“Anne with an E” in my opinion is sort of a coming-of-age story, that takes place in the late 19th century in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is about a young, 13 year old orphan girl who is adopted by elderly siblings, Matthew and Marilla. They initially thought they were getting a boy to help work on the farm, but instead got Anne. The siblings grew to love her and eventually could not imagine life without her. 

Throughout the series, Anne evolves from a naive, little girl into a smart and beautiful young woman, who fights for acceptance, a place in the world and for love, learning all kinds of life lessons along the way. She has been through a lot as an orphan, having an abusive childhood spent in orphanages and having to deal with the way her social status was looked upon in those times. However, over time she transforms the lives of everybody in her town, Avonlea and Green Gables, and they grow to love her for who she is. She is unique, intelligent and has an outstanding imagination, as well as accepting towards everyone and everything. 

Overall, I think that “Anne with an E” is such an educational and eye-opening series that can be directed really towards any audience. So many important topics are issued throughout this story, for example mental health, feminism, masculinity, protest, racism and so much more. In this show, there is a lot to learn from every character, who each have so much to share. All together, the series is happy, sad and rewarding at the same time, and makes me realize that things are not so different today, but actually quite alike to the past. People have come a long way in addressing all kinds of social issues, but there is definitely still a long way to go.

"To Autumn" was written in 1819 by English Romantic poet John Keats. It is an ode, the last of his six, which include "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn". "To Autumn" is the poet’s last major work completed before his death in 1821 in Rome, at just 25 years old, due to tuberculosis. 

The poem consists of three stanzas, each containing 11 lines and representing a different stage of autumn. The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is ABAB CDEDCCE, whereas the rhyme scheme of the second and third stanzas is ABAB CDECDDE. The first stanza reveals the beginning of the season, the second describes the harvest time and the last talks about the conclusion of autumn.

 

The overall tone of the poem is hopeful, sincere, optimistic, joyous, celebratory, etc. Autumn is usually perceived as an end to summer, where there is warmth, happiness, and the feeling of freedom, and sort of a door to the cold harshness of winter. It is usually in the shadows of the lively months, such as spring and summer, and I think that Keats wanted to change that perspective. The poem states that autumn has a rich abundance of life, where everything is fully living its last moments before it reaches the brink of death. Keats suggests that beauty shines all the more brightly in the moments before it will soon be gone. This represents the simple fact that death is just as much a part of autumn as is life. I also believe that this poem symbolizes and compares autumn to human life, which comes and goes and cannot be stopped by anybody or anything. One must simply live freely and to the fullest, keeping in mind that everyday can be the last.

Themes:

-Nothing lasts forever.

-Always look at life with new perspectives.

-Nature can reflect our lives.

-Life and death are separated by only a thin line.

-Live everyday like it is the last.

-Beauty does not have an age and it is all around us.

-Be hopeful of the future.

 

This poem has an abundant use of imagery, allowing autumn to be illustrated in a beautiful way for the readers to picture the author’s description and interpretation of the season, e.g.: 

-“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun”, 

-”To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees”, 

-”With a sweet kernel; to set budding more”,

-“Until they think warm days will never cease”, 

-“While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day”, etc.

 

So all in all, I think that this poem can be interpreted in numerous ways and definitely gives people a new perspective on life. I used to think that autumn was one of the most boring times of the year, but this poem allowed me to gain a new outlook, as well as a greater appreciation for this season. I also believe that one of the reasons John Keats may have written this poem was because of the death of his younger brother, who died in 1818, as a way to let go of the past and let be of what is to come.

"The Soldier" is a beautiful poem and is used to this day to remember and respect soldiers that have died for their countries. I think that it is so amazing and inspiring that even though war is terrifying, love can still keep a soldier going. Poems like this never fail to make me realize how thankful we should all be for our veterans' bravery.

This poem also consists of similes and personification:

Although the situation the couple is put in is sad and almost heartbreaking, Duffy's use of colors in "Mrs Midas" creates a present mood and light tone. This tone almost makes the reader forget the fact that the lives of these two will never be the same. It is devastating that they can never touch again or pursue their dreams together of having a family. I would say that the most important and obvious moral is to be careful what you wish for.
Colors in "Mrs Midas": gold (golden September), green (pears, grass), white, amber (eyes), wine, blue (flame, river), yellow, black, red, crimson red, etc.

The poem also mentions the tomb of King Tutankhamun, "He was below, turning the spare room into the tomb of Tutankhamun." This reference to how King Tut had his tomb furnished with gold, gives the motif of gold a greater meaning. Many other motifs that can be frequently seen throughout "The World's Wife" happen to appear here in "Mrs Midas". For example, the motif of the heart, "And who, when it comes to the crunch, can live with a heart of gold?" or the motif of hands, "I made him sit on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself." Lastly, quite a bit of humor can be seen in this poem. For instance, "I locked the cat in the cellar. I moved the phone. The toilet I didn’t mind." This factor also allows the poem to have a lighter tone. 

