Monday, June 29, 2009

Favourite Poet

Who is my favourite poet? Well, my favourite poet is Shel Silverstein. He is the author of my favourite poems. I did not like poems before, but after i read his poem "Messy Room", I started to like poetry and "Messy Room" has become my favourite poem since then Why? It is because his poems have no fixed theme. They are also very funny and interesting, not like some poets whose poems are boring. I think humor poems are very hard to write as poets like Robert Frost cannot write humor poems. I have read through some poems on http://famouspoetsandpoems.com and i could hardly find a funny poem (aside from Shel Silverstein's poem) His poems can also describe the human emotions like laughter, humour, sadness, grief, happiness etc. very well. This fact and the fact that he can write funny poems while other poets cannot shows that he is a very accomplished and skilful poet who is capable of writing good poems. Shel Silverstein had two children. His first child was daughter Shoshanna (Shanna), born June 30, 1970. Susan Hastings died 5 years later, on June 29, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland. A Light in the Attic was dedicated to Shanna. Some of his poems are Messy Room, Whatif and Bear In There. Sadly, The poet passed away in 1999. His creative poems will be missed. References: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shel_Silverstein

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Poem and figurative language

O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman 1O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart!O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. 2O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills;For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck,You've fallen cold and dead. 3My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. "iO Captain, O heart, O bells" are all Hyperboles. The author uses them to make us feel the grief for the dead captain. "the vessel grim and daring" is a personification. It shows that the the vessel is very grim and scary like a human.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Is progress necessary beneficial for the soceity?

Progress can be beneficial for the society when it is used in the correct way. I will use the book "Village by the Sea" as reference. For example, a fertilizer factory is going to be built in Thul. It may be counted as progressive for the government, but it is taking up a lot of farming space that the people of Thul and the other villages are using for farming. The people in Thul and the other villages have a very low literacy level and could only live by farming and fishing etc. The government built a factory and occupied all the land needed for farming. Yes, the villagers can have jobs in the factory, but they can only have those low-paid jobs like cleaners. The higher paid jobs can only taken by the people from the city. There will be very little jobs for the people of Thul and the other villages, and even if there was, the pay will be very low. The people may starve and live in proverty, their family may even become dysfunctional. Thus, I would like to conclude that progress is beneficial for the society, but it must be applied in the right way.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Favourite part of "Village by the Sea"

My favourite part of the story "Village by the Sea" is the ending where Hari goes home for Diwali and the family lives happily ever after. "Village by the Sea" is a morden fairy tale an there is a happy ending. :) --Hari's Father: Turned over a new leaf, stopped being a drunkard, Remorseful, takes on a role of a father again --Hari's Mother: Recovered from her illness, takes on a role of a mother again --Hari: Returned from Bombay with some money, Learns a new skill -- watchmending, has plans for the future -- wants to open a poultry farm --Lila: Happy that everything is alright --Kamal and Bela: can afford to go to school and buy books now as Hari has money I do not think that Hari's father will go back to drinking toddy as it has brought on a period of hardship for the family and caused Pinto's death. The family has changed from a dysfunctional one to a functional one. Which is your favourite part for the story? Pls comment.

I rather be the city rat than the couuntry rat

"I rather be the city rat than the couuntry rat". What does the terms city rat and country rat refer to? Well, city rats are those who live in the city, with technology which is more advanced and better medical care, but with a very busy and hectic lifestyle and has very little leisure time to spend with the family. The country rat are those who live in the small villages, "kampongs" and towns, normally located at the borders of the country. Their technology is not as advanced and their medical care is not as good, but they have more leisure time to spend with their family. So, if you use the book "Village by the Sea", country rats will be those living in Thul while city rats are those who live in Bombay. I rather be the city rat than the country rat. Although I have to live a very hectic and busy lifestyle and have very little leisure time, i would still want to be a city rat. Why? It is because I am 1 person who cannot live without technology. The medical care is also more readily available and efficient. For example, if you call for an ambulance in the city, it will takke 5 to 10 minutes at the very most, whereas if you call for an ambulance in the city, it would about half an hour to reach. By that time, the illness may worsen. There are also more job oppurnities in the city. The means of transport and communication is also more effective. Thus, I rather be the city rat than the couuntry rat. Which rat would you rather be? Please comment.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Favourite Character in Village by the Sea

Who is your favourite character in the book village by the sea??? All of us will have a favourite character after reading a book. Most of the time, it will be the protagonist, in this case, Hari. However, my favourite character is not Hari, but Mr Panwallah. Many of you may wonder why Mr Panwallah. It is because Mr Panwallah has the right attitude towards things. He tells Hari that change is inevitable and we should always embrace change and not fear it. We should adapt to the changes in our life. Change is a very important theme in "The Village by the Sea" and Mr Panwallah is the 1st person to voice that out. He is also Hari's 1st friend in Bombay ( Jagu is more like Hari's employer, not friend). He encourages Hari during the time when Hari was in Bombay and teaches him a new skill -- watch mending too. Hari could then use these skills and work as a watch mender when the factory and housing colonies are built. Thus, Hari could earn money and support his family without depending on the sea or anything else when he returns to Thul.