Sunday, August 23, 2009

Coleridge and Quotation



1. “Poetry is an art…of representing, in words, external nature and human thoughts and affections, both relatively to human affections, by the production of as much immediate pleasure in parts, as is compatible with the largest sum of pleasure in the whole”.

Having discussed and analized Coleridge's Poem, it is easy to find certain elements which lead us to nature and human feelings of a fantastic world. The above quotation represents, in a way, what the poem "Kubla Khan" means. Nature is a present element from the beggining talking about rivers, caverns, the sea etc. In the other hand, we can also find human thoughts and feelings that give us a better idea of the meaning and intention of the writer. That is to say, that the possibility of knowing the author's feelings it is the closest opportunity we have to get to know the author's life and mind. I believe that the representation of pleasure has to do with everything prohibited to us. For example, when Coleridge writes about the city of pleasure reffering to the location where sin, death and all the worldly is present. The truth is I really enjoyed reading the poem, due to in a way, it was difficult to find and relate some elements to reality. I would love to have known and fantasize inside Coleridge`s world.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Little Black Boy


Clearly, the black and white concepts are used as a metaphor. Tangible and intangible elements are represented in the poem, which give us a better meaning of the poem. What I interpreted from this poem is that eternity is something present in the little boy's life, and no matter what he experiences during his life, there is something beyond. The mother acts like a guide who advices and teaches him the beauty of life trough protection and love.
I have chosen the master piece Baby's Bath by Tolliver, because this situation represents the strong relationship between a mother and a child. Generally, when a mother takes his son to take a bath, she explains him what is going to happen. For example, the water is your friend or that they are going to swim in the sea, etc, always preparing him to live a good experience. The mother protects and guides her son to take a bath.The same that Blake wanted us to see in his poem.