In a world where everything previously known disappeared into ash, anyone would meditate on death. The wife was one to resort to death for comfort, whereas the husband remained faithful to life. Though the husband adopted his wife’s attitude towards death by the end of his life, he still differs from the woman in that he maintained hope for mankind even though he was resigned about his own life. In writing The Road, Cormac McCarthy successfully illustrated the conflict between life and death, hope and…
Robert Frost, in his poem “A Dust of Snow,” reveals that surprising moments can pull us out of serious depressions. He establishes this idea first by using the symbolic meaning of crow to create unhappiness and darkness; second, by the diction of the word snow which would normally mean a slow accumulation, but in this poem, this man’s life has slowly come to the point where everything is bad for him; third, by the connotative use the hemlock tree which is a poisonous tree, but it is used to stirrup some good in the person’s situation; fourth, by ironically saying that the crow saved him and renewed hope and life to him; lastly, by the use of diction with the word rued which means regret, but in this poem, the crow stopped the man from doing…
In the poem named Man on a Fire Escape, written by Edward Hirsch, the author presents a unique eye-opening experience when a devastating tragedy arises. Throughout, the poem Man on a Fire Escape, Edward Hirsch uses third person point of view as if he is addressing his poem to someone. Furthermore, the poem slowly reveals the mass chaos and destruction of a fire outbreak that engulfs everything in its path. On the contrary, towards the end of the poem, after witnessing all the mayhem everything was back to normal as if the fire did not happen. Edward Hirsch uses lexis, literary devices, and his poetry to illustrate to his audience that poetry is never-ending because poetry will always portray “the true voice of feeling.” (QUOTE).…
sufferance of a meaningless life, as it becomes the impetus for the revelation that leads to…
“Every day every hour. Turn the pain into power.” Danny O’Donoghue, a vocalist member of the band The Script, sings in “Superheroes” about the strength that comes with overcoming the struggles presented in life; similarly this message can be seen in Ishmael Beah’s recount of the challenges he faced as a victim of war, A Long Way Gone. To me, the song is a reminder of how difficulties can build someone into a stronger person. Throughout the song, all the lyrics hint that without suffer and perseverance, success cannot be achieved. Similarly, in Beah’s story, he becomes a teenager with more fortitude only after breaking down and experiencing immense grief and pain both physically and mentally. From listening to and analyzing “Superheroes” and reading A Long Way Gone, I learn that only after breaking down and…
In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl demonstrates the distinction between the prisoners who gave into their desolate fate and those who chose to rise above it. The theme of perseverance is quite evident in his work as he carries the reader through his spiritual expedition and exemplifies the strengthening of the inner self as his condition and state of affairs steadily got worse. Perseverance represents the attitude of those prisoners who rose above their daily sufferings and emanated radiance even though their surroundings looked bleak. In a situation of their sort, a lack of hope is the predictable reaction to their circumstances. Instead, their hope becomes a beacon leading them forward in their daily struggle against emotional and physical defeat.…
It is believed everyone on Earth are here for a reason. We live, share and affect others around us in some way at a point in time. Certain people we meet are placed on our path for a specific purpose which we find out at a later time. Some people in life feel a sense of unfulfillment and resentment which leads to unhappiness. Many people believe every life intertwines with one another and certain people are destined to be part of one's journey to help teach lessons or to help establish our character by the decisions we make for our selves and others. The key to inner peace and happiness is to let go of any burdens in your heart. Obstacles in life are a way to challenge people for them to gain. The subject of destiny and purpose of life is found in many contexts. This idea is focused in the novel The Five…
Everyday, someone experiences the loss of a family member or friend.This loss impacts everyone differently. All of us have or will experience the loss of someone close. Some individuals experience intense grief, whereas others are able to move on easily. The poem “English” by Yusef Komunyakaa explores the perspective of a boy who befriends a girl who is later shot to death by soldiers. “English” explores events that occur before the girl’s death. The poem “While I Slept” by Robert Francis explores the narrator’s experience of loss. “English” shares the story of someone living in the time of the Nazis whereas “While I Slept” has no specified time. This makes me think of how humanity is connected through the fact that the loss of someone close…
toward life” (Jamil, 216). Mrs. Mallard is not getting what she needs out of life and is not happy…
Moving on, the meaning of the author’s work as a whole is discovering one’s self at one’s own expense. In other words not losing yourself to the competitive nature of society by becoming what others wants you to be. The narrator’s…
Imagine a world where the skies are grey and the ground is torn to pieces. Where there is no civilization present, nor another human being to be seen. Where the feeling of hunger influences you to consider the idea of human flesh filling your insides and persuading you to do so. A world infested with murder, crime, and despair—which have now become necessary for survival. Imagine the air thick with black clouds towering over your very essence and having to muddle through 10 feet of snow and a strong gust of wind. A world where all faith should be gone, but amiss all bad things, it continues to linger through the eyes of the youth. Being able to see the light when your surroundings are pitch black signifies that humanity has not been lost completely. Although, the man knows in his heart that death is inevitable and dangerously close, he continues to live for the sake of the boy whom he believes carries the final hope for humanity. In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the author conveys that although there can be despair and bloodshed in the world, love overcomes all with a little faith. The man views the boy as a symbol for hope and provides the man with a purpose in life, to protect the boy above all.…
mind. Strayed wants us to realize that through the darkest times you can and will find yourself.…
In Krakauers “ Into the wild,” a young idealist set off on a journey heavily influenced by the literature in his life. With Thoreau, London, and Tolstoy at hand, Chris McCandless sets off on a two year search for himself, inner peace, and happiness. Though for some he seemed naive, ignorant, stupid, Chris was truly on a journey that no common man could grasp without first looking at what guided him.…
Viktor E. Frankl discusses how man can find meaning and a reason in his or her life. Viktor is faced with obstacles all along the way of his life, and questions arise that he has a hard time answering. The same pattern of obstacles and questions arise in my life. Although Viktor’s imprisonment in a concentration camp was far more discouraging than anything in my life, he still had to answer the same questions in life as I do. What is my meaning? Why should I go on? Frankl talks about how we can discover life in 3 ways. The two I relate with are doing a deed and attitude towards unavoidable suffering. I interpret the first one as being the best person I can be to others and me, choosing to do just the next right thing. The second one, attitude towards unavoidable suffering, is something I have accepted a long…
Life is the journey, the inevitable journey, and the experiences thoughout life, the journeys within the journey, are the planned and unplanned experiences that change people and are a huge part of a person’s moral and personal growth. In the novella “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad, the physical journey through the Congo is parallel to the inner journey of the main character Marlow. Similarly, the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, relates on both a literal and metaphoric level to the concept of a journey. The individuals’ creation of their own direction on a journey is what leads to the most startling growth. Furthermore, a true journey must always have the unpredictable, because it is through the individual’s response to the unknown that growth occurs.…