Compare and Contrast: Job and Oedipus
Dabin and Jennifer
Similarities:
1. In the beginning, both men think they don't have any faults.
2. Both men change throughout the text. Status goes down.
3. Their lives are manipulated by Gods.
4. In the end they accept they are wrong.
5. Both deal with family issues.
6. The truth is revealed by someone else.
7. Someone dies. Death of minor characters
8. Main characters survive till the end.
9. Few main characters.
10. Both surrounded by people who criticize them.
Differences:
1. One god vs. many gods
2. Role of women
3. Oedipus is very public while Job is more private.
4. Lack of antagonist in Oedipus. Satan is the antagonist in Job.
5. God directly communicates with Job. Oedipus hears through the Oracle.
6. Status of the men are different. One is a king and the other is just a rich man.
7. Job only challenges God. Oedipus accuses Creon.
8. Punishment was directed directly towards Job. With Oedipus everyone around him suffered.
9. Job gets everything back in the end while Oedipus loses everything.
10. More "creation" ideas in Job. Referring to the womb.
The Bible as Literature: The Book of Job
AP English
How do you cite a quotation from the Bible? Please don’t forget that OWL Purdue is the preferred grammar source for KIS.
From OWL Purdue:
In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter and verse. For example:
(Which bible, Book, Chapter Verse)
Example:
(New Jerusalem Bible, Ezek. 1.5-10).
When is the word bible capitalized and when is it not?
The word is capitalized depending on context. When written referring to it as the sacred book it is capitalized. For example: Old Testament and New Testament
Write the MLA citation for the Bible. The New Jerusalem Bible. Ed. Susan Jones. New York: Doubleday, 1985. Print.
Copy and paste 5 of the most important lines from Job. Cite the locations correctly.
What does iniquity mean? Why is this word important?
Iniquity means immoral or grossly unfair behavior.
Job experiences this word which makes it important when reading the text.
List one other word that people who read Job should know.
Find 2-3 figures of speech. Copy and paste the lines and identify what figure of speech is used.
Rhetorical Questions
Repetitions
Anaphora
Metaphors
Simile
Is the Book of Job a tragedy, romance, history, or comedy?
The Book of Job does not fit perfectly into any of the given options. It has aspects of a couple of them.
Who is Elihu and why is he important? Who might he compare to in Oedipus?
He is Job's younger friend.
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 his 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.
1. The tone of the poem is indifference. Although it is about a man falling out of the sky, the poem carries a humorous tone. It is as if someone falling out of the sky is common.
"But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on."
Someone falling out of the sky should be a significant event, but in the poem Icarus' fall is not given a second thought. The ship sails "calmly" on even after his fall while the sun simply shines on him disappearing into the water.
2. Nothing in the painting makes you think that someone just fell out of the sky. There is a man farming, completely clueless about what has happened, a chip sailing calmly, and a shepherd turned away from the scene of the accident. The painting matches extremely well with the tone of the poem as it too has a nonchalant mood to it.
5. Like everything else, diction takes a large role in making the tone of this poem nonchalant. If I hadn't researched Daedalus and Icarus beforehand, I would have though it was just a simple poem. I would have had no idea of the deeper meaning that it holds. The use of common words such as "where he dogs go on with their doggy life" adds to the indifferent tone.
7. Enjambment is used throughout the poem. I think this only adds onto the nonchalant tone that this poem takes.
Alliteration is also used throughout.
"martyrdom must"
"sun shone" I. a. Hook
b. Thesis:
How the father figures are portrayed throughout the novel, and the changes these men go through in Julia Alvarez's novels How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and Before We Were Free symbolize the author's desires for such a change in her own dominant patriarch-her father.
II. Pattern of father figures throughout Latin Literature (not just form my author)
a. Use source here
b. What father figures tended to represent throughout Latin Literature
c. How this has changed over time
(Negative -----> Positive) At first they played the role of the dominant patriarch. Expecting the women in their lives to be "clean" and "pure" as their wives and daughters were a representation of them.Symbolized the whole patriarchal society.
Became more accepting.
III. Garcia's History-source
a. Moving to the U.S.
b. "Who am I?"
c. Her father's role in the transition process from Puerto Rico to the United States.
IV. Portrayal of father in each book.
a. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
Father represents the dominant patriarchal society.
Carlos does not accept that his daughters are changing. Disapproves of choices in life.
b. Before We Were Free
Anita's father is a positive role model. She looks up to him. He supports her success in school and does not only condemn her to do "girl work."
