Symbolism, "The Silken Tent"

          Robert Frost’s poem, “The Silken Tent”, represents symbolism throughout.  At first the reader might think that Frost is writing about a tent in the summer breeze, but as you reread the poem, many times, you can see it is much more because of the symbolism.  For example we, the reader, know from the very first line that Frost is talking about a woman, “She”. He compares her to a silken tent. He uses “tent” to symbolize a woman because of her softness yet sturdiness, maybe someone who shields him. She is not too sturdy because a woman is gentle, “so that in guys it gently sways at ease” (4).  The woman he describes, he seems to admire a great deal, maybe he is in love with her.  She is soft and gentle but can stand up for herself, “And its supporting central cedar pole” (5).  Here Frost uses the symbol “cedar pole” to describe the strength that this woman has, to probably stand up for herself and supporting others. Frost even goes further to state, “That is its pinnacle to heavenward, and signifies the sureness of the soul”(6-7). He probably feels that this woman can do no wrong that she will go to heaven after she dies. She doesn’t answer to anyone, “But strictly held by none, is loosely bound” (9).  Even though she does not answer to anyone, Frost is saying she is bound slightly by his thoughts and his love for her.  He finally makes this “bondage”, his love, known on one summer day.

          Frost’s use of symbolism in this poem enables the reader to really picture what he is trying to say, using strong symbols of a person he admires very much.  Symbolism makes a poem more interesting.  If symbolism wasn’t used the poem would be a short paragraph describing the subject.  It makes the poem more like a puzzle that you need to figure out.


“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost

Romanticism

       Walt Whitman was proud of America and loved it very much.  You can tell this as you read the poem, “I Hear America Singing,” written by Whitman.   The first line pretty much says it all, “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear” (Whitman 1).  Just by starting the poem using the word “America” he seems to be describing everything about America and it’s people, how great it is. It was a time of growth where there were many immigrants coming into America and they were happy to be here.  They were here to be in a better place.  Whitman heard this happiness through the workers “singing”, their working sounds. They were joyous to be here, to be working, so that is probably why Whitman used the word “carols” when describing the singing.    Walt Whitman is known for his free verse that usually has no regular pattern, but here Whitman keeps on repeating the word “The” as if it has a beat to the sound of the workers working.   He seems to making a point or is putting emphasis on each individual because they are very important part of America. Whitman seems to feel that it is the people of America that makes it so great to live here.   


“Be curious, not judgmental.”
― Walt Whitman

Bartleby

In “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, by Herman Melville, the author tells the story from the point of view of the employer.  Melville probably chose this point of view to show compassion and to try to understand the employees. If it were written from the point of view of the staff they probably would not have too much to say, probably just some complaints. If it was from Bartleby himself he most likely would have said, “I prefer not to” (Melville 3) and since he kept on withdrawing from everything and everyone, he probably would not have too much to say either.  Using this narrative strategy, as the reader, we learn about the narrator and how caring he is towards others.  The author allows the reader to understand the other characters in the story and why the behave they way they do.

By Bartleby’s actions or lack of, the narrator concludes there is something very wrong with him.  He “was the victim of an innate and incurable disorder” (Melville 7). The narrator sees that Bartleby does not associate with anyone and doesn’t speak to no one expect when asked a question. The answer is usually, “I prefer not to”(Melville 3).  He doesn’t read anything and usually just stares out into space. We as the reader start to feel the compassion, as does the narrator.  We could have just called Bartleby a bum, but we the reader understand that there is something more wrong with Bartleby and feel sorry for him.

The narrator’s encounter with Bartleby has changed the narrator. The narrator now sees that there are people out in the world that need help, and after dealing with Bartleby the narrator has a better outlook on his life. In the end the narrator becomes a more compassionate person. The narrator is saved, because of Bartleby, Bartleby helped the narrator realize that there are more important things in the world other then work.

“I would prefer not to.” 
― Bartleby, "Bartleby The Scrivener"

A Rose For Emily

In “A Rose for Emily”, it is the third person point of view that tells us this story. It is told through the townspeople point of view, there “representative”.  It’s a story about Emily’s life and the traditions that she tried to hold on to.  The story takes on an eerie feeling beginning with Emily’s death.  Even though the narrator finds the whole story a little strange there is a feeling of caring about Emily. The townspeople seem to respect her like she was royalty. Even though they wanted the back taxes paid on the property where Emily lived, they never forced her to pay. They care for her like she was some fragile piece in a museum.  

 In Emily’s mind, time stands still for her, she who does cope well with change, especially death. “She told them that her father was not dead.” She had kept her father’s body days after he had died, refusing to give it up. They felt sorry for her because of her father. “We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will.”

It’s all about Emily and the townspeople felt sorry for her especially after her father died.  The townspeople wanted to keep her as is, just as Emily wanted to keep everything the same also. 


Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-grey hair.” 
― William Faulkner, A Rose for Emily

Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway lived through tough life changing experiences. As a young man he saw a lot of action and violence during WWI in which he probably will never forget. He also had the experience of loving someone and then having that person leave for another person.  Anyone would be depressed after these experiences and you see this in Hemingway’s short story "A Clean - Well Lighted Place".  

He puts his life experiences into his characters, like the old man and the older waiter. They both have nothing except the cafe. He talks about the old man like he is almost an outcast living in the shadows barely recognized by few. He is lost and doesn't have anyone in his life that truly cares for him. Life has no meaning except at the cafe.  The older waiter understands the old man, because he too is lonely and enjoys the comfort of the café.  He doesn’t see any meaning to life, especially when he recites his prayer using the word “nada” many times.  Coming out of War, Hemingway’s attitude towards life was negative and questioning what meaning life really has. 


"You do not understand. This is a clean and pleasant cafe. It is well lighted. The light is very good and also, now, there are shadows of the leaves."
               - Ernest Hemingway, "A Clean Well-Lighted Place"