Dreams...

The dreams presentation that my group did for the class was one of the most incredibly rich presentations that I have been a part of. I must say though for those of you in Dr. Sexson's literary criticism last semester, the Don Quixote skit I was luckily a part of, took the cake! Dreams are so powerful and full of meaning but so often people look past them, can't remember them or consider them to be "dumb" or "embarrassing"! They are none of that! Dreams are incredible, it is a moment in which you are part of a completely different world, a world in which only YOU can be. No one else sees your dreams or can experience them the way you do. Dreams are the one thing that you have that are completely YOU!

I was amazed at the dreams chapter in Kane's "Wisdom of the mythtellers" and found it difficult to even convey what I was thinking. The section that I studied most thoroughly in Kane's chapter 4- dreams was "Each has its own dreaming" on pages 131-134. I was both astonished and confused at the information regarding the metaphysical world in relation to mythtellers. It is the separation of the actual world from the dream world. In this dream world, pieces of nature are spirit, not entities in this universe. Nature is an energy, a mental energy. The mythtellers connect this energy back to dreaming. The dream state or world is one in which the mythtellers language is song and image, rather than concept. This was shown in Kane through "The Earth Shapers" story at the beginning of chapter 4. Dreams like the oral world are layered and connected to the idea of boxes within boxes which we have seen before. Dreams are potent in a talismanic box which also represents the world of Gods. The talismanic box is a symbol of memory or we could say it is "consciousness within consciousness, within consciousness, within consciousness". The energy mentioned before creates infinite layers (made up of songs). In these layers, humans drift through, unable to hear each detail of the dream consciously. Also in the dream world, nature is personified. For example, the earth itself dreams (of beauty, etc.) and the flame distinguishes boundaries. These boundaries include: Light versus dark, potential versus actual, and the spirit world versus this world. Dreaming is an act of creating, which is an act of remembering. Most importantly, we must remember that "in the act of doing nothing, one is dreaming".

I would also like to say that Kane's chapter 4 and Dr. Sexson's article "re-membering Finnegans wake" were closely connected for me in the sense that each discusses dreams and the act of dreaming being a remembrance. Why can we not forget certain memories when we try so hard? Why must we always be thinking of certain people when all we want to do is forget them? We can ask ourselves this as often as we want, but for me there is only one answer. That answer is this: We can't forget and we never will. Everything is stored in our dreams. Perhaps one day we will "forget" something or someone, but eventually it will come back to us. It will always come back to us because our dreams do not allow us to forget or let go of it. Our dreams are our memories and our memories are our dreams. Suppress it, but it will find you! Your dreams create you. One who thinks they cannot dream or that they can run from their dreams is sadly mistaken and why on earth would one want to do that?!

Dream to remember and remember to dream...

"The Pilgrims"- the act of storytelling

I completed the novel, The Pilgrims, by Mary Shelley this evening and was amazed at this novel as well and the way in which it discussed storytelling. I had to read this book for my 18th century and restoration British literature course and am now very glad I chose these tales as opposed to any other. Each of the tales in this book were based on legends or myths and resembled stories being re-told in a way. The forward by Kamila Shamsie (every time I see her last name I think it says “Shaman”) was quite intriguing because of how she addressed storytelling. She considers it “a medium for revealing the most intimate details of character, the key component to affecting reconciliation, or a means of confirming deep loss”, which I find to be very accurate. When I or others I know tell stories they usually do convey at least one of these elements that Shamsie has addressed. Shamsie also states that, “within each story, listeners and tellers are closely linked, yet in the world of fact we are entirely aware that however compelling each story is, it belongs to the world of fiction: its language and tone separating it by centuries from our contemporary lives”. This statement I both agree and disagree with. I do believe that each story is in some way fiction, but it is not necessarily completely fictional. To me stories are based on some sort of reality, experience or knowledge that is also truth. Storytelling to me represents the truth in a creative way. It is conveyed in a way that will reach to a larger audience so that they may take something from that. This I think is especially important in the literate culture because we want to somehow connect with the oral culture which is so “foreign” to us. By incorporating those “Real” elements into stories we are able to do so. The Pilgrims is a compilation of stories about stories. Each includes tellers, tales and audience.

