Analyzing Literature

There are many things to know about analyzing literature. Sometimes it can be difficult, and sometimes it can be easy. I have learned quite a few things about analyzing literature. One thing, and I think this is the most important thing I learned is that when analyzing a piece of literature; there is not just one hidden meaning. There could be many different meanings, but it all depends on how, I, as the reader interpret it. Though, the the conclusion that I come up with about the meaning must make sense and be backed up by evidence. Evidence is another important step to analyzing literature. There must be a lot of good evidence when you are proving what you think the meaning of a piece of literature is.
Also, when reading, it is important to understand what is being read. Avoiding pitfalls is very important. I learned that when I am reading something I should't highlight just to highlight. ONLY highlight key passages, phrases, and turning points in the story. When highlighting, there should also be notes in the margin about what has been highlighted. Doing these things will allow for a better understanding of the story, and also a not so frustrating experience when trying to understand it.

Poem 5

Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy

This poem is very sad. It was written awhile ago but still today we see the same things. Girls trying to look like what the girls look like in magazines and tv. You're supposed to be perfect, skinny, good nose, perfect skin. I think this is what this poem is trying to say. She was born a girl and in her time she was expected to be the perfect girl, but when she started to grow up she was told she wasn't good enough. She was told to do so many things to get to where she needed to be as a girl, but then she got rid of her flaws and dies because of it. When she was lying in the casket then did she get approval of how she looked. Marge Piercy says at the end, "To every woman a happy ending" It should be this way, but only this way when you are comfortable with who you are, not in the way that you try so hard to be what is expected that you end up dead, or sick.

Poem 4

The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop

In this poem Elizabeth Bishop uses great description. She talks of catching a fish, and not just any fish but a fish that had been caught many times and let lose. This fish did not fight because it already knew what was happening. She describes this fish so wonderfully. From her description you can get that it is an old fish, kind of beatin up. She decribes that in his lip are still hooks from where the fishing line has broken before many times, and now it seems that the fish has just given up. At the end of the poem though she lets the fish go, a happy ending to this poem.

Poem 3: We Real Cool

This peom is called We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

Reading this poem makes me think of teenagers out of control. I interpret it as teenagers doing everything they are not supposed to be doing. They are skipping school, they stay out late, they cause trouble, they drink, they have sex. Everything about this poem is rebellion to me, and the reader says by doing these things that they shortening their life with the line at the end of the poem," We Die soon." All of the things they are doing is leading up to an earlier death. Maybe suggesting these things are not so great to be doing? Are they really cool if they die soon?