Dear Students,
I have created a blog on Literature in English Course that you are studying. You are invited to share your interpretations, views, thoughts and ideas on the songs, stories, play and novel.
Share the ideas: Worth spreading
Yours
Subrahmanyam Atchula
In the poem, The City Planners, Atwood disappointingly brings to light how unmindful are human beings to think irrationally of living in suburbs. She skillfully interweaves the idea of how humans are growing mentally ill, dwelling in suburbs and getting panic at the same time. Bluntly, she probes the fact that the unnatural behaviour and acceptance of controlled and conditioned behaviour in the residential locations of suburbs. The poet vividly expresses her views how humans being are meant to talk, shout, laugh and engage in human interaction, which is not allowed in the modern suburbs built by the city planners.
ReplyDeleteRespectable Sir, I fully accept your point of view but I would want to add on to your POV. The Planners, in my opinion are shown to be programming the residents with certain dos and don'ts, which in this case are the restrictions of the loudness of speech. Atwood hence portrays the inhabitants as robots who have no power to critisize or retaliate against the City Planners.
DeleteGood point Sachiv
DeleteThe poet is seen in deep regret how human beings in suburbs are obsessed with sterile perfection of the city, where people do not talk, shout or make a mistake of breaking a glass. Regrettably, people have unconsciously accepted the way of life as natural but forgot to rationalize how it happened to them.
ReplyDeleteas Atwood drives through the suburbs she feels disappointed at the fact that none of the residents are fighting the city planners. she observes that there is'no shouting here'which meant that nobody was raising their voice to protest against the doings of the planners. she realizes that there is 'no shatter of glass' either. The 'glass' could be a metaphor for the fragile and weak rules that the city planners have made throughout their reign. Atwood is immensely frustrated that nobody is doing anything to 'shatter' these silly rules. Thus brilliantly conveying to the readers her feelings on the way the suburb is being made into an artificial dwelling where people are detached from nature.
ReplyDeleteArchana I fully accept your POV but I think that the word 'fighting' is too violent a word to be used in this PEEP. Thus I would recommend you to change it to something less violent. 'Oppose', 'Retaliate'or 'making their voices heard' can potentialy be used in your Response.
DeleteThank you for your suggestion sagar I shall keep that in mind while writing my actual paper
DeleteSir can u please tell me what grade I would get?
DeleteAtwood expresses how the city planner's have controlled the residents of metropolitan suburbs and compelled them to keep quiet despite the planner's wrong doings. As she goes by she mentions that there is 'no shouting here' which suggests that the residents have learnt to accept the artificial life provided by the planners and that they refrain from protesting against the unjust they are facing. the last four lines of the first stanza also indicate that there is no room for mistakes in these so-called "perfect" suburbs. Thus, the readers feel threatened by the misuesd power of the planners and are appauled at the way in which these heartless people have constructed cities, with their lack of respect for nature.
ReplyDeleteA grade response.
DeleteSpeaking about the idea of human's being seen as social animals, Artwood presents to us how with the change in time humans have learnt and are nearing to love the way the city planner restrict them from the real intresting world. The perfectly planned suburbs and the image of the houses in 'pedantic rows' not only brings about a sign of how the city planners are firm with their blue printed ideas but also how artistically they have been made. Readers keeping in mind the poets hatred towards the planners see the fact of 'perfect'as an irony which makes the poem totally humorous and and intresting as the readers discover more. The presentation of neat beauty first does durely catch the readers but as the poem moves on things look to be opposite and the planners begin to grow cruel over time, neglecting the mob's thought but keeping their ideas as the topmost priority..
ReplyDeleteAbhishek, I completely agree with ur pov. But I would just like to emphasize upon the use of the word 'artistically' because the way u have written it seems to be in a positive sense. What we are trying to argue upon and put a pin on is the exact opposite so I feel u should change the word 'artistically' to 'artificially'
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe notion of the residents being pawns of the City Planners is indomitably brought to light in the poem 'City Planners'. The "same slant of ........ sky" refers to the inability of the residents to oppose the City Planners obsession with perfection and modernity to which, gradually, they get accustomed to. The fact of the planners being unopposed and them designing rules and regulation with uniqueness lacking, to their heart's fill, disturbs the reader and she thus ridicules the residents' inability to question the City Planners with a tinge of satire. Thus, she strongly puts forth her point of acceptance of uniqueness and collates the present views of that exclusiveness.
