Is the Supreme Court playing Potter to Obamacare’s George Bailey? Will Woody Allen’s version of French tyranny (soufflé and croissant at every meal) be the end result?
In “Diving into the Wreck” Adrienne Rich surveyed the wreckage of post-World War II relationships and charted new paths.
John Donne’s impatience in “The Canonization” could be that of same sex couples who want to get married and wonder about all the fuss.
Recent brain research indicates that fiction helps us “understand the complexities of social life.”
The killing of Trayvon Martin reminds me of Emmett Till and a poem written about Emmett’s youthful innocence.
In “She Who Reconciles,” Rilke celebrates the gentle yet empowering guest.
The Oscar-winning Iranian film “Separation” builds complication upon complication as families wrestle with difficult conditions.
In this Scott Bates poem, the poetry of basketball is surpassed by the poetry of frisbee throwing.
On a beautiful spring morning when she is startled by birdsong, Mary Oliver describes a merging with nature where she “began to understand what the bird was saying.”
It’s not only Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher who are use sexual epithets to denigrate women. King Lear does it too.
Rachel Kranz’s fiction shows how to step up with acquaintances use offensive sexist language.
The magnificent poet attributed to St. Patrick looks to nature to provide images for God’s strength and support.
In movie allusions used to capture the presidential primaries, Santorum is Dorothy, Romney is Terminator 3, and Gingrich is Bruce Willis in “The Sixth Sense.”
Posted in Sixth Sense (film), Terminator 3 (film), Wizard of Oz (film) | Tagged Film, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, politics, Presidential election, Rick Santorum, Sixth Sense, Terminator 3, Wizard of Oz |
Shakespeare’s Falstaff would be in violation of the Stolen Valor act, now being challenged before the Supreme Court.
Patrick Logan, freelance writer and regular reader of this blog, sent me a marvelous essay about cultural dislocation that he wrote for the Manchester Union Leader. (I’ve made reference to previous articles that Patrick has written here). Patrick uses the famous Washington Irving story abut Rip Van Winkle to process his own shock when, returning [...]
Historical research suggests that Odysseus’s island may have been Paliki, not Ithaka. Cavafy’s poem “Ithaka” informs us that it doesn’t matter.
Levertov’s “What Were They Like” gives us a poem that may help dampen hysteria about going to war with Iran.
Gibran’s version of Jesus driving the moneychangers from the temple wonders how he pulled it off.
The KKK, propelled into prominence by a cutting edge social medium, is ironically faltering because of its inability to keep up with social media.
Theorist Wayne Booth compares the impact that books have on us to that of friends. Some friends have a good influence, some not.
Crazy weather swings have been messing with our spring flowers, bringing to mind Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.
Mitt Romney’s lies, like those of Hilaire Belloc’s Matilda, make one gasp and stretch one’s eyes.
A discussion of Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” led a group of senior citizens to conclude that it’s about a man who is experiencing difficulties transitioning into retirement.
Rachel Barenblat’s poem about Queen Esther brings her down to earth and in the process makes her far more interesting.
“A Better Life” puts a human face on illegal immigrants, something the United States sorely needs.
Literary allusions are flying fast and free in this primary season.
Posted in Blake (William), Bunyan (John), Carroll (Lewis), Hawthorne (Nathaniel), Melville (Herman), Milne (A. A.) | Tagged Alice in Wonderland, Herman Melville, John Bunyan, Lewis Carroll, Moby Dick, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pilgrim's Progress, Presidential campaign, Scarlet Letter, William Blake |
