Final Exam questions - Essay Example

1. Explain how Dylan Thomas poem could be about something other than resisting death. Dylan Thomas poem talks about living life to the fullest. Otherthan resisting death when old age arrive, the poem talks about potentials and hope in life. The poem is telling us that problems in life should not tarnish our desire to live and move on should death or trouble come knocking at our doors. The poem also tells us about expanding our horizon in living life and should not be caught in one paradigm only and end up in despair.

 Not to let any opportunities go by, instead live with the thought that things are eternally evolving so that when the right time has come to let go of life, there is no room for regrets unlike what he described below:Good men, the last wave by, crying how brightTheir frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.The poem also talks about human faith or religion. The last paragraph of the poem points to the stark reality wherein humans cling to their God and faith on the edge of death.

To those who live well it is presupposed that God will favor and will bring good life even during golden age while those who did evil will be curse to misery and pain.2. How was “Hardy’s convergence of the twain” helped you understand why people are still interested in the sinking of Titanic? Be thorough in your analytical discussion of the poem. More than apt description of the grandiose of the Titanic, Hardy was able to express the essence of the fleet itself. The poem evokes melancholic feeling for the loss and the desire to see if there is something more left for the living to marvel when he said: In a solitude of the sea    Deep from human vanity, And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.

Reading the poem is like taking glimpses of Titanic itself but its not enough thus you seek for more. The poem leaves a feeling of thirst for more visions, more stories, and more explanations on why the mishap and the what could have been if it successfully arrived ashore. Moreover, the poet showed stark contrast of Titanics beauty and its grave ending and situation under the sea like when Hardy mentioned:  Over the mirrors meant To glass the opulentThe sea-worm crawls--grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

(verse III)Thomas Hardy was able to wrap the story of the Titanic in the verses and the inclusion of the sea creatures pondering at the same time indifferent to its presence reveals another contrast to the historical importance of the ship in ocean navigation as well as in humans quest for the truth on what occurred.   3. From your reading of Heart of Darkness, explain how important “work” and other proper order of things is so important to British culture, as Conrad sees it.The Heart of Darkness winds a story of social chaos and oppression in imperialist regime.

 It illustrates the colonial violence and racism that occurs in an empires desire to accumulate property and power. These however results to upsurge of unrest and revolution thus, work and proper order of things is deemed important for British culture to stay in power. As poverty hovers around, work is seen as the catalyst to change or break an empire, work is also seen as the bridge that would reinforce human adherence to changes and colonization that would result into order.   Proper order of things prevent human exploitation and breakdown of human principles and values.

The character Kurtz fell into abusive dominion over an African tribe due to desire of money and power back in the land away from his own homeland that defies value itself as it continue to colonize other nations. The poverty and diminishing roles of the people in the story most specially of the female characters depicts chaos brought about by crooked national interest and leadership. The dark revelation in the story is a mixture of tale and truth seen on the streets. To Conrad, the book suggest the other alternative for ruling an empire, that is, capacitating the people and providing them the means to live through decent and fair labor.    4. Why does Matthew Arnold reference “Sweetness and light” in “Culture and Anarchy”?

The "Sweetness and Light" is referred in "Culture and Anarchy" as it pertains to the evolution of culture and religion and the outcomes of a developed if not perfected culture. Culture is said to be harnessed by education and values upheld by religion but should not be exploited. It is what defines a nation and its people.Nowadays, culture is said to evolve along with the technological advancement and globalization but should be guided by the basic principles of religion to prevent degradation of social values.

  Degradation of social values starts when people desire to seek knowledge and development only for themselves without considering the vast populace in a nation. In this manner, the term "sweetness and light" refers to showing a false inclination to cultural progress.  The selfish tide that can consume humans make it pertinent for the "light" or religion or faith of doing the right thing, the conscience behind the dream to seek for more. The presence of the light makes cultural evolution humane with moral and social values.

Works CitedArnold, Matthew. Culture and Anarchy. Chapter 1: Sweetness and Light. University of Notre Dame. Web. 16 August 2011. http://www.nd.edu/~cvandenb/MA.C&A.select.pdfConrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Sparknotes. Web. 16 August 2011. Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Web. 16 August 2011.The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008. Web. 16 August 2011.