Robert Allen Zimmerman better known to the general public as Bob Dylan is considered by many a legendary and revolutionary folk musician. To those who are more acquainted with his work and legacy he is not only an exceptional musician but an extraordinary poet, as well. He has been constantly praised for his song-writing abilities and the style in which he writes has gained him immense popularity. He has been proclaimed to be among the greatest poets of the century. The reasons behind him being that great poet are various, however the greatest aspect of his genius is his use of symbols to express ideas in metaphorical ways. Throughout the course of this essay we will look at three of his most famous songs by breaking them line-by-line and analyzing and depicting the allegories, metaphors and symbols that he uses in order to show the link to Symbolism. One of the reasons for which Bob Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 is the well-known song “Blowing in the Wind” (http://www.rollingstone.com, 2012). Written in 1962, in times of the Civil Rights movement and the war in Vietnam it is widely regarded as one of his finest songs, especially for its lyrics. Although many experts claim that the song was a protest against wars and injustice in general, Dylan himself said that he wrote it as “just a statement of how the world is”. The use of metaphors and allegories symbolizing certain things and ideas makes it just another gem in the literary world. The song
Some of the poems and songs can relate to other things. Some have meanings, and others are memorable. “The Road Not Taken,” “Sympathy,” “Sonnet 29,” “You’ve got to be carefully taught,” and the song “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.” All of these songs and poems relate from the book “To Kill a Mockingbird.” There are meanings in poems, songs, and stories.
In “Crossing the Swamp” by Mary Oliver, the poet uses various forms of figurative language to develop the similar relationship between the speaker and the swamp. The poet portrays this relationship through the use of visual imagery, alliteration, personification and metaphor. The visual imagery provides a clear image of the swamp and the speaker, meanwhile the alliteration is used to further compare how the swamp is related to the speaker. Personification is used to portray the swamp with human qualities; something that seems real to the readers. Finally, a metaphor is used to associate the speaker’s life and the passage through the swamp.
Mary Oliver does an exceptional job in using natural elements to convey complex situations to the reader. Specifically, Oliver uses purposeful language and concise organization of phrases in “Death at Wind River” to highlight the fact that war results in pointless killing and unnecessary grief. Oliver’s “Death at Wind River”consists of four separate stanzas each varying in style and length. At the
Robert Frost’s poems explored the nature in a rather deep and dark way. For example, his poem, “After-Apple Picking” is hidden under a mask that looks like a harvester is just tired and wants to go to sleep after a day of picking apple from tree. However, we learned that this poem has deeper meaning than what is being shown on the surface. This poem is about actually talking about death as a deeper meaning. I think it is really interesting how Robert Frost, as a poet, was able to connect two themes that are completely different and make it into a single poem.
The revival of American folk music was at an all-time high in the 1960s. The traditional sound of acoustic instruments combined with vivid lyrics provides an array of musical tones and styles that many people listen to today. Although many folk artists do not have an adequate presence in the modern musical society, several artists in the modern era use folk music in their albums. The British band Mumford and Sons has expanded folk music to a wider audience. Many folk artists such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie heavily influenced the work of Mumford and Sons.
Luis J. Rodriguez Essay In the poem, “‘Race’ Politics,” Luis J. Rodriguez it is about the author and his brother crossing over the border from Watts to Southgate. Southgate is a all white all american community that treats the two brothers as lesser because of their different race and where they had come from. The purpose of this poem is to use syntax, connotation, and imagery to help enhance the writing for the readers. There are many different uses of imagery used in this poem.
Sometimes it can be difficult for sons to understand the lessons that fathers teach to them, leading to a disconnect between the two. This is the case for the son and his father in David Bottoms’ “Sign for My Father, Who Stressed the Bunt.” As a child, the speaker lacks appreciation for his father, yet nevertheless they share a common love. As an adult, reminiscing on his baseball experiences with his father, the son through his retrospective point of view now appreciates his father for all his father did. This poem employs diction and varying points of view to emphasize the lack of understanding between the two characters, while symbols and figurative comparisons express their mutual love; this poem analyzes the loving, yet dysfunctional relationship
For example, a line in the poem says, I've watched one for three years, she says, and it doesn't cure, doesn't break, doesn't grow". This quote simply means that if the train tracks did change, then they would grow just like human beings. The image clearly brought out in the line is that of personification. Secondly, the poem brings out the image of symbolism.
Most of Dylan’s song lyrics were focusing on one of society's main problems. Dylan wrote hundreds of pieces even if he did not actually sing them. One of Dylan's most famous lines from the song was During the Newport Jazz Festival Bob sang the song “Maggie’s Farm.” Instead of accompanying it with a guitar he decided to play with electric guitars. “it has been stated by some who witnessed the historic performance that some the yelling from the audience that night was about the terrible sound quality of the performance—overloud in general and mixed so poorly that Dylan’s vocals were unintelligible.”
” These lines could be a mixture of metaphor and imagery as well from the picture it paints with the descriptive lyrics and the non literal dream oriented lyrics. The fireflies represent a peter pan type of concept when states “Leave my door open just a crack/ Please take me away from here.” This sentence forms a metaphor as well because the concept is not to be taken literally. Repetition plays a part in this song due to the literary devices of getting the main point across.
Imagery and tone plays a huge role for the author in this poem. It’s in every stanza and line in this poem. The tone is very passionate, joyful and tranquil.
The song describes most of what is going on in the story. For example, “We found him with his face down in the pillow With a note that said I’ll love her till I die.” These two lines in the stanza are very descriptive. Using detailed lines makes a better understanding for the audience. It makes the song become more realistic.
Walt Whitman captures his audience’s attention with his realism poetry and free verse poetry throughout much of his life as a poet. Whitman was a man of the civil war era and in his poem “The Wound-Dresser” shows his life experiences in the war come full force in the way he conveys his contribution in the civil war. His view of the war as a wound-dresser and he describes some of the most horrendous scenes imaginable from the eyes of an everyday man. His poem “The Wound-Dresser” doesn’t show the war from a distance, but from right on the battlefield in its unedited version as written by Whitman. The way Whitman conveys his poems of the everyday man’s life in his time-period is presented by utilizing his realism style to connect to the audience and his gruesomely descriptive vocabulary.
This poem teaches readers that all humans have strength within them that can help to overcome any obstacles. “Out of the huts of history 's shame…/ I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide…/ Into a daybreak that 's wondrously clear…/I rise…” (29-43) generate a glorious ending and reflection of being the hope and the dream of slaves as reflected in the freedom and opportunity of the present day. The message drives a point that no matter what, the protagonist will be triumphant.
With the ability to transform ordinary mediums, artists create a new perspective. Bob Dylan uses his music to express a message in each of his songs. Bob Dylan is not only a musician, but also an author and a painter. He utilizes these different art mediums to spread awareness of the social and political injustices of the United States. Dylan began to write songs after his mentor,Woody, encouraged him to do so.