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Old-Age in Literature

Uploaded by schoolblows on May 04, 2007

Old-Age in Literature

A lot of works of poetry and or short stories demonstrate the sad but interesting topic of aging or growing old. Four works that illustrate and show the topic of old age are, "Old Age", by Elisha Porat,"The Mirror", by Sylvia Path,"The Follower", by Seamus Heaney, and "When I Am Very Old", by Arthur O. Roberts. These selected works show and present the topic of aging or growing old in many different ways.

The first work I chose, "Old Age" by Elisha Porat, shows how it is to age and to go "over the hill " as some call it. The author uses the metaphor of a ram as himself in this work. He describes the ram as being young, powerful, and full of strength. But as he grows older, "I slide clumsy on the slope, rolling down Jerusalem stones, clutching like a desperate survivor the memory of my youth." This quote shows how he feels about growing old. He feels that he already hit the climax or the peak of his life, and is now sliding down the mountain, and withering and sloping closer to his final day in this world.

The work, "The Mirror" by Sylvia Plath explains how females judge themselves and other their hole lives, and always strive to be the hottest or the most "beautiful" even as a senior citizen. The author states, "In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish." This quote, she describes how again and again this woman has looked into the mirror, as she grows old. The work also belittles society for putting pressure on ladies to look "beautiful" all of the time.

My third work that demonstrates the topic of aging is the poem "The Follower" by Seamus Heaney. This work shows the opposite role in a father and his child. The author begins this work by explaining the father, as a healthy, wise, and intelligent man. He describes the son, who is trying to walk in his pop's steps, as a "problem," who is "yapping always." As the author shows, "But today it is my father who keeps stumbling behind me, and will not go away." The quote shows how the father and the kid have changed places. The past shows it was the son, who...

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Uploaded by:   schoolblows

Date:   05/04/2007

Category:   Literature

Length:   3 pages (597 words)

Views:   3354

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