"Those Winter Sundays": Analysis

       The poem, Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden, tells of a father's undying and unconditional love for his child.  I find it admirable that even on his day off, the father "got up early...and made fire blaze" (Hayden, 781).  the loving man works day in and day out strictly for his concern for his family.  Looking back, the narrator recognizes his failure to be appreciative for his father's efforts.  I assume the speaker feels guilty for never thanking his hardworking elder.  I really enjoyed the simplicity of the poem.  Although the piece consists of a few lines, it tells an important story of a loving father.  I believe the message of this work is to be forever aware and grateful of parents and all that they do for their children.

"The Joy of Cooking": Tone

      In reading The Joy of Cooking by Elaine Magarrell, I find the narrator's tone to be snobbish and unsatisfied.  To start, the speaker describes her brother's heart to "need an apple-onion stuffing to make it interesting at all" (Magarrell).  So, the narrator judging something pure and natural: her brother.  Clearly, this person makes adjustments because her own blood is not quite to her liking.  This morbid piece contains a tone that reveals the speaker to be ungrateful of her relatives.  The tone criticizes two people the narrator believes can simply not be positively altered.  The poem's language is harsh and franks, conveying the conceited tone to the audience.  The tone is mainly displayed through the descriptive cooking actions done to the body parts.  Moreover, by describing all of the steps taken to better her siblings, the speaker shows that she is ungrateful and arrogant.

"The Drunkard": Usage of Humor

       Upon finishing The Drunkard by Frank O'Connor, I sense the clever usage of humor.  In the beginning, Father wishes to go to the pub after the funeral of his close friend.  But, mother forces Father to bring their small son, Larry, along with him.  Right off the bat, there is humor to be found in the fact that children are usually neither wanted nor allowed into bars.  Then, to add to the humorous event, Larry consumes enough alcohol to make him extremely drunk.  I believe that these laughable occurrences aid mother in getting a point across.  Mother seems to be completely lived upon seeing her intoxicated child, but then calls her son her "brave little man" and says that he is his father's "guardian angel" (O'Connor, 351).  In greater depth, Mother scolds Father for their sons becoming drunk, hoping to embarrass him enough to stop drinking.  I predict that the overall message of the short story is to express the importance of being a responsible adult.  by adding humor to this work, the reader can easily identify the theme of responsibility.

"A Worn Path": Allusion

         In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, I notice a striking and unique allusion.  The  main character's name of Phoenix Jackson serves as an allusion to a bird, the Phoenix.  This mythological creature rises from his own ashes after death.  Upon its rebirth, the Phoenix becomes even stronger than it was in its previous life.  Like this bird, Phoenix Jackson faces many hardships in her journey for her grandson's medication, but gains strength in overcoming obstacles.  Moreover, Phoenix is stopped by a white man who tries to stop her from entering town.  But, Phoenix held still with "a fierce and different radiation" (Welty, 227).  Phoenix, after being ridiculed and insulted, finds inner confidence and determination to press forward.  Just like the mythological creature, Phoenix Jackson rises above her challenges in life and leaves her hardships in the past.  I believe the author, Eudora Welty, creates this allusion to depict the outwardly old and delusional Phoenix as a character of strength.

"Once Upon a Time": Irony

     After finishing Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer, I look back at the tremendous usage of irony.  To start, the author creates the image of a perfect family residing in a gorgeous suburb in an almost perfect home.  The one detail that would make this family's flawless life complete is insured protection from "people of another color..." (Gordimer, 233).  To achieve this, alarms, towering brick walls, and ferocious, razor-bladed coils are added to the house.  With these devices, the family appears to be well on their way to finally "live happily ever after" (Gordimer, 232).  In reality, the protection systems do not allow for a better life, but serve as a constant reminder of the dangers that loom outside of the suburb.  Moreover, now, the members of the family have shut themselves up in their perfect house with their reliable security systems.  However, in the end, the little boy ventures outside to play and gets ripped to shreds by the coils around the home.  I find irony in this because the protection system was put up to guarantee safety, but, in reality, it caused more harm to the family than the burglars ever did.

