English & Writing & Grammar, Oh My!

Hello, class! I hope that this finds you well, if it finds you at all, that is. I just wanted to take a moment to give you all a review on our time in this class. No, I will not be discussing course content, but would you honestly expect anything else? I will now proceed to detail some of my favorite moments of our time together. Firstly, remember how crazy we all got fighting over a single word in "Rockabye Baby"? And our dramatic readings were to die for. We had a short-lived panic when we realized we all had different versions of the textbook. We sat around the big table for the first time and bonded over crickets, kelp, and small dogs in Yalta. We bonded even more when a few of the nobler student *hem hem* had some very intelligent things to say about The Princess Diaries . We were all so sad when Walter left for D.C. and so excited/begrudged when he fixed the projector. We fawned over Austin's dance video. Aubrey drank probably a million iced coffees. Dr. Reed, prefe

"The world is too much with us" centers around how industrialization and consumerism continue to ruin what Nature provides us with. I'm minoring in Environmental Science, so I (presumably) know at least a decent amount about this kind of issue. For many years, the majority of people seemed to hold a primarily biocentric worldview. This means that the world revolves around humans more than anything and our needs are the most important. However, we have thankfully entered a time where people hold a far more ecocentric worldview, meaning that they care primarily about the Earth. This poem is incredibly honest about the issues with people ignoring and even destroying Nature. I'm so unbelievably lucky to be part of the generation that cares so deeply about the environment, and I really think that this poem fits the current political climate quite well.

I think that poetry can often be interpreted similarly to art. I think that this can be agreed upon for many reasons, but you likely aren't thinking of the same reason as I am. For this explanation, I think the best possible example is "The Red Wheelbarrow". Imagine-- you go to an art gallery and hope to see something unique and innovative. You walk around relatively unimpressed. Then, you round a corner to see a crowd of people surrounding a new display: a fork in a box. There was no description or explanation provided, so spectators discussed the endless possibilities of what it could mean. You leave utterly impressed. Later that week, you see in the newspaper that the fork was placed in the box as an experiment proving that the commentary on art has become hyperbolic. It wasn't real art; it was a fork in a box. "The Red Wheelbarrow" is a fork in a box. It seems like it has some deep meaning, but it is what it appears to be. I think it is important not to

When I think of poetry, I think of words that sound like music although they're merely spoken. I think of a gorgeous piece with some profound meaning. When people liken things to poetry, these are the qualities they are likely referring to. This poem is unrealistically beautiful. Every time I read it, I am overcome with emotion. Finding the appropriate words to describe such an intense feeling as traumatic loss is not easy; this poem perfectly captures what it feels like to lose all sense of existing when someone you depend on is no longer there. To feel that not even time itself can possibly continue without this one person just shows how much they're valued. I can't even imagine creating something as genuine and incredible as this poem by Auden.     If you enjoy this poem as much as I do, I highly suggest watching a clip of it being performed in Four Weddings and a Funeral . It makes me emotional every time I watch it.

So, Hamlet obviously didn't end as the majority of the characters were hoping, i.e. they mostly died. Young Fortinbras certainly did well, but he's just about the only one. All of this resulted due to Claudius' grab for the throne. Even with him killing Hamlet Sr., that didn't guarantee him the throne. So, I think that it would be interesting to think about if Gertrude had taken the throne.      I personally think that it would be absolutely amazing, an it'd at least be better than Claudius. Firstly, if Gertrude had the throne, she'd have forces behind her. She could put all of the men in their places, and Hamlet likely would've felt secure in revealing Claudius' actions to her. She could have prevented many deaths, and Denmark likely would've benefited greatly from a female monarch, especially given the place of women in the Middle Ages. I think that Gertrude would be a phenomenal ruler, and Hamlet undoubtedly would've gone much differently ha