Sagar, I think you can also add on that the planner's aim of perfection is creating a monotonous atmosphere which the city dwellers are getting accustomed to, but in the long run it is only going to be disastrous for the residents themselves if the planners continue to do so unopposed.
DeleteThanks Ariyka I shall keep that in mind.
DeleteDear Students,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see your informed personal responses in smaller pieces, a great process of intellectual engagement.
Please follow this format for further posts. Copy, make changes and post.
Example only (QB=Question Bank)
TOPIC: Continuum (Q3 from QB)or General
PEEP/Intro/POV:
Living in such an environment with only concrete, steel and buildings, man consequently becomes more mechanical, stressed and partially dehumanized. The absence of vast land in cities deprives the harmony that a huge area of empty land provides. This absence of land in cities is severely criticized by Margaret Atwood in this poem where "the houses in pedantic rows" shows lack of warmth.
ReplyDeleteAvinash I personally fell that you should elaborate a bit more, as your point being valid doesn't bring out much.It would be better if you blend in the evidence with ur sentences,giving your response a smoother touch.
DeleteAvinash I agree with Abhishek. The use of words and your POV is very strong but a little explanation or elaboration should do the trick. Maybe you can add that the houses all being the same and in rows is creating a monotonous atmosphere for the people and that the planners obsession with perfection is also highlighted in aforementioned lines stating that they want a perfect city for themselves and that nature, according to the planners spoils that image.
DeleteTopic : Continuum
ReplyDeletePEEP:Presenting the perfectly planned city,Atwood vividly portrays immense hatred towards the attitude of the planners. The 'momentary' access given to nature furthers her hate as she deeply wonders over why such a 'future'.Over time as humans learn to grow away from nature , ironically this being the planners aim behind this city, does disturb her drastically and hence her temper being tested. Referring to the point of human beings taken as social animals , Atwood relates this to her point and moreover expresses sadness over the fact of them being a mob completely acting as parasites, depending on the planners and how they control them. Readers are deeply touched and realize the bitter truth of reality as Atwood presents it with her strong and intellectual language..
Continuum or City Planners?. A Grade Response
DeleteA slight error. should be City planners.
DeleteThat's a good view
DeleteThe fact of the City Planners robbing people of rational living constrains Atwood and she vividly expresses her distress in the poem "City Planners". The planners being "political conspirators" and designing the city to their heart's fill without a view for the people disturbs the readers and the poet expresses her agony and disapproval for their wrongdoing. The Planners are shown to be plotting against the people by constructing a city unsuitable for the inhabitants and making inhuman laws. Making such laws and regulations suppresses the inhabitants and prevents the people from raising their voices. By using the aforementioned metaphor, Atwood expresses her and the people's disapproval. The readers, thus feel as though she is a representative of the city dwellers- one who has collated their joint feelings about the City Planners and portrayed them as treacherous.
ReplyDeleteThe Planners acquisitiveness for perfection and their desire of being modern is brought to light in the "City Planners". Atwood brings out her sadness when conveying to the readers how "nobody notices" the Planners capsizing houses "obliquely into the clay seas", gradually "as glaciers". The poet depicts to the readers that the Planners make the residents so busy that they do not realize the erection or the capsizing of a building. These lines also depict that the Planners have made the people more ignorant and misguided. Atwood also conveys to the readers that the Planners perform their tasks so stealthily that none notices until the final product is unleashed. She thus collates and presents ideas on the inhabitants of a city, for whom the city is not designed
ReplyDeleteTopic: A Birthday
ReplyDeleteThe exuberant feeling of the poet is vividly brought to light in the poem "A Birthday" by Christina Rosetti. Rosetti vividly highlights to the readers that her "heart" feels "like a singing bird" which coneys the fact of the poet being at the height of happiness and her achievement of elysium. This is a new phase of life for the poet and is a very enjoyable one just like what a singing bird goes through-It sings only if it is overjoyed or overwhelmed with happiness. This simile thus creates a powerful effect on the readers minds and helps the poet emphasize and create an impression of her being ecstatic.
Topic: City Planners
ReplyDeleteThe poet stresses that the danger posed by the city planners is not due to the power they hold, but due to their ability to influence the very mindset of the people to accept the unacceptable. Like 'political conspirators', they put up false faces, hiding in the shadows while playing with peoples' hopes in order to achieve their upheaval of rational living. Though they wish to create utter perfection, this 'bland' form of life creates nothing but mass 'panic' behind the scenes as people strive to find normality behind the walls these planners erect. This allusion allows people to realize how clever these planners are and lead them to recognize the grave danger they pose, instigating them to take a stand.
