Final Exam Blog Entry--due May 7, 2010

In response to Johnathan Swift's Blog entry on The Haunted Beach by Mary Robinson...

Johnathan's comparison of "The Haunted Beach" to Samuel Coleridge's
"The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere" caught my interest. Having learned in class about the two
writers relationship and possible influence it makes sense that the two works are comparable.
What I found interesting in his discussion of "The Haunted Beach" was how Johnathan considered that it might
actually be a sequel to Coleridge's tale of the Ancient Mariner. It made me reconsider my own analysis of Robinson's poem.
Although I found similarities, I never considered the possibility that the dead mariner could be the ancient marinere
from Coleridge's poem and that the feeling of guilt was now passed on to the fisherman for his own sin.
I think that this would be a creative way to create a sequel to "The Rime of the Anyent Marinere",
but I have come to decide that it is not a sequel.
Similar to Johnathan's conclusion, I think "The Haunted Beach" is a way for Robinson to show her appreciation of coleridge's
writing. However, the similar theme of guilt and the idea of feeling haunted by one's guilt creates a strong link between the two
stories that shouldn't be overlooked.
In both stories the characters are haunted by their own guilt from different acts they've committed. The fisherman's guilt
is different because he is stuck to wander the haunted beach like a ghost and suffer with the knowledge of what he has done.
The mariner must also be plagued by his guilt, but also suffer with having to retell the story to others as an act of penance.
Although the fisherman does not have to tell anyone else about his sins he must live close to his sin. He always thinks about the
dead mariner that haunts him on the beach. He can't escape it. So, both characters are constantly reliving the events that
have caused their own agony.
Re-reading the two poems, Johnathan's blog, and again learning about the way the characters feel, suffer, and view their surroundings has allowed me
to create my own idea of how these individuals look. Considering their similarities I imagine their appearances would be
very alike. They would be old, with the worry and thoughts forever imprinted on their wrinkly faces. They would have little care for
their own appearance, with grey, long hair or beards. The images above I feel reflect how the two men may look in person.
The two of them left with the pain of their personal experience on their faces. Always in thought, always concerned, with a haunted look.The marinere
would perhaps have a more anxious appearance as he is constantly having to approach new strangers to share his tale.
However, the fisherman I imagine would have a lonely look to him. The fisherman does not share his pain, only he knows the truth and he suffers
quietly, frightened by the curse that is his guilt. Johnathan's blog allowed me to review my interpretation of "The Haunted Beach" and reflect on
Coleridge's ancient marinere to create a more in depth image of the two men.

"To The Nightingale"

I would like to focus on lines 7 through 9, "How many wretched Bards address thy name,/And Hers, the full-orb'd Queen, that shines above./ But I do hear thee,..." (343). The poem starts off talking about the nightingale. There is a reference to the origins of the nightingale in greek mythology . Later on the bird is referred to as "most musical, most melancholy". Considering the idea of melancholy being mentioned, lines 7-9 can perhaps be interpreted differently. Some people may hear a nightingale's songs and experience beautiful imaginings at a such a wonder of nature. However, others like the speaker in Effusion XXIII hear the songs true meaning of sadness. This may be because some individuals have more melancholy experiences than others. They may not look at nature as only a beautiful image of life, but as reality. Nature takes on what we know in our own lives and makes us more perceptive to other emotions. The speaker can possible "hear" the nightingale's true song. It is a song that someone filled with joy would not understand. We discussed in class how Coleridge's existence took on many troubles with his love, Sara, and his opium addiction. Troubles don't just occur over night. Many times they build up over time and become overwhelming, but it is hard to express this feeling freely. Unlike the nightingale, Coleridge couldn't sing his disappointment and sadness for others to take in as their enjoyment. However, just like the nightingale there is a sense of melancholy. A desire for something complete and not troubled. This is why Coleridge (the speaker) can say that he does hear the nightingale. He hears the nightingale's thoughts and feelings. They are not meant to be enjoyed, but only expressive. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this, but instead fail to hear the lesson of the nightingale. This relates to the rest of the poem that goes over the speaker's desires, dreams, that he is perhaps settling against in life.

