🌹The Rose & Skull ☠️
Response 2C
🧜🏽♀️Compare the imagery used to explore idealism vs. reality in Prufrock to the imagery used in to be or not to be OR quintessence of dust. 🧜🏽♀️
Prufrock uses imagery of deep sea chambers with mermaids to portray an ideal realm of beauty. In contrast, Hamlet describes a country from which no traveller can return, to illustrate the fear brought by the Irreversibility of death. Prufrock sets this realm against the bleak reality of his life, and describes it to be ideal but unattainable, while hamlet has the means to reach the other realm but sees it as so foreboding that he finds his current known ills preferable.
*** This response needs some minor proofreading (in bold), yet it’s concise and clear. It could be made stronger with more direct references to the texts.
🧜🏽♀️
The imagery initially ignites the illusion which questions the meaning of life. How Prufrock, holds onto the context of society, and his realization of the role he may be playing in this world, in which he exudes he may not be particularly found of. Where Hamlet portrays similar ideologies of how life may be a hoax, and sleeping is the closet thing we hold to death. However, although they may question reality; They both hold onto how reality may be more compelling than the unknown of death. Because you cannot come back from the dead.
*** While the expression needs work both in grammar and idiom (in bold), this response gets at key similarities and distinctions. It could be made stronger with more direct references to the texts.
🧜🏽♀️
The Prufrock constantly hiding his hopelessness with various images of desperation throughout the poem. However, Hamlet clearly shows his miserable life with the negative imagery in the excerpt. Prufrock portrays an image of the yellowish foggy and smoky environment, where environment is his mind which wanders around with very unclear thoughts. Whereas, Hamlet refers to earth as a meaningless place which is full of sadness and the castle of Elsinore as “a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors” which were a place of great happiness to him before his father’s death (266).
*** This is a good response which needs more careful proofreading (see the parts in bold; also, the word count is 91, not 266). It also needs a topic sentence that compares the two texts.
🧜🏽♀️
Although Prufrock and to be or not to be both use imagery they use it in different ways to portray different meanings. In Hamlet imagery is a way of expressing pain and dealing with the decision of life or death when Hamlet says, “Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and, by opposing, end them?” Where as in Prufrock imagery is used as an idealism with one of the many examples being this ideal of there being endless time “And time for all the works and days of hands…”.
*** This response is good, yet would be better with a more specific topic sentence. What are the different ways and what are the different meanings? I suggest shortening the first part of the sentence so you have room to get at the crucial parts – for instance, While the nautical imagery in “Prufrock” …., the ….. imagery in Hamlet …. [Note that if you are writing a longer group of words in italics, a title that usually takes italics doesn’t in this case.]
🧜🏽♀️
Both Prufrock and to be or not to be use imagery to explore a topic. However, the topic being explored differs causing uses of imagery to vary. When Prufrock says “When the evening is spread out against the sky” the ideal of unlimited time is conveyed. This Ideal is positive and shown in a beautiful way. In to be or not to be Shakespeare conveys reality in it’s difficulty and struggle and the imagery reflects that. Troubles are a seemingly endless obstacle and are described as a sea. The line following “And by opposing end them?” questions that there is anything a man can do to defeat his troubles just a man can’t defeat the sea.
*** Again, the topic sentence should be more specific. While the second sentence could be wrapped into the first, the details and overall point are strong and come through in the end. Put the main line of argument up front in the topic sentence.
🧜🏽♀️
In both texts, Hamlet and Alfred describe their environment. Alfred describes a sketchy city with cheap motels and yellow fog. Whereas Hamlet mentions a majestical roof with what he believes to be, a “foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.” These phrases both indicate realism by associating what should be beautiful imagery, with negative aspects such as poor odor or pollution. This consequently mirrors their negative and pessimistic outlook on life. Hamlet’s glimpse of hope and idealism is seen when he uses words like “angel” or “God”. Whereas, Alfred’s is seen when he sees mermaids singing to each other. Ultimately, both scenarios end pessimistically. (103 words)
*** This response has some good points and some specific references from the text. How could you rewrite the topic sentence and vastly improve the response?
