painting, photography, or something, from that you depend entirely, but do not consider art. Among these are pictures of food packaging, patterns on sheets, and even logos of famous organizations. Thus, in the context of this anthologys theme, The New Colossus may be considered a poem that depicts a particular perspective through which we can understand the underlying importance of art.
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveler from an antique land,
Who said Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert&. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Analysis of Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Ozymandias is a powerful poem as it shows that human life is insignificant compared to time, even for selfish kings, such as Ozymandias. The poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley is about the destroyed statue of a powerful ruler, which once controlled the ancient kingdom. Browning depicts that Ozymandias was a very harsh ruler it can be seen from the quotation his sneer of cold command (5). This line shows that Ozymandias was somewhat abused by his authority because he was a cruel leader. It makes the reader think that King Ozymandias was most likely a dictator in his ancient kingdom.
Cold command is an example of a sharp alliteration, a strong repetition of the letter c at the beginning of both words again gives an idea of strength (5). Command also represents the dictatorship of the kingdom of pharaohs and the use of the word cold can show that being a dictator and abusing power, Pharaoh may have been alone. Shelley also uses alliteration when mentioning the boundless and bare desert (13), it emphasizes the emptiness of this desert, which has been preserved much longer than the statue that is now lifeless. Ozymandias left nothing after his death, because his statue collapsed, which can reflect all his influence. The rule of Ozymandias no longer exists, and the time distorted all its achievements and the strength he had before. Instead, the reader can see that his statute a piece of art seems to remain forever and exist out of time. A notable point here is that Shelley uses the image of the statue, and Lazarus in The New Colossus uses the same method.
Each person perceives art in his own way, giving him a special meaning. The fact that one person can invest the deepest meaning and what can penetrate all the strings of the soul does not impress any impressions on another person and has an ordinary thing or a phenomenon. However, is art ever relevant and does it have restrictions on time? Can the art itself capture some moments of the past, thereby helping the society to maintain something much more important and significant?
It can be noted that a person can lose those emotions and feelings experienced in the past in relation to a certain type of art, but at the same time, art will never be forgotten by humanity. Thanks to art, people are able to capture what they want to show future generations, as well as what they want to leave forever in the memory of mankind. After all, by keeping the memory of the past, we can remember the errors that are inappropriate to allow in the future.
Oh His Blindness by John Milton
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either mans work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post oer Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.
Analysis of Oh His Blindness by John Milton
The second part of the anthology begins with the introduction of Oh His Blindness by John Milton. This and the following poems will be considered here as pieces of art that can help one in search of his or her own way of living, allowing new perspectives for self-reflection. In order to analyze Oh His Blindness appropriately to get its primary idea it is important to state that Milton lost his sight in his adulthood, which significantly complicated his work as a writer, given the time when it happened the 17th century.
Milton begins the poem with the following line, When I consider how my light is spent (1). Here, the word light keeping in mind the title of this poem seems to be a metaphorical depiction of sight, and the word spent that the author has lost it. The word Ere in the next line means before , which allows stating that the author believes that he went blind before half of his life was lived (2). Then, Milton appeals to the expression one talent as he wants to claim that his destination (or talent) is writing (3), which is supported by the formulation my true account in the sixth line (6), and it is substantially hindered by the blindness. Nevertheless, Milton suggests that his gift from God writing cannot be abandoned, and serving this talent means serving the Lord. Even those who have not figured out their talents yet follow Gods will by patiently waiting when these talents will manifest themselves, They also serve who only stand and wait (14). Thus, the crucial idea of the poem is to show the importance of finding and following a talent, overcoming all the obstacles in achieving this aim.
Indeed, each person from nature has any giftedness and a tendency to a certain occupation. However, not all people are able to realize themselves, open their hidden talents and develop them. The development of and search for talent in humans is one of the main tasks of psychologists and teachers nowadays. Talent is a congenital natural ability to any lesson. Nevertheless, I suggest that it is mistaken to assume talent with something that gives up over, exclusively given only to units. From nature, each person is endowed with certain qualities and features, as well as has a number of deposits and talents. The only question is how one can implement them. Talent may be considered as the type of activity that allows a person to realize as much as possible, from which he or she gets the maximum pleasure and satisfaction. It is inappropriate to be shy of talent, and it is not worth hiding due to uncertainty or fear.
