In her nostalgic poem “Centaur”‚ May Swenson defines an optimal childhood through the speaker’s reminiscence about the summer play of a ten year old tom boy‚ grasping every carefree moment of youth. The speaker captures this girl’s imagination through her depiction of a metaphorical centaur‚ who is a girl who becomes part horse in her mind. The speaker’s reflection of this specific summer reveals a lack of responsibility and an abundance of opportunities comprise a lighthearted adolescence. The
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“The Centaur”‚ by May Swenson is a narrative poem that is told by a woman looking back on her childhood. Through the various uses of imagery throughout the poem‚ Swenson portrays a child who is having a joyous time in a field. The imagery that Swenson uses throughout the entirety of the poem helps convey the message about women and their expectations in society to the reader. Firstly‚ at the beginning of the poem‚ the reader is relatively clueless of the fact that the child is a girl. In
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Andreea Varna English Writing 300 Professor McFadden February 8‚ 2012 The Centaur The poem “The Centaur”‚ written by May Swenson allows readers the opportunity to see through the eyes of a young girl as her imagination brings a hand crafted piece of wood to life; transforming it into a majestic stallion. As she lets her imagination flourish throughout her experience the reader sees how the girl and stallion become one. Swenson’s careful choice of words contain abundant elements of language
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Instructor Smith English 10-4 8 February 2013 The Centaur “The Centaur” by May Swenson portrays an imaginative‚ care free young girl as she becomes one with what she thinks is the centaur‚ she is “the horse and the rider” (38) ‚ but eventually her mother brings to an end her wild ride. Through structure‚ diction‚ figurative language‚ and imagery‚ Swenson describes a special time for the ten year old girl. The structure in the poem illustrates the freedom of youth and playfulness. The poem
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time‚ one’s life will be accomplished. And in time‚ in time‚ the doll–– like new‚ though ancient––will be found. - May Swenson Who is the speaker? What is the point of view? What is the mood? What is the tone? What is the imagery? What is the form? What is the theme? What is the figurative language? The speaker in the poem “ How to Be Old” by May Swenson is an elder teaching children about growing old. The poem is in third person point of view. The mood is kind of sad
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David F. Swenson and Philip L. Quinn are two brilliant authors that share some of the same views on the meaning of life as one another. They both believe religion is the way for one to best live a moral life. Even though the share the same main ideas‚ they little differences that make them stand out. Swenson makes statement that man typically lives on ward but tends to reminisce back in time. By this he means that if there was no past‚ there could be a future looking at it through retrospect. As
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Two poems that explore the change from this life to whatever follows are May Swenson’s “Question” and Emily Dickinson’s “I heard a Fly buzz--when I died--”. The former depicts a someone questioning the fate of her body and soul upon death’s separation while the latter constitutes of a speaker retelling‚ from the grave‚ the moments surrounding her last breath. While both poems are written in first person‚ making the prospect of death personal‚ they differ in tense. “Question” is written in present
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The Swensons and Engstroms in America Although no definitive explanation exists for William’s father‚ Charley Swenson‚ remaining in Sweden instead of emigrating with his parents and siblings‚ prospects of a sustainable livelihood accorded him by the inheritance of his father’s property suggests a plausible reason. Conversely‚ the rocky land of northern Gotland‚ hardly suitable for agriculture‚ provided an inhospitable environment for any farmer wishing to flourish.1 Nevertheless‚ perhaps with
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Perhaps the most interesting period in Greek sculpture is the Classical period. During this glorious period of unbelievable craftsmanship‚ numerous pieces celebrated the Greek’s infatuation with fable and war. The sculpture‚ nicely titled Centaur Abducting Lapith Woman and Fallen Lapith Man‚ is a wonderful symbol of the artistic period and image of war. Sculpted somewhere around 447-438 B.C.‚ the sculpture was carved out of solid marble to produce a beautiful‚ and yet horrifying scene from a battle
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Updike and his novel ‘The Centaur’ American novelist‚ poet‚ essayist and playwright‚ John Updike belongs to the post-war generation of writers the U.S. They came to literature with university degree and having philological training. The object of his image always was a life of intellectuals; he was well familiar with life and habits of the upper-middle-class. One of the most famous and significant novels of Updike is "Centaur." "Centaur" is a book where for the
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