21 Steps

“21 Steps” is a unique and modern story, different from anything I have read previously. The story uses google earth to follow one relatively unknown character to a variety of destinations, as he flees many life-threatening situations. The story contains many literary and visual components that should interest the common reader.
While most stories force you to imagine the setting, “21 Steps” is narrated like a movie and puts the reader into the main character's (Rick) footsteps. Even though Cummings describes few characteristics about Rick, the reader has a camera like presence and sees Rick's every move. The “blue line” in the story is a good indicator to the pacing of the story. When Rick is fleeing from the cops, the blue line moves fast, as opposed to when he is walking around corners. This effect allows you to read at a pace that correlates with Rick's actions. The stories point of view blends 3rd person objective and 1st person singular together. This unique narration allows the reader to get familiar with the thoughts and actions of the main character, but also allows for the overall picture to be seen. Another interesting effect was the visual shift from satellite imagery to a plain map that occurred between chapters 5 and 6. In chapter 5, Rick is fleeing in a taxi from three strangers, unsure about the situation he is in. Cummings may have chosen to switch to a map in chapter 6 to put the reader in the taxi with Rick, and make it easier to visualize what was going through his mind as he fled through the city streets.
I recommend this story because it is the first well- done online text accompanied by visual maps that I have read. At first glance, the maps overpower the literary text, however upon reading the story a second time the text is quite powerful and significant. The maps serve as an aid to bring life to the story and make it easier to comprehend.

Nippers Facebook

In Herman Melville's, "Bartleby the Scrivener" the narrator introduces Nippers as a young, ambitious worker who has one major flaw. While working to his ability in the afternoon, Nippers is unproductive in the morning, suffering major distractions and stomach problems.
Nippers Facebook account would capture a wide spectrum of personalities and emotions. By looking at his profile picture, one sees an unusual nervousness and uneasiness. Nippers profile picture appearance would most likely depend on what time of day it was. If the picture was taken in the morning, Nippers would have bags under his eyes, and look nervous and frightened. However, if the picture was taken after "noon" one would see a new person, one who is motivated and alert. In Nippers "interests" section, he would write that he loves sleeping into the afternoon when he can. He would also write that he is addicted to Tums, due to the stomach aches he has daily. Nippers favorite novel would be the "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". While Nippers does not display an evilness about himself, he and Dr. Jekyll both have somewhat split personalities. In the "about me" section Nippers says that he is an educated man in his twenties, working for a well respected lawyer on Wall Street. Furthermore, he states that he has trouble sleeping at night due to the large amount of caffeine he consumes, causing him to be drowsy and weary at work in the mornings. Nippers often posts status's at "3:45 am" saying that he cannot sleep. Nippers favorite meal of the day is lunch because after he consumes it, he is a changed man. He would have many game applications to get him through his long nights and disastrous mornings. If Nippers wrote on your wall, you would be able to tell if it was "posted" in the morning or afternoon, without looking at the time. At the bottom of the page, Nippers writes in bold letters that he is looking for a new job that does not require his services in the morning.

pic source: http://armswideopen.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/garfield-i_dont_do_mornings.gif

The Cask of Amontillado

Is it plausible to find an individual truthful with no concrete evidence or reliability? In addition, should you take someone's word who is not in their full conscious state of mind? In Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Cask of Amontillado", the narrator Montresor, proves to answer these questions with an emphatic "no". Montresor shows the reader that he cannot be a trusted narrator due to his unreliability and lack of motives for his actions. It is difficult to find someone truthful without evidence or a motive, yet alone someone in a drunken state of mind. Montresor, under the influence of alcohol, punishes his old friend without any reasonable motive, which shows the reader that he cannot be trusted in any circumstance.

