Storytelling By Silko Essays - Laguna Pueblo, Leslie Marmon Silko

Storytelling By Silko Leslie Marmon Silko is a Laguna Pueblo Indian who has written many novels and poems in her lifetime. One of these poems, "Storytelling," is very interesting to me. This poem excites me because it tells of the impact that storytelling has on people in Laguna culture. I will analyze and explore many parts of this poem. One of these subjects is theme. The theme of "Storytelling" is actually the art of storytelling. Another aspect of the poem I will look at is tension. There is a specific tension between the husband and the wife in this poem. Next, I will explore how imagery helped Silko strengthen her writing. Then, I will look at how the form of "Storytelling" is different from that of other poems. Finally, I will compare "Storytelling" to another poem, written by Luci Tapahonso entitled, "Blue Horses Rush In." All these aspects put together will enable me to do a complete textual analysis of "Storytelling." Larson 2 To start, I will begin with the theme of "Storytelling." The theme of the poem is the art of storytelling, hence the name. At the end of the poem the author says, "My husband left after he heard the story and moved back in with his mother. It was my fault and I don't blame him either"(Silko 424). As the reader, you think that the woman is feeling bad about lying to her husband and she doesn't blame him for leaving her because she has sinned. Then the next line reads, "I could have told the story better than I did"(Silko 424). This surprises the reader because the ending's not expected. This shows that the woman isn't really feeling bad about what she did, or what happened; she only wishes that she could have told a better story so her husband would stay with her. These quotes prove the theme of the poem; that storytelling is very important in the Laguna culture. It is what the people pride themselves on and the woman in the poem could have done a better job. Earlier on in the poem the husband says, "You better have a damn good story"(Silko 423). It is almost as if the husband is expecting a better story than what he receives, so not satisfied with the lines his wife feeds him, he leaves. From these lines it is obvious that the stories told, and how the people tell them is the theme of the poem "Storytelling". This is not only a theme in the poem, but I Larson 3 believe that it also represents a very prominent theme in the Laguna culture. Other themes in the poem are adultery and lying, but these also portray the main tensions in the poem in addition to themes. The tension is between the husband and the wife. A mysterious being shows up and kidnaps the wife. When she returns she tries to tell her husband what happened in terms that he would understand. The husband, now very upset, believes that his wife committed adultery. The tension starts when the husband says, "You better have a damn good story about where you have been for the past ten months and how you explain these twin baby boys"(Silko 423). You can tell from this quote that the husband is not happy and wants an explanation; and it better be a good one. The wife retaliates by saying, "No! That gossip isn't true"(Silko 423). The wife feels that she needs to defend herself against the false accusations that her husband made. The rest of the poem the wife tells her story in order to try to persuade her husband of the truth. She wants to resolve the tension. Her attempts to persuade her husband are unsuccessful. So the tension is never really resolved because the husband leaves. Therefore, there is probably still tension surrounding the subject. Larson 4 There are many images in "Storytelling" that help set the scene and develop a mood. A couple images that help to set the scene are, "...the sun came over the long red mesa"(Silko 422) and, "She looked into the shallow clear water"(Silko 423). This gives an image of how mystical and magical the scene was when the "Buffalo Man" came to get the woman in the story. This image gives the reader the impression that this is a mysterious event. The images are also calm and soothing which relay those feelings over to the reader. This way the reader can understand what the woman in the poem is feeling at

The Beatles Nightmare in the Phillipines essays

The Beatles Nightmare in the Phillipines essays The summer of 1966 was a high point in the world of pop music. Here in the Bay Area, flower power was in full swing in San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury. The Beatles had just released Revolver, their most musically innovative album to date (and arguably the most innovative rock album of all time up to that point). The Beatles had been touring practically nonstop for four years and were considering becoming a studio only (non-touring) band. Their experience in the Philippines was perhaps the pivotal catalyst ultimately leading to their decision to play their last concert in Candlestick Park, San Francisco, in August of 1966. The Beatles had left Tokyo amid a controversy over their performing at the legendary Budokan Sumo Wrestling Hall and were in no mood for more trouble. They were exhausted from their constant touring schedule and were savoring a rare day off. When Madame Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, invited them to dinner, they all decided that they were too tired to go and politely declined. Relieved that they could finally relax, they decided to lounge by the pool. After about an hour, they were alerted to a televised image of an outraged Madame Marcos publicly denouncing them on television.The Beatles have let me down! she cried. The camera panned over the faces of hundreds of forlorn children who had been promised a meal with the Beatles. The Beatles were told that in the interest of their personal safety, they should leave the Philippines immediately. They began to pack their belongings as their road managers attempted to locate cars to transport them to the airport. But mysteriously, no cars were available. Were the Beatles being trapped in the Philippines in order to be punished for their affront to the presidential family? Finally, two cars were located and they piled in and sped off to the Manila Airport. On the way to the airport, they became ens...

Middle ages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Middle ages - Assignment Example Schools and universities were established in Europe which was the initial steps to renaissance. 2. What modern institutions have their origin in the middle Ages? The first medieval universities were initially established in France, Spain and England during the twelfth and thirteenth century imparting education on subjects such as theology, art, medicine and law. These institutes evolved from contemporary Christian cathedral schools. 3. What is important about the form of Dante's Divine Comedy? Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy which is an epic poem. It is considered to be an asset to Italian literature and the greatest work of world literature. His work is a comedy with a vision. He describes hell and heaven in a literal, interesting and elaborate manner. He also interlinks life during the Italian renaissance to the depiction of hell because of the prevailing social evils and heaven to the enlightened future which was about to come. 4. What is symbolic retribution? It is a repr esentational punishment which is usually expressed during the principle protests. It can also be referred to as 'token punishment'. In simpler words is a punishment which represents or symbolizes a sin, the perversion that develop in the intellect. Hence "The symbolic retribution is the constant and eternal reminder of choice." (Forman, 88) 5. What is the frame narrative? A frame narrative is a story which is contained in a story. This can also be at times contained in another story. 6. Is the plague narrated in the introduction a fact or fiction? The Plague by Albert Camus as narrated in the introduction is a nonfiction and factual novel based on the widespread spread of the Plague disease in the Algerian city. This novel is about common people looked for solidarity and fought to bring stability in their life irrespective of the spread of this disease. 7. What types of tales are contained in the Decameron? Give examples. The Decameron is an allegory, being a frame narration it cont ains hundred tales which are presented by ten young people. It encompasses a wide range of tales which are belonging to various genres like tragic, erotic, humor, practical jokes as well as the teachings of life that comprised of morality, values and guidance.Some examples of The Decameron tales are the translator (Musa) and Beowulf on the Beach. 8. How many Canterbury pilgrims are there? There are about twenty nine pilgrims in the Canterbury. 9. How many Canterbury tales were planned? In this book the author Chaucer planned to write a total of 120 tales. He initially planned to write a total of 120 takes but failed to do in his lifetime. 10. How many stories were completed? In the book The Canterbury the author Chaucer, was able to complete a total of 24 tales in his lifetime. 11. Characterize the language of Chaucer. Chaucer chose to write from life. His work is a great narration of consistent impersonation. Chaucer had the capability to fit the tale with the teller. He was divers ified and works on exploring and bringing about the uniqueness in his characters through the use of the perfect words at the perfect time. Emphasis was also laid on the ambiguity of the language used. Chaucer being thoroughly involved in his work concentrated on even the slightest of the detail. His work shows the in depth study and thorough knowledge of the rhetoric manifestations which are precisely narrated with fair and precise use of