The theme “Regret and Loss” in Separating, Those Winter Sundays, and We are Virginia Tech Those Winter Sundays, Separating, and We are Virginia Tech were written by three different authors, each having their own unique styles and personality reflected in their works. The short story Separating, written by John Updike was published in 1974, it was written in the third person point of view. John Updike was considered as one of the greatest American fiction writer of his generation due to his unique prose style, rich description and language. His short story, explores themes such as regret, anger and self-interest. Both We are Virginia Tech and Those Winter Sundays are written in first person point of view. Those Winter Sundays is a work of Robert Hayden, and was published in the year 1966. The poem explores the topic of sacrifice and regret; the tone being, one of bitterness. We are Virginia Tech is a convocation address, delivered on the 17th of April 2007, by Nikki Giovanni. This convocation address, carries the message of hope, unity, and regret. Each of these work carry various emotions, displayed in a multitude of colored style and language which the writers explores throughout their work; the common theme being “Regret and Loss.” “We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it…,” is a line from Nikki Giovanni’s convocation address; it highlights one of the messages she tried to convey in her short narrative essay. That is, regret and a sense
In times of struggle, people can be in quite different situations but still come to similar conclusions. Authors Ian McEwan and Paul Elwork, push their protagonists to extremes in their stories but come to a similar conclusion: that to move on in their lives they need to find forgiveness. Briony Tallis in Ian McEwan’s novel ‘Atonement’ leads her family through a long period of denial due to a life-ruining lie she created. Years after the event Briony is still trying to fix her mistakes as she finds she cannot live in a world without reparation. Similarly, Emily Stewart in Paul Elwork’s novel ‘The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead’ lies to people who, after the recent war, are grieving for
In exploring the fragility of humanity throughout contextual shifts, individuals develop a deeper insight into the ramifications of one’s downfall as a result of the unbridled pursuit of power. This is due to a reflection on an individual's’ duplicity and conscience as values of honesty and compassion are corrupted and influenced by reckless ambition within texts. In a comparative study of Shakespeare’s morality play King Richard III and Al Pacino’s docudrama
The poem “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden is an interesting poem. This poem tells of an adult’s perspective of his father. From the poem, it is clear that there is the distance between the child and the father and inadequate communication. However, at the end of the poem, readers discover that love was present between the two. Although this poem is only 14 lines, it is packed with remarkable power in every single line.
Authors tend to write on subjects that they know the most about, or subjects that affect them on a personal level. Authors and poets use various aspects of life for the basis of their works, such as life experiences, romances, and family roles. Poems like “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “Forgiving My Father” by Lucille Clifton feature one of the most important roles in a family: a father. The two poems differ vastly in many regards, but many similarities surface among them and a common theme resides between them. Through the similarities they hold, the poems represent a common theme of regret for one’s lack of action.
In relation to the central quote, the article outlines specific history about Briony as well as her age at the time of events, which is crucial when considering the factors of her point of view. The article also does a good job explaining the relationships within other parts of the family as well as adressing the influences based on the story’s time period. The article specificly helps break down Briony’s views as it adds context to what she sees as well as her responding actions. The article also expands on Briony’s creativity and her desire to become a novelist or playwright. As a whole, the article helps to expand the context for Briony’s point of view within the novel Atonement, helping with the analysis of the elements that shape what she specifically
The House of Sand and Fog is a tragedy about a homeownership battle between a young woman and an Iranian immigrant family, that ultimately leads to the death of four people. Throughout the tragedy, there are a plethora of emotions which are undoubtedly felt: including anger, fear, and pity. There is anger towards the Iranian family who seems to steal away the life of the young woman that we feel pity for. Why do people always seem to connect so strongly with the characters in a tragedy? Aristotle and Nussbaum talk about those connections and how those emotions are the core elements of any tragedy.
The grief comes from lost love must be recovered by love. In crow lake, the author Mary Lawson portrays a young successful scholar, 26-year-old Kate Morrison, always is bothered by her anguished past. The innermost struggle not only leads she can’t directly face the problem existing between her and her older brother Matt for years but also becomes an obstacle of the further relationship with Daniel, the men she loves. But all the problems are concealed elaborately before the invitation letter received. While the peaceful life is broken by the invitation coming from Matt’s son, her nephew Simon, Kate suddenly has to face all the problems she doesn’t want to face
Everybody faces their own difficulties in life. Yet still, some are facing forces of pain so great and face things that are destructive. The life created by Kelly Anne Blount in “Captured” is the same for most of the characters. The loss of one thing holding everything together, unforgiving pain, long restless days, all lie in the lives of these people. Still , some make it through to the next day while slowly being destroyed. In “Captured,” the author, Kelly uses a knife to symbolize ideas that are destructive and painful to those closely related to Abriana.
This message that is reinforced again and again, using the voices of the characters comprising the world of Giovanni’s room, but is perhaps best summarized using the words of one of the novel’s lesser characters: “Not many people have ever died of love, but multitudes have perished, and are perishing every hour, for the lack of it” (p
“Those Winter Sundays,” by Robert Hayden describes a father relationship during the cold mornings. The poem focuses on a child’s memory where they’re looking back at a certain point in life that they regret. The speaker starts off the poem reflecting on his past, more importantly his relationship with his father.
Family members will sometimes disagree with one another, but no matter what they say, love is always present. In Robert Hayden’s, “Those Winter Sundays”, love is always shown, no matter the circumstances. Throughout stanzas one, two, and three, the speaker and his father are shown caring for one another; however, at times, the speaker dislikes his father and isn’t grateful for all of the work his father does for him. In “Those Winter Sundays”, diction clears a path to show us signs of love between the speaker and the father, even though they are not clear.
This arising tone of regret and distance is also formed by the speaker’s depiction of his father having “cracked hands that ached,” (1. 3) which further signifies the father’s struggle with the severe coldness. The concept of self-sacrifice is apparent in this portrayal of his father’s disregard to his own pain in order to provide warmth and light for his family’s home. The stirring of “banked fires blaze” (1. 5) within the house,
Through this tragedy, Arthur Miller is able to show the audience the benefits in forgiveness. He uses Abigail’s misfortunate choice of action to communicate to the spectators that, while the temptation of vengeance is often a great one in the face of pain or offence, it holds the potential to rebound, when forgiveness typically holds no such potential. Every now and then, taking the higher road is better than taking the more satisfactory
Also, the other question every critic must consider is what the story means. The only real consensus on this point is that the exact meaning of the story is not possible. There is even a question by some as to whether the story is meant to have an exact meaning. Yet, many critics also agree it is the discussion the story encourages which gives it much of its value rather than a complete understanding. The primary concern was the
Often times in life, people begin to appreciate relationships when reflecting on one’s previous actions and regretting what one has done. In “Those Winter Sundays,” Robert Hayden describes how a son remembers his father’s sufferings and sacrifices that he did not appreciate in the past. Hayden uses visual and auditory imagery, personification, alliteration, and drastic shifts in tone to show how the son recognizes his father’s physical and emotional pain, and regrets his former indifference.