From Observations on the River Wye

In Gilpin's description of Tintern-abbey I like that it becomes an analogy for nature.
When he writes, "But if Tinter-abbey be less striking as a distant object it exhibits, on a
nearer view (when the whole together cannot be seen, but the eye settles on some of its
nobler parts) a very inchanting piece of ruin" (p.334). This idea that you cannot just look at
this place from afar and see ruins, but see it up close and appreciate it is often a difficult
task. Present day there is less appreciation for ruins or historical sites and the same goes for nature.
Gilpin points out that nature takes work to appreciate. Nature, just like Tintern abbey, needs to be given
the time and careful observation to be understood and appreciated for what it is. We have seen this repeatedly in different
works from Lyrical Ballads. To understand nature, you must put yourself into it and see the details. Tintern abbey is not just some old
structure. It is in fact still a work of art. Nature has made it its own because Tintern abbey stands in a natural state of ruins. Now people
come to see it and hopefully look at the details of every stone and arch. Also, it is a part of nature because it is so isolated.
If people want to experience its wonder then they must go visit. They must take the time to learn. It isn't like every other piece of architecture that people
pass by daily. It has become appreciated for the beauty and history it still holds in its isolation. Just as Gilpin describes there are trees and land surrounding the Abbey. It is constantly a beautiful discovery to visitors who do wish to experience nature at its best.

"The Haunted Beach" by Mary Robinson...

The Haunted Beach tells a story of guilt. The feeling of guilt, that the fisherman feels, occurs on a daily basis, just like the waves of the sea. The tide comes in and resurfaces the fisherman's guilt. The sea and beach becomes symbolic of the events that have occurred. The fisherman is haunted by the dead shipwrecked mariner. The sea's actions are a reminder of death. The entire scene of the beach has a gloomy feel. It is a "lonely" beach with a "somber" path. The image of sea birds "hover'd craving..." automatically calls upon an image of death. Birds prey on things that can be eaten and that are vulnerable. Much like these birds prey near the haunted beach, the fisherman's guilt preys on him. All of the imagery of nature, the sea, the birds, contribute to recreating the fisherman's wrongdoing. It has caused him to become a ghost. A ghost that haunts the beach, forced to carry the burden of forever being bound to the beach. Nature has this way of allowing personal experience to manifest itself in different parts of nature. The idea of guilt and life decisions haunting someone is a common theme in romantic literature. It is effective at recreating a story and sharing a person's guilt in a beautiful, and also terrifying, way that happens as frequently as the events of nature. With the variety of stories told relating to guilt it symbolizes us creating our own nature.

"TO THE MOON"

In response to “To The Moon” by Charlotte Smith…

“Oh! That I soon may reach thy world serene,
Poor wearied pilgrim—in this toiling scene”

The speaker, if one were to interpret the final couplet of the sonnet, is longing for death. They long for a time to be one with the moon so serene in the dark night sky.
The line “poor wearied pilgrim—in this toiling scene” suggests that life is not so easy. In fact they feel like a foreigner in this world wandering through life with much difficulty waiting for it to end.
This sonnet has the ability to appeal to many kind of people. How often do we go through hard times in life and we long to be both alone and yet not alone in the night. The speaker is doing something very common and very human,
by reflecting on life and its troubles in the night time.
The night time is mostly silent and safe from human interference and dark. There is no better time to consider our deepest thoughts than at night.
This is what the speaker is doing. Not only do they consider their own sorrows, but also those of countless others who have confided in their quiet nights.
To be like the moon would be ideal for someone as troubled as the speaker. The moon can escape during the day, and hide behind the sun. However, as a person this is more difficult to do.
For one to shut one’s life out is not easy. The moon gets to come out at night, in the dark, when it is more peaceful. The nighttime is more intimate.
It is better suited for someone to reveal themselves. During the day they may put on a mask and hide their true thoughts and feelings, but in the night there is no need.
It is just them and the moon; the moon that will listen and cause envy.
The kind of envy that lies in the desire to be free of sadness and a desire to be certain of something other than troubling thoughts and emotion.
It’s a desire to be free from all other influences. The speaker talks to the moon, with the hope that someday they will be just like the moon.
Free and separate from the “toiling” human world and to be untouchable and untainted. The sonnet reminds me of one of my favorite bands, Pink Floyd. Their music has a lot to say about life and different events that can happen like drugs and love. Pink Floyd and this sonnet have something in common the work of art sounds great, but there is a deeper meaning there.

