I really enjoyed Donne's "The Good Morrow" which you can see in the translation on the side, means "Morning Greeting." I probably liked this poem so much because it is about two lovers and how strong their love for each other is. When reading this poem for the first time, I got a romantic, almost whimsical feeling from it. In the first couple lines the narrator says " I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I did, till we loved?" The narrator is saying his and his lover's lives are so wrapped up in each other and so intertwined that he cannot even remember what it was like before they had each other. He may also be saying that his life begin when he met this lover; that is how much she means to him or has changed him.
The line "and makes one little room an everywhere" also seemed important to me because I pictured a couple in bed together, not wanting to leave this little room because their world's revolved only around each other and their feelings. Nothing else mattered to this couple- not food, shelter, money- all they needed was their love to keep them happy and satisfied.
The last two lines sum up the poem and summarize the main idea that Donne was trying to convey through his work. He's saying that as long as these people have their love or got to experience this type of unconditional connection for someone else in their life that physical death isn't scary, and that they are content and fulfilled. I also feel like he is saying that death doesn't really exist because this love deep in their souls can never die and will live on forever.
Trying to analyze the punctuation a little closer, commas, semi colons, and colons are used frequently and I feel like they are used appropriately. Because the poem seems romantic and whimsical it needs to flow, not abruptly stop and go with ending punctuation. I think the punctuation goes with the feeling of being giddy about your feelings for someone and being wrapped up in someone else.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sonnet 138 relation to John Mayer Song
Being the huge John Mayer fan that I am, I quickly related Shakespeare's Sonnet 138 to one of his songs off of his album, Continuum. The song "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" is about a relationship that is going no where, but for whatever reason (may it be love for the other person, comfort in knowing another so well, comfort in consistency, afraid of change/moving on etc.) can't seem to let go of it.
Mayer writes
" Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.
We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room."
I related the entire sonnet to this song but I feel like these lyrics relate well to the first 2 lines of 138 "When my love swears she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies" and the last 2 lines "Therefore I lie with her and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flatter be."
In both cases, it seems that the person in question is aware of the downfalls of their relationship. Mayer says they have "pulled too many false alarms" to suggest they have been through too much together and the relationship is unable to be fixed to the where it once was. He goes on to say they are doomed, meaning the relationship won't last, won't be fixed, isn't right, etc. but they are still "slow dancing in a burning room". I take this to mean that they are holding on regardless of the chaos that surrounds them. This couple chooses to ignore it in hopes that their love, obsession, comfort...whatever it may be... will somehow be fixed or rekindled to where it once was. In Sonnet 138, I get this same vibe. The writer knows that his lover is lying to him but chooses to ignore this fact. The reason for this is unclear but it may be because it is easier to stay in a comfortable situation or not discuss problems or bring up uncomfortable topics. The writer may also not want to admit fully that there is a problem or the relationship isn't right. Therefore, in the sonnet the writer lies with his lover and gives the impression that they will both keep lying to each other by saying nothing and continuing on with this unhealthy relationship. In this way, I interpreted one of my favorite John Mayer songs and Shakespeare's sonnet to have similar underlying meanings, which made me enjoy his work way more!!
Mayer writes
" Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.
We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room."
I related the entire sonnet to this song but I feel like these lyrics relate well to the first 2 lines of 138 "When my love swears she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies" and the last 2 lines "Therefore I lie with her and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flatter be."
In both cases, it seems that the person in question is aware of the downfalls of their relationship. Mayer says they have "pulled too many false alarms" to suggest they have been through too much together and the relationship is unable to be fixed to the where it once was. He goes on to say they are doomed, meaning the relationship won't last, won't be fixed, isn't right, etc. but they are still "slow dancing in a burning room". I take this to mean that they are holding on regardless of the chaos that surrounds them. This couple chooses to ignore it in hopes that their love, obsession, comfort...whatever it may be... will somehow be fixed or rekindled to where it once was. In Sonnet 138, I get this same vibe. The writer knows that his lover is lying to him but chooses to ignore this fact. The reason for this is unclear but it may be because it is easier to stay in a comfortable situation or not discuss problems or bring up uncomfortable topics. The writer may also not want to admit fully that there is a problem or the relationship isn't right. Therefore, in the sonnet the writer lies with his lover and gives the impression that they will both keep lying to each other by saying nothing and continuing on with this unhealthy relationship. In this way, I interpreted one of my favorite John Mayer songs and Shakespeare's sonnet to have similar underlying meanings, which made me enjoy his work way more!!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Donna Summer Four Seasons of Love Concept Album
Donna Summer released her fourth album, Four Seasons of Love, in 1976. This concept album related the four seasons to stages/ phases of love. The lyrics for each season match the mood/tone of the characters' feelings in terms of her lover at the time. In "Winter Melody", the lyrics describe the main character as depressed and lonely, wishing her lover did not leave her. She describes herself as all alone and empty. Her mood is evident through the lyrics-
"Emptiness and just a memory. Love is gone with nothing left for me."
