The 1970s were a rough year for African-Americans, still fighting for social and political rights in the United States. Consequently, women still did not receive equal rights. However, in 1972, “Congress approved the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution, which reads: ‘Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex’ (History.com Staff).” Out of the thirty-eight necessary states only twenty-two ratified it right away, it was relieving for the moment because the feminist advocates had been trying to be ratified since 1923. The First African-American woman elected into Congress was Shirley Chisholm. This moment opened doors for African-American women that they thought would never have a chance. Nevertheless, the poem Ego Tripping written by Nikki Giovanni dated back to 1972 where she expresses her power throughout the poem with the support of feminist statements. Giovanni reminds the audience of historical moments that lead up to the current conditions of the United States. Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) was published with a bundle of poetry which is entitled My House, the book of poems had a common underlying idea that Giovanni is free to do what she pleases and live by her own set of rules (Masterpieces of American Literature Ed. Steven G. Kellman.)
The Glass Castle is a 2005 book by Jeannette Walls. The memoir explains the author’s life, growing up with her family most especially with her parents who could be described as nomads and deadbeats. Notwithstanding the difficult upbringing, her siblings and she had, Jeannette perseveres and becomes a successful Journalist living in New York City. She explains how happy, but conflicted because her parents refuse money from her and live as homeless people. She writes the memoir to work through her feelings and share’s her story. Some topics that I could identify in the text are: poverty, teenage pregnancy and child rights.
In the poem “Ego-Tripping” by Nikki Giovanni, she normalizes her worth by continuing to royalist herself as a black woman who is essential to mankind. Giovanni creates a vision throughout the poem, which leaves a thought in mind of how woman should look at themselves with much confidence as Giovanni does. “Ego Tripping” was written by Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, Jr. who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943. G9iovanni is a writer, poet, activist, and educator whose work was influenced during the Black Power Movements and the Civil Rights Movement. The poem was released in 2002. Her work provided a strong, militant yet African-American feel that was manifested through her writing. Giovanni work includes variety of topics ranging from race and social issues to children literature. She is considered one of the world well-known poets, within the African-American community.
As one begins to face life challenges, one’s maturity is put to the test. In the story, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the speaker allows his ego to rise above him which ultimately causes the death of his brother. On the other hand, the speaker in “Shaving” by Leslie Norris acknowledges that his father is dying maturely steps up and takes his father’s role in the family. The speaker in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “Annabel Lee,” has an immature response towards the death of his loved one and cannot cope with the reality of the situation. The speaker in each work has to rely on their maturity to lead them through the hardships life has to offer. All three authors make clear that maturity drives one’s ability to cope with life’s challenges.
The poem, At Mornington was written by Australian poet, Gwen Harwood. It was published in 1975 under her own name. At Mornington is about a woman reminiscing about her past when she is with her friend. There are many themes explored in this poem including memory, death and time passing.
Beachy Head, Charlotte Smith’s swan song of a poem, was published in 1807. Differing opinions on the poem’s seeming incompleteness betray an underlying fissured element- an element at once tangible and intangible, parting its way through the substratum of 19th century notions on gender, poetics, aesthetics, history and science. Smith intended Beachy Head to be the “local subject” (Fry 31) on which she would rivet her Fancy and her theme. However, like an unrestrained coil spiraling outwards, the poem is anything but fixed. There is liquidity, apropos to the setting by the Sussex shoreline, which creates a flux between temporal, spatial and factual elements, thereby strengthening the schismatic politics
‘For What It’s Worth’ by Buffalo Springfield has a logical message because it is referring to the Sunset Strip Riots that took place in Hollywood during the 1960’s. People protested when they lost their civil rights due to a curfew law that was put into place. The song says, “Stop, children, what’s that sound. Everybody look- what’s going down?” Community members were angry at the young people going to clubs at night because they were “loud” and “disruptive”. The curfew law was put into place after the complaints and the youth became outraged. They believed their civil right were being taken away. There were riots along the sunset strip, where all these clubs were located, to protest the law. Police were at these riots and many people were handcuffed and hauled off to jail. They are referring to children because these protests were from the younger generation. Even though the overall message is logical, the support within this song is not as strong. ‘For What It’s Worth’ is often mistaken as an anti-war song since it was released during the Vietnam War era. When most people hear this song that is what they think of. The song can be heard in several war related movies. Some even believe it is about the Kent State Shootings although the song was released years before that event occurred. Even though there is not strong evidence to back up this song's true meaning, it
The poem A Step Away From Them by Frank O’Hara has five stanzas written in a free verse format with no distinguishable rhyme scheme or meter. The poem uses the following asymmetrical line structure “14-10-9-13-3” while using poetic devices such as enjambment, imagery, and allusion to create each stanza.
Conflict is a big theme and many poems and texts have been written on this topic, but two of the most well done and most expressive poems about this topics are “Out of the Blue” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade”. Even though the topic is the same the two authors, Simon Armitage and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, present the theme with different approaches, one about the innocent, one about the ones that chose to get involved In the conflict.
The poem “In a Library” was written by Emily Dickinson as an expression of her love of books, and the way they can transport her. Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830. Emily Dickinson was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts. She went to school, where she was an excellent student, until she was 18. She then dropped out and lived her life at home. Emily lived at home, with her sister, for many years and took care of her parents until their deaths. After both of her parents’ deaths Emily stayed home very often, and is thought by most scholars to have had depression and/or other mental illnesses. It was during this time she got most of her writing and poetry done.
Throughout the poem, the author used imagery to deliver an important image to the readers. It states on line 33-35 , " I have seen pictures of women running, their belongings tied in scarves grasped in their firsts. "This imagery is one of a important imagery throughout the poem because it gives the reader an image on how the women is passing everywhere and how much of a commotion their
To successfully entertain college students is a glorious feat. It is hard to capture their attention with technology and social events distracting them. However, on January 28, The Mayhem Poets were able to amuse their crowd at Schwab Auditorium. Scott Raven, Mason Granger, and Mikumari Caiyhe (M.C.) connected to their audience through spoken word, song, poems, and acting. They created an enjoyable atmosphere for all.
During last century, European has a time that contains the risk, resolve, enterprise, sacrifice and the nationalism. These three poem also tells us about these issues a lot. The characters, as a main issue in these poems, are the people(or the heroes) can definitely reflect the setting of the poem. Time, as another issue of the poems, gives us a big background of the age when the poems was written, and help us to understand the poems better. If, the first poem we will talk about below, suggests people to win the glory of England by using the character that has braveness and belief. A Nation’s Strength inspires people to work hard and suffer long by using the hard-working man. The man from snowy river appeal people in Australia to unit as one and take the independent from Britain by using an old man who is brave and love nature.