Blog 2

I chose the e.e. cummings poem in Just-. I feel that the style of the poem assists the meaning because it keeps it light and fun. Without divulging into the deep meaning of the poem, I think that the descriptions of spring with puddles, hop-scotch and jump rope add fun and childhood into the poem. By using spring throughout the poem, it may give an idea of freshness and a new beginning to the world. After every winter when everything dies, spring comes and gives the world a new start.
With Cummings use of the word lame in the first stanza to describe the balloonman and then using "queer old balloonman" later on it could also be showing growth and maturation. The balloonman could have been lame at first because he was new and was adjusting and learning how to be a successful and fun balloonman. Then later on he is queer and old, this could mean that the balloonman is past his prime and his time is over being a balloonman.
I believe that since Cummings is combining some words it is adding to the meaning of the poem. It is doing so by creating a fast paced and excited feeling. I nanny for two young boys ages one and two. When the two year old began talking his words were far and few. Now he knows so much and wants to learn so much he can't get enough words out fast enough. Sometimes he even combines words and almost mumbles because he can't talk fast enough. When I re-read this poem fast it made me think of him. How children will be telling a story and will want to get it out as fast as they can. Lines 15-16 demonstrate this well " from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it's". The spacing makes it sound like its a child telling a story and they have to take a deep breath to catch their breath, especially with the use of and.

Part 2

From what I've read about the poem. At the beginning Coleridge is viewing this gorgeous land. Then as the poem continues he is tripping out on some type of drug. So his visions are changing and he is hallucinating what he is describing as the poem moves on. He's seeing creatures in what was plain and beautiful prior to the drug induced hallucinations. In the last stanza, lines 42 and 46 Coleridge is trying to revive something within himself,so that he could " build that dome in air". The Abyssinian maid, who is playing music is rousing up memories within Coleridge. The images throughout the poem relate to the last stanza because maybe Coleridge is trying to remember the images and that is what he is reviving.

Part 1

I thought Kubla Khan was just ok. I felt like it was just a bunch of descriptions. I don't quite understand what the Chinese Emperor Kubla Khan has to do with anything. I understand that Coleridge chose him to write about but I don't know why. The main idea I got from it was at the beginning it is a very pleasant and beautiful place. The imagery used was pleasing. Especially line 8 " and there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,". Later in the poem the descriptions go from this warm inviting place to this scary war like nightmare. I couldn't get a good grasp as to what the poem was about because I felt that it painted many pictures of this place but I couldn't understand what about the place was so amazing.