Thursday, October 16, 2014
Figurative Language
Your task this week is to choose a poem (or song) of your choice to illustrate the use of the figurative language we discussed in class. Keep in mind that the simile and metaphor are common enough that students are more familiar with their usage. Therefore, the challenge is to detect the use of metonymy or synecdoche in a poem or song. Be selective. Your discussion should highlight the use of figurative language and also you should indicate how this brings more depth or meaning to your selection. Please also post a copy of the poem or song you are discussing.
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"Hey Brother" by Avicii
ReplyDeleteHey brother, there’s an endless road to re-discover.
Hey sister, know the water's sweet but blood is thicker.
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
Hey brother, do you still believe in one another?
Hey sister, do you still believe in love, I wonder?
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
What if I'm far from home?
Oh, brother I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh, sister I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
Hey brother, there’s an endless road to re-discover.
Hey sister, do you still believe in love, I wonder?
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
What if I'm far from home?
Oh, brother I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh, sister I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
Recently we have reviewed some previous literary devices, such as similes, metaphors, personification, and apostrophe, while learning two new ones. The newest devices we have learned were Synecdoche and Metonymy. The two of these are very similar and can easily be mistaken for one another. However, a synecdoche uses a part of something to describe its whole while a metonymy uses something closely related to mean something else.
DeleteAs we have also discussed in class, songs are a type of poetry where these literary devices can also be found. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I had a hard time finding a song that used Metonymy and/or Synecdoche. I was looking to hard in the hardest way. Rather than looking at the lyrics for examples, I was thinking of examples and trying to find them in song lyrics. I was about to give up for the night, until I accidentally opened my i-tunes account on my laptop. When the song “Hey Brother” by Avicii played on my I-tunes, I noticed two specific lines that screamed “metonymy.” The first line to stand out, in my opinion, was the statement in line two saying, “water's sweet but blood is thicker.” A metonymy is used, with blood meaning family. The speaker is saying while friends are nice, “waters sweet” (2), family always comes first, “blood is thicker” (2). I found another metonymy that was used multiple times. five times to be exact. This same line was repeated in each stanza, in lines 3, 7, 13, 17, and 23. The line being reiterated time and time again is, “Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you.” Now, how many of you remember Chicken Little, and his famous line when he thought the world was ending, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” Could this line in Avicii’s “Hey Brother” be a Metonymy, really meaning if her world is ending rather than the sky actually falling? In my opinion, I think that that was what the speaker was referring to.
Although I do not think that this next example really qualifies as a Metonymy, I think it could quite possibly be an excellent allusion. I couldn’t help it, I just had to share this as I got so excited upon picking it out. First things first, it is important to understand this line, that we understand the song. In my opinion, this song is an older brother watching his younger siblings make mistakes that he wishes he could help them with. When we look specifically at what is spoken to the brother (hence the title, “Hey Brother”) it seems as if the boy has made some life mistakes and wandered down the wrong path, and is afraid it is too late to turn around. The speakers response to this? “Theres an endless road to rediscover” (1). Personally, I think that this is an allusion to the famous poem, “The Road Not Taken.” The speakers brother has chosen the wrong path, but the speaker tells him that it is okay, because he can find his way back to the start, “rediscover” (1) it, and begin again from there.
Now, this is just a shot in the dark and I could be completely missing the authors true meaning, but with the similarities that I found I just had to share, as well as ask if anyone else had noticed this or agrees or disagrees with my findings. I always look forward to comments on my posts, as no matter what they say, they are always beneficial.
Felicia,
DeleteI had a really great response typed and my iPad deleted it. Round two. You did a great job! Fate works in funny ways and I think you fatefully analyzed this song because I have never liked not understood it. But through your analysis I have come to respect and find beauty in it. So I do not know if the singer intended to allude to Robert Frost's poem, but that was my favorite part if your analysis! It was kind of hidden amongst the other lyrics but it makes perfect sense! I loved that you were able to draw the connection between this song, something I'm so intentionally unfamiliar with, and that poem, something we've all probably read countless times. Also, I never really understood the meaning or theme of this song, especially the line about the water and blood. I thought it was weird, maybe the singer was trying to confess he was a vampire. But when you pointed out the metonymy there and elaborated on your opinion of the songs theme it all kind of came together for me. I still don't think I'll ever like this song but you at least made it mean something real and emotional for me. I also liked how you went over the meaning of metonymy and synecdoche because they are so easy to mix up. Thanks and you did a great great job!
