Lyrical

March Violets

The refrain, "Can you tell them apart?" is repeated once after the first stanza, twice after the second and then changed at the end to, "Can you tear them apart?"

This is the hint that finally leads the audience to suspect that this is about pairs- of perhaps animalistic people who although together now are marching to their death.

Immediately I am feeling that this is written by a person with a religious background in the Judeo-Christian sense of the word. I see phrases like "vine", "coming in twos", "dust to dust/ ash to ash." These words lend a spiritual nature to the poem-- and I feel like there is cynicism involved.

I don't know but are violets a funeral flower? I know the Ides of March is a dismal day, Caesar's prophesied assassination and a future literary device.

This seems like a indictment of ... something. Other lines to suggest this are, "The later they come/ The higher they climb" and "The time is right/ And the night is long/ The night is brief/ And the time is wrong."

March Violets

Afterward I google imaged and found this at: www.suzybalesgarden.com/blog/?p=8

"In the days when they were in fashion, the correct way to sniff violets was part of the education of Victorian ladies. A deep inhalation was considered vulgar, and young ladies were taught to take a series of short dainty sniffs. Perhaps this was wise: violets contain ionone, a sort of odoriferous sledgehammer that when breathed deeply causes numbness. After one over enthusiastic inhalation, it may be impossible to smell anything else again until the numbness leaves a few moments later. Never the less, Shakespeare spoke of them only in positive terms: “Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, the perfume and suppliant of a minute.”

Media Reflection: Warning! Dangerous in title only clip included

This is a clip from one of my favorite shows, Upright Citizens Brigade. This sketch comedy program would constantly use eccentric situations to highlight societal problems and hypocrisy at large. I think media in education is essential to connect with the modern student- but must incorporate the written word as well. I am excited to help students find out that literature is everywhere- and the better they know it, the more inside jokes they will get out of their current passions. Since I have read more I see the trends even in shows like 30 Rock and The Office.

There are several things going on in the clip. The female is in a dominant position- but since it is funny it could get students to think about how dumb it is to be in either position. The seemingly smart girl is asking a jock looking guy to help with her homework- something else to talk about. After several professors who successfully used power point and forms like youtube clips and website exploring, I have learned what I think works. I have had classes where we watch an entire movie and didn't ever even discuss the importance. If the entire movie was needed I would make students watch it on their own time- or offer it for borrowing if someone was interested.

I am very excited about the blog format- a senior class in high school could benefit from the trust and responsibility it requires. I think that either way media in education can serve to drastically enrich the curriculum.

Introduction

Hello friends- my name is Amanda Morehead so as you can imagine I have had a fun life full of name calling and happenstance.

I am an English Subject Matter Option student who is blessed to be graduating this semester- although I may be graduating in one of the worst years yet. I am on the path to teaching in secondary school- but I am also open to other careers that use communication and passion.

In my personal life I am passionate about service and hope that more people will seek out charities after experiencing being a part of Haiti relief. I am also curious as to why this particular tragedy is getting more media coverage than any recent one- say the tsunami that killed over 230,000 or Invisible Children of Uganda. Well, enough cynicism- I am excited to learn more this semester for my trade and life.