"Weighing the Dog"

One of the most important characteristics of a poem is the tone. Although it can be interpreted in various ways, the tone is what sets the overall mood of the poem in order to convey a certain message. The author may use selection of detail, sound, diction and other literary devices to achieve a specific tone in the poem. In "Weighing the Dog", the speaker is very factual and logical in his diction. The structure of the poem is also repetitive which suggests a sense of routine behind the speaker's thinking. The author uses the structure of the poem, diction and the repetition of the words "awkward" and "bewildering" to portray the simple tone as well as show that the speaker is trying to piece something together by making an analogy.

The speaker is reminiscing on a past relationship while weighing his dog. The act of weighing his dog ends up being analogy for his assumption about the failed relationship. The author's interesting selection of detail is thoughtful and significant because it shows the kind of character that the speaker is, which lends to the tone of the poem. The speaker is taking a routine and factual action to reflect on a subject which is much more profound: "and I start to wonder if there is an analogy here. It could not have to do with my leaving you though I never figured out what you amounted to until I subtracted myself from our combination" (9-12). The speaker's reference to the relationship as a combination suggests a lack of emotion. The speaker's weight subtracted from his weight combined with the dog's weight is a simple task. Comparing it to being separated from the person whom he was interacting with shows that it was insignificant. 

The poem itself has a repetitive structure where each stanza is made up of three lines. The structure goes hand in hand with the speaker's mindset. The speaker's logic and routine thinking is reflected in the logical order of the stanzas. The repetition also shows that the speaker remains static: "You held me in your arms more than I held you" (13). Although he has somewhat of an epiphany when realizing that it is an analogy, his emotions do not change when he thinks about the failed relationship. 

The speaker ultimately compares himself to a dog throughout the poem. The action taking place is the speaker weighing his dog by holding him in his arms. When the analogy is made, the speaker is the one being picked up. The speaker begins the poem saying, "It is awkward for me and bewildering for him as I hold him in my arms" (1-2), and begins the last stanza saying, "You held me in your arms more than I held you through all those awkward and bewildering months" (13-14). The speaker is the one carrying the dog's weight in order to weigh him. In the past combination, the speaker was the heavy weight being carried by someone else. When the speaker subtracted himself from the combination, he was able to see what the other person amounted to.

The overarching tone in the poem is the logical and factual mindset of the speaker. He is completely unmoved by emotions. His use of a simple situation to reflect on a past relationship shows that he does not care for it. 

Sound and Sense 11-13

Chapter 11: Musical Devices

• arrangement of sounds and accents
• pronunciation of the words can lend to the musical aspect of the poem depending on the way the reader articulates.
• "The Turtle"
• The first line of the poem uses an accent on the word "'twixt" which is a play on the word "between." The accent is used in order to maintain a rhythm and pattern in the poem as it is read. 
• Rhyme scheme: makes the poem sound like it is being sung, rather than read. The rhymes are simple and flow well just like music. 
• alliteration, assonance, consonance
• The end rhyme in the poem is what makes it musical.

Chapter 12: Rhythm and Meter

• Rhythm refers to the recurrence of motion or sound. 
• "natural rise and fall of language" 
• Syllable which are stressed and unstressed are important when articulated because it can change the rhythm of the poem.
• Meter is the identifying characteristic of rhythmic language. "tapping feet to" 
• Not all poems are metrical
• Poems that are metrical usually have an even spacing of stressed and unstressed syllables in order to achieve a rhythm throughout the poem.
• Poems with no meter do not have rhythm because there is no rule as to how the words should be read. 
• The foot: basic unit of meter; one accented syllable and two or more unaccented syllables.
• Iamb, Trochee, Anapest, Dactyl, Spondee

Chapter 13: Sound and Meaning

• Enforce meaning and intensify communication, and is enjoyable when read.
• emphatic rhythm- emphatic rhymes: uses words with strong contrast between the short vowel and short vowel consonant- hot-pot
• phonetic intensives: words whose sound connects with their meaning
• "Eight O' Clock"
• steeple-people emphatic rhyme?
• town-down
• ABAB rhyme scheme
• "Sound and Sense" - title of book 
• chance-dance musical words with musical meaning
• AABB rhyme scheme

Pride and Prejudice 1

The title of a novel carries much significance as it is reflected in its events. In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the title is clearly portrayed in the interactions of the characters. Pride is a quality which many of the characters of the novel posses. Mr. Bingley's sisters evidently show off their prideful nature with their condescending conversations about the Bennett household. The interaction between Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam proves that social class and status were of much importance in that era: "Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money" (157). He admits that when people are thinking of marriage, they think more about the money involved because they want to either maintain their high social status or elevate themselves to a higher level. This is where the element of prejudice comes in. Fitzwilliam, being the younger son of an Earl, needs to marry a rich woman to be dependent of. This automatically takes Elizabeth off the market in his eyes.
While Elizabeth and her sisters yearn to marry for love, the men who appear to them are vain and prideful only looking for financial gains. 

