Perty Analysis APENGLISH CHEA!

Meredith Davern

Petry Analysis

Shifting from weather to woman in “The Street”, Ann Petry utilizes human personification, immense detail, and bleak imagery to give the wind character and “discourage” Lutie from remaining on “The Street”.

The life like personification of nature draws Lutie off of the street, and into the safety of a new home. The wind “drove most of the people off the street” and tries to “discourage” Lutie from remaining outside. “Fingering its way” through buildings and being physically violent; “the wind grabbed their hats…stuck like fingers inside their coat collars”. The wind makes its subject feel uncomfortable, and “naked”. The wind “twisting the sign” at first away from Lutie, but then the wind “held it still”, but only for a moment so that she could read the sign. Realizing her search was over, Lutie found her apartment, and a new warm home.

The use of great detail shows the winds true intrusiveness and power over the story. “The wind lifted Lutie Johnson’s hair away from the back of her neck…she felt suddenly naked, and bald, for her hair had been resting softly and warmly against her skin.” The wind did just blow past her, but the detail helps to create the winds character. Describing such exact details like feeling “naked” alludes to an uncomfortable feeling out on “The Street”. The exact time of year and street “November wind blowing through 116^th street” helps the reader to feel the “rush” of the cold fall wind. The precise use of adjective lends a hand to the feel of the wind not just blowing past people, but violating them. The wind “rattled”, “fingered”, “pushed”, and “grabbed” at pedestrians. The detail makes the windy day seem like an attack. The details truly encourage Lutie to find a warm place to be.

Imagery throughout “The Street” creates a melancholy tone, and really gives the reader the true feel of being there. The detail throughout the passage also helps to create an image. The image of a cold “November” day comes to mind as the wind “rattles the tops of trashcans, sucked window shades out through the top of opened windows and set them back against the windows.” Not only the images come to life, but so do the sounds. Someone reading would only be able to image a cold autumn day with “violent” wind causing trashcans to rattle and shades to whack against buildings. The image of leaves and scraps of paper “heavy waxed paper that loaves of bread had been wrapped in, the thinner waxed paper that had enclosed sandwiches, old envelopes, newspapers”, and “hats” rolling along the sidewalk.  All the imagery shows how uncomfortable and “naked” Lutie felt searching for a new home. “The Street” is portrayed as a “violent”

“The Street” is a tough force to recon with. The wind’s “violent assault” helps to “discourage” Lutie, but the hope of a new home keeps her going. Realistic imagery paints the picture of an unforgiving wind on a cold November day. The use of great detail shows the winds perseverance and determination. The personification makes the wind into a character instead of just a force of nature. All elements are trying to get Lutie off of the “The Street”, and into the safe haven of a new home.             

SA2 Sweet Child O' Mine.

Meredith Davern

Moving between third and first person Guns N’ Roses in “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, utilizes loving hyperbole, memorable personification, and peaceful imagery to show how one’s love can remind them “of a warm safe place”, and childhood innocence.  

The hyperboles throughout “Sweet Child O’ Mine” express the artist’s deep feelings for the subject. “She’s got eyes of the bluest skies.” The artist wants the listener to picture a beautiful woman with amazing attributes. He exaggerates her beauty in order to paint a picture. He also professes that he would “break down and cry” if she left him. Breaking down implies that he would just stop, and it is impossible to just stop everything. He also uses “break down and cry” to tell what he would do if he stared too long. Only a truly powerful picture can evoke tears on command. That image has to cause an influx and just rush of emotion. The hyperbole has the power to paint an amazing picture. The image has to be so perfect and so out of reach because that is how the artist views the subject. She is just to amazing to behold.

Personification helps to create the idea of childhood memories. “Now and then when I see her face…takes me away to that special place” just the image of her cannot take him away anywhere. Her presence reminds him of carefree days. “Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place” The hair is like a child’s safety blanket. The blanket is safe; just like when kids hide from monsters under the covers. The blankets cannot protect anyone, only provide comfort. The smell and feel of the subject’s hair brings the artist to memories of the innocent days of hiding behind mom’s hair; just like when a toddler meets new people. “She’s got a smile that it seems to me reminds me of childhood memories” the artists sees his life in the subject’s facial features. Now a smile cannot regenerate memories, like a photo album, but her smile brings him home. When he sees her face he is reminded of more innocent days. The innocence’s brings out true love. When love is so innocent that a person can be happy just sitting next to one another that is honest and one hundred percent love.

