That Tally Stick Essay Example

That Tally Stick Paper So many people have keepsakes to symbolize their love for one another. Couples have pictures and mementos to remind them of their special times. In â€Å"The Tally Stick†, Jarold Ramsey introduces us to a couple who use a tally stick rather than pictures to represent what is important in their lives. Ramsey takes us from the beginning of the relationship, when the stick is bare, to the end when it is carved end to end. We learn of the outside events that build their love, as well as internal measure, upon which their love is built. According to Ramsey the stick is a part of the couple’s relationship. The tally stick shows that love can be a long-lasting bond defined by failure and success that strengthen their relationship. Before there is a single notch in the stick the narrator shows its significance. Ramsey indicates the stick is a gift, which represents the couple’s lifetime together. Saying, â€Å"From our first of days†¦/ I have carved our lives in secret on this stick† (1; 2). Their unique and extraordinary bond is directly represented by the type and length of the â€Å"Mountain mahogany† stick, Measured by â€Å"the length of your arms/ outstretched†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (3; 4). Also, because their relationship is so concrete and red with passion, Ramsey describes â€Å"the wood† as â€Å"clear red, so hard and rare† (4). In the opening stanza Ramsey shows that the tally stick embodies every part of this relationship, and its characteristics signify more than just important events. The first and most elaborate notch on the stick is the couple’s wedding. It is very detailed and enables them to relive their wedding. Like their lives â€Å"the grains /converge and join† (6; 7). The details of the notch are so specific the couple can tell â€Å"who danced, who made up the songs, who meant† them â€Å"joy† (9). We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The complex structures not only depict their wedding but the intricacy of their relationship, its specialness and how much they mean to each other. Inscriptions along the grain show the love they have for their children and how they want them involved in their lives’, indicated by â€Å"little arrowheads along the grain† (10). During times of grief the couple’s heavy hearts are exposed to the reader. Ramsey uses â€Å"heavy crosses† to mirror the couple’s mood during /â€Å"the deaths of† their â€Å"parents, the loss of our friends† (12; 13) Ramsey shows us that the difficult times made their onnection grow stronger. Death was not the only hardship they had to endure. Stanza three outlines all the external hardships the pair suffered through. Historic events were randomly cut against the grain, symbolizing occurrences that tried their relationship. â€Å"Hashmarks cut against the swirling grain† show how certain events could de stroy what they have (16). The poem indicates all the events their love survived, and shows their love has lasted many years. They remember what they thought was â€Å"the year the world went wrong† and â€Å"the days the Great Men fell† (17; 18). The third stanza ends with the power of the couples love, â€Å"The lengthening runes of our lives† that â€Å"run through it all† (19). This line from the poem signifies the strength their love possesses. There love persisted through hard times and their marriage grew stronger. These lines show that nothing compares to the love the two have for each other. Despite hardships their love continued to grow. In the final stanza the narrator talks about what it is like to look back on all the events that shaped the couple’s life. The stick is full of memories and represents a long lasting relationship. This relationship is made stronger by the events shown on the tally stick, every notch made them stronger and although the stick is beginning to wear, their love is not. â€Å"Our tally stick is whittled nearly end to end; delicate as scrimshaw, it would not bear you up† (20). Ramsey mentions that the stick is polished with regrets. Because they both have regrets that helped build their love, the couple clusters those regrets with all other mishaps â€Å"hand over hand† (22). The author ends the poem with the couple looking back on everything they have done. Running their fingers from beginning to end they will explore everything that shaped their relationship and forgive each other’s regrets. Ramsey refers to their blameless eyes, telling us that the two no longer blame one another and can go on loving through old age. Starting from when they were children, they follow the grain all the way to adulthood and â€Å"talk softly as of ordinary matters and in one another’s blameless eyes go blind† (27). The Tally Stick† is symbolic of everything this couple shares with each other. It not only shows special occasions like a picture but tells a detailed story of their life together. The couple relives the significant times they spent together by running their thumbs through the intricate notches. Detailed depictions of their wedding, the births of their children, the tragedies they have gone through can all be found within the stick. This stick defines the relationship, and is part of the each of them. The marks indicating internal events are the ones that remain special and are intricately drawn, where as the historic actions are just random marks, indicating they are not as exceptional as the internal dealings and everything random just fades away. â€Å"The Tally Stick† is a physical representation of this couple’s love for one another. It tells a practical story of the couple’s companionship, nothing on the stick is idealistic and depicts real events that drove their love, not what their relationship could have been, but what it is.

Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage Essay

It is often called America’s first great war novel, yet Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage is more than just a tale about the civil war. Each person goes through his or her own personal struggle during the process of maturing. Some have this easy; others strive very hard to reach this goal of development. Although there may be constant struggles, there usually is one major event that creates somewhat of a bridge between childhood and adulthood. The Red Badge of Courage traces the steps and major events in the life of Henry Fleming, focusing mainly on his evolution into manhood. We meet Henry as a naà ¯ve young man, seeking glory, yet unprepared for life on the front lines, and leave him much wiser and mature. Henry, hardened and experienced by the war, grows and matures, finally learning the true meaning of courage. Henry is introduced as he prepares to enlist in the Union army, leaving his mother and their farm home behind. The young Henry Fleming lives a secluded and protected life seen by his mother’s warning:... Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage Essay Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage Essay It is often called America’s first great war novel, yet Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage is more than just a tale about the civil war. Each person goes through his or her own personal struggle during the process of maturing. Some have this easy; others strive very hard to reach this goal of development. Although there may be constant struggles, there usually is one major event that creates somewhat of a bridge between childhood and adulthood. The Red Badge of Courage traces the steps and major events in the life of Henry Fleming, focusing mainly on his evolution into manhood. We meet Henry as a naà ¯ve young man, seeking glory, yet unprepared for life on the front lines, and leave him much wiser and mature. Henry, hardened and experienced by the war, grows and matures, finally learning the true meaning of courage. Henry is introduced as he prepares to enlist in the Union army, leaving his mother and their farm home behind. The young Henry Fleming lives a secluded and protected life seen by his mother’s warning:...

Sociology of sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sociology of sports - Essay Example and the inclusion of sports proves to be factored in to create the general feel of the social class, part of which is the routine that determines their habits. Involvement in sports is not for mere recreation only. Most people in democratic countries find sports as a recreation that cannot be afforded by the middle and lower class at regular intervals. While the white collar workers have a day off to enjoy themselves, the less privileged are not as fortunate. Usually sports enter the life of lenient families during Sundays when the park is littered by middle class families that have pronounced it a holiday. Meanwhile, the upper class families tend to go to golf clubs or enjoy themselves in tennis matches and the likes. It is also a common affair to spend recreational brainstorming during play offs and seasonal charters after a pool game. Although these do not necessarily affect the outcome of the events precursor to their appointment, seeing the environment as a relaxed environment helps lessen stress. It is not uncommon for movies including royalties to be displayed with racket or fencing sword in hand. This is an embodiment of the idea that to be accepted in the noble circle one must be adept at sciences as well as the arts. The fusion of arts and sciences make for powerful aristocrats, and veering away from it by means of not practicing the services of sports is simply inacceptable. It is also not common for the British royalties to be personified as observant when it comes to talents of commoners, and their involvement with individuals with such prowess in sports is evident. Football games and Badminton tournaments are also sometimes visited by important individuals. It seems that their presence marks the importance of the game, especially when they have a significant opinion about the game afterwards. It is from their example that people believed that watching sports is the in thing to do. Not only does it give any person access to the latest happenings,