Sunday, December 7, 2008
Project Reflection
Victtor Lopez
Professor Hageman
English 3-Intro to Literature
December 7, 2008
Project Reflection Paper
Traditionally, learning comes from textbooks. This final project was an exercise which helped to prove otherwise as it challenged us to be creative in an unconventional, yet scholarly manner. Therefore, for our “departing flight” from English 3, we chose to use Flight Patterns by Sherman Alexie. This text had many attractions--funny, interesting, dealt with culture, stereotypes, and real-life situations. To show our creativeness and our understanding of the text, we chose to use a non-traditional learning source, Twitter.
Twitter is an online, micro-blogging website, that lets you pretend that you are the character. As the character, you post your thoughts and actions online. This medium allowed us to have fun with the characters, but most importantly, helped us delve into William, the character that we chose to focus on for our project. By allowing “William American” to share his daily experiences, we provided insight into the life and the challenges that he faces, further shaping him outside of the context of, but still in keeping with, “Flight Patterns”.
By providing excerpts at a time, we were able to tune into different channels of William’s character. With this media, we were channeling and further developing William through a 360-degree review of his life. While William is fictional he is what we created and painted through our understanding, experience and interpretation of “Flight Patterns”. As such, it was interesting to be in somebody else’s shoes for an instant at a time…even more interesting, was to read my group’s entries as they wore Williams shoes. We all offered different perspectives, most likely shaped by our own experiences and interpretation of the original text.
I was able to pretend to be paranoid about insomnia, have a need for trivia-type knowledge and I was able to appreciate that William is passionate about his wife. I realized that William is a family man; he thinks about his family even when he is away on his business trips. I had the chance to re-read how much he loves his wife, and how he enjoys making love to her. The group posts offered me different perspectives, allowing me to analyze and better understand the text more fully. This non-traditional way of learning gave me a better appreciation for literary interpretation…and a deeper appreciation for book clubs!
Professor Hageman
English 3-Intro to Literature
December 7, 2008
Project Reflection Paper
Traditionally, learning comes from textbooks. This final project was an exercise which helped to prove otherwise as it challenged us to be creative in an unconventional, yet scholarly manner. Therefore, for our “departing flight” from English 3, we chose to use Flight Patterns by Sherman Alexie. This text had many attractions--funny, interesting, dealt with culture, stereotypes, and real-life situations. To show our creativeness and our understanding of the text, we chose to use a non-traditional learning source, Twitter.
Twitter is an online, micro-blogging website, that lets you pretend that you are the character. As the character, you post your thoughts and actions online. This medium allowed us to have fun with the characters, but most importantly, helped us delve into William, the character that we chose to focus on for our project. By allowing “William American” to share his daily experiences, we provided insight into the life and the challenges that he faces, further shaping him outside of the context of, but still in keeping with, “Flight Patterns”.
By providing excerpts at a time, we were able to tune into different channels of William’s character. With this media, we were channeling and further developing William through a 360-degree review of his life. While William is fictional he is what we created and painted through our understanding, experience and interpretation of “Flight Patterns”. As such, it was interesting to be in somebody else’s shoes for an instant at a time…even more interesting, was to read my group’s entries as they wore Williams shoes. We all offered different perspectives, most likely shaped by our own experiences and interpretation of the original text.
I was able to pretend to be paranoid about insomnia, have a need for trivia-type knowledge and I was able to appreciate that William is passionate about his wife. I realized that William is a family man; he thinks about his family even when he is away on his business trips. I had the chance to re-read how much he loves his wife, and how he enjoys making love to her. The group posts offered me different perspectives, allowing me to analyze and better understand the text more fully. This non-traditional way of learning gave me a better appreciation for literary interpretation…and a deeper appreciation for book clubs!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Antigone's Actions
Life is influenced by the decisions an individual chooses to make or not make. These decisions have a direct relationship into the path of life that will unfold as time passes; and, those decisions create a domino effect that forever changes that person’s life. Antigone, the main character of Sophocles’ play, “Antigone”, makes one decision that affects her life, as well as the lives of the people around her. As soon as she decided to bury her brother in order to properly give him respect and a means to be civilly treated, she set forth a series of events that only the future, and of course Teiresias, knew. By choosing the path of honor and respect for her brother, Antigone chose to face several known and unknown outcomes, specifically, Creon’s disapproval and her own suffering which is told through this story.
