i sing of Olaf glad and big by Edward Estlin Cummings: Summary and Critical Analysis

The poem 'i sing of Olaf glad and big' by Cummings is a typical poem based on Cummings's experience in the army. It is an ironic retelling of the torture and death of a conscientious objector during World War I. The character Olaf in the poem was a soldier in another barrack when Cummings was also a soldier in France. One day two had met for some time and while talking, the other soldier had talked very bitterly against the vulgarity and immorality of wars in general.

Mon, Nov 04 2013

The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser: Summary and Critical Analysis

Edmund Spenser's prime motive in writing The Fairie Queene was to demonstrate virtues of a gentleman or a noble person. The virtues were to be illustrated by a series of adventures of the twelve knights who represented one virtue each among the twelve gentlemanly virtues of King Arthur before he was king. For instance, Red Cross Knight in the first book represents holiness and the rest of the five knights which Spenser completed only in six books represented temperance, friendship, chastity, justice and courtesy.

Mon, Nov 04 2013

Girl Powdering her Neck by Cathy Song: Summary and Critical Analysis

Girl Powdering her Neck by Cathy Song is written with a painting perspective with reference to Ukiyo-e by Utamaro. The present poem is based on a picture, a special kind of Japanese woodprint by famous printer Utamaro; she meditates on the art intently until she gains a vision for the life of the courtesan (rich prostitute) depicted on it, and on the nature of human beauty and appearance.

Sat, Nov 02 2013

The Little Girl Saw Her First Troop Parade: Carl Sandburg - Summary and Critical Analysis

The Little Girl Saw Her First Troop Parade is a short prose poem shows the bitter reality of war through the innocent perspective of a young girl. When the little girl saw the troop marching, she asked the speaker what they were. He replied that they were soldiers. Then she asked what soldiers are for.

Sat, Nov 02 2013

On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness: Arthur Guiterman - Summary and Critical Analysis

The tusks of mastodons fought powerful fights in the past have become the playthings. The sword of Charlemagne the Just, the warring emperor, won him many countries, but now it has rusted. Everyone was afraid of the powerful embrace of the grizzly bear, but now people sit comfortable on its fur. The Great Caesar was the powerful general, but now his armless statue makes the people’s drawing room beautiful.

Fri, Nov 01 2013

The Truth the Dead Know by Anne Sexton: Summary and Critical Analysis

The Truth the Dead Know is a confessional elegy on the death of the poet's parents in 1959. Sexton's mother died in March, due to cancer and father died in June, mainly due to alcoholism. Her grief was, of course, too much to bear, but she also had a kind of strong resentment towards the dead; the burden of grief or any strong emotion is fact riddled with conflicting emotions as Keats says in his poems.

Fri, Nov 01 2013

To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell: Summary and Critical Analysis

If human life were not limited by space and time, the beloved’s coyness would not harm the lover and the beloved. They would sit and plan how to pass their long time. The beloved would be by the side of the Indian Ganges and the lover by the side of the Humber in England. She could refuse him as long as she pleased. His love would grow larger slowly.

Fri, Nov 01 2013

The New World by Amiri Baraka: Critical Analysis

The poem ironically portrays a picture of an American city in the evening. The city looks radically different in the evening than it looks during the day. The so-called civilization, sophistication and decency vanish and they are replaced by poverty, tricky, chaos and barbarism.

Thu, Oct 31 2013

To an Athlete Dying Yong by Alfred Edward Housman: Summary and Critical Analysis

When the athlete won the race for the townspeople, they carried him on their shoulders through the town and brought him home. At that time other people were standing by the street clapping their hands to show their happiness. Today also all the runners bring him home on their shoulders and put him at his door, but the entire town is more silent.

Mon, Oct 21 2013

Loveliest of Trees by Alfred Edward Housman: Critical Analysis

The poem Loveliest of Trees is a romantic poem. The speaker is probably on horse-track in the woods and is facing a lovely cherry tree in full blossom. He is so fascinated by its beauty that he thinks fifty years long time would be insufficient to enjoy and satisfy himself. He says that he has spent twenty years already and he thinks he will live fifty more.

Mon, Oct 21 2013