Dustin's Poem and Comments

Sonnet: Silence (1840)

by Edgar Allan Poe(1809-1849)

There are some qualities–some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence–sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!

THE END

Rhonda's Poem and Comments

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Shel Silverstein

The Stone Angel as a Canadian Novel

I think it is worth considering what exactly makes a given novel Canadian (or American, or British for that matter).

The poorest grounds to establish The Stone Angel`s Canadian-ness upon are that it was written by a Canadian or that it is set in Canada.

Many writers , including Laurence, write novels set in other parts of the world and it would be tough to argue that most of them are strong examples of Canadian novels.

On the other hand, Susanna Moodie wrote a novel called Roughing it in the Bush describing her travels in what used to be known as Upper and Lower Canada, but it is set before Canada was even confederated. There are many novels that would be more deserving of status as a Canadian novel.

So a Canadian novel has to be in some way tied in to the idea of Canada. This is a problem in a country that is so diverse in its people and regions. A Canadian novel would somehow have to tie into some themes and aspects of Canada that are widely applicable.

Themes:

Acknowledged racist treatment of Metis and First Nations people.

Classicism that exists in Canada, contrary to the popular myth.

The fortitude of the pioneer generation.

Buying and selling of Chineese immigrants (Mr. Oatley)

Ontario and Cities as places of economic opportunity and culture

Historical Aspects of the Novel:

The dirty thirties, economic depression and Bennet buggies

Vimy Ridge

Idiom of different generations