A* PEEP
DeleteTopic: City Planners
ReplyDeleteAtwood portrays the people living in these areas as robotic and abnormal. She depicts them seeking utter control and monotony in everything, from their 'houses' to the 'grass'. The people themselves refuse to act out, abstaining from 'shouting'. This ugly truth places the reader in a sea of self-realization, and they see the picture shown in numerous horror movies, robots taking control, yet in this particular distasteful image, they themselves have become the robots.
The poet vividly present to the reader that the planners unmindful modification of the people's perspective of nature and their need for it in the image of a dull life as rational living. The people in the society truly believe the 'sunlight' as 'dry' and dull but not hope of life, which 'offends' them. The diction of the poet in the poem makes the readers question themselves of how the planners create which cannot be enjoyed and is inhuman in nature. Thus, the poet presents the planners who can influence the beliefs of people entirely rational.
ReplyDeleteRishi,I think the word unmindful is inappropriate as the planners seem to put thought into their work. Perhaps uncaring would be better?
Deleteyes, thanks
DeleteRishi your view is excellent but i find the elaboration/explanation of the evidence to be quite less and there are frequent vocabulary errors. I also find the ending to be abrupt or immediate. In my opinion you should explain a bit more on your evidence and then forcefully emphasize your evidence, make the readers agree with you.
DeleteThe madness of modern planning is empathetically highlighted in the poem "City Planners" by Atwood and she hence portrays her disapproval for the same. Atwood portrays the "panic of suburb" and brings to light the unpleasant consequences of modern planning and intellectual thoughts behind building a tourist appealing city and not a resident friendly one. In this scenario, there is nothing made for the people except laws and regulations which troubles the readers and the poet. The consequences highlighted by the poet include chaos and complete disorder amongst the inhabitants. In my views the planners ought to build a city which is less tourist appealing and more appealing for the residents. In this way they will contribute to healthy growth of the residents and the city as a whole making the city prosperous naturally.
ReplyDeleteSagar,
ReplyDeleteThe following sentence of yours should change. It becomes informal so...
In my views the planners ought to build a city which is less tourist appealing and more appealing for the residents. In this way they will contribute to healthy growth of the residents and the city as a whole making the city prosperous naturally.
The CHANGE can be
The poets may have a belief that a city should not just be tourist-appealing but more appealing or enthusiastic for the residents. In this way they will contribute to healthy growth of the residents and the city as a whole making the city prosperous naturally.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAtwood feels for and exhibits sympathy for other forms of life due to the carelessness of the planners.She mentions that the 'sanitary trees' are 'planted';The term 'sanitary'suggests that the planners have kept the trees in mind in the form of cleaning agents that are meant to purify the air inhaled by humans, while the term 'planted' infers that the trees have been placed in their positions to provide life to the human race, and not to bring out the beauty of nature. The poet states that the 'power mower' cuts a 'straight...discouraged grass' informing the readers that even the grass is being disciplined; This act is seen to be extremely odd. The 'power mower' is metaphorically significant of the authority that the architects have and how they abuse it. The readers are shocked to learn about the intrusive character of the builders and feel disheartened at the fact that other forms of life aren't allowed to grow naturally due to the pettiness of the city planners
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear sir I would kindly request you to make another archive for 'Her birthday' as that would not only make it more systematic but also it would be easier to search for points , respective of each poem in the future.
ReplyDeleteComparing the two worlds of nature , one being exceptioanlly natural and one being artificially magical,Brewster ponders over the beauty of the city , groaning over the fact of it yet not being nature's best.Her sight of this 'tidily' desgined suburb, which hides within a 'guidebook' , it being all pre-planned. The thought of it all being man made and cunningly beautiful, trigers her hate , moreover regretting over the fact of there being no natural growth of glamour. The 'smell of work' dates back into time and presents how people will never be able to forget their past or the places they were born and brought up in , hence the atmosphere around yielding them into their apparent character. Readers get the idea of the 'guidebook' as a metaphor , relating it to how the humans use to decide each of their actions moving with slow and steady steps at time, ensuring the correct path to destination. All in all the readers remain totally engrosed in the poem with the beauty of its imagery , wondering every now and then if such a character dwells upon us so intensely , the reason being the world around which boils in the different attributes into us , shaping us into souls which come from one of the two worlds....