The beauty of languages spoken

Today in my French class we had to give oral presentations (speaking in French of course) and it made me realize how beautiful orality is and the importance of it in every language. While French is a great language to read, I so very much enjoy listening to it whether through music or recitation or even random conversations. I wrote a poem in French for my presentation and reciting it was such a different experience. While we have read aloud pieces of French literature, the experience of reciting my own poetic piece in a foreign language was almost exhilarating. The act of orally presenting in French was so different. It was a mix of confusion, knowledge, and it seemed as if I was in a different world. As I sat listening to the other presentations, some poems, others comics or essays, I was amazed that here we all sat doing nothing except listening to this beautiful language and being able to comprehend, for the most part, what each one was saying. There is something beautiful about orality. Sometimes one has to step out of their zone of everyday conversation and presentation to realize that though. I definitely did this and it was today that this realization struck me. I thoroughly enjoyed having this spark ignite in my French thoughts.

Antiphony

On Monday evening, I finished the book Antiphony for my world literature class. While reading this book, all I could think about was how I could relate it to Dr. Sexson’s Oral Traditions course. This book is about the Sami culture, the way it used to be and the way it is now. Three stories are told from women of three different generations, but all of the same family. Not only does she learn about their oral culture but she learns about them as individuals and how their culture has shaped them. The whole novel is storytelling and it is a beautifully compelling tale of these three Sami women. The literate culture also intersects here. The young girl observing the Sami culture reads to the oldest woman from the bible. The way in which the oral culture evolves and diminishes in this world of the Sami amazes me though. I loved this novel because yes, I was reading it but at the same time I felt as if I was really there with the characters. I was able to, in a way, listen to their stories as I told them to myself in my head, then I could imagine the settings and people because each was so vividly described throughout the novel. The stories and emotions are conveyed through the description of sound and facial expressions. The narrator/ observer of the stories in the novel explain that she knows when to be silent because the facial expressions and pauses signal to her what to do. This is only possible in the oral culture. This novel also touches on the idea that with the younger generations so much is lost in the oral culture because we are too busy to stop and simply listen. Reading this novel was saddening in a way because it makes me realize how much we really have lost in the oral culture, but gives me hope that the importance of storytelling will circle around again.

These are some of my favorite quotes from the novel that mean so much more than what someone who has no knowledge or passion for the oral culture may simply surpass:

“A slow, gentle fall.
I didn’t find the words?
Or didn’t I want to find them?
Was I walking into a tradition?”
(Stien 124)

“She explained, calmly like an old, experienced teacher, one who doesn’t have to emphasize. She went far back. Knew the lines. Accounted for everything that was taken- bit by bit.” (Stien 116).

“She is full of memories. They cheer her up.” (Stien 78).

Term Paper- Oral Traditions Spring '09

Oral Connection to Poetry through Sound


“The slightest sound matters. The most momentary rhythm matters. You can do as you please, yet everything matters. You are free, but your freedom must be consonant with the freedom of others.” –Wallace Stevens


The beauty of poetry lies very much within the sound when recited orally. Sound in poetry can not only reflect the meaning of poetry to an extent, but it is able to convey emotion as well. Orally, sound through poetry connects the speaker with the listener. Written poetry is unable to impose the same impression upon a person due to the lack of sound. Tonality, repetition, rhythm and onomatopoeia are a few elements that can be astoundingly important in oral poetry.

Poetry as an oral tradition has been lost through the generations due largely to the print culture. While reading poetry is a wonderfully imaginative experience it does not create the same senses and feelings as the oral tradition does. Orality allows poetry to come alive through sound. This sound is created through the speakers voice in which emotional sincerity, meaning and eternal beauty are apparent. Poetry in itself is an eternal beauty and that beauty can never be lost. Listening to a poem elevates the listener to a completely different level of knowledge, understanding and appreciation of sound and poetry.

