A comparative analysis of Harlem and Altar topic, theme and figurative language-英语论文

《A comparative analysis of Harlem and Altar topic, theme and figurative language-英语论文》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《A comparative analysis of Harlem and Altar topic, theme and figurative language-英语论文（6页珍藏版）》请在装配图网上搜索。

1、A comparative analysis of Harlem and Altar: topic, theme and figurative language This essay will look at two poems, Harlem by Langston Hughes and Altar by Marilyn Chin and analyzes the topics, the themes and figurative languages, especially in the use of figurative language. The aim of this paper is

2、 to compare the two poems and find the similarity of them which is topic and the differences of them which are theme and the use of figurative language. Both poems Harlem and Altar have a similar topic that is about the American dream. The readers can find that from the following examples. In the Ha

3、rlem, the first stanza what happens to a dream deferred? the reader can know that Hughes is interested in a dream in his poem. Also, from the word deferred, we can find something negative, which is able to be explained that Hughes dream cant be finished so it has to be deferred. The same example cou

4、ld be find in last stanza Or does it explode? after explode, we get nothing. So, the dream or goal is maybe just an ideal but couldnt be done. Then, link the title of the poem Harlem which is a small town in New York, we can get the answer that is the topic of this poem is about a negative American

5、dream. Similarly, the topic of Altar is also about the American dream, this can be seen in the fifth line the Golden Mountain Edition that is a kind of newspaper in California, the place is located in northwest of America. Then, the second line of third stanza of the poem who danced around that immi

6、grant dream, the readers can understand that the poem is about an immigrant dream of America. Again, by the last line of the second stanza last cry, it sounds like something negative, we could imagine that if a person just has a last cry but without anything, it will be very sadly. In this way of th

7、inking, the topic of Altar is also about a negative American dream. Therefore, we should admit that the two poems Harlem and Altar have a similar topic that is about the negative American dream. A comparison of the poems shows a different use of figurative language in relation to the American dream.

8、 Firstly, Hughes uses similes to describe the American dream. The examples of word use are like, as and than, these are similes in the use of figurative language. Again, Hughess similes have something negative of American dream. By the second and third stanza, Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun

9、? a raisin in the sun is really a metaphor for his dream also it has something negative, a raisin is already dry, if a raisin in the sun, it will be hard to eat because it is too dry. Similarly, Does it stink like rotten meat?, the fresh meat already has some smelling, if it turns to bad and becomes

10、 rotten meat, it will be very stinky. Also, like a syrupy sweet? the syrupy is a kind of sugar and the sweet is also a type of sugar, each of them is tasty and sweet, but if we put them together it will be too sweet and cannot be eaten. In this way, in Hughess poem the American dream is liked a dry

11、raisin, rotten meat or a syrupy sweet, the dream put off too long so it becomes dry and has horrible odor. It seems to be delayed too long and nearly die. According to this, the readers can realize that Hughes uses these similes to show his negative effect of the dreams deferral. However, in the poe

12、m Altar, Chins use of different figurative language in describing the American dream is rather focused on metaphors. Examples of word used is is. In the last line of the second stanza Of her seasonal life is a dash Of shimmery powder, a last cry a dash of shimmery powder is a metaphor and represents

13、 something happened in speakers life, it could be a revolution and then failed because after a dash just has a last cry. Equally, the second stanza A deathtrap shines on the dying bougainvilleas a deathtrap shines is also a metaphor and means something seems to disappear and die. It is very negative

14、 and represents speakers external conflict that is something seems to die so the author wants to protect it. Then, a geomancer in the poem; it is a very traditional Chinese stuff, which is a kind of Chinese witch. In the poem, that represents Chinese culture. From here, we can understand that the th

15、ing that Chin wants to protect is the Chinese immigrations identity in USA. As the examples have shown, the poems have different theme. The theme of Harlem is the American dream in African American peoples mind. The author Hughes talks about black peoples life, mood and dream in Harlem, they want to

16、 get the same opportunity as white people but they cant because they are still suffering from the racial discrimination. This is suggested in the negative similes dry raisin rotten meat and syrupy sweet. So, the dream is very hard to be accomplished in Harlem. On the other hand, in the poem Altar, t

17、he setting is in America, but from author Chins metaphors such as a geomancer and the second stanza who danced around that immigrant dream, the theme of Altar is the American dream in Chinese immigrants mind, the author Chin mentions about immigrants who live in USAs life, they miss their family mem

18、bers who are in China and they want to keep their identity and Chinese culture in America. This is can be find in negative metaphor deathtrap shines and last cry, the Chinese culture in America likes a deathtrap shine and seems to die. So, Chinese immigrants are crying for that and they try to prote

19、ct Chinese culture in America. Last cry can also be explained that Chinese immigrants miss their family members in China, so they are crying for missing their family. In conclusion, this essay analyzes that the similarity and differences in both poems. But still after the comparison, the readers sho

20、uld concede that the poems still are very different. The poems all talk about the American dream, but Hughes is interested in African Americans life and culture and Chin is interested in Chinese immigrants life and culture. Also, the authors use different figurative language to describe their dream.

