Journal 18 - Hemingway

1. What is the significance of the story’s title?

The story title is significant because they are in Italy. Also, it shows isolation and the fact that the men are outsiders. They are all considered outsiders because of their injuries. They are set apart from the rest of the soldiers. The narrator specifically is isolated because he is not familiar with the language and he is foreign, but their injuries tie them together.

2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?

The fencer best represents the “Hemingway hero” because he suffers with grace and dignity, but is fighting hard until his bitter ending. He is dealing with the most suffering because of the loss of his wife. He is suffering not only because of his injury, but also because of his life. He knows that his hand isn’t going to get better, and the loss of his wife isn’t going to be something that is easy to overcome.

3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?

The photographs are used as encouragement to the soldiers, even though they are most likely fake. They are supposed to be used as motivation even though the machines might not actually work. The major doesn’t say anything about the photographs; he simply looks out the window. He isn’t very focused on what the doctors want him to do. He is distracted and not very hopeful that his hand will get better, so he doesn’t show any interest. He is isolating himself and pondering his thoughts and losses.

Journal 17 - Prufrock

Journal 17 - “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” – T.S. Eliot (p.775)

1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?

The poem’s epigraph is six lines of a quotation from Canto of the Inferno by Dante Alighieri. Eliot does not translate it out of Italian, which makes people think that Eliot is ignorant and flashy. However, Eliot’s real purpose is that he wanted people to truly be interested enough to translate the quotation themselves.

2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?

Prufrock asks very random questions. Should I eat a peach? Should I part my hair from behind? Do I dare? All of the questions are asking “should I” or “should I not?” He is unsure of himself, with low self esteem.

3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?

Profrock’s main flaw/problem is an internal conflict. In the poem, he is speaking to a lover and he wishes to tell her how he feels about her. He doesn’t believe that anyone will read this poem, because he is not bold enough to express his feelings in that way. He is self conscious and said that he would feel disgraced and embarrassed if people knew about his feelings.

4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?

This is a love song in an ironic way. The title is used loosely as the poem centers itself around Prufrock’s feelings. He is actually expressing his lonliness, isolation, and unhappiness which is the complete opposite of love. The poem is very much about his physical and mental wandering and displeasure with his own life. He is very alone and not bold enough to express his feelings for his desired woman, and the title is therefore ironic.