This fits with winter being a dark, gloomy season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlaj3b5Whc
Then Donna Summer moves into spring with "Spring Affair". This song has more of an upbeat tone. The author seems to be giddy with anticipation of what this new love affair might bring or might turn into. It seems like she is stuck on this new guy and hopeful that it will turn into something serious when she says,
"Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and I'm hung on you
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and we've got something new, me and you, oh baby
Ooh, guess I'm falling much too fast
Ooh, I hope this love is gonna last, I've fallen
Ooh, the feeling's getting really strong
Ooh, gives me strength to carry on, I've fallen, I've fallen
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7hRmyC_cI&feature=fvst
"Summer Fever" describes the love affair that started in the spring now in full force. The author's tone moves from being optimistic and hopeful of a relationship with this person to actually being in the relationship. She lets herself go and is absorbed, physically and mentally, with the other person. This song's tone is sexy, which fits with the carefree, relaxed atmosphere of summer. The author is enjoying herself, is happy, and in love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4HIv6O6Tc
Next the album moves into the song "Autumn Changes." In this song, the author can see her relationship isn't how it was during the summer and something has changed and isn't right. She is questioning her relationship, but it seems like she almost wants to deny her feelings or pretend like nothing is wrong because she is probably trying to rekindle the intense, passionate feelings her and her lover had during the summertime. She states, "This love of ours is gradually fading, something's wrong or someone's faking." It seems he is letting her down and she's almost begging him to keep trying and working at their relationship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DxKPp96hqM
This album relates ridiculously well to the lyrical sequences we have read this week. The whole album is in the first person. It is from the perspective of the main character and only discusses her inner feelings, not anything actually concrete about the situation. It is all one sided; we never read what her partner is thinking or feeling.
"Emptiness and just a memory. Love is gone with nothing left for me."
This fits with winter being a dark, gloomy season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlaj3b5Whc
Then Donna Summer moves into spring with "Spring Affair". This song has more of an upbeat tone. The author seems to be giddy with anticipation of what this new love affair might bring or might turn into. It seems like she is stuck on this new guy and hopeful that it will turn into something serious when she says,
"Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and I'm hung on you
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair
and we've got something new, me and you, oh baby
Ooh, guess I'm falling much too fast
Ooh, I hope this love is gonna last, I've fallen
Ooh, the feeling's getting really strong
Ooh, gives me strength to carry on, I've fallen, I've fallen
Spring affair, spring affair, spring affair."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN7hRmyC_cI&feature=fvst
"Summer Fever" describes the love affair that started in the spring now in full force. The author's tone moves from being optimistic and hopeful of a relationship with this person to actually being in the relationship. She lets herself go and is absorbed, physically and mentally, with the other person. This song's tone is sexy, which fits with the carefree, relaxed atmosphere of summer. The author is enjoying herself, is happy, and in love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4HIv6O6Tc
Next the album moves into the song "Autumn Changes." In this song, the author can see her relationship isn't how it was during the summer and something has changed and isn't right. She is questioning her relationship, but it seems like she almost wants to deny her feelings or pretend like nothing is wrong because she is probably trying to rekindle the intense, passionate feelings her and her lover had during the summertime. She states, "This love of ours is gradually fading, something's wrong or someone's faking." It seems he is letting her down and she's almost begging him to keep trying and working at their relationship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DxKPp96hqM
This album relates ridiculously well to the lyrical sequences we have read this week. The whole album is in the first person. It is from the perspective of the main character and only discusses her inner feelings, not anything actually concrete about the situation. It is all one sided; we never read what her partner is thinking or feeling.
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