21、Work cited:Chin, Marilyn. “Altar.” The Phoenix Gone, the Terrace Empty. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1994. 29.BiographyHughes, Langston. “Harlem.” The Norton Introduction to Poetry. Eds. J. Paul Hunter et. al NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 2002. 383英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daughters of daily experi

22、ence.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A beggar can never be

23、bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。7. No news is good news. 没有消息就是好消息。8. No cross, no crown. 不经历风雨,怎么见彩虹。9. The more haste, the less speed. /Haste makes waste.欲速则不达。10. Victory belongs to the most persevering. 坚持就是胜利！11. A young idler, an old beggar. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。12. Put ones

24、 foot in ones mouth. 说话不得体。13. It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水难收/悔恨已晚/木已成舟,回天乏力。14. Content is better than riches. 知足常乐。15. No gains without pains. 没有辛苦就没有收获。16. The more a man knows, the more he is inclined to be modest. 大智若愚。17. All roads lead to Rome .条条大路通罗马。18. A snow year, a rich year.

25、瑞雪兆丰年。19. Never say die! 永不言败！20. The best mirror is a friends eye. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。 21. Faith will move mountain. 精诚所至，金石为开。 22. A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。 23. Great wits have short memories.贵人多忘事。 24. Do well and have well. 善有善报。25. A bad thing never dies. 坏事传千年

26、。26. Four eyes see more than two. 人多识广/集思广益。27. Diligence is the parent of success. 勤劳是成功的根本。28. Water dropping day by day wears the hardest rock away.滴水穿石。29. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。 30. While there is life, there is hope. /Debt is better than death. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

27、。/有生命就有希望。31. Where there is a will, there is a way. 功夫不负有心人。/有志者事竟成。32. Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 哪里有真爱存在，哪里就有奇迹。33. Where there is smoke, there is fire. 无风不起浪。34. One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。35. A stitch in time saves

28、 nine. 及时缝一针能省九针。/小洞不补，大洞吃苦。36. Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. 亡羊补牢，为时不晚。37. Dont claim to know what you dont know. 不要不懂装懂。38. Do in Rome as Roman do. 入乡随俗。39. Rome was not built in a day. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。40. Sharpening your axe will not delay your job of cutting wood. 磨刀不误砍柴工。 41. Thing

29、s of a kind come together, people a mind fall into a group. 物以类聚,人以群分。 42. One mans meat is another mans poison. 萝卜白菜,各有所爱。43. like author like book.文如其人。46. Like for like. 惺惺相惜。47. Like teacher like pupil. 有其师必有其徒。48. Gods that run many hares kill none.贪多必失。49. Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。50. Acti

30、ons speak louder than words. 行胜于言。51. You cannot eat your cake and have it. 鱼与熊掌，不可兼得。52. One loses by pride and gains by modesty. 满招损,谦受益。53. Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。54. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 每日一苹果远离医生。55. Time past cannot be called back again. 时光不倒流。56. A drop of water cannot ma

31、ke a sea, and a tree cannot make a wood. 滴水不成海，独木不成林。57. If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。58.The tree is known by its fruit. 观其行知其人。59. All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. 只会用功不玩耍,聪明的孩子也变傻。60. The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。61. Unkindness often reacts on the unkin

32、d person. 恶有恶报。62. Todays work should never be left over till tomorrow. 今日事今日毕。63. Nothing so bad but might have been worse. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 64. God helps those who help themselves. 自助者天助。65. Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。66. A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性难移。67. A friend wit

33、hout faults will never be found. 没有十全十美的朋友。68. A good beginning is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半。69. A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. 一本好书，相伴一生。70. A good medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。71. A leopard cannot change its spots.积习难改。72. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 一知半解

34、，自欺欺人。73. All good things come to an end. 天下没有不散的筵席。74. Justice has long arms. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏。75A man becomes learned by asking questions. 不耻下问才能有学问。76. A man can do no more than he can. 凡事都应量力而行。77. A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不能二用。78. Diamond cuts diamond. 强中自有强中手。79. Doing is better

35、 than saying. 与其挂在嘴上，不如落实在行动上。80. Do it now. 机不可失，时不再来。81. It is the unforeseen that always happens. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。82. Dont put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。83. Do well and have well. 善有善报。84. Easy come, easy go. 来也匆匆，去也匆匆。85. Every advantage has its disadvantage.有利必有弊。86. Eve

36、ry day is not Sunday. 好景不常在。87. Every man has his faults. 金无足赤，人无完人。88. Every man has his weak side. 人人都有弱点。89. Every potter praises hit pot. 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸。90. Experience must be bought. 吃一堑，长一智。91. Far from eye, far from heart. 眼不见，心不烦。92. First come, first served. 先来后到。93. Judge not from appearances.人

37、不可貌相，海不可斗量。94. Gold will not buy anything.黄金并非万能。95. He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好。96. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。97. Learn not and know not. 不学无术。98. It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。 99. It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百年树人。100. It is the first step that costs troublesome. 万事开头难。