Layli Long Soldier Poem Analysis

The acclaimed Canadian author Joseph Boyden is often praised for providing an insightful look into Indigenous culture and history through his debut, Three Day Road. While the novel does explore the haunting memories of an Indigenous soldier, it also tackles concepts about storytelling and the power of words. Consequently, this essay investigates the question; How does Joseph Boyden use literary devices and narrative structure in Three Day Road to illustrate the power of stories and language? The novel serves as an examination of the power of words and the different roles they play in communication,

The deliberate use of such evocative language aims to support the intended audience in that “there is nothing to be ashamed about”. Like Moore, Cromb uses a vexed tone through strong emotive language. Although, Cromb uses this in opposition to Moore’s argument. Cromb addresses the “lack of empathy” felt towards the Indigenous people. It is through Cromb’s use of attacks that she gains attention and develops a sense of guilt in the audience.

Elliot explains how these communities have accepted but not forgotten the dispossession as many took it upon themselves to recover from the suffering, torture, and dehumanization. Despite the fact that The Indigenous Peoples had already fought enough to the point where there was nothing left in their control to implement, many “decided [they] couldn't let [this] happen again.” (164). Though there is not a simple “solution” for the oppression, Indigenous communities have taken a step forward to reconnect with who they are and take pride. Furthermore, this same occurrence is also portrayed by Arthur Manuel as he emphasizes possible measures to help eliminate the burden of overhead.

Today, many Civil War veterans have PTSD. According to Mayo Clinic, “Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that 's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event” ("Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).”). “The Artilleryman’s Vision” by Walt Whitman and the movie “Glory” both portrayed disturbing experiences of war; however, Whitman’s poem is more personal, vivid, and relatable; therefore, the reader gains a better understanding of how PTSD affects an individual.

“Nineteen”, by Elizabeth Alexander uses language and tone to form a multi-sensory poem about remembering her youth and desire to connect to her past Vietnam vet lover. These aspects of language and tone are embedded in the outer form of the poem, as the author forms an imaginative recreation of her young adult life, which directly impacts the reader to allow for an enjoyable simple read. The elements of language and tone formation ensure the translation of Alexander’s emotions or feelings of her youth for the audience to relate and understand. In the first place, the language within “Nineteen” is casual and not really poetic.

This quote highlights the importance of Indigenous people having freedom from governmental control. It asserts that they should be able to have autonomy and control over their identities, lands, and communities

The Significance of Words Ever question why some individuals even bother with an apology? This is how Layli Long Soldier must have felt after seeing the contents of the apology to the Tribal Nation, written by President Obama. After reading the apology, one could see the lack of understanding and empathy the United States Government has for Native Americans. All the horrible crimes and tragedies are laid out as simple misunderstandings and mistakes by the United States; the apology makes light of the situation. Despite Obama’s apology on behalf of the United States, Layli Long Soldier uses her poem, “Whereas,” to illustrate instances of her life to connect her reaction to said apology, in turn showing the absurdity and shortcomings of the

“So much of history can be lost if no one tells the story – so that’s what I’m here to do. I tell the stories. This is my way of fighting for society change. ”1 In the past, the voices of the First Nations, which are now the minority, have been silenced for too long.

Some say he “seized a unique moment in American history” (Peter Dreier, and Occidental College professor), others believe he was “bringing shame” (Kaepernick’s mother) not just to his home team, but his home country. Kaepernick stole everyone 's attention, not by his athletic ability when playing football, but from his actions during the American anthem. This patriotic music is an important part of American history. The anthem comes from a poem written about the bombardment of Fort McHenry, it was called Defence of Fort McHenry.

The poem My Mother The Land by Phill Moncrieff poetically describes the struggles the aboriginal people faced at the hands of the European people and colonisation throughout history. The fact that the author based the poem on accurate historical events adds to the authenticity of representations and engages the reader in an emotional journey with the struggles the aboriginal people faced with the somewhat loss of their country, culture, identity, people and place. The author uses a variety of language features and text structures to create this view point, for instance the author uses several language features and text structures throughout verse one to demonstrate the loss of culture and people. The poet uses effective language features throughout the poem to describe the loss that the narrator feels in their country, culture, identity, people

When an individual reads something historical they cannot fully comprehend the story because they did not live in that time period nor did they experience the event in the character’s shoes. In this story the writer uses imagery to make the reader feel as if they were present during the event. The entire story takes place on a beach where the author is a young child posing for a picture her grandmother is taking. While narrating this event in her life the writer describes the ocean, she says “The sun cuts the rippling Gulf in flashes with each tidal rush” The way in which she described the sunset on the ocean illustrates the event in a descriptive way in which the reader can imagine it and feel as if they were there. She also uses forms of imagery to create nostalgia, for example she states “ I am four in this photograph…

The poem “A Story” by Li-Young Lee depicts the complex relationship between a boy and his father when the boy asks his father for a story and he can’t come up with one. When you’re a parent your main focus is to make your child happy and to meet all the expectations your child meets. When you come to realize a certain expectation can’t satisfy the person you love your reaction should automatically be to question what would happen if you never end up satisfying them. When the father does this he realizes the outcome isn’t what he’d hope for. He then finally realizes that he still has time to meet that expectation and he isn’t being rushed.

Using distinctively visual, sensory language and dramatic devices in texts allows the reader and audience to view as well as participate and relate to different emotions. In the fictional play “Shoe Horn Sonata” written by John Misto, 1995, Misto sets the scene by using dramatic devices to address the extremely confronting circumstances that the protagonists, Sheila and Bridie experience. Similarly, in the poem “Beach Burial” by Kenneth Slessor, 1944, Slessor too uses extremely strong visual language on the subject of war to overcome the gruesome realities of the subject matter. Misto’s play “Shoe Horn Sonata” shares the impacting journey two young women are forced to face, spending 1287 days in captivity in a Sumatran war camp, during world war two.

As shown in lines 12 and 13 “Don’t tell us to forget. That’s something we cannot do” Gregory expounds that Aboriginals cannot forget and move on without proper actions being taken as it affected them immensely. The poet conveys that we need to deal with it and accept it so that whole nation can be united. In general, Gregory asserts Australia should not try and hide the truth of its past instead open the books and make the future brighter. The message is conveyed through the themes of rage,

First, this poem truly reflects the hardships the soldiers returning home had to face. In the poem the first lines state that the veteran sees himself in the wall. He feels he is within the wall himself because the war mentally killed him. He feels he should have his name on the wall because that’s where he feels he belongs.