Global Issues Connections Chart
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McMaster University *
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2103
Subject
English
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by ProfBaboon1778
Joshua and Ishaan
Szymborska’s Poetry: Summary of Global Issues
Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate their understanding of the ways global issues are represented in literature.
After you have analyzed the poems, decide (in a small group if you want) the fields of inquiry that come to mind for each poem, then narrow that down into a global issue (this could be in the form of a question). For 5 of the poems
, complete the chart below by inserting a picture or meme for the poem that reminds you of the topic or theme, and place it underneath the title (you can have some fun here, but it must be school appropriate, and it should relate to the topic of the poem. Then record 2 possible global issue and a summary of how the poem relates to that global issue. The first is done for you as an example. (4 marks each – breakdown is attached to the example). Upload your chart to OneNote in the Assignment section. You might also include this in your LP (and do the remainder of the poems). Name of Poem and Visual Representation
Global Issue and Summary
“A Large Number”
Fields of Inquiry: Beliefs, values, and education & Art, creativity, and Imagination
Guiding Topic:
Navigating the human existence.
Guiding Question:
How do we struggle to comprehend the vastness of the world?
Analysis:
Beliefs, values, and education:
Beliefs
The speaker's struggle to understand and relate to the world's vastness is explored
throughout the poem, especially in relation to the size of the human experience and the population. A difference in personal views and values in the face of such enormity is suggested by the speaker's incapacity to understand big numbers and the overwhelming nature of existence. In the image, the person seems to be questioning their position in the universe and the value of their unique human experiences as they look out across the vast landscape.
Art, creativity, and imagination:
Imagination
The poem explores the speaker's imagination and emphasizes how difficult it is to capture the scope of life in meaningful artistic expression. The speaker's difficulty with big figures and preference for emphasizing individual experiences over group experiences suggest that they are thinking about how creativity and the arts might reflect the complexity of the human experience. The lonely figure's
presence in the landscape reflects the speaker's imaginative process as they attempt to capture the complexity of life through art and creativity.
“Dreams”
Fields of Inquiry: Art, creativity, and Imagination & Science, technology, and the environment
Guiding Topic:
Exploring the Realm of Dreams
Guiding Question:
What is the extent of the creativity of the human mind during dreams?
Analysis:
Art, creativity, and the imagination
:
Creativity and Imagination
The poem examines how the human mind can be incredibly creative when it is dreaming. Even with the knowledge of geologists, engineers, architects, and other
experts, dreams can build intricate structures and landscapes with accuracy and detail, surpassing the bounds of reality. This demonstrates how one may create entire worlds with their thoughts alone, without the need of tangible resources or work. The poem illustrates the infinite inventiveness of the human mind, depicting a surreal scene with vivid colors and distinctive features like mountains and houses. The unique landscape depicted in the image emphasizes the whimsical nature of dreams, showcasing the limitless possibilities of the human imagination.
Science, technology, and the environment
:
Technology
Although the poem mostly concentrates on the imaginative parts of dreaming, it also discusses the importance that science and technology have in our knowledge
of the mind. The poem indicates that dreams are still unpredictable and defy reason, even in the face of advancements in science and medicine like psychology and neuroscience. This highlights the gaps in scientific understanding
of the mysteries of the mind and illustrates the intricate interplay between science, technology, and human consciousness. The incorporation of the unusual landscape with vibrant colors and unique elements, in the image, enriches the analysis by providing a visual representation of the fantastical nature of dreams described in the poem.
“Under One Small Star”
Fields of Inquiry: Culture, identity, and community & Beliefs, values, and education
Guiding Topic:
Exploring Identity and Reflection
Guiding Question:
How do the themes of culture, identity, and community symbolize the ongoing process of self-discovery?
Analysis:
Culture, identity, and community: Community The poem expresses regret about many things and facets of life, while examining the speaker's relationship to many aspects of existence. Recognizing the limitations of a single perspective and experience, it considers the speaker's place
in their community and their connections with others. The poem emphasizes the interdependence of human existence and the shared experiences that build individual identity and community relationships by touching on themes of memory, love, war, and the passing of time. The picture represents a person's quest for self-awareness and self-realization. The speaker in the poem struggles with their place in the world and their relationships with others, just like the individual in the picture. The act of holding up one's face on a stick suggests a sense of detachment, reflecting the speaker's contemplation of their own identity within the broader context of human existence.
