ICARUS+discussion

 Daedalus was a craftsman. He designed the which was a maze on the island of Crete. He was imprisoned in this Labyrinth and in order to _escape, he made wings for himself and for his son, Icarus. These wings were made of feathers held together bywax, Daedalus told his son not to too close to the sun, but Icarus did not listen to this warning and he flew too high up. The sun the wax and he fell.

What do you think about Icarus? Discuss his2. Look carefully at the Brueghel painting (from the Musée des Beaux Arts in Brussels) for the details described in the poem. Do you see other details in the painting that seem consistent with the tone of the poem? Even a quick glance at the Brueghel painting reveals the apparent consistency with the tone of the poem. Although the subjects portrayed in the painting are not “eating”, “opening a window”, or “just walking dully along”, we can still see similar actions taking place. The three men are rather careless to Icarus’s fall. Despite the fact that a young man just fell down from the sky with wings that are melting down, the three men pay their sole attention to their individual work. One man is plowing, while another man is looking after his sheep. A man near the shore continues to fish and does not bother to help Icarus, even though Icarus falls quite near him. The details are not only revealed by human characters in the painting. The background remains oblivious to Icarus’s death. The sun still shines beautifully, while the ocean current continues to flow. The entire world is indifferent towards an individual’s tragedy.

3. What is the "human position" of suffering in this poem? In terms of suffering, humans have no choice or option. Humans are not in a position where they can control extraneous factors (such as the surrounding’s atmosphere or other people’s reaction) or suffering itself. Suffering occurs “while someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along”, meaning the rest of the world may be completely unaware of an individual’s suffering. Eating, opening a window, and just walking seem so trivial and common; yet, even an individual is suffering due to immense pain and breakdown, those usual, daily actions are more important to other people. As the poem points out, the three men could have “heard the splash, the forsaken cry”. However, none of those happenings were important to the three men. Human position in suffering is indeed lonely, as it is marked with complete isolationism.

5. Briefly describe your first impressions regarding the author’s diction and/or syntax. At first, I liked the poem as it appeared to be so simple. The author uses simple, easy words to get his point across. The colloquial tone of the poem directly contrasts the deep content it holds. While the vocabulary and words being used remain simple, the meaning speaks of the universal truth of human race. The poet uses the pronoun “they”, in order to make the reader feel isolated, utilizing out-group psychology. The several use of “they” separates the reader from the rest of the world, creating a mood in which one’s pain and suffering become truly lonely and isolated.

7. two poetic elements in the poem The end rhyme of the poem is unique, and it adds to the poem’s mood. There seems to be no rules other than the fact that lines with end rhymes are placed in separated positions. For example, “wrong” and “along” are each from line 1 and line 4; “understood” and “wood” are from line 2 and line 8”; “waiting” and “skating” are from line 5 and line 7. None of the words that rhyme are close to each other. This sense of separation adds the mood of isolation, emphasizing the poet’s intention. The poem’s cacophonous sounds also serve important roles. For instance, lines like “the torturer’s horse / Scratches its innocent behind on a tree” and “in a corner, some untidy spot” include harsh t-sound and k-sound; those words that are cacophonic to the ear highlight the poem’s meaning, as they underscore the harsh reality of lonely, isolated human position’s in suffering and the indifferent nature of the world. character and action?

Even though his father warned him about flying too close to the son, he flew anyway because of his curiosity.

2. What do you think of the consequences of his actions? Was it a punishment? A natural event? An important event?

I think it is a punishment for not listening to his father and being imprudent.

Bruegel, Pieter Landscape with the Fall of Icarus c. 1558 Oil on canvas, mounted on wood 73.5 x 112 cm Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Brussels

2. Look closely at the painting. Discuss what you see and then, as a group, write down the description of what you see in this picture.

There is one person drowning and another doing something near by. Jail in the middle of the water. The main subject is plowing. Shepherd with his sheep below. Couple of black sheep. A big sheep. Feathers scattered.

3. Look at the name of the painting. What is the connection? The drowning man is Icarus. There are feathers scattered around him.

4. What is this painting saying about life? Life continues even after one person dies.

1. Do some quick research. What is the story behind the painting? There are three witnesses to the flight. The waters are calm. Ploughman is completely oblivious to Iracus's fate.

2. What are some details and what do they mean which do NOT follow the Greek Legend of Icarus The ploughman is oblivious to Iracus's fate.

3. In the skimming, what seem to be 3 significant (or interesting) points. 1. Ploughman is doing work on the earth. When you do work on earth you go to heaven, but when you try flying up you fall and die. 2. Punishment for trying to enter God's boundaries.