Felicia,
DeleteThis was an excellent choice! I love this song, but it was one of those things how you listen to it over and over and over until the next time you hear it you want to throw your iPad against a wall. Now, I truly have time to appreciate the beautiful lyrics that Avicii created. Your found some excellent examples of metonymy and they really enhanced the poem. The "water's sweet but blood is thicker" line was always one of my favorites. I did get the connection between "blood" and "family" but I didn't get the connection between "friends" and "water" until I read your analysis. I also loved how you chose to connect this song to Robert Frost and his poem. That wasn't something I would have thought about, and you're right. That line is really a good line that was important to point out. Good job Felicia!
Felicia,
DeleteI'm so happy you chose this song for your blog. I'm personally a big fan of Avicii, and his music. I could rarely understand the meaning of his lyrics, but his rhythms are something else. I had never thought of the second line as metonymy, but your interpretation changes my view on it. I had always thought it was literal lyrics, not all that figurative. But you have changed my mind on this piece. I love how you inserted a bit about Chicken Little, again you brought something different to my attention. The concept of big brother guiding his siblings, is very understandable. I had personally thought it was an elder giving some advice to the younger generation, same concept just on a larger scale. “Theres an endless road to rediscover” (1)! could possibly be an allusion to Robert Frost's poem "The Road not Taken". It could also allude to the idea that there are endless roads to take and find your own path. But those are simply speculations, either way after reading your blog and the points suggested. You definitely gave me some points to think about. Thank you.
'Out, out-' -Robert Frost
ReplyDeleteThe buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard
And made dust and dropped stove-length sticks of wood,
Sweet-scented stuff when the breeze drew across it.
And from there those that lifted eyes could count
Five mountain ranges one behind the other
Under the sunset far into Vermont.
And the saw snarled and rattled, snarled and rattled,
As it ran light, or had to bear a load.
And nothing happened: day was all but done.
Call it a day, I wish they might have said
To please the boy by giving him the half hour
That a boy counts so much when saved from work.
His sister stood beside him in her apron
To tell them ‘Supper.’ At the word, the saw,
As if to prove saws knew what supper meant,
Leaped out at the boy’s hand, or seemed to leap—
He must have given the hand. However it was,
Neither refused the meeting. But the hand!
The boy’s first outcry was a rueful laugh,
As he swung toward them holding up the hand
Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all—
Since he was old enough to know, big boy
Doing a man’s work, though a child at heart—
He saw all spoiled. ‘Don’t let him cut my hand off—
The doctor, when he comes. Don’t let him, sister!’
So. But the hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then—the watcher at his pulse took fright.
No one believed. They listened at his heart.
Little—less—nothing!—and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.
Robert Frost is a poet that I think we're all familiar, but I was shocked when I read this poem by him. I was so used to his poems being about life and nature that this dramatic poem caught me off guard. The story itself that is revealed throughout the poem is sad, to say the least. But Frost uses literary devices, including forms of figurative speech, to make the horror of this more impactful. What really stood out for me was the focus on the chain saw. When the saw wanted to prove that is "knew what supper meant" (15) Frost is personifying it because, in reality, a saw could neither know nor show that it understands the word supper. Frost also used repetition to emphasize the importance of the saw. It "snarled and rattled" (1) until cut the boy's hand. There was also the duel use of saw. First and foremost, it was the instrument that the boy was using to create "stove-length sticks of wood" (2). But saw is used again in line 22 because "the boy saw all" meaning that he understood how dangerous his would was.
There was one obvious metonymy in Frost's poem. When the boy's hand is cut he attempts to prevent "the life from spilling" (22) from it. "The life" is another way of saying his blood. It is used as a metonymy because, by referring to his blood as his life, Frost is foreshadowing that the boy will lose his life just as he was losing his blood and just as his "hand was already gone" (27). In this line, hand is a metonymy for life and, again, the boy's death is foreshadowed through this. Once the metonymies are realized the ending almost becomes less startling. It is easier to return to ones "affairs" (34) when death is apparent, as it most likely was to the doctor and sister. If the reader does not detect the metonymy, they are not as prepared for the boy's death as the sister and doctor were. Frost can be considered a master of poetry, but I find this poem to be one of his greatest works. He gives the reader the opportunity to realize the boy's impending death before it actually happens but he does not make it obvious so that, when the ending comes, it is still a bit of a shock.