The tone of a person’s voice has the ability to convey so much or so little to the listener. Emphasizing tone in terms of quality and pitch are necessary when reciting poetry. Quality is important because in poetry one must set themselves inside of it, as if they are a part of that poetic piece. By doing so, the poet or speaker becomes engaged in the poem fully. The speaker can emphasize the mood of the poem by simply changing the pitch of their voice. Pitch can emphasize various moods whether that is anger, sadness or happiness. A monotone quality and pitch might emphasize a sort of dullness or somberness of the poem.

The rhythm with which the speaker recites the poem is also very important. The speaker has the ability to show an “oracular, meditative, soliloquizing rhythm emerging” (Sound and Poetry xxvi) through pace change. Rhythm as an utterance is important in poetry because it can exclaim sound itself or a message.

The ways in which oratory utilizes pattern and repetition differs greatly from that of common speech. Alliteration is one way in which pattern is shown in poetry. Take Beowulf for example, repetition and sound is used in that epic work to create an imagery of the battles and characters within the poem. This pattern creates a heroic imagery and strength. Chanting is one example of speech that also shows heroic qualities and removes poetry from the category of common speech (Sound and poetry xxv).

John Hollander found that sound pattern plays the role of allegory or metaphor in a poem (Rosu 17). This is possible because sound has the ability to create images or represent something larger. Oratory is more formal and is improvised in a creative way, whereas common speech is informal and the casual improvisation suggests that. Repetition plays on significant words or points within a poem. Through repetition, the listener remembers what is said. In some instances, the speaker will use repetition as a way to remember what they have to say as well, making improvisation easier.

Sound becomes important in the process of imitation also. Sound imitates the mood of the poem through use of vocals such as strength, pitch and tonality while also imitating words or sounds themselves through onomatopoeia. Meaning and emotion in poetry shift easily and depend heavily on sound. Sound in poetry “interacts with the visually and kinesthetically perceived space around them” (Ong 127). The lack of sound can also impact poetry orally. Silence portrays a dramatic feeling while in some cases creating ambiguity.

While sound and orality has much to do with the recitation of the poem, it also involves any accompaniments to the poem. Musical accompaniment is a creative and powerful way to express the language, feel and meaning of a poem. Poetry itself is often considered to be musical, such as lyrical poetry. Lyric poetry provides a voice in the way that it tells a story or reflects a series of events (Ong 137).

Northrop Frye describes musical poetry to consist of a “pleasant variety of vowel sounds” (Sound and Poetry xi). Musical poetry is consistent and stresses tonality and accents. Poetry can be musical, and I suppose one could say that music is poetic; they are two very separate things. Frye supports this by stating that “music is music, and poetry poetry, each a world of its own” (Sound and Poetry xxiv). Unmusical poets on the other hand, I would assume have a more ambiguous take on poetry and incorporate that vagueness into their works. Poetry that is unmusical seemingly lacks accompaniment and/or great expression of sound.
Sound is of great importance to poets, speakers and listeners. Oral poetry is also very much about the interaction between the speaker and the listener. While the recitation is extremely sound oriented and expressive, it is the listener who chooses to take in what is being said and most importantly how it is being said. Engaging within sound can be a powerful, fantastical experience in so many ways. The speaker has the ability to create magic within the words. The interpretation of sound and poetry is a completely different topic in which every speaker and listener creates to their liking.

It would be imprudent for one to think that poetry must be accompanied with sound or music though. While sound can add a great deal to poetry, it also takes away from it. Sound can be seen as a messenger of poetry and the meaning, but it is important for one to see that the sound is not the meaning itself (Rosu 16). Sound takes away from what the poem means because ultimately the poem is itself; that is the meaning. In order to fully understand a poem, it must be laid down on a blank surface, devoid of emotion, tone and “forced” meaning. This then opens it up for the reader or listener to place their interpretations on it. Wallace Stevens is one poet that shows this through his imagery and the lack of finalization of his imagery (Rosu 10).

