Figurative Language in Pink Floyd

"Wish you were here"

            The following piece of writing will analyze the meaning of the lyrics in the song “Wish you were here” by Pink Floyd, as well the way the author includes figurative language to make the song significant.

            In the song , the main theme is someone that the author would like to be with. The tone is nostalgic. The song’s tone is mainly defined by the way Pink Floyd performs the song. The 70s band give a special mood to this song which we could consider a poem by incorporating the blowing of the wind in the song.

            We can observe various examples of figurative language in this song. First, the author introduces the song with a few antithesis to explain the way he feels with that someone missing. For example: “So, So you think you think you can tell Heaven from Hell”, the author in comparing Heaven, the way he feels when he has that, with an opposite Hell which makes allusion to the way he feels without that. Then, the author includes several rhetorical questions to note the way he feels without that person. Like we can see on this quote “Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rain?”, the author is noting that the difference between a green field and a cold steel rain is the same as being with or without that person. Finally, the whole song is a hyperbole because it exaggerates the fact of not being with that person.

            The lyrics of the song express a feeling of inadequacy, that is a consequence of being away from that person, nevertheless the way the band plays the music is without a doubt what makes this song be such a meaningful piece of art. Perhaps that is why most of this song is instrumental.

            In conclusion, figurative language is present in different types of artwork other than literature. We can also determine that figurative language helps authors give a tone and a mood to a piece of art.

Diary

            Diary:

            Today, some people came into my house; my mom wasn’t there. I was all by myself. They took all of our food. When my mom got back, I told her what happened. She said we didn’t have anything to eat that night. I didn't know what to think. I was scared.

            For as long as I can remember, it has been my mom and I. My mother is one of the revolutionaries fighting for equality. I think its fine that she is fighting for equality, but she is everything I have. I could not live out with her. If something happens to her I have no one else. Sometimes I wish we could go back to our regular lives. I miss going to school. I miss eating every time I am hungry. I miss living fearless.

            Every day in the last couple of months, since the Revolution started, I have been scared at all times. I think we all should fight to get what we want, but that can be frightening at times. I just dream of the day when all this ends forever, that day  when we will all live safe, when we will all eat  and when we will all be fearless. But until that day comes, we need to remain calmed and support the Revolution. 

Corrections "Society's Model"

"Society's Model"
Heroes in ancient stories and heroes in current stories share many common traits. such as, heroes often have a mentor. For example, Odysseus’ mentor is Athena, who helps him throughout his journey. We can see that kind of situations in recent movies, such as Star Wars, when Obi-Wan Kenobi mentors Luke Skywalker in his journey. Even though heroes in ancient tales are alike in many other aspects, this essay will just be focused in one characteristic.

An epic hero is the model of the idealistic person in a society. They represent everything that society believes a perfect citizen should be. In The Odyssey, this is well established. Odysseus clearly represents a perfect ancient Greek. Odysseus is a great warrior, and Greeks considered war a very important aspect of their society. Odysseus is also a clever man with great leadership skills. No society would not want a clever leader between them. Odysseus is an honorable man. In almost every ancient society, including the Greek, honor was the most important value. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is known among Greece as a very honorable man. Odysseus is held in Ogygia by Calypso. She is beautiful; Odysseus could stay with her forever and become immortal. Odysseus chooses to try to go back to his wife Penelope, even though the journey to get back with her might kill him, and even though he gets home, he will not be with a goddess or become immortal. He still goes back to his wife. This shows that Greeks considered loyalty and family very important in their society.

Just as in The Odyssey, in the movie Captain America, some of the United States’ ideal characteristics are represented. Nevertheless the influence of the hero’s traits are not as evident. Captain America’s dream is to go to war and fight for his country. North American society considers nationalism one of the most essential aspects of a perfect North American. This society also has great pride on the citizens that honor their country in war, and everything Captain America did honored his country in  World War II.

In conclusion, stories and societies have evolved over the years. Nowadays stories, told in movies for example, don’t have the same objective that they had in the ancient societies. Societies have different priorities and more open-minded. But Even if stories and societies keep evolving, people will always want to identify somehow with the heroes in the stories. Societies want to see in a hero what they think a perfect human would be, that is a simple thing that would make a diverse society come together.

Heroic Characteristics

Homer, the blind poet, portrays Odysseus with the ideal characteristics an ancient Greek would have. In epic poems or stories there is a hero, that heroes represents what are the values and characteristic a perfect citizen should have in a specific society. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is full of those values and characteristics. First, his entire journey is a consequence of the Trojan War. It is clear that the Greeks considered war the most important, and if not, one of the most important things a perfect Greek must include in its like. Then, he is really respectful of religion; he respects the gods and tries to address the immortals in the best possible manner. As it is known, the Ancient Greek Society was a very religious one. Finally, Homer adds to Odysseus other characteristics that Greeks would find important to have. Odysseus is very clever; he is a man trying to get back with his family. He is always in the pursuit of victory. Along with others, these characteristics are common in most epic heroes because any society would find beneficial to have citizens that behave in this ways.