Peaceful and loving, Guns N’ Roses displays beautiful imagery. Using simple phrases like “fresh as the bright blue sky” brings around the image of a gorgeous sunny day. The moments that are so perfect in life are always pictured during a beautiful say. No one picture’s their wedding in the pouring rain. “Bluest skies” brings to mind an ocean, and “She’s got eyes of the bluest skies” creates the idea of swimming in the subject’s eyes. Her beauty is so captivating that no one can look at her without melting. And the artist being reminded of a “warm safe place” also reinforces the idea of a summer day. “Where as a child I’d hide” helps to realize the naïve nature of the song. The childhood idea and peaceful imagery display the artist’s feelings for the subject. The song brings to mind a peaceful summer day, and two people madly in love.

The song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses brings together non-traditional aspects to create a famous song. The rock music in nature paired with a sweet and loving message is mind boggling. The imagery paints a picture of the most beautiful day available, and the most attractive woman anyone has ever seen in your life. Personification brings the lyrics to life, and showcases many innocent and childlike aspects to love. The hyperbole brings to life the artist’s attachment to the subject, and shows how much the artist cares for the subject. The song truly brings out the idea of innocence in love.             

Lyrics to Song Analysis #2

Guns N' Roses
Sweet Child O' mine

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky

Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stare too long, I'd probably break down and cry

Whoa, oh, oh, sweet child o' mine
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I'd hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain

Her hair reminds me of a warm, safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain to quietly pass me by
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/g/guns-n_-roses-lyrics/sweet-child-o_-mine-lyrics.html ]

Whoa, oh, oh, sweet child o' mine
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet child o' mine
Ooh, sweet love of mine

Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?

Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Oh, where do we go now?

Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
(Sweet child)
Ooh, where do we go now?

Where do we go?
Oh, where do we go now?
Oh, where do we go ?

Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Oh, where do we now?

Now now now now now now now
Sweet child, sweet child o' mine

Little Green

by Joni Mitchell   
Born with the moon in Cancer
Choose her a name she will answer to
Call her green and the winters cannot fade her
Call her green for the children who've made her
Little green, be a gypsy dancer

He went to California
Hearing that everything's warmer there
So you write him a letter and say "Her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little green he's a non-conformer

Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes there'll be sorrow

Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you are sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed
Little green have a happy ending

Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes there'll be sorrow



Born with the moon in Cancer
Choose her a name she will answer to
Call her green and the winters cannot fade her
Call her green for the children who've made her
Little green, be a gypsy dancer

He went to California
Hearing that everything's warmer there
So you write him a letter and say "Her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little green he's a non-conformer

Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes there'll be sorrow

Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you are sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed
Little green have a happy ending

Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the nights when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes there'll be sorrow

Meredith Davern

“Little Green”

A shifting point of view allows Joni Mitchell in “Little Green” to employ life juxtaposition, artistic characterization, and hopeful personification to show how life’s hard decisions can “have a happy ending.”

            Moving from through several points of view helps to instill the message of a happy ending. The use of personal pronouns “she is lost to you” makes the song seem like it is happening to the listener. The listener is pulled into the song by the second person narrative, but gets interested as soon as the artist seems to be talking to them. The listener begins to realize how everyone goes through hardships, and they begin to identify with the song. When someone can identify with a song then they can really start to see and feel the emotion of a song. By changing the point of view the listener imagines it in new and different ways. The shift allows that listener to soak in the rest of the song.

            Sad but hopeful Joni uses real life juxtaposition idea to show the bright side of a terribly hard decision. The song shows both the good in giving up a child, but also makes clear how hard it is to give up someone who is loved very much. “And sometimes there’ll be sorrow” shows the hard side of life, but “have a happy ending” alludes to a hopeful ending. The song pulls the idea that one relationship is ending, but a child’s life is beginning out of the lyrics. “So you sign all the papers in the family name. You’re sad and you’re sorry, but you’re not ashamed.” All the adoption papers are signed, and her baby has been taken away, but she knows that it was the right thing to do. The decision was hard, and the outcome is sad for the mother, but it allows that child to have the chance at the life it should have. Instead of living with nothing the baby will have all the options of any other child. 

            Characterization throughout “Little Green” really shows that time and feelings of all involved in the song. “Choose her a name she will answer to” creates the idea of a child in the listeners mind. “Call her green for the children who’ve created her.” The parents themselves are young. “Child with a child” The mother was overwhelmed “pretending” that she can handle having a child by herself. The father is not there “Her eyes are blue”, and has never seen his little girl. “He is a non-conformer” alluding to the idea that he is a hippie and roaming the country. The characterization shows the personality of those involved in the song. They are not mean or vicious people giving up a child, but overwhelmed and trying to look on the bright side of a hard life.