Father role is completely different in Before We Were free compared to How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, but in the end the men are STILL punished. (Uncle Tony and Anita's dad are hung)
V. How the father changes throughout the novel in Garcia Girls, Father is portrayed from the beginning as a positive character in Before We Were Free
a. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
What's the catalyst for the change in the father? Their relationships with their daughters.
Traditional catholic values, dominant patriarch------>more accepting
Reasons: Daughter's experiences, Experiencing the cultural change for themselves
b. Before We Were Free
Written later, father figure is positive! (Maybe because Anita is so young and the Garcia sisters are not?)
Changing of Carlos into a more accepting father in Garcia Girls and the portrayal of Anita's father as a positive role model throughout Before We Were Free represent the changes Alvarez wants to see in her own father.
Brian and Mike
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing? She’s good at connecting the background information of the author to the poem. She quoted a lot as well.
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis? She started out with analysis connecting to the author and it was really interesting but then as the podcast progressed, she seized doing so and the analysis became weaker because it lost its “why” factor.
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing? I was impressed by how she showed deep insight about what things like the woods represented.
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing? She didn’t have the lines that she was quoting on the screen. It was so confusing.
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video. She only had trees covered with snow. She needs more.
6. Other? Overall, I think she did a good job in analyzing her poem, but the lack of visual work made it kind of boring.
Da Bin Lee
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing?
- She elaborates her analysis on the imagery of nature which creates double meanings such as "madness" and "peace", "life" and "death".
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis?
- It would have been better if she included her analysis of the title of the poem. "Stopping in the Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a quite long title, and although it seems self-explanatory, deeper meaning of this seemingly simple poem could have been analyzed.
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing?
- I would have interpreted the poem as a description of serene, somewhat peaceful yet lonely scenery of winter. However, Jennifer goes far beyond the simple analysis, emphasizing double meanings that the author intends.
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing?
- I didn't understand the wood analysis. I didn't get why the woods represent the society and responsibility. It would have been better if she had explained what led to such a conclusion.
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video.
- The visual aids she choose to use are very simple and clean. All of her visuals include snow and trees, which helps the viewer to get what she is focusing on. However, it would have been even better if she used a variety of visual contents.
6. Other? - Although she showed some of the text, it would have been better if she used Berio or some other software program to highlight words that she wants her viewer to pay attention to.
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing? I think I analyzed the deeper meaning of the poem. Not just the simple, serene story but the hidden intended meanings. Also, thinking of both sides of something within the poem. For example: the last two lines representing both good and bad feelings.
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis? I could go even deeper into the analysis!
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing?
The sudden "TEXT HERE" that showed up. I forgot to put in the quote!
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing?
I made the video so I understand what I am saying :D
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video. I think the visual portion matches well with the poem because it is serene, peaceful and simple. Also, whenever I quotes the poem, I put it in as a subtitle which should help the reader follow along.
6. Other?
I think I deserve a B+. I messed up on technical things like subtitles, but that is only a minor part of the project. My analysis goes deep, and my use of quotes support the arguments I made throughout the video.
-JENN P.
SCRIPT
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening was written by Robert Frost in 1922.
At first glance the poem seems very simple. The speaker stopping in the woods on a snowy evening, enjoying the beauty that the nature has to offer. He or she longing to stay a while more but resisting because of his/her obligations and the long way that has yet to be travelled.
But simple? It is anything but.
Yes it sounds pretty but there is so much depth to the poem. The combination of words is almost enticing as it draws the reader in. There is a message behind the initial simplicity.
This applies perfectly to the last two lines of the poem. A repitition of the phrase "And miles to go before I sleep." In the first instance, the line is literal. An ending to the more ovbious story of the poem. But like the rest of the poem, there is more implied than it says outright. The second use of the phrase implies much bigger things. Miles representing life and sleep representing death. All of a sudden "and miles to go before I sleep" has turned into "more life to live before i die."
The overall conflict of the poem can be wrapped up by the last stanza. The speaker feels a pull towards the woods but he also feels the pull of his or her responsibilities outside of the woods.
This brings up an important question..
What do these woods represent?
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep."
Do they represent something good? Something bad?
The tone and slow rhythm of the poem are very peaceful, so it's most likely not something bad. But does that make it good?
Woods can symbolize the wild, madness and danger. But on the other hand it can also symbolize peace and nature.
The fact that the speaker is in the woods on the darkest evening of the year creates a division: between the woods and the village.