Overall, I really enjoyed "Mrs Midas" and I can easily say that it is one of my favorite poems from Duffy's collection. I believe that some of the best poems contain an immense amount of imagery, because I feel that it is the best way to illustrate and imagine what is really going on. This poem did exactly that.

This imagery and personification also portrays the romantic attitude present in the poem. Phrases like, "my girl" clearly expresses Demeter's love for Persephone, as well as a change in mood, from sad and depressing to cheerful and loving. 

I believe that Carol Ann Duffy's whole purpose of writing "The World's Wife" was to give all these classic stories or historical figures new meaning, from a female's perspective. However, I think that this collection is not only about feminism, but also about relationships. One type of relationship in particular especially caught my eye in "The World's Wife", which is the bond between a mother and her child. This form of a relationship can be seen here in "Demeter", but also in two other poems, "Thetis" and "Queen Herod". All three of these poems have similar themes and in a way are connected. I believe that Duffy wanted to show that a mother's relationship with her child is unlike any other relationship, because there will always be love. Perhaps Duffy was inspired by her own daughter to write some of these poems and through this she may have been able to gain a personal connection with her characters by incorporating her life into these poems as well. I really enjoyed "Demeter" and I would say that it is another one of my favorites from "The World's Wife".

All of these stories show that our past influences and our future does play a part in who we are as people today. Maybe it maps our opinions and beliefs. Sometimes is causes us to form false opinions or beliefs. Sometimes we are unconsciously biased and only look at life from our own perspective. When you begin to really start thinking about it, it is crazy how society accepts some of these facts and stereotypes about certain cultures as a part of everyday life and conversation. Adichie mentioned that when she began writing as a child, all her characters were white, played in the snow, ate apples and did other things that Adichie, who lived in Nigeria at the time, knew nothing about. After that she began to see single stories everywhere and I believe that it is important to understand the consequences of these singles stories. Many times they can be racist, hurtful or rob people of their dignity. People need to start changing their opinions and ways and start looking at more than just a single story.

Global issues mentioned in the TED talk:

Colonialism in "The Tempest":
The theme of colonialism can be seen through Gonzalo as he desires a utopian society. He sees the island as an opportunity to make a new  

world, with different laws. It sort of resembles the idea of the 

 New World (the Americas). Gonzalo also is the only one 

 from the other lords to appreciate the island and see its beauty.  
He says, "Had I plantation of this isle, my lord, - 

And were the king on’t, what would I do? 

I’th’ commonwealth I would by contraries 

Execute all things: for no kind of traffic  

Would I admit; no name of  magistrate; 

Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation, all men idle, all, 
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty - 
All things in common nature should produce 
Without sweat or endeavour. Treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of it own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people."

I actually enjoyed reading "The Tempest", especially because of its main theme of forgiveness. Unlike a lot of Shakespeare's other works, this play is a comedy, where nobody dies and it has a "happy ending". I also think that the wide range of characters was essential to show motifs in human nature and I really like the aspect of family. In Act 4, Scene I, Prospero says "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep", and I think it is an interesting way to look at life. It has a powerful meaning and puts emphasis on the various themes in the play.

The novel also contains the theme of the "American Dream", but did Gatsby actually achieve the American Dream? To a certain extent he did, because he became wealthy all on his own, even though he came from a family with no money. However, Gatsby's rich lifestyle will never be enough for him, because what he wants most is not to be wealthy, but to win over Daisy. Unfortunately, Gatsby will never really be part of the elite, in other words the social class Daisy and her husband Tom are a part of. He will always be new money, while they will always be old money, a fact that really emphasizes the difference between them. What is more, he lives in West Egg, but East Egg, where Daisy lives, is where old money lives. So Gatsby can run with this social class, but never really be one of them. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why Daisy never chose to be with Gatsby. He was simply never enough for her, and at the same time Gatsby's new rich lifestyle was never enough for him. Therefore, knowing all of this, maybe Gatsby did achieve the American dream, but he never achieved his dream. He never won over Daisy. There is a famous saying that can summarize this, which is that money cannot buy happiness.

