Posted by Xavier L.
The Art Of Writing
(Teachings of the great and powerful Mr. B Destroyer of Sameness and Unopened Minds)
What do we have to think in order to read literature and understand art? We have to believe the artist made a choice in what he or she wrote, sang, painted, or performed. In writing and reading, we believe authors wrote what they wrote to create an effect and that the different choices and decisions help to amplify and expand that effect. It is even possible with some choices the writer had not though of, choices can from their passion and heart. Yet, we believe their choices are to create an effect so we can understand more completely the beauty and significance of the story or poem. This is what Mr. B was telling us today in class, and he has been trying to distill this idea for weeks, possibly even years.
There are those who maylook at a work of art and, instead of questioning it and trying to understand it, they think it's stupid. To those that think that, Mr. B gives you a piece of advice "hold up a mirror".
Mr. B told us of the time he and a math teacher had a discussion while carpooling to school. Of a computer malfunction, the math teacher said," I know I'm a reasonable person and if I put my mind to it I can figure a way to fix it." Mr. B then got to thinking and observed that in the science and mathematical world when you make the choice to beileve you can solve the problem a lot of times you can. It is straightforward. And there is expected to be a single solution. In writing it is more than that; it is almost more complicated.
Cody mentioned a philosopher named Heidegger who said the mind has two aspects.One is like a two-lane road where you know where to go while the other is a fallow field where whatever grows will grow.
The Whole Picture
Poems , Mr. B tells me, are musical and very intentional with the use of sound. It is very important not just read a poem but to read it aloud or you won't get it. Poems have another dimension to them, an artistic spirit where the writers may make unconscious (or inspired) choices. To understand a poem (or other work of art) better, you begin by reading alound and then letting it be, sitting with it open to its possibilities.
Next, you must be sure to understand it literally or the connections you make will not have a foundation.
To An Athlete Dying Young
We went through the poem line by line [Editor's Note: No, we didn't! We went through it sentence by sentence, and that is essential!] clarifying the literal meaning of it.
Sentence 1: The scene is of celebration and the next sentence emphasizes that. Though there was foreshadowing of death as people usually bring others home to bury them and may "chair" them through the market place. Irony?
Sentence 2: Literally: We carry you in your coffin shoulder high. We set you down at doorway of a stiller town we presume to be a graveyard.
Note: "To-day"? What does that mean? A choice of the writer for affect? stumbling block?
Sentence 3: "Betimes" is shorter version of "before times" meaning "early". "Laurel" whose leaves are used to make victory wreaths, grows early and could fade away fast. Paraphrase: "Smart move kid to die before your glory fades away. "All glory is fleeting;" it withers quicker than the rose.
Sentence 4: Eyes that night has shut won't see his record get beat. Earth stops up his ears so that silence sounds no worse than cheers.
Sentence 5: "Rout "is "defeat" as one army routs the other.
Sentence 6: So set your foot on the doorsill (threshold) of (not just the blocking of the sun) but of death. The lintel is above the door, like when the children of Israel painted the blood on the lintel to mark their homes from the Angel of Death.
Sentence 7: The strengthless dead will flock to him when he dies, gathering around his early laurelled head (meaning very young).
When the literal meaning is sure, figurative meaning and interpretations follow.
We ended the class by interpreting the poem with our ideas. Tanyelle said that the "stiller town" gives her a picture of a graveyard, especially in New Orleans, where it is called the city of the dead. Hannah mentioned that this stepping through a doorway makes her think he is going through a door of life after death or going to a better place.
This is Mr. Bentons' method to teach the reading of literature and poetry.
The Art Of Writing
(Teachings of the great and powerful Mr. B Destroyer of Sameness and Unopened Minds)
What do we have to think in order to read literature and understand art? We have to believe the artist made a choice in what he or she wrote, sang, painted, or performed. In writing and reading, we believe authors wrote what they wrote to create an effect and that the different choices and decisions help to amplify and expand that effect. It is even possible with some choices the writer had not though of, choices can from their passion and heart. Yet, we believe their choices are to create an effect so we can understand more completely the beauty and significance of the story or poem. This is what Mr. B was telling us today in class, and he has been trying to distill this idea for weeks, possibly even years.