🧜🏽♀️
The imagery in quintessence of dust and The Love Story of J. Alfred Prufrock are strikingly different but used for the same purpose. Shakespeare’s imagery is grandiose and expressive, expanding the scope away from Hamlet talking to his charges. Even when he’s negative “a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours” the imagery is still glorious rather than reduced. Meanwhile Eliot uses imagery much more intimately. The imagery is succinct and is used to temper the allusions and metaphors to prevent them from creating an epic. Both writers use imagery to define the boundaries of their works whether large or small.
*** The t.s. (topic sentence) could spell out what the “same purpose is,” and likewise the response could close with a more specific phrase than “the boundaries of their works.” Also, the student needs to set off “a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours” with parentheses or with dashes. Other than that, this response is well-written and insightful.
🧜🏽♀️
In Hamlet and in The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the image of the sea directly precedes referrals to sleep and dreams. There is nothing on earth that evokes the image of a vast alien world, than that of the sea. There is nothing in human experience that can match that strange expansiveness, than dreams. In Hamlet’s case, the afterlife could be a nightmare. Prufrock sees a “silent” simplicity in his ocean of dreams. He wishes to be in the “chambers of the sea” below the churning “water white and black”. The nightmare begins when he wakes up.
*** This response is poetic and well backed up with references from the texts. One thing that could improve it is to say in the t.s. why the image precedes the references.
🧜🏽♀️
Prufrock’s Love Song uses imagery to help walk the reader through his descend. A bleak image is set as Prufrock references Dante and compares the evening sky to “a patient etherized upon a table”. After, he descends the stairs and says he should have been a “pair of ragged claws.” Gazing at the mermaids from his subterranean level, he uses feminine representation as he feels alive for the last time before drowning back into reality. In contrast, Shakespeare uses imagery only to articulate the “slings and arrows” Hamlet faces, and to showcase the “pale cast” of his reality. (98 words)
*** This response is very good when it looks at “Prufrock,” yet Hamlet gets short shrift. This weakens the comparative element, which should be up front throughout (especially in the t.s.).
🧜🏽♀️
The imagery used in both Hamlet and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, comes from pessimism, focusing on the hopelessness of the situations. Contemplating suicide, Hamlet expresses his troubles with life, “Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?” conveying an endless sea of problems that he has to deal with. Dreaming of a better world, Prufrock “heard the mermaids singing, each to each” until he is woken up, drowning in the reality that is human voices. Both Hamlet and Prufrock are depicted, drowning in life’s sorrows.
*** This response has a good t.s. and a good overall flow. The first quote needs to be integrated properly and the final sentence shouldn’t have a comma.
🧜🏽♀️
The imagery in Prufrock and Hamlet both describe death as something that obscures the mind. Prufrock likens it to a yellow fog or smoke that “drop[s] a question on your plate”, implying that what happens after death is a mystery that causes more questions when you try to answer it. Similarly, in Hamlet’s iconic passage “To be or not to be”, death is compared to a dream. The mystery of “something after death” is captured in both texts and given form as a physical blockage to one’s own vision, making it difficult to make decisions.
*** This is a model response. Aim to write like this.
🧜🏽♀️
In the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and in Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be” each character perceives their lives to be futile. Hamlet uses imagery to express how vast his troubles are when he contemplates taking “arms against a sea of troubles”. Similarly, Prufrock uses the sea to create a vast and lonely image. He sees his existence as meaningless as a crustacean “scuttling across the floors of silent seas.” Imagery is used to explain the characters’ deep emotions and mindset.
*** This response is good, but would be better if the student was more specific in the t.s. and if the student switched the last vague sentence for one dealing with the final stanzas about the mermaids.
🧜🏽♀️
Both texts use the imagery of indecision in what to do with their lives and consider ending it, leading the reader to the concept of hell. Prufrock, gives the imagery of hell in the beginning, descending to the idea of an ending to his life as he isn't happy about himself and worries what people will think of him . Hamlet displays a more profound imagery of depression and gives the impression of suicide. Both express darkness and unhappiness. The indecision between life and sufferment.The context of hell gives the imagery of christian beliefs of where bad people go when they die (102).
