The Meaning of Drama

What is Drama? 

"A prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action." - The Free Dictionary Online

"A composition in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance; play" - Merriam-Webster, dictionary. 

Drama existed back in the days of Ancient Greek. The word drama itself was originated from the Greek, carrying the meaning of action. Unlike any other form of literature, drama need a fairly high thinking mind. The writer must be of someone who can write the scripts or dialogues that can convey the emotions in it. In the world of drama, the lines uttered by the performers on stage play a severe importance in order to bring out the lives of the characters. The rate of the success of drama is measured by the comments and compliments made by the audiences. For a drama to be successfully recognized by the people from all ages, the writer must put in excessive efforts in creating the perfect lines and dialogues. The weight of the dialogues must be up to the bar, in order to have the audiences to experience the roller coaster ride of feelings and emotions from the characters played on stage. Drama was popularized by William Shakespeare. His works were fantastically well performed on stage during the Elizabethan Era. From Shakespeare, we have The Globe. The Globe was used by Shakespeare for his plays to be performed to the public eyes. There are many types of drama ranging from tragedy, comedy, and romance. 

The Meaning of Poetry

What is Poetry? 

"the spontaneous overflow of powerful things" - William Wordsworth 

"If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry" 

- Emily Dickinson

"Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing." - Dylan Thomas 

Poetry existed back in the days of Old English and Middle English. Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales were prose - poems with stories in it. From my point of view, poets write poems to express their inaugural feelings.The best way to express one's feelings without being suppressed is through writing, but what form of writing? Do one write novel, novella, or short stories to express themselves? To some, yes. But it does not really reflect your true emotions. Poetry is unique and it blends easily as the usage of words are minimal and hit the bull's eye. Generally, the words used in poems are accurate, and the readers could feel it instantly without all the fuss and hustle bustle of going through the whole book as in novels and such. Poetry comes with stanzas and rhymes. That's the backbone of poems. In my opinion, poems are very structural. It has spines, bones, and even blood vessels, just like any human being. It is alive. It breathe. If stanzas and rhymes are considered as the backbones of the poem. The words used must be listed as the spines, and blood vessels in all poems that has ever created by poets from all around the world. In reference to Dickinson's quote above, she gave us an impression that poems have the characteristics of a human. It was as if poems can hold her tightly, wrap around her like a shawl, or even hug her to warm her up. That indeed, it is true that poems are alive. Furthermore, in reference to Thomas's quote, we know that poems can go as far as to be our loyal companion. It sticks to us. It will always be at our side during our ups and downs. Through poetry, we often get this overwhelming feelings and emotions that eventually we will be swept away gracefully, or taking up for a thrilling roller coaster ride. With it, comes in package that sometimes we find ourselves crying and laughing as we read the poem. It is an amazing feeling! 

Words Cited

• "Flanagan, Mark. Contemporary Literature Guide"  Grasping at the Indefinable. http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/poetry/a/poetry.htm

*Answers given by the Blogger are of her own opinions, solely*

Expression of Ideas on Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

# "Sometimes you're the life, sometimes the sacrifice." Write about this quote within the context of an immigrant family. What might a family gain or lose by moving to a new land?

The immigrants especially the Chinese are very independent. Everywhere they go, they set up their own ground to establish their existence in that particular new place.They believe that they are capable in having their own community, even when they go to a new place where there is no Chinese people. That is why every country, and city we traveled to, we will discover China Town. The Chinese has a firm belief in their culture, custom and heritage. They believe that the new surrounding will never change their shells. Everywhere they go, they go with pride in their chests, and always with their head held high. But, that does not mean they are arrogant. They are just simply proud of their history and origin.

As we go through Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin, we know that the persona has slowly putting the Chinese culture behind him. He has been influenced by the how the Westerners live. He was simply being Westernized. When his mother boiled a twelve hour turtle soup from him, he was very angered by this. This shows how he could not accept the old traditional delicacy anymore. It does not make sense to him that by drinking the soup, he'll gain special immune to his body. He even go to the extend of bringing up the history of his Uncle Wu, who unfortunately was killed while trying to murder a famous Manchu. From this, we know that the old story that has been passed down generation to generation is totally out-of-date. The new generation does not bother about it anymore because for them it makes no sense on clinging to it.

Somehow, as you migrate you gained as well. To adapt to the people, surrounding, and environment; you tend to learn how to speak, walk, and eat like them. Slowly, one is changing himself and learn something new in return. For example, in Turtle Soup from the word Pasadena we know that this text was based in America. The migrants get to learn the American language that is English. English is a world renowned language in the world. Therefore, for the migrants to be able to speak and live like them is a bonus point in their lives. In fact, I think they have just stroke lotteries. One has to realize that not everyone back in the native land gets to go to America.

Therefore, I would say that migration does not necessary mean that it is bad. Looking at the bright side of it, we gained as we lose. The Chinese has a saying "In order to gain something, one must lose something in return." We can't possibly be having both at the same time.

