Alghamdi 1 Alghamdi 2 Depression, Too Is a Kind of Fire by Taylor Mali A poem is a kind of language is figurative, lines are written separately and often has rhythm repeated. In the poem there is repetition. ”I’m an idiot” has been repeated five times. Repetition usually stresses on the major point in the poem. Poem also uses malapropism “knight in shattered armor” Taylor Mali has changed “knight in shining armor” which is usually the correct saying. This is because his marriage was shattered. There is also simile and in the poem “we used to be able to see them from the south, just as, to the north, we can still see (and by “we” I guess I mean now just me) the Empire State Building”. This is a comparison seeing the Empire State Building and the 40 to 50 people who jumped from the building. There is also personification where “the Empire State Building which still steeps me in gratitude”. The building has been expressed to have feelings of showing gratitude just like a person. Poems also use irony to pass messages. In this poem the use of irony is clear where the poet says “She worked out at the gym five times a week and smoked as many packs of ultra-lights”. This is because people usually go to the gym to get fit and boost their health but the wife of the persona is also smoking many ultra-lights which are not good for health. Use of symbolism is clear where the “perfect swan” is mentioned. Since the swan dive was very perfect is a symbol of his wife perfection to him. It is only depression that changed her but before she was very happy, amazing and beautiful. The view of perfection on his wife did not change even when she was nearing her death. Foreshadowing is also used where the persona mentions “And I was going to write a poem about how fire is the only thing that can make a person jump out a window.” In this quote he is able to foreshadow what he is going to do which was to write about another thing that can make someone to jump out through a window apart from fire. I is in this second quote “But depression too, is a kind of fire” that he now write about depression as the other thing that can lead to a person killing themselves by jumping through a window. There is also use of metaphors in passing message in a poem in this case “But depression, too, is a kind of fire”. The two things compared are the fire and depression. They are compared on the basis that both of them can make people commit suicide by jumping out of the window. Another important thing in a poem is the theme. In this poem it lies on the fact depression is a disease and it can make a person take their own life. The one depressed can commit suicide without caring what other people will say or do. However this menace can be solved easily by using nice words to those suffering from depression and always offering full support to ensure their recovery. In the poem, the persona says “And maybe I’m an idiot for thinking I could have saved her- call me her knight in sh.

1. Alghamdi 1
Alghamdi 2
Depression, Too Is a Kind of Fire by Taylor Mali
A poem is a kind of language is figurative, lines are written
separately and often has rhythm repeated. In the poem there is
repetition. ”I’m an idiot” has been repeated five times.
Repetition usually stresses on the major point in the poem.
Poem also uses malapropism “knight in shattered armor” Taylor
Mali has changed “knight in shining armor” which is usually the
correct saying. This is because his marriage was shattered.
There is also simile and in the poem “we used to be able to see
them from the south, just as, to the north, we can still see (and
by “we” I guess I mean now just me) the Empire State
Building”. This is a comparison seeing the Empire State
Building and the 40 to 50 people who jumped from the building.
There is also personification where “the Empire State
Building which still steeps me in gratitude”. The building has
been expressed to have feelings of showing gratitude just like a
person. Poems also use irony to pass messages. In this poem the
use of irony is clear where the poet says “She worked out at the
gym five times a week and smoked as many packs of ultra-
lights”. This is because people usually go to the gym to get fit
and boost their health but the wife of the persona is also
smoking many ultra-lights which are not good for health. Use of
symbolism is clear where the “perfect swan” is mentioned.
Since the swan dive was very perfect is a symbol of his wife
perfection to him. It is only depression that changed her but
before she was very happy, amazing and beautiful. The view of
perfection on his wife did not change even when she was
nearing her death.
Foreshadowing is also used where the persona mentions
“And I was going to write a poem about how fire is the only