Antigone’s actions were correct. She should have the right to bury her brother and have him respected. She should be able to love him enough to do that and not be punished. Although she went against the directive of Thebes’ ruler, and thereby committed blasphemy, her actions were out of love. Creon was wrong to have Antigone punished in such a manner; the punishment simply did not fit her crime. Antigone simply stood up to a bully, Creon, and in doing so, respected her own beliefs and values. In feeling as strongly as she did, she recognized that its importance was so great that it could not be shielded by simply placing her in a cave. Not even death could take her convictions away, which she believed, would ultimately be weighed and evaluated by God, not Creon--nor anyone else who did not respect and honor themselves enough to stand up for themselves or others during their time of need.
In fact, Antigone was repulsed by the cowardly act of her own sister, Ismene, who decided to go with her into the cave. Ismene was not showing courage to die for what was right, but rather was choosing to die for fear of what would happen to her once Antigone was gone. In between the fear of repercussions and lack of courage to bury her own brother, were Ismene’s indecisiveness and the true colors of her values, which infuriated Antigone. Now facing the limelight, Ismene, who did not want to help in the process of burying Polynecis, decides to suffer with Antigone. For what—an act, a show, and a free ticket to heaven on the coat tails of the pure and unselfish actions of her sister? It is therefore not surprising that Antigone told Ismene that only she could suffer for her actions—because it was only she, Antigone, who carried them out with honor and with true conviction.
Antigone’s actions were correct. She should have the right to bury her brother and have him respected. She should be able to love him enough to do that and not be punished. Although she went against the directive of Thebes’ ruler, and thereby committed blasphemy, her actions were out of love. Creon was wrong to have Antigone punished in such a manner; the punishment simply did not fit her crime. Antigone simply stood up to a bully, Creon, and in doing so, respected her own beliefs and values. In feeling as strongly as she did, she recognized that its importance was so great that it could not be shielded by simply placing her in a cave. Not even death could take her convictions away, which she believed, would ultimately be weighed and evaluated by God, not Creon--nor anyone else who did not respect and honor themselves enough to stand up for themselves or others during their time of need.
In fact, Antigone was repulsed by the cowardly act of her own sister, Ismene, who decided to go with her into the cave. Ismene was not showing courage to die for what was right, but rather was choosing to die for fear of what would happen to her once Antigone was gone. In between the fear of repercussions and lack of courage to bury her own brother, were Ismene’s indecisiveness and the true colors of her values, which infuriated Antigone. Now facing the limelight, Ismene, who did not want to help in the process of burying Polynecis, decides to suffer with Antigone. For what—an act, a show, and a free ticket to heaven on the coat tails of the pure and unselfish actions of her sister? It is therefore not surprising that Antigone told Ismene that only she could suffer for her actions—because it was only she, Antigone, who carried them out with honor and with true conviction.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bartlby the Weapons Supplier and Strategist
“Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville is an interesting story that draws the reader to the character of Bartleby. The reader knows that he exists but does not have any background information as to where he came from, who he is, and why is he here. Throughout the story Bartleby is depicted as a quiet, willful character, which is most evident through his actions. As an example, he never says “yes” to any task that the lawyer asks him to do, but when asked, he does it in a polite fashion without any true hostile attitude. As readers, we are at the edge of our seat wondering if any of these requested tasks will ever break the fellow, hooking us and drawing us more to this interesting character.
Melville simply introduces Bartleby as the character who works in this job with the lawyer. We know nothing of Bartleby’s existence prior to that point. His demeanor and actions, however, provide the reader with some insight and much imagination as to who Bartleby is, how he looks, and the story behind this person. This brings us to his probable “Facebook” description.
If Bartleby had his picture in “Facebook”, it would probably be something unexpected. The picture of his profile would be of him with a ginger-nut in place of a cigar and he would be with Osama Bin Ladin and his terrorist regime. During his day job he is known as a scrivener, but Bartleby would describe himself as the man to know for the latest weapons and strategies for taking over the world. Weaponry and military strategy development would be described as his true passions and purpose in life, which is ignited further with the underworld clientele that he meets and serves. Because of this, most of his business transactions occur online. He demands payment in ginger-nuts and in incredible amounts of money (Only American Dollars and Euro’s).
