"The lone and level sands stretch far away."

Hello readers! I just wanted to offer an apology that I have not posted in over a week. The California State Fair is running right now and I have the opportunity of working there this year at a booth. So a state-wide and magnificent fair has left me busy busy busy.

This post I would like to offer my thoughts and share "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792). This topic and theme of ambition to self-destruction has been on my mind a lot lately and has intrigued me about human nature. It has also lead me to create my own poem running on this same theme. In this post I will offer both. "Ozymandias" is a very short, one stanza poem that speaks a tale of Ramesses the Great, who was Pharaoh of the nineteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt. Ramesses was a celebrated Pharaoh which lead many great battles and established peace and prosperity in his land. He created this great legacy and a great kingdom, which he left upon death. Well, as we studiers know the history and state of Egypt even to this day, everything that Ramesses (or Ozymandias for the purposes of this poem) worked for has been left to ruins. His ambitions are shattered and are lost. His kingdom is left desolate and buried in the Egyptian sand, as the poem gives account. Which is what inspired Shelley to write his interesting poem in a romantic-state England.

I think this idea of Ozymandias and destruction of his kingdom offers us as readers something interesting to think about. Think of all the great leaders in history and what they built and what are they now but legacies and stories? We can speculate about perhaps the things in our lives that we build (relationships, careers, families) and in an instant, those things can be destroyed and left desolate through natural life factors or self-imposing actions. In Ozymandias's case, the natural factor of death left his kingdom barren and easy to be mocked by life events. In our lives, how have our personal kingdoms been destroyed and can they be built again?

What an interesting topic and factor of life this is! It makes me wonder if my own life and kingdom I build will last forever and leave an imprint on the times. It makes me wonder if the family I create in this life will continue on the path and morals I have created and hopefully improve and strengthen that path. It makes me wonder if in my career, my teaching will influence my students and affect generations upon generations of learners and inquirers. My personal kingdom is being built currently, and hopefully by the time I am old, the foundation of my kingdom is indestructible and eternal, my monument a grand and forever imprint in desert sands.

Below I've posted "Ozymandias" by Shelley and "The Sandcastle" by myself. As you read, reflect on the words and find the connection in your own life.

Ozymandias, by Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear --
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.'


The Sandcastle, by Melanie K. Walker
Seagulls sing softly in the easy breeze.
The sun peaks behind the clouds with subtle tease.
Back and forth roams the foam of the sea
Creeping closer, closer to the mastery made by me.

Careful stands this construction,
Strong and invincible to any destruction.
Trimmed, molded in gold this refinery,
Beautiful, timeless is the mastery made by me.

Innumerable are the grains of this sand.
So I was selective with what I had planned.
Each memory promised an infinity, it seemed,
And so was built the mastery made by me.

Alas; the clouds begin to darken and the sky turns to gray.
The salty wind starts to blow the sand astray.
Carnage rides the tide to fulfill a destiny—
To chasm the creation of the mastery made by me.

The ocean’s song fades into night.
Fog rushes in, suffocating any remaining light.
Desolation adores the shores of the sea,
Mocking what once stood a mastery made by me.


Comments welcome.

Photo retrieved from bensten.wordpress.com

North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell

A Literary Analysis of North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. It will answer these questions:

1. The film’s title, North and South, represents the cultural juxtaposition in 19th century England between the genteel south and the industrial north. Margaret Hale is from the south; John Thornton is a northerner. Early in the film, what are the main points of difference between their worldviews?
2. As portrayed in the film (visually on the screen, by people’s character traits, and by events of the story), what contrasts do you see between north and south?
4. The film sets at juxtaposition two regions of England representing two ways of life. What thematic ideas does Gaskell seem to be developing through these contrasts?
3. Including both the north and the south, what conclusions do you draw about 19th century England, particularly about the people and their ways of living?

North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell (1855) gives readers a perspective of the oppression that was found in industrial England in the 19th century. Some background for my readers: the story begins with Miss Margaret Hale moving with her mother and father from the warm and country-sided South into the ruddy, dirty town of Milton-Northern, after her Father Mr. Hale leaves his position of Pastor in the Church of England. Margaret finds the town of Milton-Northern harsh, smoky, and poverty-stricken as factories have overshadowed and polluted the air. She meets Mr. John Thornton, whom her father counts as a pupil in his new-found tutoring job, and they are at opposition from the beginning. Margaret finds Thornton unfeeling and harsh, while he finds her beautiful, yet prejudiced and even haughty. We come to find that Thornton lifted himself out of poverty and through ambition and success, started his cotton-mill business and is the best, most-giving boss in all of Milton. He’s tough on his employees, but does it out of professionalism and care for pristine work ethic. Margaret at first cannot understand his harshness, but begins to realize the essentiality of his actions as she becomes accustomed to Northern way of life. This juxtaposition of Northern and Southern culture cause differing world views between Margaret and Thornton—something that they overcome as they begin to fall in love and desire a life together. Being raised in poverty in an industrial society, Thornton’s perspective on life is based on hard work and a very self-serving outlook on how to survive in the world and become successful, whereas Margaret’s Southern roots are nursed with strong tradition and a warmer outlook on the possibilities of life.

