Essay Questions

How does the speaker underscore the constructive images and undermine the undesirable imagery without diverting her fundamental message in “Myself When I’m Real?”

For the undesirable images, the word ‘not’ is used for the sake of introduction. For example, “not drunken disco ball,” “not the pigeon-shit.” The word has “not” underscores negative connotations. In the case of positive images, the speaker overlooks the word not. For example, the speaker asserts, “I’m the seagull,” and “I am the pigeon.” The framing of the complimentary images is confirmatory.

Deconstruct the line: “ If our love is a trash bag please/don’t let it tear.” (“Myself When I’m Real.”)

The speaker’s lover may regard a loved one as usable as garbage for him to thrust it in the ‘trash bag.” Nevertheless, the speaker would not wish for the bag to split for it is noteworthy for her regardless of its trashy standing.

What brings about the convergence between “Ars Poetica” and “Home”?

Rory (a symbol for impetus) appears in both “Ars Poetica” and “Home.” In “Ars Poetica” Rory’s invented descent from the sky stimuluses the composition of a poem. In “Home” the speaker discourses with Rory equivocally while recounting a sexual incidence in a “parking lot outside of Casino Morango.” Rory , even though is fictional, is the Christopher Soto’s stimulus.