The woods are described as "lovely, dark and deep." Like oblivion.
The speaker has stopped in the middle of the woods on a snowy evening..but if you rest too long in the snow, you could die. The woods here represent the seduction of the things you WANT..for the speaker to linger too long could cause him to lose his way. It represents the temptation to sit and watch beauty and forget about responsibilities.
The woods separate the speaker from civilization. Sitting in the middle of the woods on the darkest evening of the year..not a very rational plan. It is an action that society would condemn. The line
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
is talking about the speakers horse.
As a domesticated part of civilized society, the horse is the closest thing to civilization. It represents society and how the speakers actions would be frowned upon. Having the horse reprove the speaker highlights the speakers dilemma.
I chose this poem because it seems so simple, yet it isnt.
Conflict from within: The desire to enjoy nature (and do what you want) vs. Society and the responsibilities that come with it. It represents the internal struggles of virtually everyone. The tug of war between what your desires and your responsibilities.
All of a sudden this peaceful poem seems very sullen. The last lines "And miles to go before I sleep" does imply burden..but is that it? I think it can also be interpreted in a positive way. "Miles to go before I sleep" ...as in more time reveling in the beauty of nature.
It is very easy to read because the lines flow together in perfect harmony. The four stanzas are almost identical as each line is iambic.
In every stanza, all the lines rhyme except for the third line. The third line rhymes with the first, second and fourth lines of the next stanza.
For example, "know, thought and snow" all rhyme in the first stanza except for the third line "here" which rhymes with "queer, near and year" from the following stanza.
The exception to this pattern is the last stanza where all lines rhyme togeter. This only puts more emphasis on the last two lines, which I think are the most important in the poem.
The rhyme pattern make the poem very easy to read. But having this kind of perfect rhyme scheme is very hard to achieve. This makes the poem all the more enticing.
And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.
Outline
I. Read poem
II. Summarize
Thesis
III. Read first stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
III. Read second stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
IV. Read third stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
v. Read fourth stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
VI. Overall: Big picture
a. Repeat Thesis
b. Stanzas are connected by the unique rhyme pattern
i. third line of every stanza rhymes with the next stanza's rhyme
V11. Ending
"And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Compare and Contrast: Job and Oedipus
Dabin and Jennifer
Similarities:
1. In the beginning, both men think they don't have any faults.
2. Both men change throughout the text. Status goes down.
3. Their lives are manipulated by Gods.
4. In the end they accept they are wrong.
5. Both deal with family issues.
6. The truth is revealed by someone else.
7. Someone dies. Death of minor characters
8. Main characters survive till the end.
9. Few main characters.
10. Both surrounded by people who criticize them.
Differences:
1. One god vs. many gods
2. Role of women
3. Oedipus is very public while Job is more private.
4. Lack of antagonist in Oedipus. Satan is the antagonist in Job.
5. God directly communicates with Job. Oedipus hears through the Oracle.
6. Status of the men are different. One is a king and the other is just a rich man.
7. Job only challenges God. Oedipus accuses Creon.
8. Punishment was directed directly towards Job. With Oedipus everyone around him suffered.
9. Job gets everything back in the end while Oedipus loses everything.
10. More "creation" ideas in Job. Referring to the womb.
The Bible as Literature: The Book of Job
AP English
How do you cite a quotation from the Bible? Please don’t forget that OWL Purdue is the preferred grammar source for KIS.
From OWL Purdue:
In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter and verse. For example:
(Which bible, Book, Chapter Verse)
Example:
(New Jerusalem Bible, Ezek. 1.5-10).
When is the word bible capitalized and when is it not?
The word is capitalized depending on context. When written referring to it as the sacred book it is capitalized. For example: Old Testament and New Testament
Write the MLA citation for the Bible.
The New Jerusalem Bible. Ed. Susan Jones. New York: Doubleday, 1985. Print.
Copy and paste 5 of the most important lines from Job. Cite the locations correctly.
What does iniquity mean? Why is this word important?
Iniquity means immoral or grossly unfair behavior.
Job experiences this word which makes it important when reading the text.
List one other word that people who read Job should know.
Find 2-3 figures of speech. Copy and paste the lines and identify what figure of speech is used.
Rhetorical Questions
Repetitions
Anaphora
Metaphors
Simile
Is the Book of Job a tragedy, romance, history, or comedy?
The Book of Job does not fit perfectly into any of the given options. It has aspects of a couple of them.