TTL 6

TTL 6

TTL: Character Analysis

In To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, the narrators change constantly. The kaleidoscopic narration allows each character to input their thoughts and feelings regarding each event and each character they interact with. Every perspective that is suggested gives insight into the character's qualities and others' opinions about them. Mr. Ramsay is an important character who is much talked about throughout the various narrations of the text. James, Lily and Mrs. Ramsay express their feelings toward Mr. Ramsay in their narrations. As each of these characters have diverse relationships with Mr. Ramsay, their perspectives change; however, their overall conclusion of him as a person have similarities.

James Ramsay is the first to portray his feelings toward his father. Although the narration is given in third person omniscient, the basic relationship between the father and son can be interpreted. It irritates James that his father is always right:  "What he said was true. It was always true. He was incapable of untruth; never tampered with a fact" (4). His father dismisses his hopes of going to the lighthouse the next day which makes James want to "[gash] a hole in his father's breast and [kill] him, there and then" (4). Although this is an extreme thought for a six year old boy, it is only an exaggerated representation of what James feels when his father forces reality onto him. James's anger, however, does not last very long because he is aware of his father's intellectual superiority. His acceptance that his father is always right shows that there is a degree of respect and acknowledgement of Mr. Ramsay's statement.

Lily's feelings toward Mr. Ramsay are conflicting. She expresses admiration and awe because of his superiority; however, she also pities him to a certain extent because he disregards anything that does not make logical sense to him: "Naturally, if one's days were passed in this seeing of angular essences, this reducing of lovely evenings, [...] naturally one could not be judged like an ordinary person" (23). Lily does not understand how he can be so focused only on things relating to his studies and dismiss everything else. While feeling sorry for his ineptitude in the emotional areas of life, she refers to him as one of "the finest minds" (23). She is intrigued with his way of life because she can relate to his noble effort of progressing the alphabet, just as she is trying to progress in society.

Mrs. Ramsay's relationship with Mr. Ramsay is the most complex due to their intense differences in character. Mrs. Ramsay is aware of his superiority just as James and Lily are: "she believed it to be true; that with all his gloom and desperation he was happier, more hopeful on the whole, than she was. Less exposed to human worries [...] He had always his work to fall back on" (59). Mrs. Ramsay is constantly preoccupied with the needs of others and tending to everyone. She notices that Mr. Ramsay appears to be happier with his life due to his careless attitude towards anything that does not effect him. She pities him but understand him.

TTLH #2

In To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, there is a stark comparison that is set up between Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay throughout the events of "The Window". In various instances, Mrs. Ramsay's compassionate and gentle nature greatly contrasts Mr. Ramsay's realistic and factual stance about anything and everything. Mrs. Ramsay thinks about things that are not plausible, and this angers Mr. Ramsay: "Why, she asked, pressing her chin on James's head, should they grow up so fast? [...] And, touching his hair with her lips, she thought, he will never be so happy again, but stopped herself, remembering how it angered her husband that she should say that. Still, it was true. They were happier now than they would ever be again" (58-59). Her idea of never wanting the kids to grow up angers Mr. Ramsay because he knows that it is not a realistic thought. She is constantly having mental battles with a figurative Mr. Ramsay in her mind, before verbally communicating. Mrs. Ramsay's idea of contentment and happiness is the equivalent of being a carefree child. She sees the joy and freedom that they have by being young and innocent. Although Mrs. Ramsay is persistent with her thoughts which anger Mr. Ramsey, she is convinced and consumed by his superior knowledge. As she tells him that growing up means you lose everything, he responds saying, "Why take such a gloomy view of life? [...] It is not sensible" (59). Mr. Ramsay's answer is curt and simple, but it is enough to make her change her mind about what she originally thought: "And she believed it to be true; that with all his gloom and desperation he was happier, more hopeful on the whole, than she was. Less exposed to human worries [...] He had always his work to fall back on" (59). Mr. Ramsay has a set ideal of what life is and what is realistic; therefore, he always has a firm mindset. Mrs. Ramsay is in awe with his dismissive response and straightforwardness. Mrs. Ramsay's epiphany shows that she may not be as collected and content as she presents herself to be. She questions her happiness and ability to hope.