22 February, 2012
Eng 2
Per. 1
Remember by Joy Harjo Remember when you were little and you couldn’t wait to grow up, but now that you are older you wish you were little again? In the peom, Remember, by Joy Harjo, the theme is remember where you came from and don’t take anything for granted. The theme is brought about through figurative language, imagery, and sound. Joy Harjo uses figurative language to relay the message of the poem. “Remember the suns birth at dawn.” (L4) This personification is saying not to forget how the sun rises. It also means don’t take for granted that you have another day to live and express yourself. “Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their tribes, families, their histories. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems.” (L14-16) This personification says to remember mother nature because without it you wouldn’t be able to live and breathe. In Remember, imagery helps to relay the theme. “Remember the earth whose skin you are; red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth, brown earth, we are earth.” (L11-13) This appeals to the semse of sight. You can see all of the different ethnicities and don’t forget to remember all of them. “Remember the wind. Remember her voice.” (L17) This appeals to the sense of touch and the sense of hearing. You can feel the wind and hear her voice. Don’t forget what the wind feels like, don’t forget how her voice sounds. Lastly repetition and refrain have a lot to do with relaying the theme. “Remember that language comes from this. Remember the dance that language is, that life is. Remember.” (L) The writer keeps saying remember. Remember to do this and remember to do that. Remember everything in your life that got you where you are today and never forget the people and things that helped. The theme of the poem, Remember, by Joy Harjo is to remember where you came from and never take anything for granted. Also to remember all of the people and things that got you to where you are today. Harjo uses figurative language, imagery, and sound to help relay the theme. Don’t ever forget the things you love and the things that help you through life. Life is hard, but there are things to help you through it.
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