Only a handful of people, who live by night and in the underworld, know of Bartleby’s weapons and strategies. This handful is enough to fund his covert and extravagant lifestyle, living in the fast lane to nowhere with everyone he encounters--outside of his day job. He attends the biggest parties with A-list celebrities, showing off his exotic vehicles with diamond studded rims. He plans parties online and has conversations with people whom he would never speak with during the day. Sometimes he forgets himself and miraculously, maybe robotically, brings himself back to the office and the lawyer.
That is why one day the lawyer found Bartleby sleeping in the office. Bartleby couldn’t remember where he lived so he crashed at the office. One can only imagine the horridness of the strategies that he plots with his friends. So horrid, that he forgets himself. No surprise, as his friends are Al Pacino whom he appreciates as Scarface. That persona taught him how to play hard ball with the big boys. Among the list of friends would be George Bush, whom he plays golf with on a regular basis, and whom he credits as the mentor who taught him how to deal with his inner fears of failure. Dr. Phil would also be on his friends list because before Bartleby took the scrivener position he was involved in supplying weapons and strategic plans to somebody who almost blew up the world; that person’s name was Donald Trump.
He feels extremely disappointed with his “other” life so he seeks and needs direction. It was Dr. Phil who told him to just start simple and to not forget his strength. So Bartleby took the job so he could just be simple during the day and not worry about his real job. He decided to just do what he wanted to do, and he would go politely about it because Al Pacino taught him that. Online, however, Bartleby is a force to be reckoned with--never giving in to a person’s wishes, only his. He vows to conceal his true identity by being as quiet and mysterious as possible during the day.
Bartleby’s backlist of his statuses of this week would be: Monday- Bartleby is in need of daily direction with life. Tuesday- Bartleby prefers not to do anything at this moment. Wednesday- Bartleby is thinking if you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Thursday- Bartleby is blah. Friday- Bartleby is meeting some clients at the jail house, and then going to eat some food.
This is why Bartleby-by-day is so intriguing. We can imagine that his true persona is very different from what is described at the office. We get a sense that he uses his day life to give him some cover as juxtaposition to his real job at night online. It is a cover-up for him in case people become suspicious of his quiet persona. They will never figure out his true identity—unless they looked him up on “Facebook”.
Melville simply introduces Bartleby as the character who works in this job with the lawyer. We know nothing of Bartleby’s existence prior to that point. His demeanor and actions, however, provide the reader with some insight and much imagination as to who Bartleby is, how he looks, and the story behind this person. This brings us to his probable “Facebook” description.
If Bartleby had his picture in “Facebook”, it would probably be something unexpected. The picture of his profile would be of him with a ginger-nut in place of a cigar and he would be with Osama Bin Ladin and his terrorist regime. During his day job he is known as a scrivener, but Bartleby would describe himself as the man to know for the latest weapons and strategies for taking over the world. Weaponry and military strategy development would be described as his true passions and purpose in life, which is ignited further with the underworld clientele that he meets and serves. Because of this, most of his business transactions occur online. He demands payment in ginger-nuts and in incredible amounts of money (Only American Dollars and Euro’s).
Only a handful of people, who live by night and in the underworld, know of Bartleby’s weapons and strategies. This handful is enough to fund his covert and extravagant lifestyle, living in the fast lane to nowhere with everyone he encounters--outside of his day job. He attends the biggest parties with A-list celebrities, showing off his exotic vehicles with diamond studded rims. He plans parties online and has conversations with people whom he would never speak with during the day. Sometimes he forgets himself and miraculously, maybe robotically, brings himself back to the office and the lawyer.
That is why one day the lawyer found Bartleby sleeping in the office. Bartleby couldn’t remember where he lived so he crashed at the office. One can only imagine the horridness of the strategies that he plots with his friends. So horrid, that he forgets himself. No surprise, as his friends are Al Pacino whom he appreciates as Scarface. That persona taught him how to play hard ball with the big boys. Among the list of friends would be George Bush, whom he plays golf with on a regular basis, and whom he credits as the mentor who taught him how to deal with his inner fears of failure. Dr. Phil would also be on his friends list because before Bartleby took the scrivener position he was involved in supplying weapons and strategic plans to somebody who almost blew up the world; that person’s name was Donald Trump.