ReplyDeleteTopic: where i come from
ReplyDeletePeople and places change in the due course of time as people move around, shifting from cities but 'people are made of places', the place of their birth. Through this poem Brewster shares with us her thoughts as she conveys to us that deep down in the minds of people a 'door' is present, which holds the 'hints' of our memories. By pointing at 'nature' which is nicely trimmed and 'plotted' in 'tiny squares', a comparison is made showing that the place where she comes from has a free will as she pictures the 'acres of pine woods', the 'blueberry patches' and the 'burned-out bushes'. She shares her memories of 'violets' and the 'season of spring and winter' which portrays the imagery of her senses and the natural beauty which lacks in the suffocated, controlled and restricted city.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTopic: The City Planners
ReplyDeleteAtwood presents the image of the nature and the city planners in the poem by portraying the city planners as individuals who are intrusive, interfering and controlling towards nature, obsessed with perfection of other life forms when they fail to live their own. This invasive nature is personified in the lines "dent in our car door" where the car door represents the nature trying to be itself and the "dent" are the human beings thus denting their natural process of flourishing and evolving, and trying to exist in its raw, untouched form as they assign spaces for "planted sanitary trees" and "discouraged grass", to grow not as nature, but just for the mere sake of keeping nature in this monotonous world. In the process of shaping the perfect artificial world, every single factor of nature is controlled and altered, they even meticulously plan nature's path of development, to adapt it around city life, and save room for more modern development. I feel the writer wants to make the readers realise that the city planners, in no more likeness towards nature, are trying to avoid the mess they have created(hinting towards the theme of global warming).The planted trees are also an metaphor of the planted ideas in the minds of the citizens, as they are wiped clean or sterile of their own ideas.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTOPIC: A Birthday
ReplyDeleteBooklet question 2 PEEP:
The poet is seen to be in a state of absolute bliss and the intensity of her happiness seems to be increasing every second. She sates that her 'heart...singing bird' which suggests that she has reached the state of elysium. The simile, comparing her heart to the pleasant sound of singing birds tremendously outlines her ecstasy. The use of 'singing birds' indicates that a new season is approaching and highlights a new beginning or phase in the poets life; A possible explanation of her extreme happiness as understood by the readers.
Topic: Her First Ball
ReplyDeleteBooklet Question 3
Intro: Leila's excitement and anxiety is vividly and empathetically brought to light by Katherine Mansfield in the story 'Her First Ball'. Mansfield makes use of flashbacks in the story to depict the thoughts and feelings of Leila before the ball and provides vivid and lifelike descriptions of what happens during the ball, thus conveying to the readers Leila's precise thoughts at the very instances. The writer also uses the stream of cognizance method to create the adrenaline rush in the story, making readers want to know more about a girl's first ball, and thus stimulates interest in the readers minds.
Living around a perfectly mapped city , Atwood delineate's her deep sorrow and disgust as on observing such an artificially sketched ambience.Here the 'political conspirators' seem to have poisoned the 'sanities' of the habitants , transforming their lifestyle to be irrational but yet being so ordered and 'residential'. The planners are pictured as sentinels governing these habitant puppets alongside drawing out 'rigid' perfection in every aspect of the city. The poet laments her anger with vivid aspects of imagery as to present to readers the growing , oblivious 'panic' in the 'suburb'. It being a complete 'bland madness' where order rules over people and the thought behind it being as colourless and lucid as 'snow' , Atwood closes the poem hinting to readers a near to death ending of this city.
ReplyDeleteDriven behind the secret behind the unnatural perfection of the City, Atwood unsheathes a variety of secrets, in the process sympathizing with the residents and dilineating the Planners as monotonous, perfection driven and inhumane creatures as they pathetically drive further fixing even the slightest imperfection and building new creations, in the process removing the attractions for which the City can be depicted as a unique place, different from the others. As the poet dives deeper into the City, she finds everything spotless, which "offends us" since to Err is human. A "sidestep hysteria" has the Planners seeking for perfection in vision and not in heart, depicting the enjoyments in life as a "slant of avoidance". Atwood hence bleeds out her inner feelings, hurtling it in the "insane faces of political conspirators".
ReplyDelete*Driven by
DeleteAtwood expresses her anguish through powerful feelings and emotionless imagery at the uniformity in urban housing. Everything looks so picture perfect that 'spilt oil ', a little 'paint on brick' or a 'plastic hose' seems odd. These insignificant things like a splash of paint fallen off by mistake are as agonizing as a 'bruise'. I believe that the planners are so compulsive that even regular imperfections like a hose pipe appears as a venomous snake .
ReplyDelete