In the first stanza Holmes refers to "The meteor of the ocean air" likening the ship's flag to a meteor. In the second stanza, "the harpies of the shore," refers to the monstrous and voracious bird-like beasts of Greek mythology.
2.In 1830, the 44-gun American warship Constitution, the inspiration for "Old Ironsides," was scheduled to be scrapped - that is, stripped of everything valuable or reasonable. What proposal is put forth by Holmes, in the last stanza of his poem?
Holmes is suggesting that it would be more dignified to take the ship out to sea and sink her.
3.What do you think Holmes wants the ship to symbolize?
The point of the poem isn't so much to have the ship symbolize anything. It was actually written as a satire and criticism of the government's intention to scrap her. It was partly due to the popular outcry following the release of this Holmes' poem that the government decided to preserve the ship.
4.The term,"Harpies," in line 15 of "Old Ironsides" is an allusion to predatory flying creatures in Greek mythology, which have bodies of vultures and heads of women. The name meant "snatchers" or "robbers." Why do you think that Holmes uses this allusion in his poem?
The vultures have robbed the Constitution of her glory . He is comparing the ship to an eagle and the harpies are the vultures that are picking her remains clean
5.In Longfellow's "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls," how does the title foreshadow the fact the traveler will not return? the rising and falling of the tide.
Constant never ending cycle of moving. The tide is something that Will come in and Will leave, there is no question of that.You've heard the old adage of, coming in with the tide or heading out with the tide? The tide coming in and going out is One of natures guaranties. So when a person is associated with the tide they are being labeled as one whom assuredly will leave, just as assuredly that they came, as the tide does.
6.Do you think Longfellow's poem is about one specific traveler, or could it apply to all in general? Explain your answer.
The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls is about nature and mankind. It says that although mankind may not be around forever, nature, will be.
7.Personification is a figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes. Cite an example of Longfellow's use of personification in "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls."
An example of Longfellow's use of personification in "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" is The sea calls (in line 7); the little waves, with their soft, white hands erase the footprints in the sand (in line 8).
8.How does the division into stanzas reflect the passage of time in the poem? Example: Stanza One presents twilight darkening into night. What do stanzas two and three represent?
The meteor of the ocean air (stanza 1)
The eagle of the sea (stanza 2)
Dying Slowly
You was just told you have three months to live
Crying won’t make it no better
Moping won’t either
Sicker by the day
Hospitals every other day
Saying goodbyes
Making funeral preparations
Man time flies
But life goes on
And when I’m gone
Remember me.
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