quote: | Originally posted by EgosXII
it shocks me that a linguist can hate poetry
it's not about what's said, it's about how it's portrayed, that's the joy of the written word isn't it?? |
Nah, I'm really all about the content when it comes to literature. Sure, the way it's portrayed matters quite a lot, but it gets tiring after a while.
For example, I can enjoy the following poem by Wordsworth for two reasons:
quote: | Fidelity, by William Wordsworth
A barking sound the Shepherd hears,
A cry as of a Dog or Fox;
He halts, and searches with his eyes
Among the scatter'd rocks:
And now at distance can discern
A stirring in a brake of fern;
From which immediately leaps out
A Dog, and yelping runs about.
The Dog is not of mountain breed;
It's motions, too, are wild and shy;
With something, as the Shepherd thinks,
Unusual in its' cry:
Nor is there any one in sight
All round, in Hollow or on Height;
Nor shout, nor whistle strikes his ear;
What is the Creature doing here?
It was a Cove, a huge Recess,
That keeps till June December's snow;
A lofty Precipice in front,
A silent Tarn [1] below!
Far in the bosom of Helvellyn,
Remote from public Road or Dwelling,
Pathway, or cultivated land;
From trace of human foot or hand.
There, sometimes does a leaping Fish
Send through the Tarn a lonely chear;
The Crags repeat the Raven's croak,
In symphony austere;
Thither the Rainbow comes, the Cloud;
And Mists that spread the flying shroud;
And Sun-beams; and the sounding blast,
That, if it could, would hurry past,
But that enormous Barrier binds it fast.
Not knowing what to think, a while
The Shepherd stood: then makes his way
Towards the Dog, o'er rocks and stones,
As quickly as he may;
Nor far had gone before he found
A human skeleton on the ground,
Sad sight! the Shepherd with a sigh
Looks round, to learn the history.
From those abrupt and perilous rocks,
The Man had fallen, that place of fear!
At length upon the Shepherd's mind
It breaks, and all is clear:
He instantly recall'd the Name,
And who he was, and whence he came;
Remember'd, too, the very day
On which the Traveller pass'd this way.
But hear a wonder now, for sake
Of which this mournful Tale I tell!
A lasting monument of words
This wonder merits well.
The Dog, which still was hovering nigh,
Repeating the same timid cry,
This Dog had been through three months' space
A Dweller in that savage place.
Yes, proof was plain that since the day
On which the Traveller thus had died
The Dog had watch'd about the spot,
Or by his Master's side:
How nourish'd here through such long time
He knows, who gave that love sublime,
And gave that strength of feeling, great
Above all human estimate. |
1: It's not unnecessarily long (really, I'd enjoy Faust a lot more if it were written in prose);
2: That translation is too elaborate - "In length and breadth how doth my poodle grow!". Really!? If you want to rhyme, fair enough, and "Wie wird mein Pudel lang und breit!" sounds a lot more pleasant in German for its simplicity... but unless you can be this simple throughout your story, please don't rhyme.
quote: | Originally posted by EgosXII
btw: do you read the last page of books so you don't have to get stressed about what might happen? |
Like I said, I like the content... though when it comes to fiction, sometimes I do prefer just watch a film because it's quicker.
quote: | Originally posted by EgosXII
similar to plato's ideas, it's about exploration of your own beliefs more than the discovery of a real alternative...
in terms of plato, it's more about how you conceptualise the real world. if you're an anti-realist (as i am) you should find plato's insights pretty interesting... it's metaphysical angle i disagree with (the idea of absolute truth), but i think the casting of complete doubt upon everything we know is completely relevant. an anti-realist could essentially claim to be in the cave. there is no objectivity, just shadows of a truth we can't grasp because of our human condition. |
Hm... I just happen to like the shadows better, perhaps
But, that's it, I should get going now.
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