A Date With A Literary Scholar (-Refaat Alareer)

Last Monday, we had a seminar with Refaar Alareer, who came far from Palestine to share about his experiences in writing poetry. He was indeed an amazing poet even though he wasn't a poet as his profession. His love for John Donne's and T.S Elliot's writing styles have inspired him to compose more poetries in terms of the uses of  literary devices, like metaphors and similes. The uses of metaphors and similes can be dominantly found in his favorite poem such as "And We Live On" and "I am You". His inspiration was solely created from his sense of patriotism towards Gaza and his sympathy towards the war as well as inequality in Gaza. I was quite touched and sympathies of his country's sufferings as a result of the conflicts between the Jews and the Islams for 50 years. As a result, it makes me come to realize that poetries sometimes do tell us real life stories, which can be clearly exemplified in those previous poetries and prose that have been composed by well-known poets in the history of English Literature. His determination towards establishing English Literature in Gaza, has created an awareness for myself of the importance of knowing current issues in different countries before placing any bias judgement towards the given unknown situation. This is because most of the public media are controlled by the government themselves in order to create a positive ideology of their own governmental systems. As we know, current issues in the newspapers may be telling lies and rumors which are untrue. Therefore, a deep understanding in literature is a plus point for the readers to be more rational in deliberating our thoughts and more empathy towards the sufferings of the country in Gaza.

Throughout the whole seminar, I have learnt that:

-Writing poetry is to defend ourselves based on our personal experiences in our real life. Therefore, it can  break the social gap by using English as a medium of writing. This is to create an awareness for the readers about the current issues that happening in the other country. Hence, the reader will gain new knowledges from the speaker of the poem.

- Writing in English without using their mother language is to encourage them to master their English Language and learn to be more independent without depending any translator, especially in those countries which embrace their mother tongue. (For instance, poet like Rafeef Ziadah who wrote "We teach life, sir") 

Q&A Session:

1. The question given by Maya: What kind of style of writing which are usually used in Gaza?
Refaat Alareer said that the style of writing depends on the speaker's personal experiences with his or her surroundings.

For instance,

Refaat Alareer's style of writings is based on:

a) His personal experiences

b) Love for his country

-Being a writer of poetry composition, you can be anyone in the story regardless of your personal experiences, or any encounters you have met in life.And he said, " Everybody is unique in their own way in expressing poetry." For example, in the poem "Over the Wall" by Refaat Alareer,he may be the nephew or niece of the "grandma" on the bombing scene.

2. Another question was being asked about the symbolism of olive oil which was conveyed in Refaat's blog through pictures and poetries:
He said that , olive oil symbolizes the interaction between man and land, which is known as his uprooted homeland. It was used for medicinal purposes to heal skin problems in their everyday life. The olive seeds are only planted in Gaza. Therefore, it displayed a connection of the historical background of Gaza and the Palestinians' residency for the past 50 years.

3. How do a poet write about the feeling or suffering of others? -
As a poet or a writer, we need to understand and know how to put ourself on the positions of everyone.

Lastly, the secret recipe behind his success in writing poetry is not a secret after all:

1. Read a lot of good and high quality poetry

2. Believe that you can write good stuff

-Getting yourself into believing you can do it

3. Have the will to do so.

-By writing English poems.

4. Scribble your thoughts.

5. Imitate

-By listening to the poets reciting their poems

6. Be Yourself.

-To project your self-empathy. 

For more interesting readings about Refaat Alareer's poetry, log on to http://thisisgaza.wordpress.com/

(Taken from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKucPh9xHtM)

The Understanding on War Poetry

They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.

ERNEST HEMMINGWAY

What is 'War Poetry'? 
War Poetry could be described as being: 
a) Poems which concentrate on the subject of war; or 
b) Poems which are written during a war that seems to have a noticeable influence on the poet. 
c) Many of the soldiers who participated in World War I were highly educated and wrote extensively (prose and poetry) about their experiences.

Characteristics of War Poetry:
(Based on the overview of the research title "The Theme of Futility in War Poetry" by Ahmad Abu Baker)

• The war poetry is introduced by the poets who have experienced the terror of War World I and World War World II. War poetry is considered as contemporary poetry which is authentic, original, revolutionary and free from the classical rules. 
• Dennis Brown attributes the subject of experimentation in modern poetry to the "disorientation" induce by the shock of the Great War, among other reasons (Brown 1989:11). 
• Most of the common themes, like the casualties of war and the inevitable deaths, can be found in the most well-known poets like Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon.
•  Many of them suffered from psychological problems during and after the war due to shell shock and/or the horrible scenes of mutilated bodies and human parts scattered on the battlefield. 
• War poetry captures the physical and emotional features of modern war: the pain, weariness, madness, and degradation of human beings under intolerable strain. 
• War poetry captures the physical and emotional lineaments of modern war: the pain, weariness, madness, and degradation of human beings under intolerable strain.