Although it may not have been Frost's purpose, I saw this poem as a metaphor for life. In life, we never know what will come. His poem shows a boy "doing a man's work" (24) as the sun sets in "Vermont" (6). It is an entirely normal scene until the boy's hand is tragically sliced and he dies. Even in the poem it is sudden. One moment he is cutting wood and then he is begging his sister to save his hand as he loses his life. In my opinion, this exhibits how quickly things can change. Frost is not being insensitive when he has the doctor and sister return "to their affairs" (34), he is showing that, even after tragedy, life must go on.
DeleteAnn, I find it really ironic that you chose this particular poem because I almost did too! It’s great and I think I’m growing to like Robert Frost more and more just like you like Poe. “The horror of this”, meaning the poem, was my favorite line in your blog. I have to agree, this poem is completely different from what we are used to reading from Frost. It possessed a darker and less optimistic tone such as the one in “The Road Less Traveled”. Repetition and personification are things that have been briefly covered in class, but I’m really glad you chose to mention them in your blog because it allowed a different perspective of the objects in the poem for us that are reading your blog. Repetition is one of the most interesting things in my opinion. It allows the author to plant an idea in the reader’s head and then enforce it over and over again without seeming too annoying or persistent. “There was one obvious metonymy in Frost's poem” made me laugh. It’s weird to think that something as well written as this poem can have anything “obvious” but you’re right. That was metonymy “jumped” right out at me the first time I read through the poem. I agree with your points and would like to thank you for introducing me to a different side of Robert Frost I hadn’t read before. Good work!
DeleteAnn,
DeleteOh, how I absolutely love this poem! It is so different from Frost's typical poetry, and I think that is the main reason why I love it so much. Like Jessica, I almost decided to use this poem as well. I really liked how you discussed the saw in detail in your first paragraph. The first time I read the poem, I didn't even make the connection with the line "the boy saw all." I was glad to see you mentioned the personification and repitition of the saw, as it really opened my eyes to the importance of the saw in this poem. The metonymy in this poem is absolutely amazing. I was so shocked at the ending of the poem until I understood the metonymies. Overall, this was an awesome blog, Ann!
"Candle In The Wind" by Elton John
ReplyDeleteGoodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
Candle in the Wind by Elton John is a beautiful song originally written about Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn made have been seen as infamous for her many sexual scandals, but people have come to pity this poor girl. She turned to many killers. The drugs took over her life. She had developed the belief that she was not good enough for anyone. She did not love herself which led to no one ever truly loving her. This is all because "the press...hounded" (22) her.
Delete"The press" (22) is a synecdoche. The word is only describing a small part of what was really affecting her. Many people made her feel lowly. They questioned her character, especially because of her affair with the youngest president John F. Kennedy. At the time, people wondered what she was in for. The money, fame, or the love she was not receiving? It was also said that people thought she was blackmailing her numerous men. But this poor woman just wanted love at the end of the day.
Elton John's first line "Goodbye Norma Jean" (1) starts of the song with Monroe's real name. Is this use of her real name or "Marilyn Monroe" (28) the metonymy? I believe her real name is the metonymy in this song. The new name was what made her so well known. It is more common today for people to know her birth name, but most are going to refer to her as Marilyn. Except Elton John called her "a candle in the wind" (10). This simile is representing how Monroe was still a flame the wind could never blow out. Although Marilyn was seen as a sex icon, she was more than that. She was the first woman to represent curvier women. Her many quotes also are about love and happiness with oneself, something she lacked. This remarkable woman pleased many others before herself leading her to a heart wrenching death.
The "candle" (15) is later seen as something else. Elton John uses it to represent her life, and how it "burned out long before"(15) her "legend ever did" (16). This metaphor is used to show that Marilyn's legend never ended, although she did. She may not be the best role model, based on her actions, but this particular woman can never be forgotten. She was beautiful and strong for a long time. She fought against the harsh comments, trying to push them aside. However, once she was told repeatedly how awful she was, she believed it. It was only human for her to break under all the pressure. She endure many harmful words that she fought for a long time.
In the last stanza, Elton John refers to himself. He wanted to mention to Marilyn Monroe that he saw her "as something more than sexual" (27). He pitied this woman, but loved her. She was treated poorly, and Elton John wanted her to know in this elergy that she was appreciated by him. She inspired him to become a better person. Elton John's song was a way to change the view of many that judged her to quickly.