Who is Elihu and why is he important? Who might he compare to in Oedipus?
He is Job's younger friend.
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 his 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.
1. The tone of the poem is indifference. Although it is about a man falling out of the sky, the poem carries a humorous tone. It is as if someone falling out of the sky is common.
"But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on."
Someone falling out of the sky should be a significant event, but in the poem Icarus' fall is not given a second thought. The ship sails "calmly" on even after his fall while the sun simply shines on him disappearing into the water.
2. Nothing in the painting makes you think that someone just fell out of the sky. There is a man farming, completely clueless about what has happened, a chip sailing calmly, and a shepherd turned away from the scene of the accident. The painting matches extremely well with the tone of the poem as it too has a nonchalant mood to it.
5. Like everything else, diction takes a large role in making the tone of this poem nonchalant. If I hadn't researched Daedalus and Icarus beforehand, I would have though it was just a simple poem. I would have had no idea of the deeper meaning that it holds. The use of common words such as "where he dogs go on with their doggy life" adds to the indifferent tone.
7. Enjambment is used throughout the poem. I think this only adds onto the nonchalant tone that this poem takes.
Alliteration is also used throughout.
"martyrdom must"
"sun shone"
I. a. Hook
b. Thesis:
How the father figures are portrayed throughout the novel, and the changes these men go through in Julia Alvarez's novels How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and Before We Were Free symbolize the author's desires for such a change in her own dominant patriarch-her father.
II. Pattern of father figures throughout Latin Literature (not just form my author)
a. Use source here
b. What father figures tended to represent throughout Latin Literature
c. How this has changed over time
III. Garcia's History-source
a. Moving to the U.S.
b. "Who am I?"
c. Her father's role in the transition process from Puerto Rico to the United States.
IV. Portrayal of father in each book.
a. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
- Father represents the dominant patriarchal society.
- Carlos does not accept that his daughters are changing. Disapproves of choices in life.
b. Before We Were FreeFather role is completely different in Before We Were free compared to How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, but in the end the men are STILL punished. (Uncle Tony and Anita's dad are hung)
V. How the father changes throughout the novel in Garcia Girls, Father is portrayed from the beginning as a positive character in Before We Were Free
a. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
- What's the catalyst for the change in the father? Their relationships with their daughters.
- Traditional catholic values, dominant patriarch------>more accepting
- Reasons: Daughter's experiences, Experiencing the cultural change for themselves
b. Before We Were Free- Written later, father figure is positive! (Maybe because Anita is so young and the Garcia sisters are not?)
Changing of Carlos into a more accepting father in Garcia Girls and the portrayal of Anita's father as a positive role model throughout Before We Were Free represent the changes Alvarez wants to see in her own father.Brian and Mike
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing? She’s good at connecting the background information of the author to the poem. She quoted a lot as well.
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis? She started out with analysis connecting to the author and it was really interesting but then as the podcast progressed, she seized doing so and the analysis became weaker because it lost its “why” factor.
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing? I was impressed by how she showed deep insight about what things like the woods represented.
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing? She didn’t have the lines that she was quoting on the screen. It was so confusing.
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video. She only had trees covered with snow. She needs more.
6. Other? Overall, I think she did a good job in analyzing her poem, but the lack of visual work made it kind of boring.
Da Bin Lee
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing?
- She elaborates her analysis on the imagery of nature which creates double meanings such as "madness" and "peace", "life" and "death".
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis?
- It would have been better if she included her analysis of the title of the poem. "Stopping in the Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a quite long title, and although it seems self-explanatory, deeper meaning of this seemingly simple poem could have been analyzed.
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing?
- I would have interpreted the poem as a description of serene, somewhat peaceful yet lonely scenery of winter. However, Jennifer goes far beyond the simple analysis, emphasizing double meanings that the author intends.
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing?
- I didn't understand the wood analysis. I didn't get why the woods represent the society and responsibility. It would have been better if she had explained what led to such a conclusion.
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video.
- The visual aids she choose to use are very simple and clean. All of her visuals include snow and trees, which helps the viewer to get what she is focusing on. However, it would have been even better if she used a variety of visual contents.
6. Other?
- Although she showed some of the text, it would have been better if she used Berio or some other software program to highlight words that she wants her viewer to pay attention to.
1. Analysis -- what specifically does the person do well in analyzing? I think I analyzed the deeper meaning of the poem. Not just the simple, serene story but the hidden intended meanings. Also, thinking of both sides of something within the poem. For example: the last two lines representing both good and bad feelings.
