"The Figure a Poem Makes" by Robert Frost

Robert Frost, a Pulitzer Prize winning author known for his imagery, found more popularity than any other serious American poet has ever experienced. In his essay, "The Figure a Poem Makes," he discusses his opinion how a poem should be and what it should communicate to readers. Speaking to his audience of fellow artists, he begins by writing that "the object in writing poetry is to make all poems sound as different as possible from each other" (Frost 176). He discusses how syntax, words, and sentences are not enough to create distinction, but poets need the help of context to create the greatest variety.  Frost compares the figure of a poem to the figure of love, as "no one can really hold that the ecstasy should be static and stand still in one place" (Frost 177). He uses this metaphor to compare the beginning of delight and the ending in clarification that both love and a well written poem should share. He suggests a link between the poet and reader when he writes, "no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader" (Frost 177). Through his use of imagery, Frost identifies that this link between the poet's feelings and reader's emotions is a great achievement for a poet, when one is able to convey their feelings through writing. He then notes that an artist's logic is backward after writing and relates back to the link by stating, the writing must be a revelation for both the poet and reader. While discussing the logic of an artist, Frost notes the contrast between a scholar an artist, despite both working from knowledge. He observes that scholars acquire knowledge from the lines of logic, while knowledge for artists “happens in and out of books” (Frost 178). He is suggesting that poetry cannot be measured by the same logic or means of scholars, but is best evaluated through emotion. Frost’s strong opinions on poetry are well-supported and invokes the reader to consider his points when writing. Through his infamous imagery, Robert Frost manages to ingrain the delight to wisdom structure in the reader’s brain.

The Figure of a Poem
"It begins in delight and ends in wisdom."
Source: Huffington Post

"Bop" by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes, the first African American writer to achieve an international literary reputation, spent the 1920s leading the Harlem Renaissance. His work and life became greatly influential during this time, as he portrayed the lives of ordinary, working blacks in America. "Bop," an essay written by Hughes in 1949, confronts social conditions of the time and stresses a racial consciousness. He begins by setting the scene outside of his character's, Simple, house. The first person point of view engages readers into the narration, as Simple asks Hughes to listen to the music playing upstairs with him. The narrator finds the music to "sound like pure nonsense syllables" (Hughes 191), reminding him of the old scat days. Simple proves this music is quite different as "Re-bop was an imitation like most of the white boys play. Be-bop is the real thing like the colored boys play" (Hughes 190). After reiterating that it stills sounds like nonsense, Simple disputes Hughes' opinion by asking him about be-bop's origins. The purpose in writing this essay becomes evident as Simple explains the origins of be-bop music. He tells of the police beatings that make the riffs of be-bop music, to inform the unaware readers of the influence of black discrimination and society on culture. The contrasting views of be-bop music are comparable to the contrasting views of how race effects culture. Like the narrator sees the music as nonsense, he finds Simple bringing race into everything as nonsense. Hughes is alluding to the inadvertent effect society has on a culture, including music. Simple repetitively says, "Bop! Bop! Be-Bop! Mop! Bop!" (Hughes 191) to emphasize the origins of the music. He wants to highlight the harsh punishments faced by the black community, during the time which the essay was written. The colloquial diction tied with the point of view, allows the reader to follow the conversation easily and get directly to the point. Hughes effectively articulates the struggles of racial discrimination and societal effects on culture. The essay confronts the reader to be racial conscious, despite personal skin color.

Bop! Bop! Be-Bop! Mop! Bop!

"But there are some few white boys that latched onto it right well. And no wonder, because they sat and listened to Dizzy, Thelonius, Tad Dameron, Charlie Parker, also Mary Lou, all night long every time they got a chance."

Source: Amazon

"Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying" by Adrienne Rich

In the midst of the 1960s, Adrienne Rich, a Radcliffe graduate and later Robert Frost Silver Medal recipient, reinvented herself as a political radical and feminist. Her essay, Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying, began as notes concerned with relationships between and among women. She first shared these notes at a women writers' workshop in Oneonta, New York in 1975. In this speech-turned-essay, she discusses the complexities of lying, and invokes the questioning of honor and truth between and among women. Rich begins the essay by discussing the old, male idea of honor, relating to his integrity. As well as discussing the male idea of women's honor, which is focused around her husband and duties as a wife. She writes, "honesty in women is not considered important" (Rich 412). Rich acknowledges how women lie to keep control of a male-dominated situation and as a barrier from discomfort; but argues that lying not only causes alienation from others, it also cuts us off from ourselves. As she analyzes the complexities of lying, she invokes the question of honesty and truth. She uses many examples and metaphors throughout to support her opinion. For example, Rich writes, "when we look closely, or when we become weavers, we learn of the tiny multiple threads unseen in the overall pattern" (Rich 414). She uses this metaphor to compare the concept of truth to a carpet and its  multiple unseen threads. Rich identifies lying as a false source of power, which a woman clings to because "she is afraid that her own truths are not good enough" (Rich 417). To reiterate and enhance her point that women have been driven mad for centuries, due to experience and instincts in a culture that only validates the male experience, she inserts rhetorical questions throughout about the need to lie. Rich's argumentative essay continues full circle, as she successfully accomplishes her purpose, by provoking women readers to be honest with themselves and fend against the male influenced environment. Adrienne Rich makes an impressionable mark and calls for honesty in all relationships.

Lying: A False Source of Power
Women must become courageous enough to be honest with everyone, including themselves.
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