So this poem is totally intense on imagery. I picture the dry and deserted desert with nothing but a man and a creature. I can picture this creature eating his own heart, crouched down, with blood everywhere. Gruesome. Soo I did a little bit of research and it said Stephen Crane was notorious for being a very modern writer who could have potentially inspired the Modernists; this gives reason to how modern this poem feels. So it makes sense that Stephen Crane would write in such a modern style.
In the sixth line, the man asks this creature if his heart tastes "good" in which the creature replies to as being "bitter." First and foremost, why is this man not freaked out by this creature who is EATING HIS OWN HEART?! But besides that, I think the man is not asking this the creature whether his heart tastes good, in the actual taste-bud, edible 'good', but in the wholesome, kind 'good.' Like "You just volunteered for a million hours! You're such a good person!" :DD
...Yeah, he's relying in senses to convey a different message. (the same goes for 'bitter')
This is how I picture this poem going down: The man is like, "Hey, you're eating your own heart. I'm totally not freaked out at all. Did you discover anything?" and the creature is like, "Yeah, man. It's like, super bitter." And being the crazy creature that he is, he says he like it, which is totally absurd!
But what he/(she?... it?!) means by this is that he is a bitter creature :( (Which isn't ironic because everyone thinks of creatures to be like this.) ... and he's okay with it because it's who he is, and he can't change it.
"I like it because it's bitter, and because it is my heart."
And then there's a deep, awkward silence between the creature and the man.
Oh! And as I was looking up information, I found that the reason it's called, "Untitled" is that this poem is a short passage from one of Stephen Crane's pieces. I believe the piece is called, "Into the Desert." But I could be completely wrong since I just watched "Into the Wild," so my decision making skills could be completely biased.
I must say, I was slightly disapointed there wasn't really a deeper meaning for this title. . . :(
I can sense the deep, awkward silence! I think the connection to Into the Wild is actually quite apt. I think that Chris McCandless was looking for something more and maybe all he found was bitter? I don't know. I can see him meeting the heart-eating creature in the desert and having the conversation above!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Mrs. White! Only you would connect a movie to this poem :D I totally see it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Chris McCandless is a no-blood bloody version of the creature?! And without the heart-eating part and gore and stuff :)
You were right Mrs. White, this is the cutest blog ever! Monique you made me laugh at a completely disgusting and disturbing poem, I love it!
ReplyDeleteAs if this poem didn't create a strong mental image on it's own, your narrations took it to the next level. I completely agree with all your thoughts, how this man is just giving into his own misery and accepting that's how it is and nothing will change it.
And I love the happy pictures after this post, definitely needed!
So basically it kinda freaks me out how we sound the same in our recording and how we basicaly thought the same way about this poem! I know we share a name and everything, but gosh! haha! I really do like that you went through and explained the poem in your own words with dialouge because I really feel like you capture the meaning that way! :) I Love you Mon-i-que! :)
ReplyDeleteSam -- Thank you so much!!! :) Your blog is soososooo cute, too! And ahahaha, yeah, I was in a really sarcastic, weird mood when I wrote this.
ReplyDeleteNat-a-lie! -- This is crazy! I just read yours and I must say I was a little freaked out ... in a good way (: haha. I love you too, Nat-a-lie!