Lament

to the Slave is the Fourth of July? acts as a scathing reprimand of American history’s construction, revealing the underlying perpetuated discrimination in antebellum America. Both texts lament the perceived racial discrimination imposed by the powerful through education…

“Kingdom of God”, “the day of the LORD”, “the end of the world”, “the last judgment” and “a new heaven and a new earth.” These words are the image of eschatology, and eschatology is an important subject in the Bible. Even Donald K. McKim says that the theme of the Bible is the kingdom of God (McKim, 167). In the Gospel, Jesus taught about the kingdom of God in his whole life and ministry, and the kingdom of God is represented as “already, but not yet” (McKim, 170). John Calvin, a 16th century…

The Seafarer, lets us know that even though he is more alone out on sea than in the city he likes it better. The Wanderer, makes us think of what we do in order to keep ourselves happy. Unlike the Seafarer where he chose to be all alone, The Wife's Lament has no choice but to be alone. In a society where men run the women and the aren't seen as anybody without a man. Each of these dramatic monologues will show us a side of the Anglo-Saxons much different than Beowulf. The Seafarer feels alone,…

flow and intonation of language could not possibly compose one of the most complex and labyrinthine forms of expression (33). Yet, they did, and they did well. By referencing some early poetic works, The Minstrel Boy by James Nack, and The Mute’s Lament by John Carlin, the absolute ability of deaf individuals is realized, as well as a sample of some of the intimate topics they dealt with. The symbolism and reception of early deaf poetry contributed to themes of progress, isolation, and…

Lyric poetry presents the deep feelings and emotions of the poet as opposed to poetry that tells a story or presents a witty observation. Indeed, "We Wear the Mask" is a lyric poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar that explores how in the late nineteenth century, African Americans could not publicly reveal their true feelings about whites' maltreatment without the risk of dangerous retaliation. Through paradox, metaphor, and apostrophe, the speaker ponders how oppressed black Americans are forced to hide…

In “Self-reliance” Emerson makes a bold claim on the concept of time and man’s conceptual idea of perfection. He states: “Man cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present” (151). Emerson would seem to argue that man cannot exists in the present moment unlike nature. Which is another way of saying that man simply cannot be or just exist. In order to be man must leave his thoughts of time behind and simply exists in all facets of life. This brings up two important…

Absalon fili mi is a Renaissance motet presumably composed by Josquin des Prez. It is a composition for four voices inspired on David’s lament over the death of his son Absalom. This motet contains religious subject because the poem is taken from the old testament of the Bible; however, it is not part of the liturgy. Departing from the tradition of the Medieval times, motets of the renaissance abandoned the use of the cantus firmus as a base of composition. Instead, all voices are…

The book of Lamentations is a book of sorrowful songs that was written by Jeremiah after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The title of Lamentations is translated as How and it comes from the first word “a groan” in the book. The book gives voice to the people who were suffering in the city of Jerusalem. Lamentations is also a book as a confession of the sinners in Jerusalem. In the book of Lamentations, Jerusalem was a beautiful city. The Temple of God was in the city. The…

personal despair by giving the return lament of “O me, O life.” This time, however, it is presented as a weary question rather than a dramatic declaration, which hints that Whitman is being worn down too far for explanative purposes. It also reveals that while he cannot separate his disgust with himself from how he perceives others, it is his personal situation that is his primary concern. Otherwise, he would not begin and conclude this stanza in this personal lament fashion.” The way…

When reading the Old Testament, particular attention must be paid to the context. Amos was a sheepherder and did not belong to a family of prophets, according to the book of his name. Yet, God called him to speak to Israel. He was one of the twelve Minor Prophets, active during the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel in the 8th century BCE. Therefore, an exegesis is important in order to distinguish what a particular passage meant to the people at the time it was first heard. Amos is the thirtieth…