The use of figurative language in this song brought a whole new meaning to Marilyn Monroe. Instead of seeing her as a sex icon she was seen as a woman who had been constantly torn apart by America. Elton John wanted people to see her in a new light. By using her birth name he was able to show she was any ordinary person. Others may say her quotes mean nothing because she was a drugged up low life who used sex to better herself, but this song shows another side of her. She wanted to love, and be loved in return. She may not have been able to take her own advice, but that advice may be what helps a young woman overcome self esteem issues. Candle in the Wind was for people to understand Marilyn Monroe better.
Kaitlin,
DeleteThank you for your blog! Not only did I get to see the different figurative language devices, but I also learned quite a bit about Marilyn Monroe too. I haven't really ever listened to this song with the intent of remembering it, it's always been background music. But now that I have read your analysis of it, I see why it is such a good song.
I like how you said that her new moniker is the metonymy. "Marilyn Monroe" wasn't just a person, she was a brand. Everyone knew her, and she and her name were used to sell products. While she chose to have intimate relationships with many men that many other women would have been criticized for in a way that ruined their careers, she still was able to hold her own until she passed away. Her true name, Norma Jean, probably wasn't ever used by the men who she had relationships with, and this separated that life from this one.
His reference to her as a candle is very interesting because while a candle normally would blow out in the wind, he specifically says that she is "candle blowing IN the wind". She is fighting back against the wind which is essentially all of the people who are telling her she can, and she is saying "Oh, but I can." This was a really good choice Kaitlin and I enjoyed your blog.
Mama said, "You're a pretty girl.
ReplyDeleteWhat's in your head, it doesn't matter
Brush your hair, fix your teeth.
What you wear is all that matters."
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
Blonder hair, flat chest
TV says, "Bigger is better."
South beach, sugar free
Vogue says, "Thinner is better."
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts (pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts (pretty hurts), we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
Ain't got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away
The pain's inside and nobody frees you from your body
It's the soul, it's the soul that needs surgery
It's my soul that needs surgery
Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far
Then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark
You left with shattered mirrors and the shards of a beautiful past
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst (pretty hurts)
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
When you're alone all by yourself (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
And you're lying in your bed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Reflection stares right into you (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
You stripped away the masquerade (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
The illusion has been shed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Yes
"Pretty Hurts" by Beyoncé is recognized now as one of the most important songs in respect to helping young women recognize that social standards are hurting them. With the recent growth in social media and the pressure for young girls to prove that they are pretty in the ways that society dictates, this is an excellent song to see come from one of the most influential women of this time. Beyonce's song uses some excellent figurative language to show the deeper meaning of her lyrics and creates a song that holds poignant meaning for those who look for it.
This entire song seems to me to be a metaphorical representation of how society pressures girls into being "perfect". The whole world has become "just another stage" (5) for women because everywhere they go they must play the part of a woman who is beautiful, strong, and independent. If they can accomplish this they will "take the crown" (6) and earn people's respect. This song personifies the idea of being pretty when it says "pretty hurts" (8) because the singer is trying to say that while some people can achieve being "pretty" the cost that it took to get there still can hurt the person behind the facade. This personification shows that the drive to become pretty is actually destructive if it has bad purposes.
"TV says, "Bigger is better." / Vogue says, "Thinner is better.""(14,16) is another personification of both TV and Vogue. These are two sources of societal opinions that have a huge amount of influence on women, and they act almost as if they are another person in their lives who is always giving advice whether or not it is helpful or healthy. This is why "perfection is a disease of a nation" (9) because of our nation chooses to only accept the people who are perfect then we will never truly accept anyone. So, our nation is plagued with the idea that everyone needs to be perfect and that any mistakes cannot be allowed or forgiven. "It' style soul that needs the surgery" (12) is another example of personification of the soul. This is an intangible thing and to even consider doing surgery on it seems ludicrous but once you think about the situations, it makes sense as to why our souls need surgery. We need to remove the malicious tumor that is society's pressure to be perfect.
