Important people of 1I2:
Form teacher: 房老师
Chairman: Wiseley Arfan (DEViLpriNCe)
Monitor: Alvin (3moDuDe)
Secretary: Zheng Hong
Fac. Sec. : Zhen Hui
Welfare Sec. : Marc (smiley)
Treasurer: Andrew

1I2!!!

01. Alvin
02. Sian Wen
03. Raymond
04. Zhen Hui
05. Shian Hao
06. Kee Yong
07. Ting Kiat
08. Graham
09. Wang Fan
10. James
11. Jason
12. Joel
13. Justin
14. Tsun Lok
15. Zheng Hong
16. Bowen
17. Andrew
18. Marc
19. Marvin
20. Jia Hao
21. Nigel
22. Yi Xuan
23. Yew Pheng
24. Eugene
25. Zhong Yang
26. Wiseley
27. Yu Xuen
28. Theodore

February 2009
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“[T]he poem also reflects Wordsworth's mind in its illustration of the process of memory.”

I love William Wordsworth; his poems are intriguing and inspiring. There always seems to be a cloud of mystery around his poems, and they seem very dreamy, bringing about a sense of escapism.

I find that he is actually very mature in thought, and develops his ideas through specially chosen words formed into beautiful poems. For example, the last stanza in I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, which is shown below, is full of meaning: it tells us to be content in simple things, solitude can be bliss, and coupled with the last two lines of the previous stanza, it tells us that memories are wealth. In Lines Written in Early Spring (also found below), he “laments [about] what man has made of man”.
He pulls elements of nature into his poems that make them come alive with birds and flowers and hills and valleys. This is explicitly shown in the third to fifth stanzas of Lines Written in Early Spring. Written in March also shows very specific details of the nature around him, coupled with well-used verbs to express various ideas.

He is also very imaginative. He can imagine wandering as a cloud (I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud). His work, Composed upon Westminster Bridge found below, is full of imagination. As the quote mentions above, each poem reflects his mind.

His sense of rhythm and rhyme is very sharp. The rhyming lines match very accurately, and the stressed beats of each and every poem is strict in tempo. I absolutely love the fact that his Written in March has a very unique rhyme pattern with five rhyme elements: ABABCDEDEC.

He had a very unique life. He was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England, April 7, 1770. He attended school first at Hawkshead School, then at Cambridge University. He then made a tour on the continent with a fellow student. They toured North Wales the following year, and then returned to France in late 1791, and remained there for about a year. His poetic mind began to exhibit itself as he expressed his admiration of the French Revolution:

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive
But to be young was very heaven.

After receiving some money, he devoted himself to study and seclusion. Then, at the age of 23, he published his debut works “Descriptive Sketches” and “The Evening Walk”. He was visited by Coleridge in 1797, which sparked a life-long friendship, and even moved near Coleridge’s residence. Here he composed many of his lighter poems. “Lyrical Ballads” was written in 1797, which also contained Coleridge’s “Ancient Mariner”.

In 1798, with his sister and Coleridge, he went to Germany. Returning to England, he stayed in Grasmere, and reprinted his “Lyrical Ballads” with some additions in 1800. Two years later he married Mary Hutchinson. He also visited Scotland, which provided inspiration for the composition of some of his finest lighter poems. He then completed the “Prelude, or Growth of my own Mind” in 1805, but it was only published posthumously. He also published two volumes of “Poems” in 1807.
He moved to Royal mount in 1813, where he remained for the rest of his life. He enjoyed retirement, as seen in his lines:

Long have I loved what I behold,
The night that calms, the day that cheers;
The common growth of mother-earth
Suffices me--her tears, her mirth,
Her humblest mirth and tears.

The dragon's wing, the magic ring,
I shall not covet for my dower,
If I along that lowly way
With sympathetic heart may stray,
And with a soul of power.

He also commenced to write poems of a higher order. He published “The Excursion” in 1814, which is a philosophical poem. He lived under the habitual away of nature:

To me the meanest flower that blows can, give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

The subsequent works of Wordsworth were numerous, and his fame was extending rapidly. Two universities conferred academic honours upon him. He was also made the Poet Laureate of England in 1843. Unfortunately, in 1847, his only daughter Dora died. He survived the shock for but three years, having reached the age of 80, always enjoying robust health and writing his poems in the open air. He died on April 28, 1850, on the anniversary of the patron saint of England, St George.

Three poems:
1) I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

2) Lines Written in Early Spring

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:--
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

3) Composed upon Westminster Bridge

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent , bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky,
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did the sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Sources: 
Poems from here.
Biography from here.
Quote from here.

Alvin:P 1i201

The Road Not Travelled

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Figurative language
This whole poem is actually an analogy of life. "Two roads diverge in a yellow wood" signifies a choice which we have to take in life. "It was grassy and wanted wear" and "In leaves no step had trodden black" mean that the path which the author chose is the one less taken. "Yet knowing how way leads on to way" means that there are many, many choices in life. "Somewhere ages and ages hence" means that the author has gone very far in his choice of life.

Why I like this poem
I like this poem because it gives a general sense of life. When we arrive at a certain point where we have to make a major decision, what would we do? Do we take the popular path? Or do we break away from the norm and venture out into our own dreams? Robert Frost has certainly shown here that he chose to pursue his dreams, and I suppose he has made a good choice and has excelled in his field of work. In today's society many things are based on money and wealth; Robert Frost, being a poet, certainly does not make much money, and yet he does not regret his choice.
When I read this poem, I am reminded of the music video of the song "Handlebars" by Flobots (which cannot be displayed here due to copyright restrictions). It tells of two friends who were originally close, but in the end separated due to differring dreams: one wanted to make it big in business, while the other chose the path of peace. In the end the businessman became the big corrupt boss, and his friend led a rebellion against him, which resulted in the friend's death. The businessman then realizes what a mistake he has made by choosing the path more trodden.
I am thoroughly inspired by Robert Frost's desire to go after his own dream and passion. He did not follow everybody else, he was not tempted by wealth and power, he ignored others' comments against his decision. He chose his own road. And that has made all the difference.