2. Analysis -- if the person had to do this again, what would you recommend in analysis? I could go even deeper into the analysis!
3. What is something you found surprising? or amusing?
The sudden "TEXT HERE" that showed up. I forgot to put in the quote!
4. What is something you don't understand or find confusing?
I made the video so I understand what I am saying :D
5. Comment on the visual portion of this video. I think the visual portion matches well with the poem because it is serene, peaceful and simple. Also, whenever I quotes the poem, I put it in as a subtitle which should help the reader follow along.
6. Other?
I think I deserve a B+. I messed up on technical things like subtitles, but that is only a minor part of the project. My analysis goes deep, and my use of quotes support the arguments I made throughout the video.
-JENN P.
SCRIPT
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening was written by Robert Frost in 1922.
At first glance the poem seems very simple. The speaker stopping in the woods on a snowy evening, enjoying the beauty that the nature has to offer. He or she longing to stay a while more but resisting because of his/her obligations and the long way that has yet to be travelled.
But simple? It is anything but.
Yes it sounds pretty but there is so much depth to the poem. The combination of words is almost enticing as it draws the reader in. There is a message behind the initial simplicity.
This applies perfectly to the last two lines of the poem. A repitition of the phrase "And miles to go before I sleep." In the first instance, the line is literal. An ending to the more ovbious story of the poem. But like the rest of the poem, there is more implied than it says outright. The second use of the phrase implies much bigger things. Miles representing life and sleep representing death. All of a sudden "and miles to go before I sleep" has turned into "more life to live before i die."
The overall conflict of the poem can be wrapped up by the last stanza. The speaker feels a pull towards the woods but he also feels the pull of his or her responsibilities outside of the woods.
This brings up an important question..
What do these woods represent?
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep."
Do they represent something good? Something bad?
The tone and slow rhythm of the poem are very peaceful, so it's most likely not something bad. But does that make it good?
Woods can symbolize the wild, madness and danger. But on the other hand it can also symbolize peace and nature.
The fact that the speaker is in the woods on the darkest evening of the year creates a division: between the woods and the village.
The woods are described as "lovely, dark and deep." Like oblivion.
The speaker has stopped in the middle of the woods on a snowy evening..but if you rest too long in the snow, you could die. The woods here represent the seduction of the things you WANT..for the speaker to linger too long could cause him to lose his way. It represents the temptation to sit and watch beauty and forget about responsibilities.
The woods separate the speaker from civilization. Sitting in the middle of the woods on the darkest evening of the year..not a very rational plan. It is an action that society would condemn. The line
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
is talking about the speakers horse.
As a domesticated part of civilized society, the horse is the closest thing to civilization. It represents society and how the speakers actions would be frowned upon. Having the horse reprove the speaker highlights the speakers dilemma.
I chose this poem because it seems so simple, yet it isnt.
Conflict from within: The desire to enjoy nature (and do what you want) vs. Society and the responsibilities that come with it. It represents the internal struggles of virtually everyone. The tug of war between what your desires and your responsibilities.
All of a sudden this peaceful poem seems very sullen. The last lines "And miles to go before I sleep" does imply burden..but is that it? I think it can also be interpreted in a positive way. "Miles to go before I sleep" ...as in more time reveling in the beauty of nature.
It is very easy to read because the lines flow together in perfect harmony. The four stanzas are almost identical as each line is iambic.
In every stanza, all the lines rhyme except for the third line. The third line rhymes with the first, second and fourth lines of the next stanza.
For example, "know, thought and snow" all rhyme in the first stanza except for the third line "here" which rhymes with "queer, near and year" from the following stanza.
The exception to this pattern is the last stanza where all lines rhyme togeter. This only puts more emphasis on the last two lines, which I think are the most important in the poem.
The rhyme pattern make the poem very easy to read. But having this kind of perfect rhyme scheme is very hard to achieve. This makes the poem all the more enticing.
And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.
Outline
I. Read poem
II. Summarize
Thesis
III. Read first stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
III. Read second stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
IV. Read third stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
v. Read fourth stanza
a. Paraphrase (What I think it means)
b. Analysis
c. What poetic techniques are used and the effect they have
d. How it adds onto the rest of the poem
VI. Overall: Big picture
a. Repeat Thesis
b. Stanzas are connected by the unique rhyme pattern
i. third line of every stanza rhymes with the next stanza's rhyme
V11. Ending
"And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."