DeleteIn the last two stanzas, there is a change of rhythm in the song and we see one last piece of personification. "Reflection stares right into you" (39) creates the illusion that this woman's reflection actually has the ability to stare at her, which is very symbolic because this woman is seeing herself as other people see her, yet it is still twisted because women do not view themselves as others do. They skew their own image with flaws that aren't actually there or grossly exaggerate them. There is a metonymy in the word "masquerade" (41) which is used to mean illusion or disguise as a masquerade is a ball in which all of the attendees where masks and costumes for the purpose of creating complete anonymity between the guests. This makes the listener really think about what this woman is doing to herself to appease those around her and to finally feel accepted.
Hannah,
DeleteI loved this blog. As the only guy in the class I can honestly say that this song is very true. Social media targeting young women, has become harmful to their health and personality. Some songs these days do force the way people act these days, or the way they view themselves. Most of the time media gives the wrong image for people to follow, but in this case the song encourages girls to not conform and be themselves.
Your analysis in the last two paragraphs is spot on. The explanations of the figurative language was very well done. In the last two sentences of the third paragraph where you mentioned the pressure to be perfect. I feel that the "malicious tumor" does in fact need to be removed. However I don't think the sentence on rhythm was needed, but it does hint to the personification as stated in your blog. The metonymy you caught was very well elaborated, and was well hidden. The idea behind the "masquerade"(41) could be a disguise or as an illusion as stated. Perhaps it suggests how one puts on a mask to act like someone else, it's simply a speculation to consider. But either way good work, Hannah.
Hannah, Thank you for introducing me to this song! I have seen a few of these lyrics posted online, but I have never actually heard the song. I am listening to it now, and I love it! Your blog provides great examples and details. This is indeed a powerful song, and I am happy that you chose to analyze it and share your thoughts with us. My favorite line in the song is “perfection is a disease of a nation.” It’s so true! Beyonce really is one of my favorites ever for songs such as these. She is such an inspiration, and she is so confident! I don’t care what anybody says, she is a great role model. Did you hear about the time she sued H&M? They wanted her to do a photo shoot. However, before they posted her picture everywhere, they photoshopped her legs! Of course she noticed, and she angry to say at the least. She said if they wanted her, then they wanted her… and the photoshopped pictures were not her. I really gained a lot of respect for her when I found that out. But back to your blog, you did a great job as always. You have a way of writing that is easy to understand while staying extremely sophisticated. Great job!
DeleteP.S. It was so nice seeing you at Behrend this weekend! I hope you enjoyed your visit- I know I did!
"Wrecking Ball" - Miley Cyrus
ReplyDeleteWe clawed, we chained our hearts in vain
We jumped never asking why
We kissed, I fell under your spell.
A love no one could deny
Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I can't live a lie, running for my life
I will always want you
I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me
Yeah, you, you wreck me
I put you high up in the sky
And now, you're not coming down
It slowly turned, you let me burn
And now, we're ashes on the ground
Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I can't live a lie, running for my life
I will always want you
I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me
I came in like a wrecking ball
Yeah, I just closed my eyes and swung
Left me crashing in a blazing fall
All you ever did was wreck me
Yeah, you, you wreck me
I never meant to start a war
I just wanted you to let me in
And instead of using force
I guess I should've let you win
I never meant to start a war
I just wanted you to let me in
I guess I should've let you win
Don't you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you
I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me
I came in like a wrecking ball
Yeah, I just closed my eyes and swung
Left me crashing in a blazing fall
All you ever did was wreck me
Yeah, you, you wreck me
Yeah, you, you wreck me
Surprisingly enough, Miley Cyrus is capable of utilizing several different examples of figurative language in her song, "Wrecking Ball." These examples include hyperbole, simile, synecdoche, metaphor, and metonymy. This song has a great beat to it, but the lyrics have a much more meaningful purpose than to make you dance. Despite the music video being quite provocative, the song is actually her way of telling her side of the story concerning her past relationship. I have to admit, though, it took me a long time to find a song or poem with examples of either metonymy or synecdoche, but I'm glad my journey landed me with this son because I now look at it completely differently.
DeleteThe most obvious form of figurative language is located in the refrain when Cyrus says "I came in like a wrecking ball" (9). This simile compares her destructive actions to that of a wrecking ball, which can bring a building down to ruins in just a few swings. Next, we come across an interesting hyperbole. "I put you high up in the sky" (14) is an exaggerated expression because she did not literally raise him to the sky, but rather her expectations for him were reaching too far. She tried so hard to get him to contribute to the relationship, that she needed up just pushing him farther away. This verse leads into the metaphor at the end of the stanza, "we're ashes on the ground" (17). The relationship they once shared is burned to nothing more than ashes, almost like when you are desperately trying to build a fire that you end up blowing the small flame out. She tried too hard for something he didn't want anymore, eventually stepping on her, like when someone steps on the ashes of a fire to put it out. When she said that she "never meant to start a war" (31), "war" doesn't mean actual war, but rather a useless fight between the two with the result being more destructive than the argument. "Last but not least, metonymy is expressed in the refrain when Cyrus states that "All I wanted was to break your walls" (11). His walls are another way of saying that she wanted to crack open the defense he put up to avoid talking about his feelings and their relationship.
