English 2XL / Shakely / 9.

15

PV Log: (circle one) Poem / Movie / Theater / Lyric / Photo

Date 11/6

Title You

Begin

Author / Director / Poet / Lyricist, etc. (if known) Margaret Atwood

Context (Where Found / Viewed / Read . . . Variety of Sources, please, vis-a-vis Google Images only)

Reread this poem after Mr. Shakely introduced it to the class

Content / CD / Summary (Say? Plot? Setting / Situation? Key lines / Phrases, Scenes, etc? )

The poem revolves around the journey of a child into adulthood. During the childs early stages of life,
everything seems beautiful and amazing. However, once the child comes of age and sees the world, the child
begins to see the world on fire. The adult now sees all the pain and suffering of the world and sees the world
as a world on fire. In the end, the people come full circle and end up where they were when they are born,
and sees the world in a different light.
Content / CM / Meaning? / Theme(s)?

The meaning of this poem is that everyone will see the world as an amazing place as a child. However, once
people begin to mature and see the real world, they will see all the pain and suffering. During adulthood
people will specifically notice everything wrong with the world, and disregard the positives. However, once
people become older and wiser they will notice everything that goes on in the world and realize the positive
dominates the negatives. During the final stages of life, people end up at the same place they did when they
were born.

Form (Diction? Construction Terms? Symbolism?) This section MUST be filled out for poems taken from the AP Poetry
packet provided prior to first library visit.

The child in the poem symbolizes the people of the world. The color of the crayons represents the positives
and negatives of the world, depending on the color used. The first stanza of the poem is used to describe the
beginning stages of life, while the last stanza is used to describe the final stages of life. The four stanzas in
between the first and last stanzas describes the journey to adulthood through the childs eyes.

Commentary: Why like? Poetic Traits? Relevance / Connections / Allusions (Lit, Bib, Myth, Histor, Other) / Relevance
to personal experience, 20Qs? etc.)?

The first time I read this poem I did not understand the meaning Atwood was trying to get across. I merely
brushed this poem off as another piece of literature. However, after revisiting this poem multiple times I
finally understand the concept of how humans progress. I agree with Atwood regarding the progression of
how humans view the world. I enjoyed how she related the colors of the crayons with all the positive and
negative events of the world.

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