Change in attitude to war:

• At the beginning of the war, spirits were high and people felt very patriotic
• Soldiers as young as 17 years enlisted in huge number
• As the war continued without result for months, attitudes began to change.
• The massive injuries and high death tolls (ran into the hundreds of thousands) caused fear and despair.
• Many suffered from shell shock
• Some soldiers deliberately got injured so they would be sent back home
• Penalties for desertion or refusal to fight were very high
• Many were sent back after being treated for their wounds or psychological problems.

Gender Issues Raised by the War

• The war had been portrayed as a very manly activity, but the hours of waiting in the trenches for something to happen, brought on a passivity that seemed feminine
• The dehumanizing effects of the war lead to all kinds of psychological disorders that caused behavior that was seen as feminine. ( The emotion of fear: nervousness, crying, fearfulness)
• Many women were left behind to take on the men’s jobs in the factories. When the men returned, they often were the ones to stay at home (either injured, disabled or debilitated in some way) while the women worked. This dealt a blow to the masculinity of the soldiers while the women gained economic independence and with it a measure of self confidence.

Themes of the war: Children at War

• All armies in the Great War used kid soldiers. 
• In the beginning of the war the enthusiasm to join the battle was so great that young boys (and even girls) could hardly be stopped to enlist.
• Recruiting Officers in all countries closed their eyes when eager children clearly under the required age 
• 18 years old showed up to join their armies and lied about their age.
• At the end of the war children were even more welcome in the ranks, as the war continued to require human bodies with an astonishing need.
• Hardly trained the kids were sent to the trenches in Belgium, France, Russia and Turkey, where they mingled with the older soldiers and died with them.

Taken from:  http://www.greatwar.nl/ (Children of the great war)

Examples of Poem in World War 1:

The Soldier
By: Rupert Brooke

If should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the Eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given,
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends' and gentleness;
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

--Rupert Brooke

Analysis of the Poem:

The poem is about the sense of patriotism of an English soldier who fought against Germans during WW1. He imagined of how noble a soldier is willing to sacrifice their own life for the country. He assumed it would be well-rewarded with medals and medication for the soldiers if they won the battle.This can be quoted from stanza one, "If I should die...forever England" (lines 1-3). He is implying that if he dies in the battle, his body will forever be in that foreign field and since his dead body is there, it is like that part of the field belongs to England."There shall be...dust concealed" (lines 3-4). He rather died on the ground he fought for his country. It carried the soul of a great man who died for his country."A dust...suns of home" (lines 5-8). His death will be forever remembered by England. His soul will be immortalized, because he battled for England."And think...no less" (lines 9-10). His death is justified, because he died for England."Gives somewhere...happy as her day" (lines 11-12). His death allows him to only remember the good things about England. It also allows for someone else to come and take his place. He is narrating his dreams and thoughts about England for the next generation who will be a soldier like him; so that he can fight with as much heart and honor as he did."And laughter...under an English heaven" (lines 13-14). These last lines display the happiness that England has brought to him. As he has fought for English and he will eventually live with peace and smile with the good memories he had at heart.

Brooke, Rupert. "The Soldier." The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Twentieth Century and After. Vol. F. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: Norton, 2006. 1955-6.

References

1. Ernest Hemingway's quotation: http://www.usefultrivia.com/quotations/war_quotations.html
2. http://www.nobleworld.biz/images/Abu_Baker2.pdf
3. War Is Kind: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16409#sthash.UzxGX49E.dpuf
4. http://engres.ied.edu.hk/literature/E-lecture(Mat)/Week10(WarPoetry)/War%20Poetry%202.pdf
5. Analysis of Rupert Brooke's The Soldier: http://voices.yahoo.com/analysis-rupert-brookes-poem-soldier-4218489.html?cat=42

War Is Kind [excerpt]

  By Stephen Crane 

"Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.

Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky

And the affrighted steed ran on alone,



Do not weep.

War is kind.

