Who says that I am dead
Knows nought at all.
I -- am that is,
Two mice within Redwall.
The warrior sleeps
'Twixt Hall and Cavern Hole.
I -- am that is,
Take on my mighty role.
Look for the sword
In moonlight streaming forth,
At night, when day's first hour
Reflects the North.
From o'er the threshold
Seek and you will see;
I -- am that is,
My sword will wield for me.
This poem is taken from Brian Jacques' "Redwall". The poem is actually a puzzle, which makes it a significant part of the book. Because its a puzzle, the whole poem is basically a poetic device.
The end of every second line rhymes, giving it a nice pattern. Besides that, the third, seventh, and fifteenth lines are identical, making a kind of extended anaphora. They also seem a sort of interruption of the poem (aposiopesis?) until you reorder the letters so that they spell: Matthias. Then the puzzle of the poem comes through and it begins to make more sense. The point of view is also a type of poetic device, as it was supposedly written by someone who has been long dead. In which case, it becomes a prophecy. Thus this poen has many poetic devices in it.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Ides of March
[LVIII: Caesar to Brutus]
I now wish you to hold a similar position in the capital and to discover for yourself a similar truth concerning our citizens in Italy.
I wish you to serve as Praetor. I am appointing your brother-in-law (Cassius) to serve with you. I wish you to be Praetor of the City; of the two offices it is the most difficult, the one more exposed to the public view, and the one closer to my self...
...I believe that you possess that love and are so endowed; the training I have been in a position to secure for you. The decision as to whether you wish to assume the supreme command [as successor] is open to you.
This passage is taken from Thornton Wilder's "The Ides of March". I thought it very interesting how Thornton portrays Caesar as very trusting of Brutus, or at least confident in his abilities as a leader. He makes it seem as though Caesar never expected Brutus to help in the assassination and even gives him the opportunity to become the next dictator. Whether or not this actually was the case, it gives a side to their relationship I had never even suspected. Maybe Caesar is suspicious of Brutus and thought that if he gave him power he could sway him to his own side. Apparently he underestimated Brutus' beliefs in "freedom". Brutus took the position as Praetor where he could get on the public's good side, and then take over. Brilliant. Did Caesar even guess that his own "son" would plot to kill him? Maybe that's why he adopted Augustus. But did he trust Augustus any more than Brutus? It's hard to know. What if Brutus had accepted the position as successor? How much of history would be different?
I now wish you to hold a similar position in the capital and to discover for yourself a similar truth concerning our citizens in Italy.
I wish you to serve as Praetor. I am appointing your brother-in-law (Cassius) to serve with you. I wish you to be Praetor of the City; of the two offices it is the most difficult, the one more exposed to the public view, and the one closer to my self...
...I believe that you possess that love and are so endowed; the training I have been in a position to secure for you. The decision as to whether you wish to assume the supreme command [as successor] is open to you.
This passage is taken from Thornton Wilder's "The Ides of March". I thought it very interesting how Thornton portrays Caesar as very trusting of Brutus, or at least confident in his abilities as a leader. He makes it seem as though Caesar never expected Brutus to help in the assassination and even gives him the opportunity to become the next dictator. Whether or not this actually was the case, it gives a side to their relationship I had never even suspected. Maybe Caesar is suspicious of Brutus and thought that if he gave him power he could sway him to his own side. Apparently he underestimated Brutus' beliefs in "freedom". Brutus took the position as Praetor where he could get on the public's good side, and then take over. Brilliant. Did Caesar even guess that his own "son" would plot to kill him? Maybe that's why he adopted Augustus. But did he trust Augustus any more than Brutus? It's hard to know. What if Brutus had accepted the position as successor? How much of history would be different?
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