Looking through these poems to pick one that I had a strong reaction to and to write about it was pretty hard. Finally I was able to read, understand, and feel about the poem “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E. Stallings. Fairy-tales have always been something that I love. When you’re a kid it helps you to use our imaginations and be creative. This poem is very essay for me to read and I loved that about it. It’s hard for me to understand and relate to a poem if I can’t really understand the wording. “Fairy tales are full of impossible tasks:” (Stallings, Line 1) states it perfectly to me that fairy-tales are to have us use our imagination to do the tasks that are given. The poem isn’t just talking about fair-tales either, it’s showing me that there’s a lesson in them when we read them as a kid. Take the first line in the second stanza, “You have to fight magic with magic. You have to believe” (Stallings), that’s putting the image in my head that in order to do what we want to do we have to BELIEVE that we can do it. If we don’t believe then there’s really no point in trying to do it. “The will to do whatever must be done:” (2nd stanza, line 5 Stallings) also shows that you must have the will do to whatever it is that you have to do or want to do. This poem touches on a lot of basis for me, not only to use my imagination but to have the believe and will power to do whatever is that I want to do. I know that I want to teach my children that just like my parents taught me and I’ll probably use fair-tales to show them too. I never looked at fairy-tales as a lesson to be learned from until I read this poem. Everything is out there to teach us some form of a lesson.
Work Cited
Stallings, A.E. “Fairy-tale Logic”. Poetry. March 2010, Web. Sept 7 2011.
Picture--http://fairytalenewsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-look-same-once-upon-blog.html
I completely agree with you on everything you said in response to the poem. How you can conquer what you think is the impossible with just your imagination. As kids we loved fairy tales, the magical creatures that were in them and all the things that they could do that we always thought was impossible. They each showed us that there is a lesson to be learned, whether it is to believe in whatever you do, stay strong, or meeting new people that you don't want to but in the end they become someone that you couldn't imagine life without. "To have the will to do whatever must be done" (Line 5, Stallings). This line I had the most reaction to, it made me think about my life and all the opportunities I have probably missed out on because I wasn't willing to try and just gave up. You did a fantastic job on finding the deeper meaning in this poem and I can really relate to all you have said.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to hear someone admitting that it is hard to understand poems, I too had to read and read through the poems to finally find one that I could understand. Also I like how you mentioned that you have never really looked at fairy tales as lessons to be learned until you had read the poem.
Amazing, I thought I would read what you had to say about Fairy-tale logic because that was what I chose as well. I completely agree. Although I always have trouble with poems. I have no idea why but I do. I had to read it multiple times to understand it and really get to know what she was talking about. I picked it for the same reasons, I love fairy tales. I enjoyed what you had to say. Good post.
ReplyDeleteHello Shannyn,
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent post on the poem "Fairy Tale Logic". You make a great point that fairy tales are life lessons. Take for example the children's book (All fairy tales are usually children's books, but they may have as much meaning for us as they do for younger readers!) "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis. Not only do we have the popular good v. evil struggle, but we have a sub-theme of selfishness and selflessness as well. Edmund's betrayal to obtain Turkish Delight is contrasted by Aslan's death to save Edmund. So fairy tales are not just about, as you said, quaint stories. They are meant to fire the imagination and build character at the same time. Wow! I think I might go pick up a fairy tale!
Pax et Bonum,
Joseph
I really enjoyed your view on this poem. You made me think of it in a different view and gave me some more to think about. I also chose this poem because it touched me and it was easier for me to grasp than most of them. I too have a difficult time understanding poems. I think you could be right about it not only pertaining to "fairy-tales" but to life as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that everything out there can teach you a lesson whether it is a poem a book or even a TV show. If you pay attention to the material provided and break it down something can be learned
ReplyDeleteThis is a good poem choice. I too found it hard to find a poem that I reacted to strongly. The idea of imagination is a very interesting one. Fairy tales are very important to the development of the imagination of children. Good post and good luck on the essay.
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