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1. Research Atwood, Plath and Dickinson and find the poet you are most like (your similarities could be based on personality traits or on issues you are both interested in, or on themes emerging from the poet’s work and how those speak to you. Write about what you feel is common between you and the poet you have chosen.

Not trying to be anti-feminist but being a man, and considering the times these women lived in and some of the themes embedded in their poems, I find myself less similar to any of these poets. However, there are minor similarities that could be a reflection of my own self in each of these poets, like in Plath who uses symbolisms significantly to present strong messages through various scenarios, or Margaret Atwood who greatly influenced by her father’s profession lived in the wilderness area in Quebec, I too have been moving around the world because of my dad’s job but of all three Emily Dickinson is the most appealing to me. Not that I fancy recluses but her style of writing appeals to me in a higher level as I too can relate to it. Her often strong messages about death and immortality are brilliantly embedded in her poems. Emily Dickinson, growing up with a death-filled childhood, a pain-staking period in her life, changed the rest of her life and inspired her to write more on morbidity and stay segregated from society. However, her work remains remarkable and admirable, carrying powerful messages often delivered in a strong, persistent tone. Being a lyricist and rapper myself, I am able to relate to her style of delivering messages; she in her own way tries to incorporate slant rhymes to deliver a flow while delivering her messages. I often write love songs, rap songs, songs about life and of various topics with various themes using rhymes to even deepen the message of the song which is similar to the works of Emily Dickinson.

2. TPCASTT one poem and discover what it really says to you. Write about the poem and its theme, especially about how the poem’s message sheds light on the universal human condition/experience.

Of all the poems in this packet by all three of these poets, the one I liked the most was “Because I could not stop for death” by Emily Dickinson. This poem was very interesting, not too complex and she presents a profound theme not generally accepted by society. Using a very calm and relaxed tone and mood, she presented powerful messages about the gentle acceptance of death and immortality of humans by personifying death as a suitor (a gentle man). Using an optimistic yet quite sardonic tone, Emily Dickinson is able to symbolize life as a journey and death with a positive connotation. Also, her use of slant rhyme is very effective in adding meaning to the theme along with other literary device used like alliteration, paradox and conceit. She uses this poem to point out a message that really sheds light on the universal human experience; humans are generally concerned and fear death very much. Religious people often believe in an after-life yet they still fear death and people often regret these situations. Death is never portrayed in our society as a positive thing in fact, once people age and get older, women often start to do surgeries to feel and look younger, because the whole idea of being old and approaching death is a fearful thought in our society. However, Emil Dickinson is assuring the people of this world that its only inevitable and for the better life that continues after death which humans often neglect.

3. Think about Hamartia: find one poem that displays a tragic flaw in human nature (either human nature in general or in one human, as expressed in the poem). Write about whether or not the poem’s message is enhanced for you, as a reader, as you contemplate hamartia as it relates to the text.

On this topic I think “In the secular night” hits it on he nail. The poem by Margaret Atwood presents powerful messages about loneliness and despair that arises as a result of a lack of spiritual relationship or connections with others. Hence, the tragic flaw of people would be this desire to always have things so easy, a comforted life with enough things and people to satisfy them. Some people also turn to religion just as a meaning to life while others understanding this loss and despair it causes, don’t want to be a part of the darkness. When people end up battling to live this easy life or satisfactory life there’s often problems with other people leading to some sort of despair ultimately. Since everything on earth can’t come easy, there is a problem and people often tend to intimidate or manipulate other people to feel more comfortable, hence it also leads to patronizing other people. This poem also points out some weaknesses in me, I always want life to be easier and comfortable and a “bed of roses” and so when things don’t work out it could be quite frustrating and annoying, so this poem in a sense relates to me as a human too.