He feels extremely disappointed with his “other” life so he seeks and needs direction. It was Dr. Phil who told him to just start simple and to not forget his strength. So Bartleby took the job so he could just be simple during the day and not worry about his real job. He decided to just do what he wanted to do, and he would go politely about it because Al Pacino taught him that. Online, however, Bartleby is a force to be reckoned with--never giving in to a person’s wishes, only his. He vows to conceal his true identity by being as quiet and mysterious as possible during the day.
Bartleby’s backlist of his statuses of this week would be: Monday- Bartleby is in need of daily direction with life. Tuesday- Bartleby prefers not to do anything at this moment. Wednesday- Bartleby is thinking if you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Thursday- Bartleby is blah. Friday- Bartleby is meeting some clients at the jail house, and then going to eat some food.
This is why Bartleby-by-day is so intriguing. We can imagine that his true persona is very different from what is described at the office. We get a sense that he uses his day life to give him some cover as juxtaposition to his real job at night online. It is a cover-up for him in case people become suspicious of his quiet persona. They will never figure out his true identity—unless they looked him up on “Facebook”.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Revised Paper
“In a Station of the Metro”, Pound reminds us that life can be one rapid blur of events or it can be as distinct and lingering as the memory and beauty of a single petal of a flower. I am reminded of this belief through the patrons who frequent my aunt and uncle’s café/flower shop in the town of Patterson. Many of their customers are people who are in their upper forties and lower fifties of age. Every time we have talks about life they always tell me that life is short and that it flies by, much like trains on a metro. In just two lines this poem presents the reader with imagery, symbolism, and a deep meaning of life.
The reader can infer from line one when Pound says “these faces”, he is implying that he is there observing and watching the people at the station. Through his eyes and the first line of the poem vivid imagery is created; it describes faces of people waiting at the transit station. The important factor of this line is the word “apparition”; this word is usually attached to a person or character that has passed away or been murdered. By using a word that denotes a singular noun, signifies that Pound sees no differentiation in all the faces that he sees, but rather that he sees them as one, ghostly blurred image. Perhaps through his eyes, he sees no one who stood out to make a distinct and visible difference in this world.
The selection of the word “apparition” also incites the feeling and connotation that the faces have souls that are unfulfilled and searching for answers, much like ghosts. As an observer who sees this apparition, there is also a perceived sense of panic as these collective faces watch the selection of metro trains going here and there. Which train will lead them to their chosen destination and fulfillment in life; will it just pass them by and will they be one minute too late?
All of these images and invoked feelings are important to the poem because they seamlessly relate to the second line, “Petals on a wet, black bough”. This adds to the ominous yet true meaning of the poem which describes how all the people at the station are bound to pass through their own, personal timeline of life. Everybody there at the station has their short and limited existence on this earth. That is why Pound describes them as “apparitions” because he knows that people will come and go as long as the earth keeps revolving. The second line also paints a picture in the reader’s mind of petals on a black branch of a tree. The petals’ lives are imminently to the end, as the branch that sustains them to life is black and is dying, just as we have to fall to death at some point in our lives.
Another important factor that makes “In a Station of the Metro” a tightly, well-woven piece of literature, is the irony of its shortness and simplicity. The briefness of the two lines makes a powerful statement; there is parallelism between the shortness of life and the shortness of the poem. Life is short, and yet it does not have to be overly done with so much movement and noise like trains in a metro. Pound brings that parallelism to life and provokes emotion through imagery and perhaps even sound. Imagine the metro full of trains, representative of life destinations. One can hear roaring and pounding activity, representative of everything and everyone around our lives. The apparition is the fading blur of the individuals who let life go by without making a difference…and the reality is that their train is coming to a screeching halt. At times, as humans, with so much activity, we choose to make life complex and often times, meaningless with the decisions that we make or fail to make. Pound contrasts this complex, meaningless, reality through the simplicity of the petals.
