Change Your Mind To Change Your Life Essay Example
Change Your Mind To Change Your Life Essay Example

Change Your Mind To Change Your Life Essay Example

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  • Pages: 7 (1663 words)
  • Published: July 4, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Change is the act of differing or altering from a previous state. It can manifest as a physical transformation or a shift in character or personality within an individual. Various texts, including Gwen Harwood's 'In the Park' and 'Prize Giving', Gil Junger's adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' called '10 Things I Hate about You', and Bruce Lundgren's poem 'Sturt's Dreaming', effectively depict personal change. This essay will explore these texts and their portrayal of self-transformation.

Gwen Harwood's poem 'In the Park' effectively explores the theme of personal transformation. This text, presented as an Italian sonnet with two quatrains followed by a sestet, sparked controversy as readers questioned whether it reflected Harwood's own experiences. The poem portrays a woman who, despite performing a common task of taking her children to the park, is d

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eeply unhappy. In the first quatrain, Harwood uses metaphor ("Her cloths are out of date") and onomatopoeia (children who "whine and bicker") to convey the woman's situation.

The second quatrain discusses the woman's encounter with a man and their mutual discomfort, conveyed through the use of "et cetera" as they attempt small talk despite having been romantically involved in the past. The volta, marking a shift, highlights the insincerity of the woman's words, such as "It's so sweet to hear their chatter, watch them grow and thrive," contrasted with the poem's concluding line, "They have eaten me alive."

The text reveals a transformation in oneself as the woman comes to the realization that it is too late to alter her lifestyle. She acknowledges that she must accept and continue with the choices she has made. The woman explicitly expresses this through the use

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of specific phrases like "too late." Additionally, the man's thoughts, symbolized by the phrase "but for the grace of God.....," further emphasize this sentiment. This thought process leads the reader to complete the phrase with "there for the grace of God I go," indicating that the man acknowledges that he could easily have ended up in a similar situation. The text also illustrates personal growth through the evolving phases of life. The woman reflects on past stages, such as youth and romance, from her current perspective as a parent.

This paragraph discusses the changes experienced by a woman in her lifetime and how these changes affect her lifestyle. Another work by Gwen Harwood, the poem "Prize Giving," also showcases a character named Professor Eisenbart, who frequently appears in Harwood's poetry. The name "Eisenbart" is derived from a German song that means "I am Dr. Eisenbart." The poem has a consistent structure with irregular rhyming, and it portrays an educational atmosphere with phrases like "elaborate crest" and "shook indifferently." These phrases evoke the familiar scene of a high school speech night.

The first stanza of the text portrays the idea of irony by stating that Eisenbart was persuaded to attend the night despite previously declining the invitation. This indicates that his attendance will be lacking enthusiasm and interest. The second stanza further explores themes such as social status, lust, and pride through the use of irony. Eisenbart's belief in his own superiority and indifference are shattered by the dominance of a girl with titian hair. The composer exemplifies this irony by describing Eisenbart as a "sage fool," which implies wisdom and prestige, yet his feelings of lust towards

the girl overpower these qualities.

The Professor's sexual curiosity is displayed by the placement of 'chased' and 'curious' together. Through the complimentary description of 'titian hair', the girl is portrayed as extremely beautiful, distinguishing her from the metaphorical "mosaic of young heads, blonde, black, mouse-brown". It is evident that the girl is aware of the power she has over the Professor as she mirrors him by bending her hand under her chin, mocking his gesture, and grinning at him to display her knowledge of her superiority.

The poem depicts a transformation in the protagonist's character as Eisenbart, a proud and pompous academic, is dismantled by a young woman of lower social and academic standing. This shift in power dynamics leads to a change in the Professor's mindset and a newfound awareness of his sensual side. The girl's music, combined with her captivating appearance characterized by "titian hair," acts as a catalyst that disrupts his arrogance and initiates a journey of self-discovery. Bruce Lundgren's 1995 composition "Sturt's Dreaming" effectively showcases personal growth, blending his fascination with the diaries of European settlers and Indigenous spirituality.