*Answers given by the Blogger are of her own opinions, solely*

Exploration on Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

On the reference to Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin 

1) Notice the author's choice of the word "cauldron" in line 4. What images or connections does this word evoke? Why might the author have chosen "cauldron" rather than "pot"
--> The word cauldron itself was stereotyped as a bad image for the witches. However, in this text the cauldron was signify as the unstable emotional current from the speaker's mother who has a firm and strong stand in the Chinese culture.

2) Chin refers to "the Wei","the Yellow", and "the Yangze". Why does she reference these rivers in China? Why not include the Nile, the Amazon, or the Mississippi?
--> That is because the turtle plays a very significant role in the Chinese community. The turtle was portrayed as "the symbol of long life". The Chinese community does have a concept that to those who consume turtle soup will remain healthy, and live to hundred years. It's a luxury delicacy in the land of China as well.

3) What is the tone of this poem?
--> The persona, due to his growing environment and surrounding feels ridiculed by the mother's action of boiling Turtle Soup. That caused a massive misunderstanding to both parties that ends up with an argument. From the argument they had, we can feel an excessive anger that has existed in the text.

* The answers given by the Blogger are the result from the discussion she had with her group.* 

Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

                                                        Turtle Soup

You go home one evening tired from work, 

and your mother boils you turtle soup. 

Twelve hours hunched over the hearth

(who knows what else is in that cauldron).

You say, "Ma, you've poached the symbol of long life;

that turtle lived four thousand years, swam

the Wet, up the Yellow, over the Yangtze. 

Witnessed the Bronze Age, the High Tang,

grazed on splendid sericulture."

(So, she boils the life out of him.)

"All our ancestors have been fools.

Remember Uncle Wu who rode ten thousand miles

to kill a famous Manchu and ended up

with his head on a pole? Eat, child,

its liver will make you strong."

"Sometimes you're the life, sometimes the sacrifice." 

Her sobbing is inconsolable.

So, you spread that gentle napkin 

over your lap in decorous Pasadena.

Baby, some high priestess has got it wrong.

The golden decal on the green underbelly

says "Made in Hong Kong."

Is there nothing left but the shell

and humanity's strange inscriptions,

the songs, the rites, the oracles?

                                                                      Marilyn Chin

Explorations on Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note

On reference to Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka (1961)

1) What is the mood of the speaker in the opening lines? What images suggest his feelings?
 --> In the opening lines, the speaker sounded depressing. The lines were full of sorrow and ultimate
       sadness. It gives an illusion as if the speaker is helpless. 
       Evidence : "The ground opens up an envelopes me"

2) What is the significance of the daughter's gesture of peeking into "her own clasped hands"
--> In my opinion, it signifies that the speaker's daughter has hope. The daughter at a young age 
      (age not stated in the poem, assumed by the blogger) does not have any stress, and depression.
      In fact, she was in her own world, her own bubble; "talking to someone". Or perhaps, she was
      upset, but she chose to let it go by talking to herself or someone as the speaker put it into words.
      However, readers need to be aware of the line "Only she on her knees". This line indicates that
      she was kneeling down. In this case, she was probably praying and looking up for the Holy Guidance
      from God the Almighty. 

3) What does the title mean? How does it explain the closing line?
--> The title "Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note" carries the meaning of the introduction of a
       collection of suicide notes. However, it has zero connection to the closing line. The closing line shows 
       hopes and lights. That not everything is bad and dismal. If only we seek and never stop finding solutions
       to whatever problems and troubles that we are facing, eventually things will get better and we will be at
       ease.

4) Why does Baraka have three short lines, separated at stanzas? How do they convey the message of the 
     poem?
--> The three short lines, "Things have come to that", "Nobody sings anymore", "Her own clasped              hands". Personally, from my point of view I think the three short lines were written to emphasis the
       seriousness of what is going on in the speaker's mind. That everything has been fated to be in that way.
       No jovial spirits to be found. But, through God we find hope. 

5) Why does Baraka begin stanzas with "Lately", "And now", and "And then"? What do these transition 
     words accomplish?
--> "Lately" ~ How the speaker used to have negative, and hopeless thoughts running in his/her head.
      "And now" ~ Slowly, the speaker is trying to change his/her views and perspectives on life.
      "And then" ~ The speaker caught the view of  his/her daughter kneeling down and was talking to
                           someone, presumably to God. Nothing is impossible to achieve. Every task given by
                           God has been meted by God according to your abilities. Nothing is out of your league 
                           if you were to face certain issues or problems in your life. For God will always at your
                          side, patiently guiding you. 

6) How does the speaker feel about his daughter? What does she represent to him?
--> The daughter of the speaker represents him hopes. She was seen with lights. It helps shed the speaker's 
       negative vibes away.  

*Answers given by the Blogger is of her own opinions, solely*

       

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note

Lately, I've become accustomed to the way

The ground opens up and envelopes me

Each time I go out to walk the dog.

Or the broad edged silly music the wind

Makes when I run for a bus...

Things have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars.

And each night I get the same number.

And when they will not come to be counted,

I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night I tiptoed up

To my daughter's room and heard her

Talking to someone, and when I opened

The door, there was no one there...

Only she on her knees, peeking into

Her own clasped hands

Amiri Baraka