The deliberate point of making the simple petals so distinguishable, and then, making the human form, blurred and undistinguishable, sends a message of its own. Pound could have used “dried leaves”; however, he chose petals. When one reads the word “petals”, a picture of flowers, with such beauty, so distinct as to be recognized by its individual petals, is visualized. Perhaps even tender, warm, and loving memories are created by such petals coming to mind. These petals are leaving this earth in a very simple, yet, sharp and distinguishable manner, unlike the complex and confused individuals blurred into one undistinguishable blob.
All this is found in this two-line poem. While it may be too late for the faces in the apparition, the writer is perhaps reaching out to us, its readers with a ticket—a ticket and an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and our own destinations. Sure life is short, however, it is long enough to make a difference, to affect those around us, even if only for a brief moment.
What will I do with my ticket? Well, I’m going back to my aunt and uncle’s café/flower shop, to join in on the laughter and to soak in and truly appreciate the lingering smell of freshly ground coffee. Most importantly, I’ll be taking the time to put my life in slow motion, blocking it from the distractions of meaningless noise and movement. While I’m there, I’ll also purchase my favorite flower as a reminder to myself to make a distinct and lingering difference with each passing day. Yes, life is short, and at times, complex with its many destinations, like the trains in the metro. However, life is also like a single petal, with the simple ability to create lasting, meaningful, and distinguishable memories. Which train and petal will you choose to be?
Pound, Ezra. “In a Station of the Metro”. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Peter Simpson. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
The reader can infer from line one when Pound says “these faces”, he is implying that he is there observing and watching the people at the station. Through his eyes and the first line of the poem vivid imagery is created; it describes faces of people waiting at the transit station. The important factor of this line is the word “apparition”; this word is usually attached to a person or character that has passed away or been murdered. By using a word that denotes a singular noun, signifies that Pound sees no differentiation in all the faces that he sees, but rather that he sees them as one, ghostly blurred image. Perhaps through his eyes, he sees no one who stood out to make a distinct and visible difference in this world.
The selection of the word “apparition” also incites the feeling and connotation that the faces have souls that are unfulfilled and searching for answers, much like ghosts. As an observer who sees this apparition, there is also a perceived sense of panic as these collective faces watch the selection of metro trains going here and there. Which train will lead them to their chosen destination and fulfillment in life; will it just pass them by and will they be one minute too late?
All of these images and invoked feelings are important to the poem because they seamlessly relate to the second line, “Petals on a wet, black bough”. This adds to the ominous yet true meaning of the poem which describes how all the people at the station are bound to pass through their own, personal timeline of life. Everybody there at the station has their short and limited existence on this earth. That is why Pound describes them as “apparitions” because he knows that people will come and go as long as the earth keeps revolving. The second line also paints a picture in the reader’s mind of petals on a black branch of a tree. The petals’ lives are imminently to the end, as the branch that sustains them to life is black and is dying, just as we have to fall to death at some point in our lives.
Another important factor that makes “In a Station of the Metro” a tightly, well-woven piece of literature, is the irony of its shortness and simplicity. The briefness of the two lines makes a powerful statement; there is parallelism between the shortness of life and the shortness of the poem. Life is short, and yet it does not have to be overly done with so much movement and noise like trains in a metro. Pound brings that parallelism to life and provokes emotion through imagery and perhaps even sound. Imagine the metro full of trains, representative of life destinations. One can hear roaring and pounding activity, representative of everything and everyone around our lives. The apparition is the fading blur of the individuals who let life go by without making a difference…and the reality is that their train is coming to a screeching halt. At times, as humans, with so much activity, we choose to make life complex and often times, meaningless with the decisions that we make or fail to make. Pound contrasts this complex, meaningless, reality through the simplicity of the petals.
The deliberate point of making the simple petals so distinguishable, and then, making the human form, blurred and undistinguishable, sends a message of its own. Pound could have used “dried leaves”; however, he chose petals. When one reads the word “petals”, a picture of flowers, with such beauty, so distinct as to be recognized by its individual petals, is visualized. Perhaps even tender, warm, and loving memories are created by such petals coming to mind. These petals are leaving this earth in a very simple, yet, sharp and distinguishable manner, unlike the complex and confused individuals blurred into one undistinguishable blob.