The story begins with Montresor trying to gain revenge on his old friend Fortunato, who he believes insulted him. The first line of the story states, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge" (127). From the beginning, Montresor has trouble attaining the reader's confidence because he is seeking retribution without a cause. If Montresor gave a respectable reason for seeking revenge, he would have had a better chance to gain respect. Later in the story, Montresor claims to be a "connoisseur of wine" when trying to receive Fortuno's help on a wine tasting matter. First of all, a wine "connoisseur" who is supposed to pass judgments on wine should know not to mistreat wine, and therefore not be drunk. Why did Montresor need Fortuno's help in the first place if he claimed he was "skilful in the Italian vintages?" (127). Furthermore, Montresor explains that Fortunado "emptied" a bottle of "Medoc" (an expensive French wine) which does not seem like something a wine connoisseur would do. Wine is meant to be sipped and enjoyed, not "emptied". As Montresor and Fortunado make their way down to the "wine", Montresor sets a trap and chains his old friend Fortunado to a wall. By this point, Montresor is drunk and has lost all respect and trust from the reader.

From "The Cask of Amontillado's" very first line, Montresor cast doubt upon his story. With no reason for committing a murder in such a gruesome way, the reader can easily view Montresor as insane. Montresor's murder of Fortunato without a probable cause, and his misuse of wine as a wine connoisseur, show that his story can easily be distrusted. A story about punishment without proof, told by the questionably insane and drunken Montresor is enough reason in its own to not perceive it as truthful.

Nuns Fret Not by William Wordsworth

Frank Pittman, a famous American author and psychiatrist once said, “ You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice whether you are happy or not”. The question presents itself. Do those who actively pursue a busy life attain happiness? William Wordsworth’s poem, “Nuns Fret Not” explores the life of several individuals working hard through their jobs. Wordsworth states, “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room” and “students with their pensive citadels…sit blithe and happy, bees that soar for bloom” (1-5). He goes on to further describe hermits are contented with their cells, and maids and weavers are busy and cheerful. While each individual has an obligation to fill in their careers, people still seem happy. Each person described in the poem is restricted as to what they can achieve with their job, however they are content with this restriction. Without direction or any restriction, nuns, students, and maids might not know how to perform their jobs with passion and top ability. Wordsworth is saying that while structure usually limits individuals, in this case it satisfies the workers and allows them to perform their job at a peak performance.

The Volta occurs in lines 8-9, changing the overall tone of the poem. The first 7 lines describe people actively perusing their jobs in a busy, complaint free environment. However the Volta states, “In truth the prison, unto which we doom ourselves, no prison is” (8-9). Wordsworth believes that although we may be scared and timid about the restrictions of work, we still have careers because it keeps us occupied and happy. Wordsworth goes on further in writing about how he feels restricted by the sonnet he has written. At first it seems as though he is disgusted by the structure of the sonnet, but after comparing it to the worker’s restriction’s it shows that Wordsworth is displaying a positive view of his “restriction”. The sonnet helps Wordsworth organize his ideas and write to his ability. Wordsworth explains that while restriction is supposed to limit abilities, it actually grants individuals freedom and “peace of mind” to do their best daily.

Rocky Balboa

Rocky


The driving force knocking blood to the opponents face,
There is no shame in seeing the dancing stars,
Fight, fight, fight until you find your place.

The courageous man fulfilling his love with grace,
Flying past people leaving dust beyond the cars,
The driving force knocking blood to the opponents face.

Adrenaline running through my veins at a constant pace
His blessed capabilities hinged behind flimsy bars,
Fight, fight, fight until you find your place.

Time becomes the enemy as the goal becomes a race
The character unable to be contained by the tiny jars
The driving force knocking blood to the opponents face.

Starting humble for it is the fearful base
Soaring above the planet like shattering glass to a distant Mars
Fight, fight, fight until you find your place.

And he, who holds the key to success, must knot his final lace
Ringing the victory bell above all of the pars,
The driving force knocking blood to the opponents face.
Fight, fight, fight until you find your place.

I chose to write a Villanelle on the fictional boxing legend Rocky Balboa. While many Villanelle's have a comical tone, my poem is written to show people that it is inexcusable to settle for anything less than your top goals. Although Rocky is just a fictional character, he is a hero to me. The poem is saying that once you fall or suffer a setback, you get back up. Everyone fails, but a man's true character is revealed when he perseveres through difficulties. Each stanza gives Rocky a new challenge, which he meets by "fighting until he finds his place". Rocky's "place" is being champion of the boxing world.

