Darrian Jones ENC1102 Professor Winkle 2/26/2013

Spring A Final Exam 1. Consider the extended metaphor of traveling in this essay. What does the image of travel suggest about how we find meaning in a poem? (150 words) In this essay by Billy Collins, the word that is repeated over and over is traveling, and how we travel through poems as we read them. As I read this essay, I could actually see myself traveling through a poem. Everything that Billy Collins said made perfect sense. You must travel (go through) every aspect of a poem if you want to get the full meaning of it. Theres a big difference between just reading a poem, and actually understanding what youre reading. John Ashbery said, In the writing process, all sorts of unexpected things happen that shift the poet away from his plan; these accidents are really what we mean whenever we talk about Poetry (1166). Poetry, if traveled correctly could take you on an adventure much more exciting than anything you could every possible experience. Billy Collins furthered the statement I just made by saying, A good poem often progresses by a series of associative leaps, including sudden shifts in time and space, all of which results in kind of a mental journey (1166). 2. In this essay Collins states, Total control over any artistic material eliminates the possibility of surprise. Analyze this statement and discuss what it implies about the role of the poet in creating a poem. (150 words). I totally agree with Billy Collins when he stated, Total control over any artistic material eliminates the possibility of surprise (1166). I feel like its true that if youre trying to be creative, but you have everything planned already planned to go a certain way it might not come out as good. When trying to be artistic, you should just let the words flow from your pen. I dont think that its necessary to try to over think or try to force yourself to be creative. Creativity and artistic material should be something that you have naturally so it wont have a weird feeling to it. Someone who is writing a form of artistic material who isnt in total control of it may come up with some off the wall things that you wouldnt ever think of. I think the looser the writer is, and the more freedom they give themselves in their writings, the more creative they would be.

3. Choose a poem from our reading list and discuss how the poem travels. That is, where does the trip begin for you as a reader? Where does the journey take you by the end of the poem. (150 words). A poem that I feel like took me on a journey from our reading list is Andrews Marvells To His Coy Mistress. I can imagine the man of this story sitting at a table in the begging of the poem, writing a letter to his dear mistress. Throughout this poem hes on an epic mission of trying to win over his mistress, and ultimately have sex with her. The words Marvell used in this poem seems to have brought it to life, because after reading this poem, if I close my eyes I could picture a mini movie of everything I just read. This man is racing against time trying to win over this woman and he wont let any obstacles get in his way. After traveling through the poem and reaching the end, I picture him holding her hand confessing his love for her. If this poem was made into a movie, I think it would a cool action/ romance/ comedy . 4. Discuss the significance of what we learn in the stage directions at the very end of the play The Reprimand (1783). How does this knowledge shift our perception of the relationship between Rhona and Mim? (100 words). At the end of this play, we learn that some people are rude and lie for no apparent reason. Mim said something rude to Rhona, referring that she was fat. Then Rhona said that Jim was talking bad about Mim. Both of these woman wanted to make each other feel kind of bad. We want to have sympathy for Rhona since she was the one who felt weird after being told to get the bigger chair, but then she makes up some rumor about Jim gossiping about Mim. When the play ends, Mim calls Rhona a fat pig as soon as she hangs up the phone. 5. Discuss Big Eight's concerns about the changes in the rodeo in Jane Martin's play Rodeo (1803). How does the commercialization of a sport she loves indicate a wider cultural sickness for us than just changes in this particular character's favorite sport?(200 words). In Jane Martins play Rodeo, Big Eight opens the second paragraph frustrated at the way rodeo is becoming. Big Eight said, Shoot Rodeos going to hell in a hand basket. Rodeo used to be somethin. I loved it. I did (1804). She was used to the old fashioned version of rodeo, and didnt want to see it change. Big Eight, who is a stereotypical Texan, wanted nothing to do at all with the new rodeo. One thing that concerns Big Eight is the fact that she feels like she is being pushed out of the way by the men who are in rodeo. This not only makes her frustrated, but she is mad that they are discriminating against her because of her gender. Before being commercialized, Big Eight said, Used to

be for cowboys, the rodeo did (1804). She also insisted that it used to be a family thing. For Big Eight, who was a top bull rider and earned her nickname from being such a good bull rider, the fact that she didnt enjoy her favorite sport no more hurt her. Big Eight continued her argument by saying, Rodeo used to be people ridin horses for the pleasure of the people who rode horses made you feel good about what you could do (1805). Big Eight was in rodeo for the fun and bragging rights, not the money. 6. Briefly discuss cultural stereotyping in the following three plays: (200 words). From the begging of the play Trying to Find New York by David Henry Hwang, you notice the stereotyping. Ronnie, who is an Asian-American male, insults another man (Benjamin) for calling his violin a fiddle. Ronnie said to Benjamin, You sound like a wuss. A hick. A dipshit (1825). As Benjamin tries to explain hes sorry, Ronnie just continues to insult him and swear at him. In Real Women Have Curves by Josefina Lopez, we learn about the challenges of cultural stereotypes of Latinos growing up in America, but still sticking to their Mexican traditions. Ana, who is a character in this play refuses to be stuck in the Mexican neighborhood her whole life, and she catches multiple buses to get to school in the rich neighborhood every day. Ana and Carmen, who are both proud of their tradition, wants to finally break the Mexican stereotypes. The play also addresses the stereotypes of beauty and behavior of Latin women. The last of the three stories which is Nilaja Sun No Child explores multiple stereotypes. One of the stereotypes discussed in this play is the pregnant student. After being pregnant, Shandrika still manages to end up graduating summa cum laude at Harvard University, and ended up becoming the first black woman to be elected president.