The medium of poetry allows the responder to connect their own personality and interpretations to the text. The composer portrays Sturt's expedition, his visions, and the harsh reality of his discoveries. The first stanza has a positive tone, using emotional language like Sturt's wife referring to him affectionately as "Charlie dear," which engages the responder on a personal level. The explorers are optimistic about finding the inland sea, viewing Sturt as an "efficient explorer" who is driven by a topographical dream, creating a sense of geographical illusion.

The second stanza continues the use of dramatic irony

to portray the challenging reality of their discoveries. This irony is evident in the mention of "a legendary ocean," which the responder knows exists only in Sturt's imagination. The composer employs literary devices such as onomatopoeia with "rattle" and assonance with "wicked gibber" to illustrate the unfavorable conditions encountered by Sturt during his search for the inland sea. The primary depiction of self-transformation is conveyed through the contrasting tones used in the two stanzas.

The text highlights the impact of reality on an individual's dreams and hopes. The portrayal of the boat undergoes a significant shift between the two stanzas. In the first stanza, the boat is depicted in a positive light, emphasizing its importance and described as a splendid wooden painted boat. However, in the second stanza, the boat is portrayed negatively to the responder as an ancestral canoe. This change in tone reflects the contrast between reality and dreaming. The film "10 Things I Hate About You" is a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". It is structured in a logical manner and directed by Gil Junger.

The two texts are connected by similar central themes, plots, and characters. They both include the quote "I burn, I pine, I perish" and the Shakespearean sonnet 141, which is quoted by the teacher in the film. Through various characters, the composer portrays a change in self. Bianca, initially a self-oriented and snobbish person, undergoes a transformation and no longer cares about others' opinions after being confronted by Cameron, as seen when she says, "Can we focus on me for a second please!" Cameron himself also experiences a change and stops allowing Bianca to dictate

to him, as shown in his question to her, "Have you always been this selfish?"

The composer illustrates Cameron's dominance and power by positioning him in the driver's seat of the car, while Bianca is in the passenger's seat. This is evident as Cameron volunteers to help Bianca at the beginning of the film. Many characters in the story experience personal growth and lead more positive lives as a result. The text, titled "A prisoner's story," is a short story that effectively depicts self-transformation and is delivered through the medium of literature.

Due to the unique characteristics of the medium, the composer is able to effectively engage the responder in a deeply personal way, inviting them to embark on a journey of self-discovery and triumphant survival. The unidentified composer's perspective and emotions are conveyed through phrases such as "I was charged" and "I started looking", as well as personal details shared like "I was 34 years old". These elements enable the responder to fully comprehend and interpret the situation presented.

The text evokes emotions by utilizing phrases such as "life in ruins" and "I was failing", eliciting an emotional reaction from the reader. Each paragraph starts with a brief negative response, indicating the man's despair as his life spirals into chaos after causing the death of his friend due to drunk driving, "Frank was killed". As the text progresses, a more optimistic tone emerges as the man begins to grow and change, exemplified by the juxtaposition of negative and positive lines in the sixth paragraph's conclusion, "My world was crumbling, but I did not have to fall apart with it".

This demonstrates the man's internal transformation. The text portrays

the man's shift from a negative and pessimistic mindset to a positive and proactive one. This transformation is evident through the man's realization that every situation has a positive outcome. The responder witnesses this realization when the man responds to his business being destroyed in a fire by stating, "There is something good and a lesson to be learned in everything that happens to you." The text effectively showcases the man's self-discovery journey resulting from this negative experience.

As change in self can manifest as either a physical transformation or a shift in character or personality, the following texts effectively convey such changes to the reader. "In the Park" by Gwen Harwood portrays a woman's realization that her past choices are irreversible, as well as her nostalgic reflections on different stages of her life. Another work by Gwen Harwood, "Prize Giving," portrays a man who initially exerts dominance but ultimately loses his power when a young girl dismantles his arrogance.

The text 'Sturt's Dreaming' employs juxtaposition to depict the variances between dreaming and reality, offering insight to the responder. In a similar vein, '10 things I hate about you' by Gil Junger utilizes a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare to illustrate transformations in characters' confidence and personality. Lastly, 'A prisoner's story' showcases personal growth as it portrays a man who learns the importance of taking proactive measures. These texts effectively convey shifts in self to the responder through diverse mediums.

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