The poems on this course by Derek Mahon have moved me in a way to admire both his poetry as well as himself. He is able to describe beautiful scenes, and give impressions of places with a charm, which gives the scene both beauty and depth. He is able to detach himself from the moment and talk freely of it without bias, despite the urge to when dealing with volatile topics. In doing so he gives us, the reader, more freedom to make our own judgments and interpretations. Mahon is also a formalist, he uses predefined verse and rhythm whilst being able to fit his scene and story into a difficult and limited format, and within it he uses many techniques - sibilance, assonance, alliteration and symmetry are examples of his dedication to the craft of poetry.
These features can be seen very easily in the poem, "The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush". He tells us of the calm before the tourist rush of a seemingly simple and unimaginative small town, but gives detail of life for the inhabitants and their own thoughts. We sense a tone of calmness, and safety in the small town during the early spring when the coldness of winter remains, "Before the first visitor comes the spring Softening the sharp air of the coast". It is a gentle and "almost hospitable". Mahon gives the otherwise sleepy town a certain charm describing its street, including the sleeping wolfhound and its emptiness. He is able to put himself in another person's shoes and describe that person's desire - the proprietor of the restaurant is "dreaming of home".
He uses this method of story telling in "After the Titanic", where he writes from Bruce Ismay's point of view. Once president of the White Star Line, and a male survivor of the Titanic, now a reclusive cocaine addict, he is still shown in a sympathetic light, a sign of Mahon's empathy for humanity, which is continued in other poems. He is continually tortured by the same nature that initially caused the terrible incident, leaving "broken toys and hatboxes" at his door.
Early Life Derek Sanderson was born June 26th, 1974 in Pequannock, New Jersey. ... Early Career The minute Derek was drafted; he was put under a magnifying glass. ... That next spring, Derek was invited to major league camp. ... But Derek is very simple. ... Conclusion Derek Sanderson is the definition of a leader. ...
Derek Jeter had come up to bat in the 3rd inning while the N.Y. ... Derek Jeter has done it all, and then some. ... Derek will be the greatest team-player the Yankees will ever see. In Sean Gregory's article "Baseball's Derek Jeter Problem", he states "The Derek Jeter problem extends to all of baseball. ... Derek Jeter has always been criticized growing up. ...
The poetry of Peter Skrzynecki is another example of how change is inevitable in everyone's life. ... Derek Vineyard wasn't born a racist, but he learnt quickly how to become one. ... Colour is used as an indication of Derek's growth and change in perspective. ... When Derek leaves jail, the camera zooms in on the gate closing behind Derek. ... The Nazi swastika tattooed on Derek's chest, this imagery, stresses to the viewer Derek's perspective on other races and how his thoughts and perspective were governed by Nazi imagery, aiming for white supremacy. ...
His little brother Danny runs into Derek's room and tells him and Derek runs outside and kills two of them with a gun, and from there the story begins. ... When Derek is released from jail he is a changed person. ... Seth who is a fellow member comes over to the house soon after Derek returns and he treats Derek's sister and mother horribly. ... While Derek was in prison he was the minority. ... The teacher who assigned the paper to Danny was once Derek's teacher and he comes to visit Derek he brings him books and makes Derek realize nothing he has done has made his life bet...
The most developed characters in this film are Derek and Danny. ... Derek tries to get them to hate all the minorities and to become a white supremacist group but instead, they turned on Derek and raped him in the shower. ... Derek says that Daniel isn't his responsibility. ... Danny, Derek's younger brother, attempts to follow Derek's footsteps and turns in a paper on Mein Kampf. ... Derek has definitely learned a lesson. ...
Derek is sentenced to three years in prison for brutal murder. ... Derek is just now getting out of prison. ... Derek is ashamed of his past and pledging to reform himself. ... The black guy always gave Derek advice. ... Derek formed a gang called the local supremist group. ...
Derek's new found ideology is shown through past memories which are shown in black and white. ... Derek doesn't stay like this forever. ... Derek's ideology is challenged when he has to work with a black inmate named Lamont. ... Lamont's stories of injustice helps Derek overcome his racist mind set that has gripped him and shows Derek that life is more that just a black and white issue. Derek sees Lamont's point more clearly when Derek is raped in the shower for betraying the same skin head group he once trusted. ...
Unbeknownst to Danny, Derek is a changed man. ... When Derek slams a black man's jaw on a street curve, this illuminates the rage and hatred Derek had at that time. ... During the three years, Derek became like a ghost. ... Derek did not execute the kidnapping quietly nor perfectly. ... At school, Danny is a good student, as Derek was ...
