2. There are no handles upon a
language
Whereby men take hold of it
And mark it with signs for its
remembrance.
It is a river, this language,
Once in a thousand years
Breaking a new course
Changing its way to the ocean.
It is mountain effluvia
Moving to valleys
And from nation to nation
Crossing borders and mixing.
Languages die like rivers.
Words wrapped round your
tongue today
And broken to shape of thought
Between your teeth and lips
speaking
Now and today
Shall be faded hieroglyphics
Ten thousand years from now.
Sing—and singing—remember
Your song dies and changes
And is not here to-morrow
Any more than the wind
Blowing ten thousand years ago.
3. The poem, “Languages,” by Carl Sandburg
describes the tendency of language and culture
to change over time. Sandburg illustrates the
changing nature of a language by comparing it to
a river, which occasionally alters its course. As
expressed by the poem, Languages also spread
from place to place due to travel and immigration
by “crossing boarders and mixing.” Finally,
Sandburg mentions how “languages die like
rivers,” referring ancient languages that are no
longer commonly spoken. The poem illustrates
how language and culture gradually change.
4. “Languages,” published in 1916, was likely influenced by the
massive immigration wave that occurred during this time period.
From 1880 to 1920, twenty million people immigrated to the
United States. The immigrants mainly originated from Central,
Eastern, and Southern Europe including four million Italians and
two million Jews. Carl Sandburg likely gained insight about culture
and language for his poem from this immigration. Particularly, he
observed how foreign culture and language mix with American
culture and language. While immigrants had to adapt to their new
country, they also retained their languages, religion, and culture,
which greatly influenced American life as well. Carl Sandburg
noticed how immigration can cause distant cultures to blend. Carl
Sandburg likely took inspiration from the immigration wave for his
poem, “Languages.”
5. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening
Whose woods these are I think I
know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with
snow.
My little horse must think it
queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen
lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and
deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
6. The poem, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy
Evening,” by Robert Frost illustrates a contrast between the
peace of nature and the busyness of life. He describes
taking a break from his daily life and observes the snowfall
in the woods. Frost clearly views the snowfall as a pleasant
experience, for he mentions that the wind is “easy,” and the
flakes are “downy.” Frost then recalls his obligations in life
by stating that he has “promises to keep” and “miles to go”
before he sleeps. He is referring to the duties that he must
fulfill in life and realizes that he must venture back into the
civilized world. “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy
Evening” contrasts the pleasantness of nature with the
obligations of daily life.
7. In his 1923 poem, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,”
Robert Frost contrasts the peacefulness of nature with the obligations of
daily life. Frost was likely inspired by certain events during this time
period that made life much more demanding, hectic, and fast-paced. In
the late 19th century and early 20th century, industries grew extremely
quickly. Numerous companies consolidated into big corporations. Large
factories replaced workshops, so laborers often worked in these factories
instead of in small, independent businesses or farms. Improving
machinery and technology lead to efficient factory production. This surge
in industry resulted in urban growth. There were three American cities
with over one million inhabitants in 1900, and the total urban population
expanded to forty-two million in 1910. Numerous events led to a more
demanding, hectic, and fast-paced life and may have inspired the poem,
“Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.
8. Historical References:
• "History, Industrialization and Urbanization."
Industrialization and Urbanization.
Countries Quest, n.d. Web. 19 June 2015.
• "U.S. Immigration Before 1965." History.com.
A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 19
June 2015.
Pictures:
• Google Images