A Raisin in the Sun: Imagery

   While reading A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I find the usage of imagery to be purposeful to the overall plot of the play.  To start, the characters are engulfed in a, as they say, "touch of ghettoitis" area (Hansberry).  Hansberry excells in painting the setting of an impoverished family's household for her audience.  In my personal opinion, the dingy environment is what drives Walter and Beneatha to yearn for success.  Without this detailed image of the character's home, the reader would fail to recognize the fierce motivations experienced by Lena's children.  Also, imagery, in this case, set the mood of this American Drama.  Moreover, the dumpy, roach infested house creates a hopeless mood that fits the attitudes of the characters.  Imagery allows the reader to create himself a vivid picture of the environment of the play and make connections with the aspirations of the characters.

A Raisin in the Sun: Comparison with "A Dream Deferred"

     When thinking of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I cannot help compare this well-known, American Drama with Langston Hughes's poem, A Dream Deferred.  It is as if A Dream Deferred was written after finishing A Raisin in the Sun.  In the poem, the process of having a dream taken away is described as stinking, drying up, festering, crusting over, sagging, and exploding.  In the play, Walter goes through this painful process.  In attempting to make a man of himself, Walter experiences a hopelessness which could be described as a lingering sign of his failure.  This pain causes Walter Lee bears the heavy load of shame and disappointment.  Like in the poem, a deferred dream has a looming stink that serves as a constant reminder of abashment.  Mama claims that it "seems like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams" (Hansberry).  In analyzing this, I feel that Lena means that the people who see most likely to achieve their dreams will never stop having those hopes and aspirations.  These people will go their the agonizing emotions noted by Langston Hughes due to the beliefs of the society in that era.  Both pieces of literature discuss the emotional dealings of what happens to those whose dreams are pushed away from them.

A Raisin in the Sun: Symbolism

    After reading A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I find a vital object of symbolism in this American Drama.  I believe that Lena's plant symbolizes her hopes and dreams for a better life.  This symbol also shows the hardworking attitude and dedication Lena has for her family.  For one, Lena and Big Walter deemed their first house a temporary home until they could make enough money to move into a bigger one.  Lena and her husband are unable to rise from this surrounding poverty. In this house, Lena yearns for a garden, but instead has a little old plant.  When talking about her dream of a garden, Mama claims that the little plant "is the closest (she) ever got to having one" (Hansberry).  So, even when Lena is immersed in an impoverished environment, her intense sense of hope lives on.  Lena claims that this plant will survive in the poorest of soils, but will blossom in better conditions.  I assume that like the plant, Lena's family, although living in poor conditions, has the potential to do great, admirable things.

A Raisin in the Sun: Hubris

      After analyzing the character Walter Lee from A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I find his hubris.  Walter's Lee's hubris is his determination to overcome poverty.  This tragic flaw causes Walter to be extremely self-absorbed.  For example, Walter Lee only thinks of himself and his terrible day when Ruth wishes to discuss her newly learned pregnancy.  Because Walter is so intrigued in achieving his dream of opening a liquor store, he fails to recognize the importance of using his mother's check towards Beneatha's schooling.  Walter's blinding determination causes his mother, wife, and sister to be very cross with him.  Mama is extremely disappointed that Walter Lee is not living up to be the man his father was.  Just when things appear to be working themselves out, Walter learns that he got completely cheated out of his chance to open his store.  This hubris causes Walter Lee to mindlessly "stake (his) life in the deal" when he spend his mother's whole check (Hansberry). Walter Lee's tragic flaw consumes him so much to the point that he puts his yearning for success before the well being of his family.

A Raisin in the Sun: Internal Conflicts

      Upon finishing the American Drama, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I sense numerous internal conflicts existing in the minds of the characters.  To start, Walter and Beneatha seems to be reliant on money for their happiness.  As mama says, "Once life used to be about freedom- now it's about money!" (Hansberry).  Because of this change of attitude, the many colored people of this area seek a better lifestyle rather than being appreciative of the life they have.  Walter, working the lowly job of chauffeur for a rich white man, thinks that money will allow him to fully provide for his family.  I actually understand Walter's way of thinking.  Money will make this dreamer feel like the man of the house ought to feel; in charge.  However, Beneatha needs financial aid for her schooling.  Without this money, Beneatha will not be able to acquire an education to become a doctor.  All in all, these characters both struggle with the knowledge that they may not have the money to make their dreams come true.