How does the literature present the teenager?
In Those Winter Sundays, by Robert Hayden, the poem is describing teenage love. Not a “Romeo and Juliet” type of love, but a parent to child kind of love. Often, teenagers either do not appreciate or do not show that they appreciate what their parents do for them, and then later really miss those times when they did not have to pay the bills and work for a living. When they miss the times when their parents did things for them is where the author is in his life. When the author says even on “Sundays too my father got up early and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,…” (Lines 1-2), the father is getting up early in the morning just so his family can stay warm in the blistering, winter cold. He is sacrificing his sleep and his energy for his family because he loves them. The author wrote that when he would wake, he would “wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking./When the rooms were warm, he'd call.” (Lines 6-7). By him waking to a warm room while it is blistering cold outside demonstrates the love the father has for the family. He wants them to be comfortable and to achieve the kids comfort, he sacrifices his energy to get wood for a fire. Towards the end of the poem the author said “What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?” (Lines 13-14). By stating that quote, the author shows that he appreciates his father’s sacrifice and love, and that he wishes he could go back and thank him for it.
Did the authors get it right? Does the literature accurately define the teenager?
The author nailed it. The author’s ideas perfectly represented the contemporary teen. The literature accurately characterized the modern teen. The poem does capture the contemporary teen because a lot of teenagers do not realize what their parents, friends, and family does for them until it is in the past. They either do not show or show little appreciation for these acts of sacrifice and love until they reflect on it later and have an understanding of what it means to be parent, as in giving up time to play with their kid(s) to risking their lives for them. It is a demanding job and teenagers do not normally realize it until they have gone through it themselves. The author is now at the point in his life where he has kids of his own and realizes how demanding it is, and now he wishes he thanked his dad for all that he has done for him.
In Those Winter Sundays, by Robert Hayden, the poem is describing teenage love. Not a “Romeo and Juliet” type of love, but a parent to child kind of love. Often, teenagers either do not appreciate or do not show that they appreciate what their parents do for them, and then later really miss those times when they did not have to pay the bills and work for a living. When they miss the times when their parents did things for them is where the author is in his life. When the author says even on “Sundays too my father got up early and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,…” (Lines 1-2), the father is getting up early in the morning just so his family can stay warm in the blistering, winter cold. He is sacrificing his sleep and his energy for his family because he loves them. The author wrote that when he would wake, he would “wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking./When the rooms were warm, he'd call.” (Lines 6-7). By him waking to a warm room while it is blistering cold outside demonstrates the love the father has for the family. He wants them to be comfortable and to achieve the kids comfort, he sacrifices his energy to get wood for a fire. Towards the end of the poem the author said “What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?” (Lines 13-14). By stating that quote, the author shows that he appreciates his father’s sacrifice and love, and that he wishes he could go back and thank him for it.
Did the authors get it right? Does the literature accurately define the teenager?
The author nailed it. The author’s ideas perfectly represented the contemporary teen. The literature accurately characterized the modern teen. The poem does capture the contemporary teen because a lot of teenagers do not realize what their parents, friends, and family does for them until it is in the past. They either do not show or show little appreciation for these acts of sacrifice and love until they reflect on it later and have an understanding of what it means to be parent, as in giving up time to play with their kid(s) to risking their lives for them. It is a demanding job and teenagers do not normally realize it until they have gone through it themselves. The author is now at the point in his life where he has kids of his own and realizes how demanding it is, and now he wishes he thanked his dad for all that he has done for him.
"When I'm Gone" by Eminem
"When I'm Gone", by famous rapper Eminem, is about how he loves his daughters and that he wishes he was there for her more on her big days like talent shows, dances, open houses, etc. It shows the love that parents have for their kids and the sacrifices they would make for them.
Sources
Mays, Kelly J. “Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Spencer
Richardson-Jones. New York: New York, 2013
Reaper149. "Eminem- When I'm Gone." YouTube. YouTube, 5 Dec 2007. Web. 19 May 2014.
Mays, Kelly J. “Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Spencer
Richardson-Jones. New York: New York, 2013
Reaper149. "Eminem- When I'm Gone." YouTube. YouTube, 5 Dec 2007. Web. 19 May 2014.