Wallace Stevens and Robert Frost are two poets that have compelling views on sound and poetry. Robert Frost believes that “word exists in the mouth not books”, which gives one the impression that to Frost, orality is a necessary part of poetry (Rosu 18). Stevens though believes that “poetry is words; and that words, above everything else, are, in poetry, sounds” (Rosu 18). Looking at Stevens’s statement one may take from it that whether poetry is spoken out loud or not, sound is still very much present and essential.

Sound and poetry are beautifully connected in various ways which one may never take into consideration. While it is clear to see this connection, it also creates the question of whether one can exist without the other. Sound can act as a mask, an imitation or an accompaniment to poetry. Whether sound is present or not, it has the ability to create an unseen beauty while also allowing one to create their own fantastical image or meaning within the poem. Sound through oral presentation is a great influence to poetry creating a completely different experience where one can become another.

Points that stuck with me through Ong's Chapter 5

When I saw the word Loci on page 123- I immediately thought "Memory Theatre", places in the mind where ideas are stored. As I read this over and over I thought "I wonder how many places are in my mind and what is really stored in each one?" Never have I thought to think how I store things, why certain things are stored and where. Are they grouped? If so how? Chronologically, through connected events, by emotions? I picutre my memory to be sort of like a book or a compilation, somehow everything is organized by me on some sort of unconscious level.

One other thing that I found interesting was the idea of print and privacy. Oral traditions are very communal in the sense that they are shared, done together and almost a celebration.
For example, in my world literature class we are looking at Faroese ballads. They are chanted by communities as a whole and given emotion, tone, the oral tradition there relies on the people as a whole. The oral tradition is individual on the level that the bard (leader) must be able to improvise those ballads if he is to forget them word for word.

The idea of Print as closure and spontaneity is a topic that requires much more indepth thought on my part and another blog as well...


Oral traditions are being taken over by the print culture now and therefore people read in private. Many want complete silencewhile reading. The only time i read aloud is to my niece, nephews or the children I nanny. All of us take joy in that reading time because it has become a really fun tradition, whether between me and one of them or all of us. Basically what I am trying to get at, is the fact that the print culture has also produced isolation. When I am at home in the summers I spend a lot of time alone reading which of cuorse i love, but until reading Ong's page 128 I did not realize I was isolating myself.

Some thoughts...Ong- Chapter 4

When I read Ong, I find it similar to reading Northrop Frye. While Ong makes some very interesting and important points I do not always understand what exactly he is saying. That, I guess, can be kind of fun! I really enjoy reading Ong, even though many times I only catch pieces of what he is trying to get across. One thing that stuck with me was what Ong considered to be a literate human being: "beings whose thought processes do not grow out of simply natural powers..." (Page 77).
One frightening idea that Ong addresses is that of death and its connection to writing. Plato associates death with writing because he consideres it "inhuman" and finds "that it destroys memory". The image of a dead flower is now engrained in my mind...it is an image of a dead rose, once a deep red lying on an old wooden desk next to a piece of parchment and an ink pen...ink splatterded on the blank paper. This I would consider grotesque and downright depressing.
Ong also believes that technology is not necessarily dehumanizing but that it can give life to the human spirit and teach. While this is true I still see the association with technology and loss. While so much is gained, so much is also lost. What is lost exactly? Writing letters and mailing them, sending pictures in the mail, walking to a friends house to see if they can get together...now we can just text and meet somewhere! While all of this is so convenient and exciting, it teaches us so much but also takes away from these things that seemed so "traditional". Even writing though is considered a technology. It is a technology I have come to love. Journalism is what I would love to do and personal journaling is something I take joy in each and every day. It is the act of writing that helps me get out what I am thinking, while helping me to remember certain things. While sometimes it is helpful to remember, sometimes I do not want to. One last thing that I was just thinking of: Sometimes something that happened, was said, or learned will be remembered no matter how hard you try to forget it. Sometimes without writing it down it is still remembered- not as word on a page but as an image in your memory. I have found this to be true- especially lately and my own memory has been astounding me. What I am getting at is- the smile on my nieces face whenever I return home can't be written down or converyed even orally. It is an image only I can carry with me in my mind.