There are those who maylook at a work of art and, instead of questioning it and trying to understand it, they think it's stupid. To those that think that, Mr. B gives you a piece of advice "hold up a mirror".
Mr. B told us of the time he and a math teacher had a discussion while carpooling to school. Of a computer malfunction, the math teacher said," I know I'm a reasonable person and if I put my mind to it I can figure a way to fix it." Mr. B then got to thinking and observed that in the science and mathematical world when you make the choice to beileve you can solve the problem a lot of times you can. It is straightforward. And there is expected to be a single solution. In writing it is more than that; it is almost more complicated.Cody mentioned a philosopher named Heidegger who said the mind has two aspects.One is like a two-lane road where you know where to go while the other is a fallow field where whatever grows will grow.
The Whole Picture
Poems , Mr. B tells me, are musical and very intentional with the use of sound. It is very important not just read a poem but to read it aloud or you won't get it. Poems have another dimension to them, an artistic spirit where the writers may make unconscious (or inspired) choices. To understand a poem (or other work of art) better, you begin by reading alound and then letting it be, sitting with it open to its possibilities.
Next, you must be sure to understand it literally or the connections you make will not have a foundation.
To An Athlete Dying Young
We went through the poem line by line [Editor's Note: No, we didn't! We went through it sentence by sentence, and that is essential!] clarifying the literal meaning of it.
Sentence 1: The scene is of celebration and the next sentence emphasizes that. Though there was foreshadowing of death as people usually bring others home to bury them and may "chair" them through the market place. Irony?
Sentence 2: Literally: We carry you in your coffin shoulder high. We set you down at doorway of a stiller town we presume to be a graveyard.
Note: "To-day"? What does that mean? A choice of the writer for affect? stumbling block?
Sentence 3: "Betimes" is shorter version of "before times" meaning "early". "Laurel" whose leaves are used to make victory wreaths, grows early and could fade away fast. Paraphrase: "Smart move kid to die before your glory fades away. "All glory is fleeting;" it withers quicker than the rose.
Sentence 4: Eyes that night has shut won't see his record get beat. Earth stops up his ears so that silence sounds no worse than cheers.
Sentence 5: "Rout "is "defeat" as one army routs the other.
Sentence 6: So set your foot on the doorsill (threshold) of (not just the blocking of the sun) but of death. The lintel is above the door, like when the children of Israel painted the blood on the lintel to mark their homes from the Angel of Death.
Sentence 7: The strengthless dead will flock to him when he dies, gathering around his early laurelled head (meaning very young).
When the literal meaning is sure, figurative meaning and interpretations follow.
We ended the class by interpreting the poem with our ideas. Tanyelle said that the "stiller town" gives her a picture of a graveyard, especially in New Orleans, where it is called the city of the dead. Hannah mentioned that this stepping through a doorway makes her think he is going through a door of life after death or going to a better place.
This is Mr. Bentons' method to teach the reading of literature and poetry.
1 comment:
You said,
"Mr. B told us of the time he and a math teacher had a discussion while carpooling to school. Of a computer malfunction, the math teacher said," I know I'm a reasonable person and if I put my mind to it I can figure a way to fix it." Mr. B then got to thinking and observed that in the science and mathematical world when you make the choice to believe you can solve the problem a lot of times you can. It is straightforward. And there is expected to be a single solution. In writing it is more than that; it is almost more complicated."
It is difficult to tell which is more difficult, the arts or mathematics. There are those of us that do both and a few of us do both simultaneously. One big difference is that mathematicians generally agree on what is mathematically correct whereas in the arts, no one can agree on what is artistically correct. I must say that I wish all artists/writers approached their art/writing with the rigor you suggest. However most do not.
Thank you for your provocative posting.
Kaz
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