Fences, a play written by August Wilson, takes place in the 1950's. This piece, being a story from an older time period, is difficult to keep up with. You have to have an understanding of how they talked, acted, and felt. Without great use of voice and sound it is very difficult to connect a reader to a time period they weren't a part of. August Wilson was more than successful in this. The passage above is a very short section of the entire play transcript. I chose this section because it gives the reader insight into how Troy thinks, and demonstrates how Wilson gives us a voice.  Wilson was able to give us a true feeling of how a black male talked and felt in the 1950's. This section, and the whole play as a whole, made me feel as if I were a part of that time period. 

and sheets from this day on, as if

the fluids of my body were poison, as if

the little trickle of blood I believe

travels from my heart to the world were

shameful. Is not the blood of saints and

men in battle beautiful?"
This is just one section from a great poem by Judith Ortiz. From my analysis this poem is about a young girl turning 15 in the hispanic religion, better known as her Quinceanera. I chose this portion of the poem because it really sets the tone for how the young girl feels. Ortiz does a great job of telling us about how a young girl is struggling with puberty. We can see this because of the feeling Ortiz gives us. You can tell the young girl is embarrassed of her body changes by the way her mother is treating her. Ortiz's carefully chosen words tell us it is about the young girls period without having to say it. I myself am a male but because of the unique writing I felt connected to the idea of struggling with puberty. Everyone goes through changes with there body and are not always comfortable with them. O

      like a raisin in the sun?

      Or fester like a sore—

      And then run?

      Does it stink like rotten meat?

      Or crust and sugar over—

      like a syrupy sweet?

      Maybe it just sags

      like a heavy load.

Harlem by Langston Hughes is a very famous and credited poem. Most people feel the poem is about contemplating dreams and what it means to postpone them. While I find this a very important subject, it is not why I choose this poem. I chose Harlem because of the impact it has on everyone. Most of us have read this poem at some point, or at the least have heard of Langston Hughes. I think this is because he, like most great poets, is able to draw emotion out of us. When I first read this poem it sent my mind flying. Hughes is an expert at crafting words and meanings together in non traditional ways. Every line has its own feeling that connects to the bigger picture. I felt something from this poem, and I rarely have that with other works of literature. I think thats whats important, the feeling.