The figurative language found in "Wrecking Ball" literally blew my mind. I was not expecting to find metonymy, but the use of it in the lyrics really emphasize on Miley's reasoning for being so involved in the relationship. Being that she truly wanted the relationship, the wrecking ball reference could also mean that she destroyed herself because she kept trying to fix what wasn't necessarily broken. This is just my opinion, but it makes sense to me. When the music video for this sing was released, a lot of people were shocked and refused to like or listen to the song; it gave people a reason to judge Miley. But when only looking at the words found beneath the music, "Wrecking Ball" is something that many people can relate to. The figurative language allows the actual situation to be somewhat hidden, giving listeners their own reason to relate to the song.
Natalie, I never would have thought a Miley Cyrus song could have so many examples of figurative language! I really enjoyed how you included other examples like hyperbole and such rather than just the ones we had gone over in class before. I have to agree with you, I had a hard time trying to find a song that possessed both synecdoche and metonymy, but the struggle was definitely worth it when I found mine as well. I’ll never be able to look at “Wrecking Ball” the same way again. The music video is quite… different to say the least. Provocative was a very good way to describe it. The song is so catchy that I never really felt the need to look into any sort of deeper meaning. I had learned the lyrics so I could sing along when it came on the radio, but the concept that there was a more emotional story behind the words never really came into play in my head. I applaud you for mentioning that. I should have figured with the relationships that she’s been in; she’s not up to the number that Taylor Swift is, but that’s a different story for another time. I never really imagined myself being able to truly relate to anything Miley Cyrus wrote after she stopped being Hannah Montana, but after reading your blog, I may have to reevaluate my opinion on that. Good work!
DeleteNatalie,
DeleteI loved that you picked this song. I agree with you that Miley was trying to show her side of the story. Everyone was so quick to say it was all her fault, but that is not how it works. People wanted a reason to hate her. This song and music video was a perfect way for them to feel so strongly against her. Personally, I felt the same in the beginning. I watched her show Hannah Montana when I was younger. Eventually the show became more and more annoying as I grew with age. Therefore, I began to dislike Miley because she was the main character.
You mentioned the music video. Yes! I never watched it, but people have told me about it. I was shocked like many other people with her decision. Along with many other, I thought she made that decision to tell people "I am NOT Hannah Montana anymore!" I did not agree with it. However, I saw it differently after I thought about it. She was just trying to show people the vulnerable side of her. Miley was telling people her side, like you said. It frustrates me that people think this was a ridiculous decision when other singers did the same thing, but we're not judged. Great choice, Natalie! Loved the figurative language you included as well. It brought a another meaning to the song. Great job!
Natalie,
DeleteWow! I'm right there with you, who knew this song had so much hidden meaning! I have always loved how she sang this song, soft and resigned in the verses and desperately aggressive in the refrain. But it was never a song that I bothered to learn any lyrics besides the refrain. Because it's Miley Cyrus, right? Right now I'm thinking that we are all so busy judging her that we totally forget that she has had a twisted life just like I've missed the tragically beautiful meaning of her song. Your analysis was enlightening for me because you took what could be considered the most vague lines of the song and revealed that they are actually miniature literary works. Suddenly this song is more desperate and hopeless than it ever was before in my eyes. It goes to show that the lyrics are just as important as the way the song is sung.
Can you relate to this relationship? I think I see it differently than you, particularly what is being described in the refrain. When she says "I came in like a wrecking ball" I thought that she was referring to the way she approached the "war" she never intended to start. I felt like she got sick of him wrecking her all the time so she "closed [her] eyes and swung" just so that she could cause him as much pain as he caused her. I totally relate to that, I've been there. But maybe that's not what she's actually talking about. I wonder because, if there is one thing I have come to realize through the process of analyzing and blogging, it is that our personal opinions and experiences really dictate how we perceive something. I see the refrain that way because I've had "wrecking ball" relationships. That seems like an extremely appropriate name for the song, now. It's not just about being a wrecking ball. It's about totally destroying the thing that is destroying you. Anyway, I definitely enjoyed your blog this week. I think you did a fantastic job in finding figurative language and using it to develop the meaning of the song as well as your opinion. Fantastic job!