To Sensibility: Hearts & Tears

In response to TO SENSIBILITY by Helen Maria Williams...

"She prompts the tender marks of love Which words can
scarce express; The heart alone their force can prove, And feel how much they bless." Throughout the
poem Williams personifies Sensibility which works well to relate it as something natural.
I think the poem takes a detailed route at expressing the human
reaction induced by sensibility.In the entire poem, I think these lines are the most descriptive of human
sensibility. Being sensible involves reacting to emotions. There are things in everyone's life that enhances
their sensibility. It may be a look from a close relative/friend that is associated with a specific emotion
or event that in turns stirs up emotions in oneself.
The poem reminds me of how it becomes natural to build a sensibility to love.
When you love someone the smallest things can tap into one's sensibility.
I think Willams does an excellent job at capturing a natural response like sensibility. The emotion is captured
in the descriptions. "The heart alone their force can prove, And feel how much they bless" this part of the line
is what reminds us that sensibility for each individual is a personal experience.
Not every response is the same with sensibility.The things we feel are not always easily expressed verbally to others,
but we alone know the weight they carry. We feel it in our heart and sometimes forget why it is that certain
emotions are the response we have to things in life or memories.
I like the use of the word "tender" in relation to "marks of love".
Not everything is a happy emotion. Some things are tender because they induce painful memories, like a tender wound, it may be healing
but if you poke at it you will still feel something. Other things are
tender because no matter how you tune into that love it will always spark an emotion for that individual.
I think this is what is special about To Sensibility, depending on how you feel when you read it, it can go both ways.
It can touch upon more difficult emotions by being thought provoking. And at the same time the descriptions
have a very amorous appeal.How can you not think of emotions/feelings and specifically love? Even the multiple mentions of "tears"
brings love to mind. Love much like sensibility is not easy. Love is not always rays of sunshine, it is challenging
and sometimes even annoying to the point that all you can do is cry to let it out.
The funny thing is that in talking about sensibility we have these descriptions of the heart and love and then
we have the mention of tears. Tears is one overt expression of emotion. Interestingly enough people react
differently to seeing someone shed tears. Some people start crying with them and others become very uncomfortable
and may try to get away, while others may sit there and give you a shoulder to cry on.
To Sensibility would be a good way to get someone to understand "sensibility". It may be confusing at first but when
you really go over it the entire poem is reminding us of different ways sensibility plays a role. It isn't only in love either.
The poem reminds me a lot of the work of Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo was an artist who had a lot tragedy in her life. Her sensibility comes through in her paintings. She painted what she felt. She painted her pain that come from love, family, personal dilemmas, and death.

The Unconscious Mind

In response to From Observations On Man: His Frame, His Duty, and His Expectations...


Hartley's discussion regarding our reaction or imaginative pleasures that are encouraged by the "Beauties of Nature" exhibit the psychological root of man. He clearly says that our expectations and views of the world are impacted by situations in life. The different experiences in life contribute to the associations we make. The explanation reminded me a lot about a common topic in Psychology, the unconscious mind. The beauties of nature are very likely to tap into the unconscious mind. We may look at something in nature and be drawn to a certain emotion. Nature, in some ways is a tool of the mind. We are forced to engage with nature every day. We are forced to observe nature. With this observation comes the opportunity to reveal certain ideas and beliefs we have about life. With the idea that situations of life impacts our expectations of the world comes the idea that the unconscious mind is stronger than we know and has more influence than we'd like it to have. And so, is it possible to fight the unconscious mind? I mean, How do we change the function of something that is often automatic? Some people might say that working toward changing personal life situations will allow for a change in our expectations. However, this is not always easy. Certain social barriers do not allow for complete improvement or change in life situations. I think it is important to add the discussion that human perception of nature is not permanent, but is difficult to modify. There is always room for change. Hartley was right in saying that these expectations can last a long time because they are influenced by so many different experiences and therefore become second nature to an individual. What I feel he fails to include is the idea that a person is not stuck perceiving nature and all it has to offer in one way. This goes with the theme that we have been studying, nature is wild. Nature is not meant to be perceived in one way. Nature is intended to bring out the uniqueness of each mind that participates with nature. And so, nature not only provokes the unconscious mind, but in many ways it is the unconscious mind. Nature therefore poses a challenge to man. Nature puts us in a position to face that which may not always be apparent outside of observing nature. Hartley was definitely using his philosophical background in discussing Observations of Man, but the topic requires a number of disciplines to be called upon in order to understand nature and the human mind together.