Introduction to Drama

Introduction to Drama  

“Life is a theatre set in which there are but few practicable entrances.” 
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables 

Victor quoted that life is a theatre, therefore we can see that most of our everyday actions are dramas. Drama is one of the literary genre that consist of 4 important organic unity which is introduced by Aristotle, plot, setting, characters and the theme of the play. Based on the Portable Legacies (2009: 1158), the writers have stated that theatre existed in human cultures long before recorded history. Societies developed dramatic rituals with characters, costumes, makeup, masks, settings and special efforts to educate, entertain, initiate, worship the gods, and control the environment. Most of the drama in the pasta is mostly used to fulfil a ritual ceremony. This is also applicable to animated picture drama as well as the conventional stage playing. 

Types of Dramas

1. Tragedy
Aristotle has stated that a tragedy is the simulation of actions which has an important role; together with the use of beautiful language as well as the unity of length of tragedy. Tragedy will arouse a dramatic situation that allows the audience to sympathize and fear of the characters in the play due to "hamartia" (character's weaknesses). The emotions of sympathies and fear are the result of the purgation of catharsis. In Elizabethan play, the Renaissance drama ends with death and the downfall of some noble person due to his flaw in his character. Modern tragedy does not always end with death and often displays the weak and mean character instead of the strong character. 

2. Comedy
Comedy is the lighter drama in which the main characters managed to go through the obstacles that temporarily impeded their progress. When comedy becomes more absurd or amusing without concern the moral values, it becomes a farce. 

3. Fantasy
A play sometimes, but not always, in comic spirit in which the author gives free reign to his fantasy, allowing things to happen without regard to reality.

4. Melodrama
Like farce, melodrama pays almost no attention to human values, but its object is to give a thrill instead of a laugh. Melodrama is often good entertainment.

Types of Drama of Historical Interest:

1. Medieval mystery plays -- The play that contains "biblical stories" and "allegorical mysteries".
2. Chronicle plays -- The play that has taken from historical scenes and characters.
3. Masques -- The play that has singing, dancing and costuming. It is usually allegorical.

References:

The Quotations about Theatre: Victor Hugo

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/theatre

Paredes. US, Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy, n.d, 6th October 2013
         http://www.paredes.us/tragedy.html

Life Stream Center, Drama, n.d, 6th October
         http://drb.lifestreamcenter.net/Lessons/Drama.htm

Jan Zlotnik Schmidt & Lynne Crockett, Portable Legacies: Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction, First Edition: Drama, Micheal Rosemberg, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. (2009: 1158)


Image of Masks in Ancient Greek
https://www.google.com.my/search? q=ancient+greek+drama+masks&espv=210&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=V6V0Ur6LCoWCrgfBlYGYBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1092&bih=480

Introduction to Poetry

INTRODUCTION TO POETRY

“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." - William Wordsworth

The ancient Greeks and Romans regarded poetry as the means in expressing their feelings spiritually and philosophically using oral tradition. It is the language of emotions, which is expressed from the heart of the poet (Kirzener & Mendel Pg. 659, 664).

Function of Poetry based on William Wordsworth:

Solely giving pleasure to the reader

It gives pleasure because:

a) It imitates nature well, and a thing well-imitated causes pleasure.

b) It increases the reader's knowledge of the primary nature of men.

c) It arouses sympathy that brings inner sympathy.

d) It increases the reader's knowledge of the essence of men and nature.

Four stages of Poetic Composition:

1. Stage one: Observation

Perception of the object, character or situation that brings in the emotional state of the poet's thought.

     2. Stage Two: Recollection

The poet will explore his or her past experiences stored in the part of their unexplored thoughts that will bring peacefulness in them.

     3.Stage three: Filtering

 The poet  is purged of non-essential elements and thus makes his experience communicable to all men. For instance, generating the emotion in his or her mind to gain the emotion that is needed to compose a poem.

    4. Stage four: Composition

The process of composing poetry starts here. The poet seeks to express his feelings on a paper and talks to the reader. Wordsworth claimed that it is important to share poetry with the reader by expressing your expression well in writing a poem.

Types of Poetry:

1.Narrative Poem

• Epics
• Ballad (Ballad Stanza)

2. Lyrical Poem

• Elegy
• Ode
• Aubade
• Ocassional Poem
• Meditation
• Pastoral
• Emblem Poem
• Visual Poetry (Dadaism, Surrealism, Futurism)
• Concrete Poetry

References:

Kriszner and  Mandell. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting and Writing. Boston, 

Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Unit 3: Wordsworth: Preface to Lyrical Ballad, n.d, 6th October 2013.

             https://sites.google.com/site/nmeictproject/collections/3-2-3-definition-of-poetry

Raghukul, T (1996). History & Principal of Literary Criticism. New Delhi: Rama Brothers: William Wordsworth (Pg. 243-255)