May SwensonS Women Essays - May Swenson, Literature, British Poetry

May Swenson'S Women In May Swenson's poem, Women, the imagery and structure work very well with the content of the poem. Swenson writes a poem about women and what they should be. At first glance, the image of the poem could be a play on women and their curves. However, once the reader examines the content of the poem, it is clear that Swenson is using the image of the poem to play on what women should be, or perhaps what they are perceived to be. The first stanza says that women should be moving to the motions of men. This is clearly seen in how the poem is moving across the page. However, the perplexing part of this stanza is that Swenson says that women should be pedestals. When thinking of a pedestal, the reader might imagine that a woman should be held as a position of high regard and adoration. This seems to be an impossible task to undertake when Swenson suggests that a woman should be reliant upon the man for her movement. The last part of this stanza discusses how women should be little rocking horses. This seems to portray an image that a woman is merely a childish prize. This relates back to childhood and how the prettiest toy is always the best, and children always want the best toy or prize. Still, this part of the stanza gives another image of how women should be moving, just like the poem. The second stanza, which is swaying back in the opposite direction form the first, seems to take a different turn to how women should be. This middle stanza possesses an almost a negative connotation, which is very hard to interpret. However, this negativity seems to be only sarcasm. Swenson writes about the ears of a horse, which a child might hold onto while riding. This could be interpreted to have a sexual content, but this may not be how the author meant to come across to the audience. The imagery of this stanza, which seems to be rocking back in the opposite direction of the first, is shown in the words of a young child riding their rocking horse. The last part of this stanza brings more of an insight to the structure of the poem. The rocking horse is to be chafed feelingly and unfeelingly. This back and forth movement of emotions could signify how some people viewed women. Perhaps, that once again women are only prizes to be owned and used. However, Swenson writes that these rocking horses are to be rockingly ridden. Once again, what should be of women is in some kind of context involving movement. This movement is then mirrored in the rocking of each stanza. The last stanza begins very strangely with the word immobile. There is a very strong sense of motion in the first two stanzas and now there is a sudden stop and pause. This emphasizes how Swenson characterizes women with the next few words: sweetlipped, sturdy, and smiling. This last thing that Swenson describes women as being is always waiting. This is a very drastic change from moving pedestals and rocking horses. Women are now very still and stagnate, waiting to be set into motion by men. This seems to be an irony that Swenson is working with. First they are moving and almost being used. However now they are very still, and just waiting to be used. The change in each stanza is seen in the visual aspect of the poem. It begins by being like a moving pedestal and a sweet prized rocking horse, rocking back and forth. The poem then takes an ironic turn and shows a dramatic change in the last stanza, which is represented by a shorter and more standstill type of view. This visualization gives a deeper look into the poem, and shows the ironic part which may not be easily detected in the literal terms. Poetry Essays

April Fools Essays - Belinda, College Buddies, April Fools

April Fools Essays - Belinda, College Buddies, April Fools April Fools Introduction There was a group of friends that was very united. They were always together. They had a great friendship, and were recognized for it. This group of friends consists of: ? Belinda: a responsible girl that cares for others. ? Hildy: a nice girl who is very friendly. ? Frank: the oldest of the 3 and also the most irresponsible; usually gets in trouble. The story is about this group that, as I said, was very unite, until April Fools, the day that changed their lives. All began where there was going to be a party out of town, and Frank who was the only one with an I.D. was the one to drive. The problem was that in the party he exceeded in beers, and because his state of unconsciousness he didn't know what he did. The topic of this story is nonfiction and the setting is New York. April Fools by Richie T. Cusick. Chapter 1 Belinda was starting her day at school as normal. She arrived to school without knowing that she will suddenly be very scared. She got to Hildy and they started chatting. Then, Frank came with a good new: " There's gonna be a party this Saturday at my friends house, you are invited." That was his words. This party was of some college buddies of Frank?s older brother. That Saturday will always be present in Belinda?s mind. That Saturday no one wondered of what was going to happen. Everyone thought it will be a great party and that everything will go wonderful. This party was out of town and on...on April Fool's Day. Yes, it was going to be on April 1st. That week no one talked of anything that was not about the party. Around the school the only thing that was heard was: "This party will be great." Of course, that there was going to be beers, as in any college party. Belinda at first had her doubts. She was a minor and she knew her mother wouldn't let her go. All that week Belinda was the only one that didn't know if she was going. Frank, that was a very good friend, but he sometimes was very irresponsible, (he was like the worst in the group) convinced her of going, and the excuse was that she will stay at Hildy?s house as any other weekend to rent some movies. Chapter 2 With this excuse, her mother let her go, trusting her. Belinda was happy and quickly went to Hildy?s. There she dressed up and was ready for the party. Since Frank was the only one with an I.D. he was the one to drive. He arrived to Hildy?s and picked both of them and went to the party. At the party, everyone danced and drank and smoked and had a lot of fun. The party was going well and Belinda was having a lot of fun. She and Frank danced almost all night, the same as Hildy. Hildy noticed that Frank was drinking too much, and this was when the problem started. Hildy wanted to leave the party, because if no, everything might turn worse. She tried to convince Frank of leaving, but Frank, with his state of unconsciousness didn't know what was happening, and since he had the facility to drink more, he wanted to stay. Finally, Belinda and Hildy forced Frank to leave. The problem will now be worse... Chapter 3 While driving back home, Belinda and Hildy were scared about Frank?s situation and wanted to get back home the sooner they can. Frank started joking, but these jokes were for bad. He took a shortcut that his brother recommended, where there wasn't likely to be any highway patrol near the airport. Of course that Belinda and Hildy rejected, but they couldn't do anything against Frank. Frank had started feeling sick, but there was nowhere to pull off on the narrow downhill stretch, and it was so curvy dangerous, and Belinda was so frightened. That's when another car pulled up behind them, honking, trying to pass. By this time, a terrible storm was present. Belinda had peered out through the rain on the back window, but hadn't been able to see any faces and the car kept