Human Nature

In response to "The Last of the Flock" by William Wordsworth...

In the poem when the shepherd says, "God cursed me in my sore distress" (line 86), I think sums up a main message we should take away from the story.
When all is going well in our lives, we could not feel any better, we feel like we are in God's good graces.
However, when things take a downward spin we could not be more angrier at everything and everyone.
I think the shepherd is a classic example of this part of human nature. I know there have been times in my life, when things are not so great, and I feel like am cursed. And other times, when things play out nicely for me, I could not feel more blessed. I think it is in our human nature to very easily put the blame for our misfortune on outside forces.
For example, the shepherd informs us that it was "a time of need".
We are left to interpret this in a few different ways based on other information we receive in the story.
I think that the shepherd has blinded himself from seeing where he played a part in his current misfortune. Throughout the years he tells of how his flock grew and grew. He was rich with sheep. Many would assume that if you are a shepherd, rich with a healthy, growing flock, then business would be booming. But all he tells about is how eventually he had to start to sell his flock one by one because he could not receive parish relief. The trouble is, if he is a shepherd, and a flock of sheep is a major resource, wouldn't selling some sheep be inevitable?
However, the manner in which the shepherd describes his sadness with selling the sheep gives the impression that his only intention was to continue growing the flock, with out ever making any sacrifice. This shows his greed, something else that can be a part of human nature.
The shepherd allowed his human nature to blind him from seeing other things that were important. Although he says he sold the flock to
provide for his family it seems as if it was done out of obligation rather than a desire to support his children.
He even comes to love his children less. To him his children are a flock that he is obligated to.
The shepherd's nature is one that is rather odd and dark. He is very honest about how he feels. He tells a complete stranger about his true feelings of having to sell his flock to help his family survive. For him, not even supporting his family a little longer brings him joy, "and now I care not if we die, And perish all of poverty" (line 39-40). To him the recent times have been a failure. Sure he kept his ten children fed and alive, but he sacrificed his flock.
It is sort of unsettling to learn the shepherd's true feelings. However, he is only giving in to his human nature. He is being honest about his feelings. It is always more interesting when someone is blunt about how they feel because it is a form of honesty, that depending on the issue, can be unsettling and yet truly revealing.

The Innocence of Youth

In response to We Are Seven by William Wordsworth...


The poem brought to mind the quote from 1 Corinthians 13:11 that discusses the ways of being a child.
All the innocence and ignorance that exists within a child. I feel that the poem goes along with this idea
that children have a very different way of thinking and understanding. In many ways they are both logical and illogical.
In the poem, the little girl tells the speaker, when asked, that total there are seven children in her family.
She tells the speaker that two dwell in the church-yard. The speaker, as a logical adult would likely argue, tells the girl
that there are only five children then. The little girl is very persistent in the idea that there are seven siblings.
I think that the little girl's understanding of death is still very innocent. For her, they are still very much a part of her life.
She dances and plays and even eats around their graves. She is allowing them to still be a part of her life. Even if they are not physically there.
For her, just because they dwell in the church yard, that does not mean that they are no longer her brother and sister.
Her reasoning with the speaker comes across almost stubborn. And in the speaker's response you can tell that the speaker is
surprised by the child's persistence. When it comes down to it the child cannot reason with the reality of death. However, I think she has a point.
Regardless of whether or not her siblings are in the spiritual world or in this world, they are still her siblings.
This little girl definitely speaks like a child and thinks like a child.Furthermore, she shows no sign of putting away childish things anytime soon.
And there is a quality about her that is admirable. She is both logical and yet illogical. Many people see it as reasonable to consider death to destroy all existence of an individual;
at least to a rational adult. But to a child who thinks like a child, with innocence, it is logical to still acknowledge the deceased.
They do not see death in the same way that adults do. The child's view of death to some may seem unhealthy, while to others come across
as reasonable.