I noticed some main contrasting differences in between the North and the South in the film version of North and South. The first thing I noticed was the lighting in the cinematography. When the scenery was displayed in the South, the color tone of the image was warm and sunlit with bright and vibrant yellows, oranges, and greens. The scenery was a lot softer and the characters talked quietly. When the scenery was set in the North, the color tone was black, gray, and cold. The character’s faces were pasty and the sky was filled with snow or cotton from Thornton’s mill. Another contrast I noticed was the differences between Thornton and his associates and Margaret and her family. In their dialogue and conversations, the Thorntons were more curt and dry whereas the Hales were more affectionate and emotional with one another and in their feelings. Mr. Thornton had a strong administration when it came to work ethic and moral conduct which tended to be where he put his emotions, where Margaret was a lot softer in her morality and showed her emotions.

Through this contrast between two cultures during this time in England, Gaskell brought up some interesting ideas that leave readers to ponder on. The main idea I noticed derived from this struggle is the idea of modernity versus tradition. With the industrial revolution, many left their old way of life and thinking as work became more efficient and quicker with the modernized inventions. As it is manifested in this book and film, the North and South cultures struggled with each other as the Industrialization birthed a new age of ambition, working classes, and more money. Northern culture was based on an “out with tradition!” perspective and moving forward and becoming successful and rich, where Southern culture held strong traditional ties to quality, hand-labor work mixed with religion and moral. These two perspectives in the book give us as readers a taste into what life was like in England during this time and the external struggles that were found in society.

Including the North and the South, my conclusion of 19th century England is that it was a time of cultural unrest as machines took the place of a farmer’s labor. I think this was a pivotal movement for the bosses and workers who desired an increase in productivity to gain more money, but was a struggle for those who still held strong ties to the past and religion. I think this created a type of cultural civil war between the people in England, as one side succumbed to modern technology and the other did not. This created a very diverse way of living: the industrialized North created a working environment that allowed many to become rich and more productive, but also forced many into poverty and a harsh, dirty environment. The South was a cleaner and warmer environment, but was not willing to progress forward with the ways of technology which caused a lot of wasted manual labor. This diversity caused two separate kinds of people in the 19th century, even though they were united in the same country which has the potential to weaken a nation.

Itinerary

For anyone interested in the specific places I will be going to on my trip, here is the itinerary of my English Literature British Iles Study Abroad Tour. Any comments are always appreciated on my posts, and if any of my readers have been to any of the places listed below, I'd love some feedback on what you thought of it! I also want to take this moment to thank everyone who has been so supportive of me and my goals. I would have never had the self-confidence to do any of this if it weren't for my family, mentors, and friends. Again, thanks a thousand and one times! Keep reading!

11 Sep flight SLC to DUB
12 Sep Cliffs of Moher
13 Sep Inis-Mor Aran Island
14 Sep Boyne Valley
15 Sep Church in Dublin. Free Museums, Gardens, Parks. Chester Beatty Library.
16 Sep Ferry to England. Coach: Holyhead to Bradford
17 Sep Skipton Castle, Bronte Parsonage, moor walk.
18 Sep York City
19 Sep Head South. Sherwood Forest. Salisbury Cathedral.
20 Sep Stonehenge, Avebury, Old Sarum.
21 Sep Glastonbury, Bath. North to London
22 Sep Museums and Galleries. Block at Hyde Park Building (9:00 am).
23 Sep London Pass Day (free day to use everything on your pass that you want).
24 Sep Windsor Castle.
25 Sep Canterbury day trip.
26 Sep Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, Tower of London.
27 Sep Harry Potter Studio. London.
28 Sep Travel to Stratford upon Avon. Shakespeare Play (matinee)
29 Sep Block at StratfordWard (9:30 am). Oxford City.
30 Sep Stratford City. River Avon Trail. Holy Trinity Church. Guild Chapel.
1 Oct Coach and Ferry to Dublin
2 Oct Dublin City. Museums, etc.
3 Oct Flight: DUB to SLC

"But we loved with a love that was more than love--I and my Annabel Lee..."

As my readers will come to find out in this blog, Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite writers and "Annabel Lee" is one of my favorite love poems. Now, before you cringe thinking I'm a tortured soul who's only comfort is dark corners and eerie hallways, let me explain myself on why such a dark poem by one of the darkest writers in American history strikes my emotions that relate to love and romance. I first read "Annabel Lee" when I was sixteen in my Honors English class. We read it just to become familiar with Poe and his dictation in writing. After reading this poem, I was surprised at how very loving and sensual this was-- something I didn't normally affiliate with Poe's writings. For a little historical analysis behind the context, Poe wrote "Annabel Lee" to convey his feelings after the loss of his wife Virginia, who died of Tuberculosis. They were childhood sweethearts ("I was a child, and she was a child, in this kingdom by the sea...), and though Poe had many women in his life, she was the one who always inspired his tortured writings relating to loss of a loved one.

Which brings me back to why this poem strikes me. The way he writes about this maiden by the sea is so adoring and devoted-- something I've always wanted in love. He writes of a love that is so powerful and strong, that even the angels in heaven "covet" the love and the demons below cannot break it. At the end of the poem, he goes on to say that he lies down by the side of his "darling-my darling- my life and my bride," which goes to say that the bond he shares with his love continues on even after death and beyond the grave. To me, to have a love so strong that can break the bands of death makes a life worth living and a chance worth taking. Though this poem nurses a tragic ending, the message about love illuminates any shadows found in Poe's world and leaves something we as readers can take home. Read it below, and you'll find the amazing feel of the power of love behind the words.

Annabel Lee
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.


I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea,
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
I and my Annabel Lee—
With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven
Coveted her and me.


And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.


The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,
Went envying her and me—
Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.


But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we—
Of many far wiser than we—
And neither the angels in Heaven above
Nor the demons down under the sea
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;


For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea—
In her tomb by the sounding sea.