Alvin:P 1i201

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The poem is talking about us making decisions in life. In our life, we encounter many difficulties, and with these difficulties, we have to make a choice. We cannot take both roads, or take both choices. Before we make our decision, we have to judge both choices, just as we look at the two paths. When we make our choice, we should have no regrets, and we should never turn back. The road that is less traveled by is the choice that we make that includes hardships along the way, but this "path" will teach us more and will give us an edge over the people who take the other road. The harder road will take our knowledge to a whole new level, and will The other road is the road that most people take as to not be too risky. It symbolizes a choice people make because they think it's the easier way. When the traveler in this poem decides to take the less traveled road, it is equivalent to making an important decision in his life that may change his fate, and make all the difference.

Just like the traveller, I had to come to a decision which is very important as it decides your fate. A few years ago, I was given a chance to get into GEP. I had to make a quick decision before school starts, and both decisions are very good, as entering GEP will make my studying more interesting and exciting, but entering GEP will also separate me from my mainstream friends. So I made a final decision and went into GEP. No matter what choice I have made, it will still decide my fate and I will take whatever responsibilities. I did not make a wrong decision as I think that whatever decision I make, it will still be my choice and what I preferred will be my liking. Till now, I have not been regretting this choice at all, exactly like the traveller, as he did not regret what decision he had made by going to the road which was not taken.

Done by: Woo Yu Xuen (26) 1I2

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This poem is about a major decision in Robert Frost's life. He examines the two paths he had to choose from in his life, just like how the narrator examines the two paths. The first path, leading to the undergrowth, was not as appealing as the the other path, because it had no obstacles. However, beyond these, he could not tell what each path led to and he knew that he is unlikely to return to this point after he made his decision. However, instead of subjecting to conformity, he chooses to take the road less, or not, travelled. This could be a inspirational poem to the readers, telling them that, for example, if they see wrong being done and the rest of the people are being apathetic, they should not follow what everyone else is doing and try to solve the problem instead of just keeping quiet and pretend nothing happened. However, the fact that he would retell this story with a sigh, could mean that either he regrets not knowing what would the other path lead to, or he is not sure whether the path he chose was truly better for him.

There was use of figurative language in the poem. The crossroads represents two choices in Frost's life. The undergrowth represents obstacles and thus, being the road which less people take, while the other road represents the one which everyone travels by. The yellow wood means that it was Autumn, and Autumn in poetry is associated with melancholy. The poet may have either been depressed because it was such a grave decision that the outcome would change his entire life, or it could be used to reinforce the fact that the poet was sad that he could not know what lay at the end of both paths.

- Eugene

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. You may only take one path in life; and you will suffer/enjoy its repercussions/rewards The first route, perhaps, is the more typical path taken by many others, like being a doctor, or something of the like. The second route ; 'one less traveled by', is the route the author took and 'that has made all the difference'. He has become a poet, or some other atypical, less traveled profession The difficulty in choosing a path mirrors the similar process we go through in life. Whether to take a doctor's degree or economics or whatever, there are decisions all the way. We get a feeling that this path-choosing is a very important decision in the life of the author, and it has made all the difference. -m

POEM

Two roads diverged in a yellow woad,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

This poem has a number of figurative languages embedded. It includes hyperboles, mtaphoric language. The hyperboles include 'Somewhere ages and ages hence' and 'to where it bent in the undergrowth'. The metaphor is the comparison between the two paths, when he said 'Tworoads diverged in a yellow wood'. His use of figurative languages is to emphasize his point of view of the two paths and his choice that was made. It also emphasizes his feelings of the path he has not chosen.

I like this poem because it creatively uses figurative language to emphasize on certain points that the poet want to tell us. There is also a very important message in this poem. It tells us that the path less traveled is more of a challenge and will be more difficult to overcome, the when the path is suceeded, rewards are better and there will be a stronger feeling of success. It also tells us tht Robert Frost, the poet, loves to take up challenges as the rewards will be even better even if it means to overcome more obstacles along the way.

Chan Sian Wen 1i202

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Figuratuve language:
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" is probably a symbolism of the author's life, about the choices he makes, the paths he takes. “And having perhaps the better claim” is a personification of the path “having a better claim”. "Because it was grassy and wanted wear" is also a personification of the path. "Want" is a human action, and the path, a non-living thing, is taking a human action. The author says this, to emphasise what was it that impelled him to take that path.
"Somewhere ages and ages hence" is a hyperbole, an exaggeration of the time period. The author wants to emphasise how much time has passed since he took the path. Use of the word "Oh" and the exclamation mark in line 13, and the slight pause, "and I-I took the one less travelled by", are all hyperboles as well, and emphasise the author's feelings after taking the path less travelled by.

Why I like this poem:
I like this poem because it uses figurative language well and not to excess, and also its sense of mystery. It makes me wonder exactly what difference it made that the writer took the path less travelled. What happened to him when he took that path? What was it that would make him “tell it with a sigh”? Is he disappointed? Resigned? Satisfied? I do not know for sure, because the writer does not make it clear.
We assume that something bad must have happened, and not something good, because when we think of “the path less travelled”, we think of something undesirable. Why else would it be “less travelled”?

Done by Joel Tan (12) 1I2

The Road Not Taken

Can our great CMC member(s) change my link from 2i22010post.blogspot.com to 2i22010.blogspot.com?