The Guest Ellen at the Supper for Street People

Hayden Myrick
Jernigan
AP Literature
29 March 2011
“The Guest Ellen at the Supper for Street People”
Author, David Ferry, uses the character of “Ellen” to symbolize women as a whole. Ellen witnesses unspeakably obscene events while not knowing or possessing a way to escape. She feels trapped within her body as a woman; more specifically, her body as a prostitute. The title associates Ellen with “Street People” which relates to the lifestyle of a prostitute. Ellen stays “poor day after day in the same body” and “witness still to some obscene event.” These lines highlight her inability to escape no matter how hard she wants to. Day to day life turns monotonous in its hopelessness and obscenity. Prostitutes seem to always hit rock bottom, and remain at the bottom, unable to climb back up the ladder to self-respect and self-love. Ellen’s beginning a prostitute seems to spawn from an event of sexual abuse involving by “her father’s body.” This event continually plagues her and manifests itself in her day-to-day life as an ongoing acts of sexual disrespect and abuse.
Examining Ellen’s emotions more closely gives insight into the victim of sexual abuse. She feels tormented by her own un-cleanliness. In the fourth stanza, Ellen feels like “A prisoner of love, filthy in her own torment.” The skewed and perverted sense of love her father cursed her with when he abused her affects her more and more daily. She feels like she experienced a sense of “love”, but unclean love. Stanza two gives the guests and Ellen a “Cassandra-like” sense. They continue witnessing and hearing the “obscene events” but cannot do anything about it. Nobody comes to their aid; therefore, they are trapped in the society and lifestyle of Street People.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Hayden Myrick
Jernigan
AP Literature
21 March, 2011
“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”
From the second stanza to the fifth stanza in this poem, Dylan Thomas impersonally describes the inevitability of death and mans tendency to run from it. “Wise men at their end know dark is right” but they “do not go gentle into that good night.” Classified as a “good night”, death carries no morbid or negative connotations within the poem, yet the subjects cannot help but run from it. This highlights human’s disposition to fear unknown and mysterious subjects. Deep down, individuals know that they must endure death’s unknown journey. There exists a reality (acknowledged or not) that comes with death that is more human that living. Life’s exists so that humans may die and embark on their true journey in death.
The first and last stanzas in the poem develop a deeper, more personal level of communication. At the beginning, the author seems to implore the reader to refrain from entering into death. He mirrors the same attitude that all the characters of his poem exhibit; therefore, completing the underlying theme of humans tendency to resist death. In the final stanza, the author begs for his father to continue to fight for life. Although he knows that man’s destiny is death, he cannot bear to watch his father give into death. To see him seemingly “lose” the fight to death, the author cannot bring himself to witness.

My Hometown

Hayden Myrick

Jernigan

AP Literature

9 March 9, 2011

“My Hometown”

            “My Hometown” describes a seemingly small town that rests “near the Missouri River.” Based on the first two lines, the town acquired its name after the epic writer Homer. Homer’s fame spans centuries. His literature continues to touch the lives of readers, even after so many years. The author, Donal Hefferman, compares her hometown figuratively and literally to the great author. In addition to holding “Homer” as its name, it also carries the same connotations Homer carries. A pioneer among writers, Homer typically symbolizes a master: the ideal writer. There exists no equivalent equal. The author insists that their town carries the same legacy. Its strength to “outlast the depression” gives the town eternal qualities. The last four lines symbolize the “free” and rebellious youth. Sex in a car resembles youth in revolt along with freedom of spirit. The town shows the changing of culture, but with a readiness to accept the changes that come.

            This poem creates feelings within the reader that compare to the carefree nights of summer. Reminiscing past memories while experiencing and anticipating new experiences make the poem emotionally charged. The image of the pickup truck serves as a vessel that launches the town into a new generation. The poem seems to continue even when it ends. The pickup truck will inevitably become one of the memories of the past and new memories will become the present. In this way, the poem, as well as the town, hold onto time and continue eternally.