Tag Archives: analysis

Notes on Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers…” (254)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers… (254) Emily Dickinson “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That …

November 13, 2008 – 5:52 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

Just finished a Straussian ritual, Aristophanes’ “Clouds:” Preliminary Notes on the Limits of Comedy

1. Consideration of comedians: they use laughter to make everything ridiculous. The good things, while made ridiculous, still are essentially good and cannot be dismissed. They are necessary no matter how much we laugh. The bad things, made ridiculous, fall away quickly. All comedians – including those who believe all is spin, such as Jon …

November 11, 2008 – 8:30 am | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, plato, xenophon | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Jersey Girls Find Poetic Justification: On Sylvia Plath’s “Fever 103″

Fever 103 Sylvia Plath (copied from the NEA’s Poetry Out Loud site) Pure? What does it mean? The tongues of hell Are dull, dull as the triple Tongues of dull, fat Cerberus Who wheezes at the gate. Incapable Of licking clean The aguey tendon, the sin, the sin. The tinder cries. The indelible smell Of …

October 11, 2008 – 6:56 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Does Memory Necessitate Pain? On Dickinson’s “Such is the Force of Happiness” (787)

“Such is the Force of Happiness…” (787) Emily Dickinson Such is the Force of Happiness – The Least – can lift a Ton Assisted by its stimulus – Who Misery – sustain – No Sinew can afford – The Cargo of Themselves – Too infinite for Consciousness’ Slow capabilities. Comment: “Consciousness” does not occur in …

October 6, 2008 – 11:36 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

In America: On Katia Kapovich’s “Apartment 75″

Apartment 75 Katia Kapovich (thank you to Ario; poem originally from here) The obese woman who used to wake up our whole house by starting her Subaru at 6 a.m. has committed suicide. Snow hangs like a set of unlaundered sheets in the windows. When I walked into her seventh floor studio, the standard lamp …

October 1, 2008 – 6:57 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Running into a Professor on the Internet feels Weird: On Sophocles’ Antigone, 334-375, the “Ode to Man”

Karl Maurer is a professor of mine, so it is with an especial pride I present to you these lines. I ran into him accidentally on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Brainstorm” blog, and the passage he cited by Nietzsche there is well worth your time. The comment below was left on the blog by …

September 30, 2008 – 3:35 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Entry 600: Love Letters

1. There’s a strange feeling I get when looking over old love letters. The strangeness is precisely the lack of feeling. I’m not regretful or saddened when reading them, despite the prayers then mumbled to myself, the agonizing over every word, the attempt to influence a heart with some scribblings. The intensity is gone completely. …

September 22, 2008 – 4:30 am | By ashok | Posted in personal, politics | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

The Greatest Pain: On Dickinson’s “I sometimes drop it, for a Quick” (708)

“I sometimes drop it, for a Quick…” (708) Emily Dickinson I sometimes drop it, for a Quick – The Thought to be alive – Anonymous Delight to know – And Madder – to conceive – Consoles a Woe so monstrous That did it tear all Day, Without an instant’s Respite – ‘Twould look too far …

September 22, 2008 – 1:08 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Creating Statesmen, Part 2: Democracy, Oligarchy and Xenophon’s Depiction of Charmides

for David Sullivan and Joe Connole, with many thanks Background: The Pelopennesian War, 431-404 BC, pit the Athenian democracy against the Spartan republic. Now Athens had not always been a democracy; once it was a kingship, and there were traces of noble lineage among the Athenians. One of the people of such descent was Plato …

September 5, 2008 – 10:12 am | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, politics, xenophon | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Is Love Possible? On Dickinson’s “I could suffice for Him, I knew…” (643)

“I could suffice for Him, I knew…” (643) Emily Dickinson I could suffice for Him, I knew – He – could suffice for Me – Yet Hesitating Fractions – Both Surveyed Infinity – “Would I be Whole” He sudden broached – My syllable rebelled – ‘Twas face to face with Nature – forced – ‘Twas …

August 26, 2008 – 8:31 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (33)