"Much Madness is divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson: Paradox

       In the poem, "Much Madness is divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson,  there is a large paradox.  This paradox is stated at the beginning of the poem, but it takes over the entirety of the poem.  The "discerning Eye" (Dickinson, 830) is the person who is intelligent and who pays close attention to details.  This type of person sees insanity as good sense.  But the speaker says that the majority believes that good sense is insane and unattainable.  Dickinson juxtaposes these two ideas to make a point and to tell the reader what she thinks.  Dickinson agrees with the first statement.  She puts emphasis on this paradox throughout the poem and especially the importance of the first statement.  Dickinson says the majority believes the latter statement.  She also juxtaposes assent and demur at the end of the poem.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" by Emily Dickinson: Questions 2&3/Symbolism

       In Emily Dickinson's poem, "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain", the speaker uses symbolism to convey his or her feelings.  The speaker uses the aspects of a funeral and burial to help convey his or her emotions.  In the first stanza the people are coming or arriving at the speaker's funeral.  The second stanza symbolizes the service and the solemn tone of it.  The third stanza represents the pall bearers leading the casket out of the church or area.  In the fourth stanza the funeral procession bells ring and the casket is taken to another place.  In the last stanza the casket is lowered into the ground.  This can be deciphered by looking at the line "And I dropped down, and down-- And I hit a World, at every plunge..." (Dickinson, 776).  In the first three stanzas the speaker is most likely in a casket in a funeral home or church, imaginatively.

"Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield: Question 7/Characterization

       In Katherine Mansfield's short story "Miss Brill", the main character's, Miss Brill's, fur plays a significant role in the characterization of Miss Brill herself.  She talks to the fur and treats it as if it is human or an alive pet.  The fur seems to be her closest and dearest friend.  This causes the reader to believe that Miss Brill is actually very lonely.  She seems to have a very close connection and attachment to the fur, similar to this line, " She could have taken it off and laid it on her lap and stroked it," (Mansfield).  This intimates a very close bond between Miss Brill and the fur.  The meaning of the final sentence, "But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying," (Mansfield, 186) shows that Miss Brill truly believes that the fur is alive and has human qualities.  This makes her a very lonely person, if the only friend she really has is her fur.

"Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville: Theme

       In Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" the main theme is the effect of doing what is easiest.  Bartleby certainly does this by just responding, " 'I would prefer not to...' " (Melville, 650).   A number of reasons are possible for this ridiculous response.  Whether he is depressed, has O.C.D., or has autism, Bartleby certainly takes the easy way out when it comes to his work.  He simply refuses to do what he is told because that is the easier than actually doing it.  The lawyer then does the easier thing by leaving Bartleby alone and not pursuing him further.  Bartleby's preference for taking the easy way out illuminates the lawyer's silent preference for doing things the easy way.  In turn, the story is not about Bartleby, it is actually about the lawyer.  This is because the lawyer, who is also the narrator, realizes his own laziness through his experiences with Bartleby.  The theme of this story is the laziness or preference of doing things the easy way.

"Death, be not proud" by John Donne: Question 2

       In this short story by John Donne, "Death, be not proud," it is telling death to not to somewhere.  Death should not be proud because "...poppy or charms can make us sleep as well," (Donne, 972).  This insults death saying that other things help the speaker sleep just as well.  The speaker is also saying that this is better than strokes also.  His reasons are also that people do not want to die.  He also tells death not to be proud of the people that have died.  The author is consistent in his reasoning.  He is also logical and persuasive.  He states that no one likes death and that even himself cannot die.  The use of the phrase bones make the diction and organization also not favorable making death not favorable.

"Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" by Dylan Thomas: Repetition

       There is definite repetition in this short story, "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" by Dylan Thomas.  The rhyming order for this poem is ABA.  It repeats ABA, ABA, ABA...  Also the very last stanza ending the poem is ABAA.  Also another significant repetition is the repetition of the phrase, "Do not go gentle into that good night," and "Rage, Rage against the dying of life," (Thomas, 968).  This sequence encourages the reader to not give up and to not die easily, but to put up a fight.  He describes the emotions one may feel right before death.  For example he says that good men will be angry right before they die.  This is because their life is ending sooner than expected.  The repetition highlights important parts of the poem and gives the poem different meanings and purposes.

"That time of year" by William Shakespeare: Question 4

       In William Shakespeare's "That time of year," he is addressing his lover or someone who loves him and he also loves.  The reader can tell that he is speaking to a loved one because of mainly this line, "This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong," (Shakespeare, 967). The reader can identify that he is talking to a loved one because he says that the fact that he is dying will make he or she love him more.  In the last couplet the speaker asserts with confidence that since he is dying his loved one will love him more since he will not be around much longer.  He says this very confidently.  The speaker says this confidently because earlier in the poem he describes his dying.  Since the speaker is addressing a loved one he is not as harsh with his descriptions of death.  He uses a gentler route to describe his meaning.