Beliefs, values, and education:
Beliefs and Values
The poem explores personal views and ideals through the speaker's apology to many creatures and parts of existence. It recognizes the moral conundrums that arise in navigating life and the intricacy of human relationships. The speaker displays humility by acknowledging the flaws and restrictions in their own knowledge. The poem challenges readers to approach life with humility,
compassion, and an openness to learning as it prompts reflection on the nature of truth, dignity, and the mysteries of existence. The visual summarizes the poem's examination of individual values and ideas. The figure's gesture of holding up their face for examination symbolizes the speaker's humility and introspection, as
they reflect on their relationships with the world around them. “First Love”
Fields of Inquiry: Culture, identity, and community & Beliefs, values, and education Guiding Topic:
Complexities of Love
Guiding Question:
How does the poem challenge societal expectations surround first love?
Analysis:
Culture, identity, and community
: Identity and Community
The poem examines the idea of love and how important it is in forming a person's
identity and interpersonal connections in the community. It presents a view of the intricacies of love and human connection, challenging the romantic idea that first love is the most significant. The speaker considers their personal experience of a love that was ultimately brief and unmemorable in comparison to other loves that are still meaningful. The way that love is examined and how it affects identity reflects broader cultural attitudes around romantic relationships and emotional attachment. The image of two empty chairs facing each other in a lonely setting resonates with the theme of love and human connection explored in the poem. The empty chairs symbolize the absence of a meaningful connection between the speaker and their first love, highlighting the ultimately unremarkable nature of their relationship. The lonely setting underscores the speaker's sense of isolation and detachment from the romanticized notion of first love.
Beliefs, values, and education
: Beliefs and Values
The poem highlights the discrepancy between society expectations and personal experiences as it examines the speaker's ideals and ideas about love. The speaker's
experience contradicts the idea that a person's first love is crucial, implying that subsequent loves have had a more profound and enduring influence. The poem invites readers to reflect on the uniqueness of human experiences and emotions as
well as to challenge conventional notions about love. It makes one think on the nature of love, recollections, and personal development. The image of the empty chairs prompts reflection on the speaker's beliefs and values regarding love and emotional attachment. Despite societal expectations that first love is the most important, the empty chairs represent the speaker's experience of a love that was ultimately unfulfilling. The lonely setting evokes a sense of contemplation, inviting readers to question traditional beliefs about love and to consider the individuality of human experiences. “On Death, Without Exaggeration”
Fields of Inquiry: Science, technology, and the environment, Politics, power, and justice
Guiding Topic:
Confronting the Inevitability of Death
Guiding Question:
What are the limitations of human technology and progress in the face of mortality?
Analysis:
Science, technology, and the environment
Environment and Science
The poem considers how human development and technology are limited in the face of mortality and the natural world. It criticizes human endeavors like construction, agriculture, and technological advancement, emphasizing their weaknesses and inefficiency in comparison to the unstoppable power of death. The poem makes the argument that death is an unavoidable and unbeatable part
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of life, regardless of human accomplishments and progress. The image of the figure standing before the door frame reflects the poem's exploration of humanity's limitations in the face of death. The door frame represents the boundary between life and death, highlighting the inability of human endeavors to overcome the fundamental processes of life and death.
Politics, power, and justice
Power
The poem also examines the issue of mortality and power, highlighting how futile
human attempts are to influence both life and death. The poem highlights the limitations of human influence over the natural order of life and death and questions social assumptions and values regarding power and control. The image of the figure standing before the door frame also delves into the theme of power and mortality. It symbolizes humanity's futile attempts to control and manipulate death, challenging societal beliefs and values regarding power and control. The figure's posture conveys a sense of resignation or defiance in the face of mortality, highlighting the inevitability of death, despite human efforts to assert power or authority over it.
Mark: /20