Deleted: Mike420 - Diving into the world of books is like going on a big adventure through time, getting to see how people's thoughts and feelings have changed along the way. This trip shows us the beautiful and complex stories that different times in history—like the Victorian era, Modernist period, and Postmodernist times—have told us, each with their own special way of looking at the world and the people in it. By reading works like "Break, Break, Break" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Mark on the Wall" by Virginia Woolf, and "If I Was President" by Alice Walker, we get a wide view of how writing has changed over time, and how it mirrors the spirit of its age.
During the Victorian era, Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Break, Break, Break" captures the spirit of this time beautifully. It's a sad poem that talks about losing someone and reflects on how nature and life keep going, no matter what. Tennyson wrote this poem as the Industrial Revolution was changing everything, making it a touching piece about personal loss against the big changes happening in the world. The image of waves constantly crashing against rocks is used to show how time keeps moving forward, capturing the Victorian love for nature's beauty and everlasting truths. As Poet Laureate, Tennyson mixed personal feelings with bigger, universal ideas, showing the depth of emotion and careful thought that marked writing from this era.
Some verses from "Break, Break, Break" highlight the poet's yearning to express the ineffable thoughts stirred by the sight and sound of the sea, contrasting the ongoing activities of the fisherman's boy and the sailor lad with his own sense of loss and longing for the past. Tennyson captures the essence of human sorrow and the longing for a connection that has been severed by death, encapsulated in the lines longing for "the touch of a vanished hand, And the sound of a voice that is still."
After World War I, which caused a lot of destruction, Modernism started to change how stories were told. It began to show life's chaos through broken, mixed-up storytelling. Virginia Woolf's story "The Mark on the Wall" is a perfect example of this. Instead of telling a story the usual way, it follows the writer's thoughts as they flow and change, all starting from a small mark on the wall. This leads to deep thoughts about time, memory, and what it means to exist. Woolf explores how we think and what we know, fitting with Modernism's focus on personal inner experiences and how confusing the world can be. Woolf's writing was a big change from the more orderly and clear writing of the Victorian era, showing a new way to talk about the complicated and sometimes conflicting thoughts and feelings we all have.
"Oh! dear me, the mystery of life; The inaccuracy of thought! The ignorance of humanity! To show how very little control of our possessions we have—what an accidental affair this living is after all our civilization—"
This quote illustrates the narrator's profound contemplation on the nature of existence, sparked by the seemingly trivial observation of a mark on the wall. It encapsulates the Modernist emphasis on the subjective experience of reality and the complexity of human consciousness. Through this reflection, Woolf delves into the themes of life's transitory nature and our limited understanding of it, highlighting how the minutiae of everyday life can lead to expansive philosophical inquiries.
Postmodernism is all about celebrating differences and asking big questions, and it doesn't always believe in one single story that explains everything. Alice Walker's poem "If I Was President" perfectly shows what Postmodernism is all about. It mixes reality and imagination through a pretend chat with famous people, challenging what we think is normal and questioning who holds power. Walker talks about wanting change and how writing can help make that change happen. This is different from earlier writers like Tennyson and Woolf, who mostly looked inside themselves. Walker's poem is like a loud call to get up and do something, showing how Postmodernism encourages us to think about who we are, the power we have, and how stories and poems can play a big role in changing society.
The quote from Alice Walker's "If I Was President" — "And why? Because knowing the country that I'm in, as you are destined to learn it too, I know wrong when I see it" — encapsulates the speaker's moral conviction and proactive stance against societal injustices. By asserting the ability to recognize and confront "wrong," the poem highlights the importance of moral leadership in addressing and rectifying societal issues. This call for awareness and action challenges the status quo and urges a reevaluation of accepted norms, making it a powerful statement on the responsibilities of leadership in effecting change.
Going from Tennyson's sad poems, through Woolf's deep stories, to Walker's lively comments shows how the way people write and think about things has changed over time. Each writer was deeply connected to the society, culture, and big ideas of their own time and wrote about what mattered then. Tennyson talks about dealing with loss and how nature keeps going no matter what, Woolf takes us through the complex paths of her thoughts, and Walker stands up to the big rules and ideas that society is built on. Their writings take us on a journey from personal feelings and thoughts to bigger discussions about society and politics.
Looking at these stories shows us not just how each time period was different, but also what they all share—like how stories always try to dig deep into what it means to be human, question the way things are, and describe the complex world we live in. From the personal reflections of the Victorian era, through the broken pieces of Modernism, to the questioning nature of Postmodernism, stories have always been like a mirror showing us how we change, a guide through the stormy changes of life, and a light showing us the endless ideas and creativity we can have. As we keep going, the stories of Tennyson, Woolf, and Walker keep inspiring us, showing how powerful writing can be in changing and shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves.
Exploring the works of Tennyson, Woolf, and Walker also gives us a unique look into how literature changes over time but always remains a reflection of society's heart and mind. From Tennyson's deep reflections on nature and loss, through Woolf's dive into the complexities of human thought, to Walker's bold questions about society and justice, these authors show us different ways to understand the world and ourselves. Their writings, each from a different era, remind us that stories and poems are powerful tools for exploring who we are and how we live together. As we keep reading and writing, the legacy of these authors encourages us to think deeply, question bravely, and imagine a better world. This passage encapsulates the transformative power of literature across different epochs, illustrating how it continuously reflects societal values and challenges, and molds individual and collective consciousness. Through the varied lenses of these authors' works, we gain not only historical insight but also inspiration to use narrative as a means of understanding and influencing the human condition.
on Apr 08 2024 11:04 PM PST x edit 0