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, Ill rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
Cause I walk like Ive got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still, Ill rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Dont you take it awful hard
Cause I laugh like Ive got gold mines
Diggin in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, Ill rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise?
That I dance like Ive got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of historys shame
I rise
Up from a past, thats rooted in pain
I rise
Im a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak thats wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave me,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Analysis of Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou may be perceived as a poem that motivates the reader not to give up and not to be afraid of his or her own identity. The continuous repetition of the phrase still I rise throughout the stanzas indicates the emphasis of the author on putting ourselves together in harsh situations. Even when people want to see us broken and to be something else but not what we are (13-16), it is important to remain strong and confident, embodying the certainty of tides (10). It is notable how Angelou is drawing parallels between the features of the strong human spirit and the attributes of nature. The latter is associated with harmony and prosperity to which everyone is about to follow.
The poem makes me remember that when a person sets a goal, it is not always immediately achieved. Difficulties and failures can be found on the way, which is not always simple to overcome. In these conditions, one often masters despair, and he or she cannot get out of it, and Shoulders falling down like teardrops (15). The consequences of this are terrible: a person can throw out all the cases, destroy the life of both herself and his loved ones and even commit suicide if life will completely lose its meaning for him or her.
In the life of each person, there are times when they face failures and, for what a matter, nothing comes out. Many people do not cope with such difficulties, but if one goes into despair, then the goals cannot be achieved. On the other hand, if we always hope for the best, this very hope will give us the strength to overcome obstacles and confidence in success. It is essential to rise above these circumstances and never stop searching for a way out of difficulties.
Thus, in the life of every person, the mentioned situations occur anyway. There is a high probability of giving up and falling into the void of despair. Still I Rise is a piece of art that may light up the inner strength of the readers and push them to change the unfavorable conditions. It is important to try to overcome this feeling as soon as possible. In the process of rising above this, there might be a variety of opportunities to figure out ones talents and destination, the importance of which is depicted in Oh His Blindness.
Ash by Tracey K. Smith
The strange house we must keep and fill.
House that eats and pleads and kills.
House on legs. House on fire. House infested
With desire. Haunted house. Lonely house.
House of trick and suck and shrug.
Give-it-to-me house. I-need-you-baby house.
House whose rooms are pooled with blood.
House with hands. House of guilt. House
That other houses were built. House of lies
And pride and bone. House afraid to be alone.
House like an engine that churns and stalls.
House with skin and hair for walls.
House the seasons singe and douse.
House that believes it is not a house.
Analysis of Ash by Tracey K. Smith
Ash by Tracey K. Smith is the final poem that will be presented in this anthology. I chose it as the last item for the analysis as it provides the readers with the opportunity to look inside their consciousness, think about who they are, and potentially resolve some psychological issues. I assume that the word house here means human. Such a trick is used maybe to look at a personality as it is something material, something we must keep and fill (1). The constant repetition of house draws the readers attention to it and even gives the whole poem a sad tone because the author depicts mostly the depth of the dark side of our souls. Such an approach is likely to lead to thoughts regarding the essence of what we are and what to do with it. Hence, the poem induces us to reflect.
It seems rational to state now that reflection can be called the skills of an individual to draw attention to particular inner issues in order to review own mental space and concentrate this attention on what is going on in his or her mind. That is, say in other words, reflection enables a person to monitor what is happening inside one or another level of consciousness. It is a developed reflection that allows people not to respond to external factors inappropriately but to observe and monitor the manifestations and state of certain feelings and understand them, asking how those feelings appeared, and why there was such a situation.
Reflection gives people the opportunity to understand themselves more clearly, and makes a picture of themselves deeper. However, in fact, this is not so easy to manage, especially if an individual has experiences that are related to pain and negative emotions House of lies / And pride and bone. House afraid to be alone (9-10). In this case, for a person, it is very painful and anxious. At times, people are simply ashamed to reveal themselves with reflection as it is unbearable. Ash may be a solid starting point for reflection because this poem depicts flaws that are inherent to us, and the only way to change them and become better is to reflect on and realize them.
Works Cited
Angelou, Maya. Still I Rise. Poetry Foundation, 1978, Web.
Lazarus, Emma. The New Colossus. Poetry Foundation, 2002, Web.
Milton, John. Oh His Blindness. Poetry Foundation, Web.
Shelley, Percy. Ozymandias. Poetry Foundation, 1977, Web.
Smith, Tracey. Ash. The New Yorker, 2015, Web.
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