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A Reflection
| Critical Analysis #1 |
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A Reflection |
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Raj_Yura Junior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 13 |
A Reflection Good looks a virtue An Old lady told me You find a spouse Even late Her face hardly wears an emotion Naked in stilting than it was cold Her eyes fixed Clobbered into stone I saw a Medussa I was a stone |
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| © Copyright 2001 Raj_Yura - All Rights Reserved | |||
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J.L. Humphres Member
since 2000-01-03
Posts 201Alabama |
Raj, This one escapes me. You are over my head. I need some explanation. J.L.H. Jason God is a warm whisper from the cool void. Jack Kerouac |
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Raj_Yura Junior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 13 |
Hi ! The poem relates to a character in greek mythology : Medussa who made love in the temple of Aphrodite and was cursed by her that anyone who would see her would turn into stone. The poem reflects the idea of beauty.In the first stanza the good looks are taken as a virtue. The very next stanza brings the other aspect of beauty that is a curse I hope this may help Thanks Raj Yura |
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Pearls_Of_Wisdom Member
since 2000-09-02
Posts 175 |
Hi there Raj_Yura, I was also confused by this before reading your hints. I think "Good looks a virtue" I took as "Good looks like a virtue", which seemed a little redunant and didn't mean anything to me. Now, I get it: you meant it as "Good looks are a virtue". Is there a word or two you could add there to help clarify it a bit perhaps? After reading your explanation, I think I got it and appreciated it a lot more. The only part I'm still stuck on is another line with a small number of words: "than it was cold". I got the other part of the image, of a lady carved into stone, though. Anyway, this shows promise and I like the idea of using as few words as possible, but maybe making those two parts a little clearer would help, especially since it's so short. It did have an impact when I got it. Ashley |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
I like the first stanza -- it sounds like a non-native speaker of English -- that's a nice touch. However, in the next stanza you say, "Her face hardly wears an emotion". How can we take this except as the old woman? The effect is too jarring for my taste if your explanation is accurate. Perhaps give us more of a transition between the two scenes. Just an opinion, Brad |
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Raj_Yura Junior Member
since 2001-01-08
Posts 13 |
Hi ! Brad,u r right that the woman in second stanza doesn't imply the old woman in the first stanza. In fact it is the opposite,the woman in second stanza is much younger than the one in first stanza. U have a point in saying that there should be a intermediate stanza that completes the transation from the first to the second. But i thought the intermediate stanza might spoil the contrast. I wanted to juxtapose the two extremes. Anyway thanks for the suggestion , i might consider writing the intermediate stanza and see if it works Thanks Raj Yura |
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