All this is found in this two-line poem. While it may be too late for the faces in the apparition, the writer is perhaps reaching out to us, its readers with a ticket—a ticket and an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and our own destinations. Sure life is short, however, it is long enough to make a difference, to affect those around us, even if only for a brief moment.
What will I do with my ticket? Well, I’m going back to my aunt and uncle’s café/flower shop, to join in on the laughter and to soak in and truly appreciate the lingering smell of freshly ground coffee. Most importantly, I’ll be taking the time to put my life in slow motion, blocking it from the distractions of meaningless noise and movement. While I’m there, I’ll also purchase my favorite flower as a reminder to myself to make a distinct and lingering difference with each passing day. Yes, life is short, and at times, complex with its many destinations, like the trains in the metro. However, life is also like a single petal, with the simple ability to create lasting, meaningful, and distinguishable memories. Which train and petal will you choose to be?
Pound, Ezra. “In a Station of the Metro”. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Peter Simpson. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Big Essay
Victtor Lopez
Life is almost as short as Ezra Pound’s poem “In a station of the Metro”. I am reminded of this belief through the patrons who frequent my uncle café in the town of Patterson, which is in the central valley. Many of his customers are people who are in their upper forties and lower fifties of age. Every time we have talks or discussions about life they always tell me that life is short and that it flies by, much like trains at a metro whizzing by as people wait for it to stop. In just two lines this poem presents the reader with imagery, symbolism, and a deep meaning of life.
The reader can infer from line one when Pound says “these faces”, he is implying that he is there observing and watching the people at the station. Through his eyes and the first line of the poem vivid imagery is created; it describes faces of people waiting at the transit station. The important factor of this line is the word “apparition”; this word is usually attached to a person or character that has passed away or been murdered. By using a word that denotes a singular noun, signifies that Pound sees no differentiation in all the faces that he sees, but rather that he sees them as one, ghostly blurred image. Maybe he is describing the people who didn’t standout of the crowd and make something happen of them-selves. Perhaps through his eyes, he sees no one who stood out to make a distinct and visible difference in this world.
The selection of the word “apparition” also incites the feeling and connotation that the faces have souls that are unfulfilled and searching for answers, much like ghosts. As an observer who sees this apparition, there is also a perceived sense of panic as these collective faces watch the selection of metro trains going here and there. Which train will lead them to their chosen destination and fulfillment in life; will it just pass them by and will they be one minute too late?
All of these images and invoked feelings are important to the poem because they seamlessly relate to the second line, “Petals on a wet, black bough”. This adds to the ominous yet true meaning of the poem which describes how all the people at the station are bound to pass through their own, personal timeline of life. Everybody there at the station has their short and limited existence on this earth. That is why Pound describes them as “apparitions” because he knows that people will come and go as long as the earth keeps revolving. This is an interesting point because he is at station which is where trains come and go on their timeline as well, they come on an expected time just as humans do, and leave at an expected time as some humans do. The second line also paints a picture in the reader’s mind of petals on a black branch of a tree. The petals’ lives are imminently to the end, as their branch that sustains them to life is black and is dying, just as we have to fall to death at some point in our lives. I have never seen death portrayed in such an environment as the metro. Pound brilliantly chose this location perhaps to lead the reader to think about the shortness of life and how it flies by before one knows that it has, and to draw parallelism between the trains and the people who both have a timed schedule to meet.
Another important factor that makes “In a Station of the Metro” a tightly, well-woven piece of literature, is the irony of its shortness. The briefness of the two lines makes a powerful statement that eludes tour limited presence on this earth. Pound creates parallelism between the shortness of life and the shortness of the poem by the fact that the poem is only two lines but there is more than meets the eye to it. Furthermore, he brings that parallelism to life and provokes emotion through imagery and perhaps even sound. The metro must be full of trains, representative of life destinations because no two lives or people are the same. However, the metro is also full of roaring and pounding noise, representative of everything and everyone around our lives. The apparition is the fading blur of the individuals who let life go by without making a difference…and the reality is that their train is coming to a screeching halt. Although Pounds poem is only a simple poem with not very images in the poem. It evokes more than what is written on the pages of our books. This poem is very compelling and very delightful to read.
