For Julia, In The Deep Water

Words: 948
Pages: 4
Open Document
One of the most important things in life is the love one receives from a parent, or in some cases, several parents. The nurturing one receives when they are young is the back-bone of their overall character. On the other end of the spectrum, the act of providing this affection to an offspring is quite possibly one of the most necessary aspects of a parents’ life. The poems “For Julia, In the Deep Water” and “I Still Hear the Bell Ringing” share multiple similarities- the theme of a parents’ love being one of these similarities. In addition, both share a dire tone along with the teaching of important lessons. The first poem to be compared, “For Julia, In the Deep Water” by John N. Morris, takes place as an upset set of parents watch their …show more content…
In analyzing “For Julia, In the Deep Water” it is obvious that Julia’s parents love her so much that they can barely even stand watching their daughter panic. As Julia screams for her mother it is said that she is “drowning.” However, the mother is not literally drowning but rather suffocated by her inability to comfort her child. The sixteenth and seventeenth lines in this poem say, “She is doing nothing, She never did anything harder.” These two lines have an underlying meaning- nothing has ever been so difficult as having to watch her child struggle in fear. Both instances are used to create the poem’s theme. In “I Still Hear the Bell Ringing,” the man’s father leaves him with the following three phrases of advice: “Take your garbage home”, “If you don’t know a word, look it up in the dictionary”, and most importantly “Never hate anybody.” These words of advice are used to introduce the father’s love for his son. Later in the poem, readers learn of the father’s death. Line 24 particularly sticks out to further prove this point, it says “on a trail only my father could see, I wish he had taught me how” This line can be used to infer that the man’s father knew he was going to die, but could not face telling his son. This example only further illustrates the theme of the …show more content…
While it may seem obvious, Morris’ poem illustrates teaching a child to swim. However, there is a more meaningful lesson being taught. The final four lines of this poem state, “Your way toward us, You are learning how In the helpless water It is with our skill We live in what kills us.” Rather than just learning how to swim, this is describing the process of growing up. In addition to the maturing of the child, this also applies to the parents learning to give their child the opportunity to grow and do things on her own. The lessons taught in “I Still Hear the Bell Ringing” are much more obvious than in Morris’ poem. Rather than using underlying meanings, Leggo quite bluntly illustrates this by writing in the father’s death and giving the readers examples of how the son now uses these words of advice from his father. For example, it is stated that “If you don't know a word, look it up in a dictionary, strong advice, for now I know many words and in words I am known.” This demonstrates the important lessons he
Show More

Related Documents: For Julia, In The Deep Water

My First Free Summer Poem Analysis

In Julia Alvarez’s short stories, poems, and essay her style of writing helps to capture the purpose of her work. In many of her stories such as “My First Free Summer”, “Exile”, “All American Girl”, and “Antojos” Julia makes a connection through all of her stories by her strong use of word choice. Julia being a latina writer with her own personal experiences of immigration can really get her message through and make the connection between the reader and characters of the stories stronger. Julia Alvarez…

Words 2062 - Pages 9

English: Family and Havanese Puppy Living Essay

My name is Sophie Bromley and I’m a havanese puppy living in the Bromley household with my mom Lori, my dad Harry, and my sister Julia. My mom is like the sanctity one in the family, while my dad just walks around with knickers on and these obnoxious looking clodhoppers. My sister, though, acts completely inane. Her only job is sinecure, as it is only to walk me out every now and then. And when she tries to hold me to make me look “cute” and acts ludicrous, she jounces me around and makes me all…

Words 975 - Pages 4

Girl In The Goldfish Bowl Essay

scenic painting was so believable it was hard to believe the clinging coral, algae and water damaged wood were not natural. The vivid colour scheme of bright turquoises,…

Words 535 - Pages 3

Essay On Arizona

located in the southwestern region of the United States, at approximately 34.0000° N, 112.0000° W, is north of Mexico, east of California, south of Utah, west of New Mexico, and is home to one of the Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon, a mile deep and carved into the earth by the Colorado River. The seemingly arid, dusty region is actually teeming with all kinds of desert life, including coyotes, snakes, roadrunners, quail, and various cacti, including the iconic saguaro cactus, which only…

Words 1011 - Pages 5

Religion: Cooks River and New south Wales Essay

reaches its northernmost point at Strathfield, where it leads into a concrete open canal, no more than one metre wide and thirty centimetres deep, and heads towards the south-east. Part of the river, where it runs through Strathfield Golf Course, has had the concrete lining removed. Here the plants have returned and have created an environment where the water is filtered and runs clean, and where wildlife has returned. One section here is called the Chain of Ponds. At Belfield it joins with the Cox…

Words 1516 - Pages 7

Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Essay

the mountainous wilderness of northwest Virginia. At the age of two, he lost both his father Jonathon and sister Elizabeth. Five years later, at the age of seven, his destitute mother was pressured to leave him with relatives; not even a year later, Julia Jackson passed away (McAllister 819). Separated from his brother Warren and his half-brother William, Thomas and his sister Laura were put into the care of their uncle. He provided security for them but not much else (Robertson Jr. 2). The first…

Words 934 - Pages 4

Essay on cities of vesuvius -notes

14) and the cult temperor both Pompeii and Herculaneum dedicated public buildings to Agustus - temples of venus and apollo to whom Augustus was particularly devoted were restored Agustus commissioned aqueducts to bring fresh water from mountains - providing running water to public fountains as we'll as private homes The earthquake of AD 62- according to Tacitus, AD 62 was the year in which an earthquake ‘ largely demolished the populouss Campanian town of Pompeii’ - Seneca philosopher also believed…

Words 6040 - Pages 25

SAORA Newsletter 2 November 2014 Essay example

1 S .A.O.R.A. newsletter November 2014 PRESIDENT ’S R E P ORT N o v e m be r , 2 0 1 4 Another year has flown past, I am not sure whether it’s the aging process or simply the pace at which we are moving that makes each year go faster. SAORA has had a very successful year. Despite the weather, our 111th birthday celebration in March was a wonderful, happy day. It was so heart-warming Philippa Crichton - President this year to have some of the youngest Old Girls and two of the oldest Old Girls…

Words 4253 - Pages 18

Madness and sickness in female writings Essay

she is pale too because of the lack of understanding she suffers from. It is “stripped- off […] in great patches all around the head of [her] bed […], and in great place on the other side of the room low down” (3). She is disorderly too and is torn deep inside, since she has given birth recently and is struggling to overcome the emotional disturbance. As she reflects on this wallpaper, she realizes the similarity it bears with her. She is stuck to that room and is used up by “boys’ school” (3). In…

Words 1969 - Pages 8

Comparing Marx And Engel's The Communist Manifesto

the struggle of the lower and middle class in a capitalist world and theorizes that the ultimate solution is communism. Political leaders, such as Mao and Castro, implicate this ideology in hopes to restore equality, but forget about their hubris and deep desire to simply rule over state, turning communism into totalitarianism. George Orwell's "1984" explores the exaggerations of the latter ideology from above. The novel, published in 1949, is a glimpse into a terrifying, yet potential future. It…

Words 2058 - Pages 9