Symbols in The Great Gatsby: 

The main character and protagonist of the book. He lives in West Egg and is Nick's next-door neighbor. He's extremely rich and throws lavish parties every weekend. Nobody knows too much about him, what he does or why he is so rich. His original name is James Gatz and is originally from the Midwest. He was not always wealthy, but he made his fortune by working for millionaires. He fought in the war and when he was still a soldier, he met and fell in love with Daisy in Louisville. He gets in between Daisy's and Tom's relationship and is killed by George Wilson at the end of the book. Nick thinks very highly of him and almost looks up to him.
Nick Carraway 

The narrator of the book and neighbor of Mr. Gatsby with whom he is friends with. He is also Daisy's cousin. He went to Yale, fought in WWI, is a bond salesman and lives in West Egg.
Daisy Buchanan 

Daisy is the source of conflict, her relationships precisely. She does not specify what relationship she wants more, the relationship from years ago with Jay Gatsby or her current one with her husband, Tom Buchanan. She is described as beautiful, but also portrayed as sort of shallow. The book suggests she falls in love with money and power and not people. She also did not attend Gatsby's funeral and let him cover up for her running over Myrtle Wilson (her husband's mistress). She has a child with Tom.
Tom Buchanan 

The arrogant and rich husband of Daisy. He went to Yale with Nick. He is a hypocrite, because he got mad at Daisy for having an affair with Gatsby, when he had an affair with Myrtle.
"Owl Eyes"   

A man who Nick meets in Gatsby's library, where he is drunk and expresses his surprise at the fact that Gatsby's books are real. He later appears at the funeral.
George Wilson  

He is Myrtle’s husband and owns an old car shop. He thinks that Gatsby hit his wife with his car, but it was actually Daisy driving the car. He murders Gatsby and then kills himself as well. He can be compared to Gatsby, because they both suffer from women who love Tom.
Myrtle Wilson  

She is the woman that Tom cheated on Daisy with. She is also married to George, but she wanted to leave him for Tom. She is jealous of Tom's wife, Daisy, and is later accidentally killed by Daisy, who hit her with Gatsby's car. 
Jordan Baker 

She is a friend of Daisy's and she later has a romantic relationship with Nick. She plays golf and attends several of Gatsby's parties. In the past, she was accused of cheating during one of her tournaments. She does indeed seem a bit dishonest, disillusioned with high society and slightly cynical. She is also sarcastic and is sort of the opposite of Daisy, because she lives her life by her own rules.
Meyer Wolfsheim 

He is Gatsby's friend, has Jewish background and is known to be involved with criminal activity. He helped Gatsby become wealthy, but he did not show up to his funeral.

  

 -Pathos: "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.", "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion"

 -Logos: "We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that that nation might live.", "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom"
-Allusion: "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." (Declaration of Independence - 1776)

-Anaphora: "we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground"

 -Alliteration: "new nation", "poor power"
-Antithesis: "living and dead", "poor power"
-Repetition: " increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion", "It is for us..."
-Tricolon: “of the people, by the people, for the people”

To show the everyday life of Chicago citizens, suggesting that their lives are lonely and private. There are so many people in a big city, but nobody actually knows anyone. 

Style & structure 

The photo is simple, focusing on the man in the middle, smoking the cigarette. The tall buildings and negative space in the top right corner put emphasis on the height and dimension of the photo. It is also in black and white, giving it a vintage look, as well as helps emphasize the lines and textures in the man's face. The reflection of the man is also eye-catching. 
Audience 

Everyone who looks at this photo and finds significant meaning within it can be considered as part of the audience.
Meaning 

The man with the cigarette appears to be thinking about his life, and at the same time is observing people passing by. The man walking by also casts a reflection onto the building, portraying how people could see a million faces a day, but not really know anybody. 

 

Jourdon Anderson’s reply to his former plantation master, Colonel Patrick Henry Anderson, is a letter, written on August 7th 1865, which allows Jourdon to close past doors and receive closure from his traumatizing past. He uses polite, respectful words to prove his worth and make it clear that he is a free man, who deserves his independence, thanks to the victory of the Civil War. His light, humorous tone, makes this letter of reply eye-opening to the audience, including its addressee, Colonel Anderson. Therefore, through Jourdon’s use of imagery, word choice and contrast, this letter can convey the author’s intentions, which are to make Colonel Anderson aware of the wrong he has done and prove his right to equality.  

Watterson’s inclusion of how young Calvin is, is also extremely significant. The author’s depiction of Calvin as a child and Hobbes as a sort of stuffed tiger, suggests that Hobbes is Calvin’s imaginary friend or maybe even conscience to whom Calvin talks to when he is thinking about large topics and someone who guides Calvin on a morally right path. The use of such characters sets a very friendly and childish tone, as well as mood, typical in Watterson’s comics.
Watterson also uses emanata to show the motion of Hobbes hand when he says, "I feel like I'm in some stockholder's dream". The mentioning of the word "dream" really shows that the idea of materialism bringing satisfaction is only a dream and unrealistic, because in reality it leaves a person dissatisfied and wanting more. 
Lastly, the inclusion of a purposefully humorous punchline saying, "Waste and want. That's my motto" is perhaps the most important feature within in this comic, because it really portrays the message of materialism. What Calvin says here is the exact opposite of the popular saying, "waste not want not", which means that if a person never wastes anything, then they will always have what is needed, thus making them content. However, what Calvin says means that if he wastes everything, he will always be wanting more, in other words he is still dissatisfied, despite all the materialistic things he has.