…Can we all just as a class take a moment to appreciate this? Look how may appearances Miley Cyrus has made in our AP English Literature blog! I am actually quite impressed. I have never been a big fan of Miley, and I sure didn’t think I would be a part of weekly, in-depth conversations on her. As much as society loves to say she broke free and just went crazy in spite of Disney, it is quite clear that there was nothing simple about her situation and a lot of emotions were involved. Miley really is a deep person, or a complex character!
DeleteNatalie, focusing on your blog, I am amazed. I actually looked for some devices in this same exact song, but I easily gave up and moved on to the next. I was surprised when I saw the title of the song. I thought to myself, “no way.” I finished reading, and the same thought popped into my head. I just can’t get over how in-depth our class has gone with this song! We might as well just take al of our blog posts on it and create a book. But anyway, I loved how you expanded your blog and mentioned multiple devices. It really showed how well you analyzed and understood the lyrics! I agree with each and every one of your examples. Great job, Natalie!
RON POPE lyrics : "A DROP IN THE OCEAN"
ReplyDeleteA drop in the ocean,
A change in the weather,
I was praying that you and me might end up together.
It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,
But I'm holding you closer than most,
'Cause you are my heaven.
I don't wanna waste the weekend,
If you don't love me, pretend
A few more hours, then it's time to go.
And as my train rolls down the East coast,
I wonder how you keep warm.
It's too late to cry, too broken to move on.
Still I can't let you be,
Most nights I hardly sleep.
Don't see what you don't need, from me.
Just a drop in the ocean,
A change in the weather,
I was praying that you and me might end up together.
It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,
But I'm holding you closer than most,
'Cause you are my heaven.
Misplaced trust and old friends,
Never counting the regrets,
By the grace of God, I do not rest at all.
and New England as the leaves change;
The last excuse that I'll claim,
I was a boy who loved a woman like a little girl.
Still I can't let you be,
Most nights I hardly sleep,
Don't see what you don't need, from me.
Just a drop in the ocean,
A change in the weather,
I was praying that you and me might end up together.
It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,
But I'm holding you closer than most,
'Cause you are my
Heaven doesn't seem far away anymore no, no
Heaven doesn't seem far away.
Heaven doesn't seem far away anymore no, no
Heaven doesn't seem far away.
nooo
nooo
A drop in the ocean,
A change in the weather,
I was praying that you and me might end up together.
It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,
But I'm holding you closer than most,
'Cause you are my heaven.
This song I believe can relate to everyone in some way, shape, or form. We have all known that one person that holds a special place in our hearts. That one person who we have no chance with in a relationship. Whether it be a friend, teammate, class mate, or in the case of the song a lover. Ron Pope tells this story of a relationship through a guys point of view. In which a guy Is love struck for girl who he has no chance with. But yet cares for this girl so much that he can't imagine his life without her there by his side, as a friend or lover. This song definitely focuses on using metaphors, similes, and metonymy to exemplify his love for this girl.
DeleteThe first simile"I was praying that you and me might end up together./It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,"(3,4). In this the speaker expresses he's praying for a chance, but it's like praying for rain in a desert. Which can be interpreted as love, or lust depending on the way the listener/reader hears it. Next, "I was a boy who loved a woman like a little girl."(27), this describes how he feels his love is being directed. He says that he loved this woman as if she was a little girl, instead of an equal adult. Which is often the case when the male becomes to over protective of the female. Next, we move on to the metaphors he uses in the piece to compare his caring feelings in unusual ways.
"A drop in the ocean"(1) is his way of expressing his love for this girl who he is crushing over. The idea of a drop in the ocean simply shows how he sees her as one in a million. For there are hundreds upon billions of drops of water in the ocean. Again there's no way for us not to be able to relate in some way to this comparison. We often don't use this specific comparison, instead we might say that "there are plenty of fish in the sea". Meaning that there are multitudes of the opposite sex out there, and there is always another going to be that one soulmate you are meant to be with. Which he supports with his use of metonymy used in the piece.