2. thing that can make a person jump out a window.” In this quote
he is able to foreshadow what he is going to do which was to
write about another thing that can make someone to jump out
through a window apart from fire. I is in this second quote “But
depression too, is a kind of fire” that he now write about
depression as the other thing that can lead to a person killing
themselves by jumping through a window. There is also use of
metaphors in passing message in a poem in this case “But
depression, too, is a kind of fire”. The two things compared are
the fire and depression. They are compared on the basis that
both of them can make people commit suicide by jumping out of
the window.
Another important thing in a poem is the theme. In this
poem it lies on the fact depression is a disease and it can make a
person take their own life. The one depressed can commit
suicide without caring what other people will say or do.
However this menace can be solved easily by using nice words
to those suffering from depression and always offering full
support to ensure their recovery. In the poem, the persona says
“And maybe I’m an idiot for thinking I could have saved her-
call me her knight in shattered armor- could have loved her
more, or told her the truth about children. But depression too, is
a kind of fire”. This means that he could have saved his wife if
he had addressed what was causing her stress which was the fact
that she could not have children. She died probably over
something she was not to blame. In the quote “I’m an idiot
because once before we were married she asked me whether I
knew we would not be having children if we get married, and I
said yes- and because she knew I was lying, she asked if I was
really okay with that And because I’m an idiot I again said yes”
the writer knows that he would not have children and that’s why
later he regrets that he should have told the wife the truth about
children. The wife got depressed and yet it was the husband who
was to blame for not having children. If he had told her earlier
about this then probably she would not have been depressed
finally would not have committed suicide.

3. It is also important to note the tone in the poem. The tone
of the poem is generally regretful. “And maybe I’m an idiot for
thinking I could have saved her- call me her knight in shattered
armor- could have loved her more or told her the truth about
children”. In this quote it shows a lot of regrets. The writer
feels that it is because he failed to love his wife enough and
also lying to her about children. He therefore feels that he is
partly responsible for his wife committing suicide and he did
not do enough to prevent it.
The reason why I chose this poem is because I can relate
with it. There is someone who was depressed and I knew. In the
poem the stressed wife took the ultra-lights but the one I knew
took chocolates. I was unhappy seeing her very upset and
yelling a lot but I could not understand the problem. I couldn’t
be angry at her because I knew it was not her mistake. Like in
the poem where he “asked her why, (and) She said, Because I
hate myself and I want to die”. I did not know what to do to
make her happy or feel better. I tried to ignore but got upset of
her depression. It is true that “depression is a type of fire too”
as said by Taylor Mali.
Please write a 2-3 page paper on ONE of the following topics
(Pick either (1) or (2), please don't do both, extra credit will not
be given.
1) Topic Honeypots: What types of honeypots are there? What
are they used for? What are legal and ethical ramifications of
honeypot use? If you were a Chief Information Security Officer
(CISO) would you use one, and why?
2) Topic Intrusion Detection System (IDS) & Intrusion
Prevention System (IPS): What is an IDS? What different types
are there? What is an IPS? What are some of the differences

4. between an IDS and IPS? As a future Cyber Security
professional, describe where you would put an IDS and IPS on
your network, and justify your response.
Paper Requirements: 2-3 pages minimum - double spaced (No
Format required) Please ensure that your First and Last name
are on the paper somewhere. Please Cite any references you
may use. General Rubric will be provided in the File Section
soon.
· Due date : Thursday by 06:00pm Chicago Time | Apr 14, 2016
English 1002
Peer Review Guidelines
General Directions:
· First, read your classmate's essay through in its entirety before
making any comments.
· Don't be afraid to share your true opinion of the piece with the
writer, but remember to be courteous—provide constructive
criticism.
· Remember, in order for each of you to receive helpful
feedback, you much each give helpful feedback, so please take
your time and give your classmate thoughtful, sincere
responses.
· Answer the revision questions (1-10) below either on your
classmate’s essay, or on a separate sheet of paper.
· Using your answers to the questions, construct a 1-2 page
letter to your classmate. You will need to cover three points in
your letter: the essays strengths, weaknesses, and your
recommendations for revision.
· Your letter should comment only on higher-order concerns

5. such as thesis statement, development, organization, transitions,
etc. Do not comment on lower-order concerns like grammar,
spelling mistakes, or typographical errors.
Revision Questions:
1. Does the essay fulfill all requirements of the assignment? If
not, what is lacking?
2. What seems to be the essay's thesis statement (main point)?
3. Does the essay have a separate introduction, body
paragraphs, and conclusion?
4. How does the essay's introduction draw you in and make you
want to read the rest of the essay? If it doesn't, suggest some
ways the writer might make it more engaging.
5. Look at the topic sentence of each paragraph—does it reflect
the main idea of the paragraph?
6. Indicate any areas where the writer seems to drift off topic.
(Each sentence within a paragraph should further the main idea
of that particular paragraph—and all main ideas should support
the essay’s thesis.)
7. Do you feel that the writer provided sufficient evidence to
support his or her main points?
8. Has the writer correctly used MLA format to set up the paper
and to incorporate quoted material?
9. What effect do you think the writer wanted to have on you as
an audience? Did the essay achieve that effect, and why or why
not?
10. Does the essay have an interesting title?