Poem Paragraphs
Mary Hyland
11/18/14
P.3
Poem Reaction Paragraphs
Emily Dickinson: “Success Is Counted Sweetest”
This poem brought about a reaction in me of true success.
The message is those who succeed, never truly appreciate success: only those who fail, or who lack something, can truly appreciate the joy if they had succeeded. The poet says “those who ne’er succeed” genuinely value success, or as she says, “They “count” it
“sweetest”. Dickinson also states the members of the victorious army, “the purple Host /
Who took the flag today”, are not able to define victory as well as the defeated, dying man who hears from a distance the music of the victors. Essentially, the poem details true success by comparing the success of victors to the craved success of the defeated. E.A. Robinson: “Miniver Cheevy”
This poem brought about a reaction in me of escaping reality. In the poem,
Miniver Cheevy, is a selfpitying dreamer who blames the world for his social status and poverty. He escapes the burdens of everyday life with dreams of bygone days and soothes himself with alcohol. All of the poor characteristics can be applied to him throughout the poem. One normally expresses sympathy for a man "with reasons" to have "wept that he was ever born", but once understood, Miniver escapes the world of reality into his dreams by alcohol, the reader has a hard time doing so. Though normal, to think about the past, abnormalness is to constantly dwell the past.
Robert Frost: “The Road Not Taken”
This poem details adventure. When out in the woods without a map, the speaker does not know which path to take. Instead of turning back to where he started, he chooses a path and continues on, willing to face whatever challenges the path may lead to. He is drawn to a path, which might be less traveled, but suggests he likes to make his footprints. "The Road Not Taken" embraces exploration, suggesting the only way to see what's beyond the bend in the road is to
11/18/14
P.3
Poem Reaction Paragraphs
Emily Dickinson: “Success Is Counted Sweetest”
This poem brought about a reaction in me of true success.
The message is those who succeed, never truly appreciate success: only those who fail, or who lack something, can truly appreciate the joy if they had succeeded. The poet says “those who ne’er succeed” genuinely value success, or as she says, “They “count” it
“sweetest”. Dickinson also states the members of the victorious army, “the purple Host /
Who took the flag today”, are not able to define victory as well as the defeated, dying man who hears from a distance the music of the victors. Essentially, the poem details true success by comparing the success of victors to the craved success of the defeated. E.A. Robinson: “Miniver Cheevy”
This poem brought about a reaction in me of escaping reality. In the poem,
Miniver Cheevy, is a selfpitying dreamer who blames the world for his social status and poverty. He escapes the burdens of everyday life with dreams of bygone days and soothes himself with alcohol. All of the poor characteristics can be applied to him throughout the poem. One normally expresses sympathy for a man "with reasons" to have "wept that he was ever born", but once understood, Miniver escapes the world of reality into his dreams by alcohol, the reader has a hard time doing so. Though normal, to think about the past, abnormalness is to constantly dwell the past.
Robert Frost: “The Road Not Taken”
This poem details adventure. When out in the woods without a map, the speaker does not know which path to take. Instead of turning back to where he started, he chooses a path and continues on, willing to face whatever challenges the path may lead to. He is drawn to a path, which might be less traveled, but suggests he likes to make his footprints. "The Road Not Taken" embraces exploration, suggesting the only way to see what's beyond the bend in the road is to