All this delighfulness is found in this two-line poem. While it may be too late for the faces in the apparition, the writer is perhaps reaching out to us, its lets readers have an opportunity to reflect about our own lives and our own destinations. Will we allow life to pass us by? Will we just be a face in the crowd blending in? Will I be the café’s patron complaining and commenting that life is too short, or will I be making a difference in this world and for the individuals around me? I hope my ticket takes me to the latter destination.
Pound, Ezra. “In a Station of the Metro”. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Peter Simpson. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
Life is almost as short as Ezra Pound’s poem “In a station of the Metro”. I am reminded of this belief through the patrons who frequent my uncle café in the town of Patterson, which is in the central valley. Many of his customers are people who are in their upper forties and lower fifties of age. Every time we have talks or discussions about life they always tell me that life is short and that it flies by, much like trains at a metro whizzing by as people wait for it to stop. In just two lines this poem presents the reader with imagery, symbolism, and a deep meaning of life.
The reader can infer from line one when Pound says “these faces”, he is implying that he is there observing and watching the people at the station. Through his eyes and the first line of the poem vivid imagery is created; it describes faces of people waiting at the transit station. The important factor of this line is the word “apparition”; this word is usually attached to a person or character that has passed away or been murdered. By using a word that denotes a singular noun, signifies that Pound sees no differentiation in all the faces that he sees, but rather that he sees them as one, ghostly blurred image. Maybe he is describing the people who didn’t standout of the crowd and make something happen of them-selves. Perhaps through his eyes, he sees no one who stood out to make a distinct and visible difference in this world.
The selection of the word “apparition” also incites the feeling and connotation that the faces have souls that are unfulfilled and searching for answers, much like ghosts. As an observer who sees this apparition, there is also a perceived sense of panic as these collective faces watch the selection of metro trains going here and there. Which train will lead them to their chosen destination and fulfillment in life; will it just pass them by and will they be one minute too late?
All of these images and invoked feelings are important to the poem because they seamlessly relate to the second line, “Petals on a wet, black bough”. This adds to the ominous yet true meaning of the poem which describes how all the people at the station are bound to pass through their own, personal timeline of life. Everybody there at the station has their short and limited existence on this earth. That is why Pound describes them as “apparitions” because he knows that people will come and go as long as the earth keeps revolving. This is an interesting point because he is at station which is where trains come and go on their timeline as well, they come on an expected time just as humans do, and leave at an expected time as some humans do. The second line also paints a picture in the reader’s mind of petals on a black branch of a tree. The petals’ lives are imminently to the end, as their branch that sustains them to life is black and is dying, just as we have to fall to death at some point in our lives. I have never seen death portrayed in such an environment as the metro. Pound brilliantly chose this location perhaps to lead the reader to think about the shortness of life and how it flies by before one knows that it has, and to draw parallelism between the trains and the people who both have a timed schedule to meet.
Another important factor that makes “In a Station of the Metro” a tightly, well-woven piece of literature, is the irony of its shortness. The briefness of the two lines makes a powerful statement that eludes tour limited presence on this earth. Pound creates parallelism between the shortness of life and the shortness of the poem by the fact that the poem is only two lines but there is more than meets the eye to it. Furthermore, he brings that parallelism to life and provokes emotion through imagery and perhaps even sound. The metro must be full of trains, representative of life destinations because no two lives or people are the same. However, the metro is also full of roaring and pounding noise, representative of everything and everyone around our lives. The apparition is the fading blur of the individuals who let life go by without making a difference…and the reality is that their train is coming to a screeching halt. Although Pounds poem is only a simple poem with not very images in the poem. It evokes more than what is written on the pages of our books. This poem is very compelling and very delightful to read.
All this delighfulness is found in this two-line poem. While it may be too late for the faces in the apparition, the writer is perhaps reaching out to us, its lets readers have an opportunity to reflect about our own lives and our own destinations. Will we allow life to pass us by? Will we just be a face in the crowd blending in? Will I be the café’s patron complaining and commenting that life is too short, or will I be making a difference in this world and for the individuals around me? I hope my ticket takes me to the latter destination.
Pound, Ezra. “In a Station of the Metro”. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Peter Simpson. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
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