Advice??

Zachary Fletcher
Oct 30 2015
English 10

Advice?

Advice is subjective and bias, should you take it? “If” by Rudyard Kipling is a poem about father giving his son advice for how to become a man and “Road not Taken” by Robert Frost a poem about decisions you must make in life and a man choosing to take the road less traveled. In both poems we get a form of advice. It’s a matter of interpretation, how the author gives the advice and the quality.

The quality of literature is just as important as the interpretation to the reader. In the poem a Road not Taken it is exactly this, interpretation. We later learn that this poem is for Frost’s dear friend Edward Thomas. It was his indecisiveness that inspired Frost to write his poem. Edward took this poem as advice, in doing so he joined the British army, fought in world war 2 and was shot in the chest. This showing that Frost’s poem should not be taken as advice. On the contrary in the poem If, it is very clear that this should be taken as advice. Kipling is talking to his son about the troubles in life and how you must act upon these contretemps. Giving his son the knowledge to become a great man. This demonstrates that the interpretation plays an integral role in literature.

How the author’s reveal the advice is important. Frost’s poem he does not wish for others to take his poem literally, it is a figurative poem, “Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same”. This quote reveals that he is talking about a trail but it is very metaphorical. The advice Frost is trying to give is about how it is alright to take the road less traveled, not to deliberately take the road less traveled. On the other hand, If by Kipling shows that you must stay strong against adversity that you should always try your best no matter how hard life gets, “If you can make one heap of all your winnings. And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss”. Kipling understands what he is inadvertently saying to the reader. If the author reveals advice in a poor manner then it becomes discarded.

No matter how you interpret advice, it is the quality that is important. Frost tells the story of a man deciding to take a beaten path showing the reader that it is not a physical path yet a metaphorical path for the future. The decision that you must make and like the path once you travel the path you must not go back. The beaten path is referring to the less common choices of career. For example, acting, cooking, athlete. This showing the reader that the decision we make are important but it is these decision that define us, and the beaten path is the character trait some follow and others follow the common path because that’s what suits them. While as If demonstrates the etiquette of a man. The very essence of life. The common problem to the risky decision of gambling. We all have problems but Kipling shows that it is how we deal with these problems that make you a man, not the problems you are given. Advice can change a man if given at the right time.

It’s a matter of interpretation, how the author gives the advice and the quality. To conclude, in both poems Kipling and Frost reveal that the decisions that are made affect who we are; how advice is given and the quality can differentiate a boy from a man.

Song analysis

I am a rock by simon and gerfunkel

-Ironic This song is about a man who is depressed resorting to poetry to express his emotions. He isolates himself from society.

A winter’s day (winter meaning death and loneliness) A 4
In a deep and dark December (alliteration) B 8
I am alone (sadness) C 4
Gazing from my window D 6
To the streets below D 5
On a freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow (alliteration) D 11
I am a rock (metaphor, connotation, ironic) E 4
I am an island (metaphor, connotation, ironic) F 5

I’ve built walls (metaphor) G 3
A fortress, steep and mighty (connotation) H 7
That none may penetrate (he’s isolating himself) 6
I have no need of friendship (heartbroken) J 7
Friendship causes pain. ^^^^^ K 5
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain. ^^^^^^ K 10
I am a rock (metaphor) E 4
I am an island (metaphor) F 5

Don’t talk of love L 4
Well, I’ve heard the words before M 7
It’s sleeping in my memory N 8
And I won’t disturb the slumber O 8
Of feelings that have died P 6
If I never loved, I never would have cried P 11
I am a rock (metaphor) E 4
I am an island (metaphor) F 5

I have my books Q 4
And my poetry to protect me R 9
I am shielded in my armour S 9
Hiding in my room (Isolation) T 5
Safe within my womb T 5
I touch no one and no one touches me (abstract repetition) U 10
I am a rock E 4
I am an island F 5

And a rock feels no pain V 6
And an island never cries W 7

The influencers in Charlotte’s Life

Ask anyone if they have ever been influenced in their life? In the short story the metaphor by Budge Wilson. We learn about a teenage girl named Charlotte who is entranced and becomes very good at english metaphors. Her love stems from her grade 7 english teacher Ms. Hancock. Charlotte has been influenced by two main figures in her life. Her mom and Ms. Hancock.

There are many similarities between Ms. Hancock and Charlotte’s mom. Most notably is their compassion. At the moment that Charlotte comes home with news of Ms. Hancock’s death. Charlotte is distressed. Her mom is concerned. She does not like seeing her daughter in this state; “You’re disturbing the even tenor of our home”. When Ms. Hancock first heard Charlotte’s metaphor about her mother she wants to discuss it with Charlotte. Ms. Hancock wants to make Charlotte feel comfortable with her use of metaphors and to continue using metaphors; “There’s no need to feel funny about it… I don’t want to push you even a little bit”.

By spending time with Charlotte, they both know Charlotte on a great level. Charlotte in a state of anxiety and confusion, the mother is direct and straightforward to Charlotte. Asking her questions and taking the sadness out of the topic. She might not have known Charlotte as well as her mother but, Ms. Hancock knew Charlotte well. She remembers Charlotte and her great use for metaphors even after the many years that have gone by. Ms. Hancock always knew how to ask questions to Charlotte. When Miss Hancock asked serious questions to learn more about Charlotte we see that she uses a different tone; revealing in this different tone she asks Charlotte meaningful questions.

Both of Charlotte’s influencers are quite original. Charlotte’s mother is original in the sense that she always looking like she is depicted as the perfect being “dark blonde hair, her flawless figure, her smooth hands… Her hair always looked as though a hairdresser had arrived at 6 a.m”. This quote reveals that she is original because, she is differs from expectation. She wants everything neat and orderly. She is beautiful yet she has given birth. Ms. Hancock is original in her physic and her attitude. She wears colourful make up to school every day; “Miss Hancock’s clothes, which were nearly always as flamboyant as her nature… she applied make up with an excess of zeal and minimum of control. She was fond of luminous frosted lipsticks- in hot pink, or something closer to purple or magenta”. This quote reveals that Ms. Hancock does not fit into normalities of society.

In short I stated three points; how Ms. Hancock and Charlotte’s mom is compassionate, they knew Charlotte on a great level; and they were both quite original.

Forgiveness in Families

Having a sister that’s 9 years older than you. You could say there some rivalry. My sister and I are close now but when I was younger we would fight. She was stronger, smarter and worst of all she had more responsibility than me. I would lose in every argument and fight. I had one key in the hole. I was faster. I could do the old “tap-n-run”. In hindsight the reason I didn’t get responsibility was probably because I always picked fights with her. I realise that fighting is a faze to make you feel equal and I appreciate talking about nerdy stuff better than fighting. I find it still fun to have a healthy argument or two.