Pop ballads

Wordsworth invented a new style of poetry, in which nature and the diction of men expressed throughout the poems In 1798, Wordsworth had a poetry collection called, Lyrical Ballads, which helped the romantic era of English literature grow. Writers in this era were inspired by the structure and diction used to describe nature and the everyday life of a man. In the poem “Daffodils” the structure of the poem is very traditional…

After another phone call to Betty without getting an answer, Louise placed her hands on the sides of her face and moaned. “Oh me, I’ve tried so hard to get through to that stubborn woman and to think I was even willing to work with her, but I was wrong. She might be a bitch, but I still need her help.” “Wait a minute,” Louise thought placing her hand over her mouth.”Oh my God, I know what I can do. She might be the mayor’s wife, but she will learn I am just as brilliant as she is. She…

“Flash upon my inward eye”: The Role of Reflection and Tranquility in William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” In his preface to Lyrical Ballads, William Wordsworth famously writes that “all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth, Wu 509). However, it is important to note that he modifies this statement by adding that “though this be true, Poems to which any value can be attached were never produced on any variety of subjects but by a man who, being possessed of…

Hangings The Ballads of Sharyn McCrumb published The Ballad of Frankie Silver in 1998; compared to another novel by Sharyn McCrumb The Ballad of Tom Dooley, a novel published in 2011. In both of these novels, two people were hung, two people showed their love for others, two people killed, and two lawyers appointed by the court. Although McCrumb wrote both novels, she based both on facts found in North Carolina’s History. Both have similar characters and are both written and researched novels…

The historical ballad “Los vientos eran contrarios” was written anonymously, as were most Spanish ballads. According to Colin Smith, it “is probably the oldest of the King Roderick ballads, composed in the second half of the 15th century”. It details the conquering of Spain as a result of King Roderigo sleeping with the virgin daughter- la Cava- of Count Julían. A maid, Fortuna, predicts the King’s future as well as the subjugation of Spain. The poem ends with news of Count Julían’s invasion,…

Intro Carson McCullers novella, the Ballad of the Sad Cafe was first published in August, 1943 in Harper's Bazaar, also with six other short stories of a collection with the same name. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe is a southern story about a mannish figured of a women who became an object of a sinister scheme. The three peculiar characters; Miss Amelia, Cousin Lymon, and Marvin Macy lives are intertwined and fueled with love and revenge. Miss Amelia is the owner of a small café in the center of…

In William Wordsworth’s autobiographical poem, The Prelude, the speaker, who in this case is also the poet, encounters unfamiliar aspects of the natural world. These unfamiliar aspects cause the speaker’s changing responses to his experience evolving from an ignorantly blissful boy who enjoys the “troubled pleasure” (ln.6) brought on by finding a boat and leaving nature’s comfort to a man who has loss his innocence and finds that the “covert of the willow tree [a symbol of enchantment,…

Pride and Prejudice It is no secret that Jane Austen was an appreciator of nature, considering it is a frequent theme included in many of her works. Austen’s heroines generally admire and love nature, and often take long strolls to appreciate the charming landscape they reside in. However, although her descriptions of the picturesque countryside are elegant and pleasing, they are intended to serve as more than just a backdrop for her characters to develop their storylines. Austen additionally…

In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Mariner recalled his story about unfortunate events he faced while at sea to a wedding guest. During the Mariner’s voyage, an Albatross guided him and his crew through a storm and brought them steady wind and good weather. The Mariner impulsively killed the Albatross, causing the Mariner to receive punishments for his cruelty. The punishments given to the Mariner was fitting for his crime because the pain of isolation and…

Three Important Messages (Discussing three messages from The Ancient Mariner) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a story with many messages that teach us something important. Anselm Berrigan states that “Coleridge’s father recognized his talents early on, and encouraged his education...” (Berrigan) Coleridge is known as one of the best writers. Through this story we can see just where his imagination takes him. The three messages from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner that I understood after…