I, Too

The poem, I, Too, by Langston Hughes, is a rather short poem, but within it are layers that unfold as I read it over and over again. Beginning with the line " I, too, sing America" was bold as the reader is introduced to the poem by this idea that the speaker feels the need to stand up for himself and fight for his role in America. It is evident in the second line that the reader finds out that the speaker is a black soldier, struggling to find his spot during wartime, as he is sent to the kitchen to eat, rather than with his own fellow Americans. In the second half of this stanza, however, he explains that he "laughs, eats well, and grows strong." I believe Hughes is revealing this sense of integrity and pride, even during times when the black soldier is faced with racial inequality. In the second half of the poem, Hughes entails that the next meal time he will sit in a spot and not move to go eat in the kitchen and that everyone will see "how beautiful he is" and that these other men will "be ashamed." In essence, this man is saying that he must be respected by his peers during the war, as they are all fighting for the same cause. I believe the writer put an altered version of the beginning line at the end " I, too am America" to show that he no longer just "sings" America but he is a part of the battle and rightfully deserves a place in his own country. While this poem has no rhyming scheme it is apparent that the writer wished to create a transformative poem, where between the first and last line, the speaker goes through a sort of transformation such as I can to I will. In this idea, the speaker transforms for merely singing of America to being America, as he gains the confidence to show everyone who he truly is regardless of his skin color. I find this poem extremely interesting because of the maturity and confidence gained in such a short amount of line.

Trench Duty

Siegfried Sassoon poem, Trench Duty, is an extremely visual and harsh account of a soldier during his time during warfare. More specifically, he shows the brave account of trench warfare. The soldier's explanation of the war itself is extremely dark as Sassoon portrays combat as something brutal, savage, and unsettling. The stanza begins with “ shaken from sleep, and numbed and scarce awake” and throughout the entirety of the poem the soldier explains how he set out for the trench and battled. The first line in itself is intense, as the just the words "shaken" numbed" scarce" are actions that many disturbing. As the poem continues, it is almost as if the reader can follow the actions of the soldier as there is "rumbling and bumping" throughout the night or when he is "crawling on his belly through the wire." I find it interesting how Sassoon chose to create the poem in a way as though it was a story, just merely written down in a book. The rhyming scheme— aabbccddefefgg— is a unique way to present the story as it almost seems more intense as each line is building up to the next. Without this rhyming scheme, it would just be a story, flat, without certain emphasis on the soldier's experience. The ending, "Blank stars. I’m wide-awake; and some chap’s dead” is extremely powerful as the author contrast a man who is wide-awake with one who is no longer a week. It is clear that Sassoon is emphasizing the idea that one may never know who is coming out alive and who may die in an instant. In this case, our narrator is alive, but this idea represents the essence of war, that some soldiers will never get to see such "blank stars" ever again. This poem was extremely dark, as I feel the writer wished to show that trench duty is not desired since a soldier faces death at any moment. 

The Poisonwood Bible and As I Lay Dying

After reading both The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and As I Lay Dying by William Faulker, it was evident that the two novels diverge in setting, atmosphere, plot. The Poisonwood Bible, set in the African Congo, describes the Price family who journeys to Africa as Christian missionaries, yet finds several challenges during their prolonged stay. On the contrary, As I Lay Dying took place in Mississippi, where the Bundren family sets out to bury their dead mother, Addie. Among all of these differences, there appears to be one commonality: family dynamic. Within the two novels, both authors create a unique storyline based upon the family members perspectives regarding their individual situations.
In Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, each woman character narrates a chapter, telling their own story during a time when women's voices were suppressed. Throughout the novel, each character explores a dysfunctional aspect of their own family upon arrival to the African Congo. It is evident that the women's narrative provides specific insight into the odd dynamic that exists between each family member. For instance, Rachel Price's character continually strives for her father's acceptance and love, yet her father was so self- centered that he could only focus on his missionary work. The idea that Rachel has to try and obtain love rather than merely receive unconditional love is a prime example that describes one dysfunctional aspect of the Price family. In addition, the reader can hear the opinions and thoughts of Oreleanna Price (the mother), and how she has to cope with her self-absorbed husband during times when she would have needed him most, for example, the death of their daughter, Ruth May. While these are only two instances that provide a glimpse into the family dynamic of the Price family, The Poisonwood Bible is a novel that explores the thoughts and actions that exist among the family members.
Similar to the family dynamic in The Poisonwood Bible, William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying uses each chapter to explore the dysfunctional aspects of the Bundren family. Although more than just the women tell the narration, Faulkner makes use of the chapters by letting each family member have a voice in this novel. Throughout each chapter, the reader gains a greater sense of how each family member views one another. For instance, the reader understands how Darl Bundren is continuously bothered by his brother Jewel and how he is the sole receiver of true love from their mother, Addie. Within Darl's chapters, the reader is granted the opportunity to understand and internalize Darl's perspective since his narration is extremely telling of his emotions and reactions. Moreover, the reader can understand the failing relationship that exists between the mother and father, Anse and Addie. Through Addie's chapter, the reader understands the dynamic that was present throughout their marriage, one where love slowly washed away, leaving her feeling isolated and alone and ready to ultimately die. Faulkner does an excellent job portraying the family dynamic using the voices of each family member.
Without such chapters, the reader would fail to understand why each family member has a specific emotion or is characterized by a particular action. By providing chapters narrated by each family member, the reader can understand the dysfunctional aspect of both the Price and Bundren families.

Jewel visiting Severn

Today I went on down to Severna Park, Maryland to see how them high schooler's work nowadays. It was a beauty and all, but all I could think about was how it was so goddam hot. It felt like I sure as hell may die in there. Some kids were nice, just sitting there watching me through the glass. But the boys be hemming and hawing in the next classroom down, shouting so loud the teacher couldn't even answer the question. They just wouldn't let her alone. I felt bad for the two boys sitting in the far back sitting real quiet waiting for some answers. The teacher leaned against an entire wall of whiteboard. I said to the tour guide how she be lucky she is getting all that space to write up notes. If only I had all that space to learn. It's pretty funny seeing everyone in the same uniform, all dressed up in pants and a white shirt. I reckon that this is the first place I ever have seen something like that. When the students changed classes it looked like a goddamn cult, moving so fast all dressed up I thought I might get called out for not looking like them. They all wearing the same shoes too. Because they be told to I'm guessing. I heard they get in big trouble if they show up wearing the wrong things. You'd be surprised though, most of them follow the rules.
The teachers were all serious too. Seemed really into their own subject. Real smart people, talking and talking until the kids brains be falling out. They love the kids I can tell. Some of the teachers let the kids chomp down on some food while they talk. I told the tour guide that I was pretty hungry at that point so she took me to the cafeteria. There was so much food I couldn't figure out what I wanted. The lunch lady told me the chicken tenders were great. So that's what I got. And she didn't lie. Those were the best tenders I ever had. After eating I thanked my guide and decided to walk by myself outside. I was impressed by the landscape. So many fields, it amazed me. So green. They were all empty, but I could only imagine the crowds that be cheering in the stands. I just knew that guide would get me to come back for the Homecoming game.