The Tyger

In William Blake’s poem “The Tyger”, a tiger is originally presented as a strong and fierce creature exploring the forests, through the darkness. The poem is read almost as if a child is curiously posing question after question about the mysterious tiger. Blake never answers the child’s question, which has subjected the poem to an influx of interpretations. Many paradoxes result from the child’s unanswered questions. Three important contradictions in “The Tyger” are the creation of the tiger through the industrial process, the comparison between the lamb and tiger, and the similarity between the first and last stanzas.
In lines 3 and 4 of the poem Blake questions, “What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry”. Blake wonders, who could create a tiger so powerful and terrifying with a perfect apportionment and a precise appearance. Was it God in the distant “skies” or Satan in the lower “deeps”? Blake further questions the creation of the Tyger in questioning,” What the hammer? What the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? Blacksmiths used the hammer, chain and anvil to advance our society technologically during the industrial revolution. Blake questions whether God created us like an industrial process. Blake, an opponent of the revolution, believed this part of the tiger was created as evil because it was part of the industrial process. However, Blake rejected “Satan” and believed everything alive was created by God, and thus good showing that the tiger is not all evil.
The lamb is another important symbol in this poem that can be viewed as a direct opposite to the “tyger”. Blake asks, “ Did he who make the Lamb make thee?” It is questioned here, whether God could create and be satisfied with two creatures having such distinct differences. Blake wonders how God could create such a fierce, brutal tiger, and a gentle lamb in the same world. Another important conclusion from this poem is the similarity between the first and last stanzas. Each word is the same except that “could” is changed to “dare frame thy fearful symmetry”. In the beginning, Blake pondered who could create such a tiger, different from any creature in the world. The closing line is much stronger asking who would be bold and brave enough to create this powerful, mysterious, and violent creature. Blake creates the tiger because it contrasts with peace and violence, good and evil. The tiger, along with the lamb allow people to see diversity in a changing world.

In a Station of the Metro

Ezra Pound’s poem, “In a Station of the Metro” can be interpreted in two different ways. Although quite brief, one can interpret Pound’s poem as pro-modernity, arguing for a shift to modernism. In turn, many examples can also be used to show Pound’s poem as anti-modernity; taking a shift away from modernism.
In arguing for a pro-modernity poem, one must consider the title. Metros are crowded places that signify industrialization and urbanization. Although written many years ago, metro’s represented growth and popularity, as cars had yet to become popular. The faces and petals are one comparison that can be made for a modern movement. The “faces” are like “petals” on a tree; they have no identity, yet they are still beautiful. Petals are a bright and beautiful spot of nature, just as Pound considers the “faces” charming and radiant. The “faces” are apparitions and some kind of positive supernatural force. The supernatural can be interpreted as being ghostly, holy, or religious. The word “wet” seemed to signify an “expanding force” or growing population. Plants grow and expand when they are “wet,” just as populations tend to grow with enlarging industry.
As opposed to pro-modernity, Pound’s poem can also be interpreted as anti-modernity. Once again, the face and petal comparison can be made to support anti-modernity. Each “face” has lost their identity by being mixed with a “crowd” like “petals” are assorted on a flower. “The identity of individuals has been overrun in a world dominated by competitiveness, mass production, urbanization and industrialization. The “black bough” is a bleak picture showing pollution, corruption and crime in a modern environment. Through all of the urbanization, people have overlooked the importance of the original and beautiful environment. Pound is saying that the modern movement comes with a tolling cost, such as the destruction of nature due to “black” irritants. The “bough” can be compared to the earth, to the ugly world that humans have created. It seems as though the crowd has been blinded by the conveniences of modernization and industrialization. The crowd seems confused, lifeless and drawn away from a world that used to reflect simplicity, nature, peace, love and goodness.

Picture URL's
1)http://www.sunsetcoveoriginals.com/images/Nature_sBeauty.jpg
2)http://wirednewyork.com/times_square/images/times_square_25.jpg