*** This contains a fascinating take on the role of Hell. It could, however, end with a stronger statement -- one which wasn’t obvious and anti-climactic, but instead highlighted a particular comparative point or image. Also, use suffering instead of sufferment.
🧜🏽♀️
Hamlet and Eliot use elements of the real world to paint a picture of their mental state. Hamlet paints a jarring picture of how depressed and lonely he feels in Quintessence of Dust, by alternating sharply between uplifting metaphors and diminishing metaphors of the earth, the sky, the sun and man. On the other hand, Eliot uses the "etherized" "evening", the "yellow fog", the progression of time, the superficial social events, his physical appearance and the physical appearance of the women, to help us see the mind of a man trapped in the spiraling vortex of indecision, social ineptitude, low self-esteem, fear of rejection and passivity. The only upward movement is the final beach scene but even there Prufrock plunges deep down from it with the word "drown”.
*** This is another model response: well-written, clearly organized, and insightful.
🧜🏽♀️
Both Hamlet and Prufrock’s monologues show their indecisiveness by alternately placing realism and idealism. They use the imagery of a dream to describe their wish for an escape from the real-life. Prufrock uses mermaids to symbolize the women he wishes to talk with. However, the mermaids only exist as visions in Prufrock’s dream because of his inferiority and self-deprecation. Likewise, Hamlet compares his dream to the undiscovered nation where people go after death. He longs for his dream to end his agonies, but he also feels fear of the afterlife ignorance. After all, their anxiety and weakness make them awake from their dreams.
*** While this very good response could use some proofreading (in bold), it’s organized and insightful.
🧜🏽♀️
In both Quintessence of dust and Prufrock reality and idealism images indicate the frustration of the protagonists. Ideal image “talking of Michelangelo” implies how women are dreaming of a perfect “Renaissance” man, this is an idealism, but the reality is Prufrock himself. Reality depresses the character — people want a Michelangelo. On the other side, the image “what a piece of work is a man” compares humanbeings to angels: noble and admirable — idealism. Hamlet’s reality is that humankind is a dust, speech is translated into Claudius. Hamlet is saddened, they lost in melancholy as well as Prufrock. In both cases, the reality is people. (103 words)
*** This response makes a very good point and backs it up well, yet the expression is ungrammatical, wrongly-formatted, and awkward in too many places (in bold).
🧜🏽♀️
Prufrock and Hamlet are disturbed in life, trying to find the meaning of living without having anyone to love or be loved. Prufrock measures his life out in a coffee spoon which brings the image of not having lived a life of meaning, if such a small item can hold all his life’s worth. There’s the idea of drowning in both where Prufrock seems at ease to drown in the chambers of sea and Hamlet views his life as a sea of trouble, easier to drown in rather than fight through and swim to shore to find meaning in living. (100)
*** This is good and generally well-written. I would avoid the longer and more indirect “There’s the idea of drowning in both where,” and replace it with something more economical and direct, such as, While Prufrock seems at ease to …., Hamlet… This, along with tightening up the topic sentence, would also give room for a further example.
🧜🏽♀️
In both passages, images generally related to setting help readers visualize the characters' state of mind. In quintessence of dust, Hamlet speaks of nature's beauty and creates the picture of a 'perfect' man. However, the contrast of that to foul vapours and dust shows Hamlet's feelings of despair hidden behind sarcasm. Prufrock wanders through streets and tea parties, only to stay entirely within his thoughts. The disjunction between his mind and the reality outside mirrors his feelings of not being understood by society. Both use images with underlying gloominess, representing the characters' distress at being disregarded by those around them.