The metonymy we see is " 'Cause you are my heaven."(6), by this the speaker means that the girl he is crushing over is his salvation. Not only does this give a great example of his views of this girl, but it also shows how bad he is love sick for her. I feel that we all have that on person who we all can't live without. For me personally it is my friend, Miranda she reminds me of what it feels like to be a kid again without a care in the world.
I personally love this song because I can relate to wanting someone but they were way out of my league. The lyrics however give me hope that there is a chance for me and that girl. Also it helps me to believe that there is still that one person out there for me. I might not know them yet, but they are out there. In the end there is will be a person meant for everyone in the world.
Devyn,
DeleteThis is a beautiful song. I love listening to it. The figurative language used makes the song have so much more meaning. I love that he calls his significant other "a drop in the ocean" (1). I feel it shows so much passion is just those five simple words. It is a creative, rather than saying she is one in a million.
Ron Pope's voice Los makes this song powerful. His desperate tone lures the listener in. He makes them feel the same way. I liked that you mentioned how he feels like he loves her like she was a little girl. You said that he does not see her equally, as though he is overprotective. I do not see it that way. I saw that he felt lower than her since he is wishing for her love. He saw her as more mature than him. Therefore, in his mind he has to make her his equal. He is trying to have an innocent, sweet love with her. But for some reason this woman does not want him, and that could be because he has not made himself present to her.
I agree with you that this song can relate to so many people. We have all had a crush on someone, and knew it would never go anywhere. But it is fun to dream. I love this song. I am so happy you analyzed it. Good job!
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe definitions synecdoche and metonymy are so closely related that they are often almost considered the same things. However, a synecdoche is using a part of something to describe its whole. A metonymy is using something closely related to mean something else. We all know this thanks to Devyn’s presentation on Thursday. However, I still find the two very confusing. They are so similar that it’s hard to depict which is which and just how each is used and why. This blog was rather challenging for me. I was struggling trying to find a poem or song that used both, until I came across one I should have thought about from the beginning; The Star-Spangled Banner.
ReplyDeleteOh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand `
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
In the first stanza of the poem/song “broad stripes and bright stars” (3) is a synecdoche. The stripes and stars are used to describe the American flag. They’re not the entire thing, and therefore are perfect examples a synecdoche because they are a part of something used to describe something larger of a whole. In every stanza there are the words “star-spangled banner” (7, 15, 23, 31). The Star-Spangled Banner is another common phrase for the American flag. The phrase is closely related to the American flag and because of this, means the same thing. “Star-spangled banner” is almost like a synonym for the flag of the United States.
Delete“The land of the free and the home of the brave” (8, 16, 24, 32) is also used throughout all of the stanzas. This is a synecdoche because it is describing America as a whole. Our country is free and we have many brave people. This is my favorite synecdoche in the entire song/poem. Line 13 refers to the sun using a metonymy, “the morning’s first beam”. “Blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution” (20) is a synecdoche. The pollution is referred to while describing the bad things that occur. The blood washes out the pollution like it was water washing out a stain on a piece of clothing. “Gloom of the grave” (22) is used to describe death and the sadness that comes along with it. Therefore, it is a synecdoche.
Personally, I find it more difficult to find a metonymy than to find a synecdoche. I never realized how something as common as the Star-Spangled Banner could consist of so many uses of figurative language. Besides the more obvious examples, there are alliterations, masculine and feminine rhymes, and allusions. I’m glad I took the time to look at an amazing poem/song from our countries history and relate its format to the things we are learning so many years later.
Jessica,
DeleteI would just like to say that this was a brilliant choice! I, too, had difficulty finding a song or poem with the figurative language, so I know exactly how you felt! I thought it was good that you gave the definitions for metonymy and synecdoche before getting deep into your post. The Star-Spangled Banner is my all-time favorite patriotic song, but I never picked up on the literary devices before. I definitely agree with you that the Star-Spangled Banner is a metonymy for the American flag, but I also believe that it stands for America as a whole. The whole reason for the flag is to express our independence and freedom, similar to how the stars are freely placed in the sky and proudly standout. Also, with the synecdoche "Blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution” (20), I think it could also represent how we have washed our country of other powers and their control; the stain, which was a problem for a good amount of time, has finally been dealt with, and the water can run clearly. I wish you would have discussed the other figurative language examples and literary devices, but overall I rather enjoyed reading your perspective on the Star-Spangled Banner!