There was no specific prompt for this final paper, giving us students the freedom to create a
topic on something that we have a passion for and enjoy discussing. I
found mine: intended effects vs. actual effects of love poetry on
society and the modern mind. The topic actually arose in writing my personal literary narrative
where I discussed my love and infatuation with Francesco Petrarch. In
this situation, I chose my primary literary text first: Petrarch's
Sonnet 3 and then thought about it enough to the point where there were
enough points that I enjoyed thinking about. I took those points and
joined them together to create a topic/argument. After taking my thoughts to the social media realm, I let it stew more and finally came up with this as my thesis:
Standardized
western beliefs of love, both unrealistic and realistic, are deeply
rooted in both classical society and ours today. What should be
considered when reading all sub-genres of love poetry, is that the work
is almost never eternally true. Love fluctuates, and our society should
not be trained to accept romantic literature, movies, music, or romantic
art in general as love’s definition because they are inaccurate
depictions.
I knew that this thesis had enough fuel behind it where I would feel
comfortable discussing it without feeling too repetitive or not having
enough to say. Even after the paper is completed and turned in, I have continued to discuss the topic with friends. I have new points and ideas about the topic. That's how I knew it was right for me: if I could always find something new to say about it. Overall, I am really happy with the way it turned out and the direction that my argument turned. If you're bored and want a quick read, here's the link to my final draft.
Here is my very rough draft of my essay so far. I am still working out the construction of it as a whole. I want to switch around ideas from the intro and put them into the body paragraphs. I love writing the intros because I always think of more arguments when considering the broader subject of my topic first.
Here are some of the poems I intend to quote from in my paper on love poetry:
Petrarch Sonnets 3, 6, 101, 106, 151, 144, 132
Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare (1609)
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
As an extension of an earlier post and its comments, I have decided to elaborate on love poetry's intentions, using Petrarch's sonnets as a main source.
It's a heavy topic for me and at this point, I'm not sure I agree 100% with my claim, but it's controversial and interesting enough to make it worth while. Let's see if I can spark some argumentative discussions.
Haven't we all been messed with, at least a little, by The Notebook?
1. Policy Claim - Despite love poetry's universal acceptance and adoration, the adolescent mind should take caution when reading the genre in search for greater knowledge of love for there are forms of trickery, whether intentional or unintentional by the author. A more mature mind can more easily absorb love poetry without falling susceptible and developing unrealistic beliefs of its peril, or lack thereof. hidden behind the words that appeal to the young audience and if accepted, conjure unrealistic beliefs about love.
2. Definition Claim - It can be deceiving by how often times love poetry is not about the love itself, but
the exploration of the feelings of love, which is destructive to the unripened and easily influenced mind. People are raised to believe in a love that is more oft than not represented by the unstable and fast changing emotions that it brings than the love itself.
3. Comparison Claim - Though both the "love high" and heartbreak are represented in love poetry, the adolescent mind tends to retain and ponder the wonderfully overwhelming emotions of being in love over the horribly miserable emotions of hearbreak. Caution should be paid when diving into the powerful genre.
4. Evaluation Claim - While Petrarch's sonnets are almost entirely about his eternal love Laura, he is more concerned with his own feelings of love and not Laura herself. Standardized western beliefs of love, both unrealistic and realistic, are deeply rooted in both Petrarch's society and ours today. The classical thought of love being a curse surely influenced Petrarch, although Christian, but it takes the more ripened mind to identify the ideal while consulting love poetry.
5. Cause/Effect Claim - Although the airy and whimsical tones to love poetry make for beautiful and unparallelled works, there is always a danger present of getting caught up in the benevolent aspects of love, and ignoring the malicious.
Feel free to let me know your thoughts on the topic.
This past week, I was able to give several literary recommendations to friends and acquaintances as to contribute to Learning Outcome # 4. On Monday, I went to the library to check out a biography on Francesco Petrarch, whom I adore. Humanism is one of my favorite philosophical movements, so humanist ideas mixed with love poetry = me loving it.
The person I was sitting with then asked me what the book was and I explained to him who Petrarch was. He did not seem amused. Feeling the need to defend the poet, I went on a tangent explaining what he wrote about, why it is so beautiful, why it would speak to him if he were to read it, etc. Then he seemed convinced and I think accepted Petrarch as reputable. JOB DONE.
A few minutes later, I went to the help desk where my friend was working to check out the book. He, as well was unfamiliar with the 14th century writer so once again, I happily gave a brief background and told him that he should check his work out. TWO in one day! I left the library satisfied.
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