            Even though Odysseus has many heroic and mostly good characteristics, He has flaws; it does not mean that a perfect Greek should have flaws. What Homer trying to establish, is the way Odysseus overcomes his flaws to succeed in his journey. For Example, Odysseus tends to be an arrogant and sarcastic person. He overcomes this when he addresses Kings and gods that will help him at every stage of this journey. The humble way, in which he approaches the important people throughout his journey, will make him get additional help from both, mortals and immortals.

            In conclusion, Odysseus characteristics contain cultural information about the ancient Greece. Heroes in every epic will have this type of characteristics.

Societies' Model

Heroes in ancient stories and heroes in current stories have a lot of common traits. There is a handful of examples. Heroes often have a mentor. For example, Odysseus’ mentor is Athena, and she helps him throughout his journey. We can see that kind of situations in recent movies, such as Star Wars, where Obi-Wan Kenobi mentors Luke Skywalker in his journey. Even though heroes in ancient tales are alike in many other aspects, this essay will just be focused in one characteristic.

An epic hero is the model of the idealistic person in a society. They represent everything that society believes a perfect citizen should be. In the Odyssey, that is well established. Odysseus clearly represents a perfect ancient Greek. Odysseus is a great warrior, and Greeks considered war a very important aspect of their society. Odysseus is also a clever man with leadership. I do not think any society would not want a clever leader between them. Odysseus was an honorable man. In almost every ancient society, including the Greek, Honor was the most important value. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is known all along Greece as a very honorable man. Odysseus is held in Ogygia by Calypso. She is beautiful; Odysseus could stay with her forever and become immortal. Odysseus chooses to try to get back with his wife Penelope, even though the journey to get back with her might kill him, and even when he gets home, he will not be with a goddess or become immortal. He still gets back with his wife. This shows that Greeks considered loyalty and family very important in their society.

Just as in the Odyssey, in the movie Captain America some of the United States’ idealistic characterists are represented, nevertheless the influence of the hero’s traits is not as evident. Captain America’s dream is to go to war and fight for his country. North American society considers nationalism one of the most essential aspects of a perfect North American. This society also has great pride on the citizens that honor their country in war, and everything Captain America did is honor his country in the World War II.

In conclusion, stories and societies have evolved over the years. Now a days stories, told in movies for example, don’t have the same objective that they used to have in the ancient societies. Societies have different priorities and more open minds. But Even if stories and societies keep evolving, people will always want to be identified somehow with the heroes in the stories. Societies want to see in a hero what they think a perfect human would be, that is a simple thing that would make a diverse society come together.

Odyssey beginning by Zeus

“Zeus’s perspective”

            From the sky, all the problems in the earth seem simple, but they start to get convoluted as they keep involving more complex levels of power, until they get to the Olympus. Last Friday, the Olympians and me had a meeting. They thought they could decide whether Odysseus was being freed or not, but I, Zeus, ruler of the skies, have the last word in every decision. Neptune wants Odysseus to suffer. Athena wants me to focus on Odysseus matter and give him his freedom back. Odysseus’s men ate Helios cattle, so he deserves punishment. On the other hand, he has suffered quite a lot.

            After everyone made me loose time presenting their arguments, I made my decision. I am the wisest and most important god in the universe, so I obviously did not listen to their debate. I decided I would let Calypso free Odysseus, but he and his son Telemachus had to earn Odysseus freedom. Athena was very inquisitive about helping Telemachus, so I let Athena help Telemachus.

            Now I can see everything in a panoramic screen up from the heavens. The suitors are disrespecting Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. Telemachus is trying to do something to arrange his estate before he goes in his quest to locate his beloved father, or at least his body. In order to leave Ithaca, Telemachus, unsuccessfully tried to demand the suitors some respect. Telemachus escaped from Ithaca, so his mother would be partially content for an extra couple of days before she proceeded to break down. Finally, Telemachus started his pursue. He was insecure at times, but every time, Athena encouraged him to keep going. Telemachus first arrived to Pylos to talk with Nestor. At first, he was nervous, but he stepped out and asked Nestor about his father. Nestor talked about Odysseus with admiration and respect, nevertheless Nestor didn’t know anything about the location or whereabouts of Odysseus. Even though Telemachus did not find his father in Pylos, the start of his journey had being successful because X Nestor’s son joined Telemachus in his jaunt. Well, apparently it will be a delight to witness this journey. (Zeus before the Odyssey took place.)