            The repetition of personification throughout the song adds hope to a hard place. “Spring is born” is used several times in the song, and it reinforces that the song has to do with a child; it also provides hope because spring is a time for blooming and beauty. “Just like the nights when the Northern lights perform” happiness can be found in a dark place. The dark night sky can light up with the dancers also known as the Northern lights. The word choice gives the lights the ability to dance across the night sky. Using both phrases throughout the chorus shows how the artist looks on the brighter side of a very hard choice. 

Showcasing literary devices and tools; Joni Mitchell shows a bright outlook and optimism in a bad situation.   

Analysis number one. Incubus "Stellar"

Meredith Davern

“Stellar” by Incubus

Song Analysis

Moving from a narrative to expressive mood “Stellar”, Incubus utilizes a personal point of view, longing hyperbole, and instilling repetition to show how one person can make another feel “stellar.”

            The point of view in “Stellar” makes the listener think that the artist is talking to them. “How do you do it, make me feel like I do.” The artist seems to feel very close to who ever he is singing to. Repeating the word “you” and asking the audience a question makes the song very personal. Instead of the artist being a stranger it puts the idea that the artist and listener are very close. The song reaches out to the listener.  Saying “you are stellar” has them feel like the artist is close, and “I will hold you close” eludes that the singer wants to protect the person this song is meant for. The song reads more like a poem or love letter rather than lyrics. “I need you to see this place” The artist refers to themselves and wants to share with the listener. Using personal pronouns like “you” and “I” makes the artist and listener sound together. It puts the song on a very intimate level. Them combining them and using “we” makes the artist and listener appear as one. They share a bond with the song. 
               Using hyperbole allows the artist to describe emotion that is impossible in this world. “Meet me in outer space.”  The first line of the song and it really sets the bar for the level of expression in the song. It is clearly impossible to meet someone in outer space, unless they have an amazing hookup with NASA, but the artist means several different things with the statement. The first could mean that the artist wants to go far away from the world and all of its problems. The artist wants to seclude himself with the object of with affection. The quote could also mean that the artist wants to reach the outer limits with his love. He could want to go where no one else has gone. “I will hold you close, if you’re afraid of heights.” The artist wants to protect whomever the song is meant for. He wants to make her feel safe, and keep her from all of her fears. The artist is saying that he would take whoever makes him feel stellar to the end of the galaxy, and protect her from whatever happens to lie there. “It feels to be inside you” the artist is not literary inside someone, but wants the listener to see that he can see beyond just looks. He knows how the person he is singing to is. Her likes and dislikes; her real personality. The artist goes deep down to find something “stellar.”

            Repetition is used to instill the emotion of the song. “Meet me in outer space” is used twice throughout the song. The fist time it is used to tell the listener that the singer wants to get away. The artist wants to run away with the object of the song. Then it is used again to portray safety. The singer promises protection. “How do you do it, make me feel like I do.” The singer repeats this line several times to make the audience think. The artist is filled with such a great emotion from one certain person. He feels the need to write about it, and ask an audience. The repetition just adds to the emotion of the song. “You are stellar” also adds to the emotion, but it is direct. The artist is telling the person that they are amazing, spectacular, and incredible. The person that “Stellar” is about is phenomenal to the artist, and repeating the same lines instills that idea in the listener’s head.   

            The song “Stellar” portrays intense emotion for one person. The use of repetition amplifies the emotion. The lines that are repeated show the artist’s want for one person. Hyperbole exaggerates the artist’s wants, but tells that listener that he will protect them. The artist’s opinion of the subject of the song is not exaggerated. The personal point of view makes the lyrics appear more like a love letter than anything else. The lyrics really show how one person can make another feel “stellar.”     

"Stellar"

Meet me in outer space

We could spend the night, watch the earth come up

I've grown tired of that place, wont you come with me

We could start again

How do you do it, make me feel like I do

How do you do it, its better than I ever knew?

Meet me in outer space

I will hold you close, if you’re afraid of heights

I need you to see this place; it might be the only way

That I can show you how, it feels to be inside of you

How do you it, make me feel like I do

How do you do it, its better than I ever knew?

How do you do it, make me feel like I do

Do oh oh oh oh oh

You are stellar

You are stellar

How do you it, make me feel like I do

How do you do it, its better than I ever knew?

How do you do it, make me feel like I do

How do you do it, make me feel like I do, yeah.