*** This is very good response, although the t.s should be more specific. Also, I don’t think that Hamlet, who Ophelia calls the observed of all observers, is disregarded by those around him. The roots of his unease lie elsewhere…
🧜🏽♀️
Prufrock and Hamlet experience conflict between idealism and reality. Prufrock describes a place as having “half-deserted streets” and “yellow fog.” This place is a conceit for the discontentment he feels towards his reality. The epic then switches to idealism when he describes the women, the “magic lantern” and the ”mermaids,” but he defaults back to the unattractive setting/himself. Similarly, in Hamlet, we picture a war to represent his inner conflict between living and dying (“the slings and arrows,” “take arms”). The image of sleeping/dying to end it all provides a moment of idealism before the war (dreaming) returns. (100)
*** This response is wonderfully precise, using short quotes to back up assertions. Avoid the form setting/himself in formal academic writing. Perhaps use something like, setting, which, unfortunately for him, contains himself. To keep within the 100 word limit, you might tighten Prufrock describes a place as having “half-deserted streets” and “yellow fog.” This place is a conceit for… to something like the following: Prufrock’s “half-deserted streets” and “yellow fog” are extended metaphors for…
🧜🏽♀️
Both pieces use imagery to smear the lines between idealism and reality on the characters troubling thoughts with living, and fear of death. Hamlet debates taking his own life while Prufrock is scared that his aging will take his. Prufrock wants life to be amazing, filled with women who desire him like he is a famous painter. Oceans convey his emotional distance from existence as he realizes that he is a normal peasant. Hamlet questions living with all of life’s humiliations. Hamlet wishes in death he could dream like in his slumber. Fearing death’s unknown, he stops his suicide. (99 words)
*** This is a very good response which contains a thought-provoking line of argument and specific references. At times it could be more precise: -- Why use painter? -- Could you use another word instead of peasant? – Try to end off by tying down exactly what you mean by smearing, especially since Hamlet makes clear distinctions in his metaphors. Could the argument be, Prufrock smears the line more than Hamlet?
🧜🏽♀️
The Love Song and to be or not to be, symbolize death as a dream rather than pain. The Love Song reads “Let us go then” (Prufrock, line 1) implying death together which forms an idealistic view that afterlife will be like living a dream with the one you love. To be or not to be used a similar idea when Shakespeare said, “against a sea of troubles” (Shakespeare, line 4), stating that death kills pain. This is a complicated statement as no one knows what happens afterlife. Both pieces of text give a very idealistic view on death, lacking an explanation of afterlife.
This is another thought-provoking response, but could be improved by taking into account that 1. Prufrock isn’t necessarily thinking of setting off into death with a loved one at the beginning, and 2. Hamlet problematizes the notion that death kills pain.
🧜🏽♀️
Both Hamlet and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock use imagery to portray internalized struggles from different points of view. Hamlet references sleep and death together, which can be the idea of him wanting to stay alive, but his reality results in wishing death upon himself with “dreams that [may] come” once he passes (67). Prufrock also uses imagery to explain how people always will always linger near us, no matter how hard one tries to escape. Quoting “[t]he yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes” (16), readers can see a perspective of “escaping their inner demons,” but having difficulties doing so.
*** This response is very good, but could be more clear in parts (in bold). Also, the comparison between the real and the ideal ought to be explicit.
🧜🏽♀️
Prufrock and Hamlet both have idealizations surrounding death, Prufrock’s fulfillment and Hamlet’s relief. Prufrock idealizes finding meaning in life before death. He wants to enjoy Michaelangelo with women, sail with mermaids, and says there’s time for it. He spends his life focusing on finding meaning that once he ages, he’s regretful. Hamlet in contrast, idealizes death, but the uncertainty of the afterlife stops him. He wants to end his life; thus, end all the “slings and arrows” he’s suffered. The belief that he could be going from one hell to the next gives him pause.
*** Apart from the sentence in bold, this response is very clear and makes efficient use of specific references.
🧜🏽♀️
In both Hamlet and Prufrock we see, within descriptions of inner turmoil, metaphors connected to death. Hamlet however speaks of actual death, Prufrock merely uses the metaphor to illustrate his fear if being misunderstood. Prufrock uses references to biblical deaths (John the Baptist and Lazarus) to illustrate a dread that his existential thoughts would be misunderstood by those he tells. He sees “the eternal Footman”, death itself laughing at him. Hamlet meanwhile, is speaking of literal death, relating it to sleep and in building on the conceit speaks of his own indecision as he considers suicide by worrying that his sleep (death) would be interupted by dreams (an afterlife).
*** This response is insightful, well-reasoned, and well-written, yet the focus on idealism versus reality should be more explicit.
🌹 ☠️