Hard Rock Returns To Prison Poem Analysis

“An Anti-Semitic Demonstration” was the more effective poem by using metaphors to explain the fear one feels during the arrival and anticipation of being sent off to a concentration camp by Nazis. During this time period life as a Jew must have been unbelievably frightening, for one was unsure of when they would be collected and where the would be taken away too. All just because of their religious beliefs or the fact they may be considered “undesirable”. Whereas in “The Family Album” they explained more about how the Jews were before their life changed forever. Neufeld does not go to explain the way they felt during the tough times of the Nazi ruling. However, he instead talks about how life was instantly changed when no one saw it coming.

The poem Rebirth of Slick problematizes the universal belief of success in a way that it is not only achieved by an individual, but rather a larger group of people. They protect their legacy to preserve their interests, pursue their dreams, and to continuously develop existing ideas that will broaden their influence. According to the urban dictionary, the meaning of “rebirth of slick” is “the sudden epitome of rap and hip-hop. The most original and realization of what goes down in the "hood" or lower class urban environments. Also, shows how those who live in these places do not seem to care of what happens around them and just live their life a cool, peace, groove smooth, jive, and roll”. On the other hand, the rebirth of slick is also a song composed by a hip-hop trio, Digable Planets.

The poem's narrative is centered around a heroic character named Hard Rock. The name "Hard Rock" is a complicated pun on the American penal system and rock/jazz music as well. Although the term "the Rock," is

Lorna Dee Cervantes' poem, “Poema para los Californios Muertos” (“Poem for the Dead Californios”), is a commentary on what happened to the original inhabitants of California when California was still Mexico, and an address to the speaker's dead ancestors. Utilizing a unique dynamic, consistently alternating between Spanish and English, Cervantes accurately represents the fear, hatred, and humility experienced by the “Californios” through rhythm, arrangement, tone, and most importantly, through use of language.

In Natasha Trethewey’s poetry collection Native Guard, the reader is exposed to the story of Trethewey’s growing up in the southern United States and the tragedy which she encountered during her younger years, in addition to her experiences with prejudice and to issues surrounding prejudice within the society she is living in. Throughout this work, Trethewey often refers to graves and provides compelling imagery regarding the burial of the dead. Within Trethewey’s work, the recurring imagery surrounding graves evolves from the graves simply serving as a personal reminder of the past, to a statement on the collective memory of society and comments on how Trethewey is troubled with what society has forgotten as it signifies a willingness to overlook the dehumanization of a large group of people.

The theme of 123rd Street rap is one that can't be compared to any other poem. The reason for this is that it has such a deep reality to it and it is only a poem. One good reason to love this poem is it show someone to appreciate the life that one has and to not take what you have for granted. The line “Automatic bullets bounce off stoop steps”(Perdomo 2) should make anyone who doesn't live this everyday reality appreciate the life that they live. The poet saw the life that people have to live and put it into words and makes you understand in just a few lines.

Knight’s poem Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane offers a glance of a panopticist disciplinary regime in an American Prison. The author shows how inmates internalize a mode of surveillance of watching their folklore hero Hard Rock, and making assumptions of their condition basing on his actions and behavior. In the beginning, the author writes, “Hard Rock was known not to take no shit from nobody” (Knight line1-2). The inmates had heard of Hard Rock through word of mouth and they say that they are waiting to witness if the word is true. According to the word, they found in prison, Hard Rock could not be tamed, and they waited to associate with his character. Nevertheless, the word changes because, when he returns from the “Hospital for the Criminal Insane,” Hard Rock is not what the inmates had been told. He is a hopeless man subject to lobotomy as a punishment of defiance. Hard Rock had no eyes, and was powerless and as the prisoners watched him, they felt hopeless. Knight writes that, Hard Rock was disposed of his power after being deprived of his eyesight and reduced to nothing through the labotomy process and instead of being a hero as before; he was made into an object of pity by the inmates. The inmates were crushed after what they saw what Hard Rock had been reduced to. Knight Writes that, the inmate turned away their “eyes on the ground, Crushed” ( Stanza 5, line 4).Their hero was now

Prisoners like Brooks were trained to like routine for so long, that they became used to the way they were treated. Andy became subject to extortion when the administrator used him to do their tax returns ; “By April of 1951, Andy was doing the tax returns for half the screws at Shawshank , and by 1952, he was doing almost all of them” (51) This quotation shows that lack of empathy , and morals used by the administration at Shawshank. Shawshank as a prison was highly corrupt and the prisoners suffered from mental abuse by use of extortion and punishment.

The song, “Hotel California”, by the Eagles, is a very poetic song that uses imagery, and symbolism to bring out the theme in an indirect way of the speaker’s personal issues of life. The Eagles use imagery to set the mood and tone of the song. Along with many aspects of symbolism to input a lot of double meaning throughout the whole song. With both imagery and symbolism incorporated, many fans or people who have heard of this song would believe that the theme of this song is about a lonely traveler trying to break his own temptations.

Poets have the power to present their perspectives of the human experience through their poetic voice. Gwen Harwood, Judith Wright, and Bruce Dawe, all Australian poets have all expressed common ideas expressed by their unique poetic voice.They also speak for those who have no voice, such as the soldiers in Bruce Dawe’s poem Homecoming and in Gwen Harwood's poem Mother Who Gave Me Life where she gives a voice to the Mothers. A key theme resinating through all of these poets poems would be their common ideas on society and the role of a mother.

Hard Rock’s image to his fellow inmates is one of power and prowess. Lumpkin (1955) describes a destroyer and doer of things. It is almost as if he is a god to the inmates. Hence his fall from grace is truly depressing for them. Hunter (1973) points out that the other inmates used to look up to Hard Rock. There are many

Rock and Roll Beat What are these thoughts on my mind? Like grasping fingers Holding on tight Music with a beat Somewhere from long ago In my memory

An ode can be defined as a "ceremonious lyric poem on an occasion of dignity in which personal emotion and universal themes are united" (Ode, 2012). While hip-hop is known for its violent, masculine, and often, misogynistic lyrics, "Dear Mama" (1995), the first single from Tupac Shakur's album, Me Against the World (1995), can be considered to be a modern ode. Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac, one of hip-hop's most influential rappers, intended to pay homage to his mother through this song and frequently referenced it in many of his later songs. "Dear Mama" (1995) contains many elements that allow its lyrics to be analyzed from a literary perspective including tone, theme, and lyrical style.

Go on a date, I'm at the crib with the chef and uh, that's me

Some of the poems and essays I have read during this class were relatable to me. Being away from college, I have struggled with not being at home. I have become a different person when I am at school, but when I am home, I feel like I am my normal self again. Some of these authors of the poems and essays that I have read throughout this class has struggled with being somewhere where they don’t belong and that they are someone else when they are not home. Unlike the other poems and essays we have read throughout the course. I enjoyed reading the ones about “home” because I actually understood what they are going through and that I can relate. Some of these poems and essays include “Going Home” by Maurice Kenny, Postcard from Kashmir”, by Agha Shahid Ali, “Returning” by Elias Miguel Munoz and “Hometown” by Luis Cabalquinto. All of these poems deal with duality.