The Nightingale knows something we don't...

In Response to The Nightingale by Samuel T. Coleridge...
Towards the end of the poem the speaker recalls a night when his child was distressed. He discusses how he has tried to make his son a child of nature. On this night he takes his son outside where he is mesmerized by the moon. The moon and nature have this ability to calm him. I think the purpose here is
to admire the power of nature. The Nightingale becomes a symbol of this power. I like that the Nightingale is really the only one in the poem who knows nature in all its beauty, at night, when if anything it is less likely to be seen and appreciated. In many ways the nightingale and the child are similar. The nightingale's
cries are described as being "melancholy" and it is at night when the bird is most likely to sing some beautiful tunes. This child who cries has an experience similar to the nightingale's. He cries in the night but is
moved by the night. This poem I believe reminds us to appreciate the influence nature has on us. Sometimes it is the simplest things that can catch our atttention, For, the nightingale it is nature at night.

Guilt

In response to The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In the poem we learn about how killing the Albatross has caused the mariner a great deal of pain. It was a simple action of his that he did not expect to haunt him for the rest of his life. The poem takes on a religious feel with some of the phrases and images presented. In my opinion, I believe that these images mirror that of Christianity. One quote I feel summarizes what the Mariner is experiencing, "Instead of the Cross the Albatross About my neck was hung" (lines 137-138). Two images come to mind. The first being the Christian image of Christ bearing the cross, a cross that represented his role in saving humanity. The second image that came to mind was of how Christians often wear small crosses around our necks. I think that nowadays more an more Christians wear a small medal cross and fail to remember what it is supposed to mean. We wear it without any guilt and yet certain branches of Christianity, like Catholicism, are often critiqued for structuring moral lessons around guilt. With that said, this poem follows a common structure of Catholic morality. The Mariner did not have a choice to ignore his burden. When he killed the Albatross it became his burden. He had to carry that story around with him to tell others. What is more interesting, is that telling it gave him no relief from his guilt. Rather, it seems that every time he tells the story, his guilt takes on a stronger presence. The Albatross hung in place of any cross as a symbol of his guilt. In the poem we never learn why the mariner killed the bird; we simply learn that the consequence was much more than expected. In discussion, it was asked if the mariner should feel so guilty and burdened by killing a bird? I myself am not that sure. Naturally, the heavy burden of guilt is intended to go along with the moral messages being conveyed. I do think that it is interesting to remind us of how guilt works. Sometimes it sneaks up on us when we least expect it. Much like the mariner we have all been surprised at how certain actions can make us feel guilty, however, the severity of the mariner's guilt is thought provoking. To be forced to continuously relive an event that causes so much pain and yet brings much wisdom is not something that I feel we recognize as easily. Guilt has a strong influence at taking our lives and views in new directions.

Man and Nature: a separated experience of pleasure

In response to "Lines Written in Early Spring" by William Wordsworth.

When reading the poem I could not help but notice the continous use of the word "pleasure" and associated words like "enjoys" within the descriptions of nature. Along with its repetitiveness came a separation between the experience of "pleasure" and man. Moving from stanza to stanza you see the differences in its use. In the first stanza, when there is mention of man in first person, the "pleasant thoughts" are linked to "sad thoughts" for man. This link is caused by nature. In stanzas 3 through 5 pleasurable images are related to happenings of nature. One example is the personification of how "every flower enjoys the air it breathes" (lines 11-12). And in the descriptions of birds playing there is a feeling of pleasure. But why is it that descriptions of pleasure are separated from the image of man? Why is it that these pleasant thoughts are able to bring sad thoughts to man? I believe that there is the expression of man weeping at the sight of nature's pleasure because man has made a sad environment for himself. It is as if man cannot enjoy nature in the way that it was intened to be, which in turn only reminds us of our imperfections and unhappiness. Furthermore, the images of nature are reversed with man. We see parts of nature doing things that man would normally be expected to do. Birds are seen playing, flowers are seen enjoying the air they breathe, however, man is seen lamenting. Man is separated from this pleasure. The roles are reversed. Man is left to observe nature rather than the other way around. Man's pleasure and joy cannot be assumed as in the case of nature.