Alice Walker
Historical/Social
background
• The poems, “New Face” and “Be Nobody’s Darling.” were
written in 1973. During this time era, the Cold War with Russia
was as it’s climax. During this time, the role of women began to
widen because of the growing feminist approach around the
United States. Not only were feminist approach widening, also the
Civil Rights approach were widening as well.
• The poem “New face” does not relate to the social norms of the
1970s. This poem talks about love. It does not rebel against the
norms, nor does it accept the social norms. However, the poem,
“Be Nobody’s darling,” talks about the benefits of unconformity.
It tells the reader to rebel, and to stand out. In a time when the
Civil rights movement was still going strong, or when the Feminist
movement was just beginning, this poem could have been a form
of motivations. It may have motivated the participants to stand
out. Therefore, the poem “Be Nobody’s Darling” was a form of
rebellion against the society.
Alice Walker Biography
•
Alice Walker is an internationally celebrated author, poet and activist whose books include
seven novels, four collections of short stories, four children’s books, and volumes of essays and
poetry. She’s best known for The Color Purple, the 1983 novel for which she won the Pulitzer
Prize—the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction—and the
National Book Award. The award-winning novel served as the inspiration for Steven
Spielberg’s 1985 film and was adapted for the stage, opening at New York City’s Broadway
Theatre in 2005, and capturing a Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical in 2006.
•
Walker has been an activist all of her adult life, and believes that learning to extend the range
of our compassion is activity and work available to all. She is a staunch defender not only of
human rights, but of the rights of all living beings. She is one of the world’s most prolific
writers, yet tirelessly continues to travel the world to literally stand on the side of the poor, and
the economically, spiritually and politically oppressed. She also stands, however, on the side of
the revolutionaries, teachers and leaders who seek change and transformation of the world.
Upon returning from Gaza in 2008, Walker said, “Going to Gaza was our opportunity to
remind the people of Gaza and ourselves that we belong to the same world: the world where
grief is not only acknowledged, but shared; where we see injustice and call it by its name;
where we see suffering and know the one who stands and sees is also harmed, but not nearly
so much as the one who stands and sees and says and does nothing.”
•
Walker, Alice, and Scott Campbell. "About | Alice Walker | The Official Website for the
American Novelist & Poet." Alice Walker The Official Website for the American Novelist Poet. N.p.,
2013. Web. 04 June 2013.
Time Stands Still
By : Princess Adeyinka
I am a broken clock
Afraid of change, me changing,
my life changing, my surroundings
Afraid of time, the seconds,
minutes, hours, days, or years
Afraid to move
But slowly moving, like a turtle
Hiding in its shell
Protected from things that hurt
Things that pain
Continuation
Afraid of the constant, rapid change
Just a broken clock that sits there
While others work, kids play, cars drive
And memories are made
Afraid of the ticking of seconds
The movement of minutes
The suspense of the hour
The challenges of the day
Afraid of the past
Of the choices I made, the things I did
Continuation
Afraid of now, of the path I am walking on
Is it the right path?
Afraid of the future and what it holds
The life I will have
Asking myself
Will my dream come true?
Afraid of dreaming
Dreaming about what I want to have,
And not getting it
Dreaming of what I hope to be
And becoming the opposite
Dreaming of success
And ending with failure
Continuation
Afraid of failure
Disappointing those I love
Disappointing those
who expect great things
Most of all
Disappointing myself
Afraid of death
Losing the ones I love
Disappearing right in front of your eyes
Like a magic trick, but this time there is no coming back
No applause at the end…just silence.
I am a broken clock
If I Was a Love Charm
If love was a charm
I'd take it off my bracelet
If love was fragile
I’d let go and watch it break
If love really was blind
I'd lead it off a cliff
If love was a drug
I’d make sure it was banned
If love was true
Why did I fall for you?
If love was a song
I’d never sing along
Continuation
But thanks to you...
If love was a song
I’d play it all day long
If love was a charm
I’d wear it on my bracelet
If love really was blind
I’d lead it to my heart
If love meant you
I’d fall in love
All over again
By : Favour Unigwe
Grateful
I am grateful for everything I have
I am grateful for everything I don’t
I’m just simply enjoying life
Being happy to even be alive
Having air in my lungs
And a beating heart
Having ambition and pride
Having hope and regret
Just the act of having is enough
To make me feel grateful
I am grateful to have family
CONTINUATION
And I am grateful to have friends
I am lucky to have someone that understands
I am grateful for everything I see everyday
Good or bad things
It doesn’t matter
They all fade away
I am grateful that hapiness consumes my life
I am grateful that I don’t have to fight for dear life
I am grateful to make the most of everyday
I am grateful because im blessed with talent and grace
BY: Daniella Styagova
YOUTH
To be young is to be free
It’s to be innocent
It’s to believe
To be young is to achieve
It’s to be oblivious
It’s to disagree
You see,
The thing about life is that it’s not easy.
I was care less
CONTINUATION
I was mischievous
I was courageous
I was shining bright
I was full of life
I learned,
That as people age
They become wiser.
It’s hard to believe
How life was back then
But the thing is, I miss it.
CONTINUATION
How life was back then
But the thing is, I miss it.
To be carefree
To be nosy
To be jolly
To be free
Explanation/Comparison
• I believe that life is what it is. Each and every person has the power to do
whatever they want, and can choose how to live it. Love is also a key to live.
The two poems New Face and Be Nobody’s Darling by Alice Walker show
exactly what it is to live life love. In the poem ‘Be Nobody’s Darling’, Walker
is talking about being yourself. Repetition is used a lot in this poem to make
the words “Be nobody’s darling,” and “Be an outcast,” stand out. This poem
describes being different, and uses many hyperboles to describe the ways it is
to be individual. In the poem ‘New Face’, Walker talks about love and how it
is entirely consumed of life. Symbolism and hyperboles are used to describe
love. Not only do both poems have many kinds of hyperboles and symbolism,
but they both show an entire bigger picture. Life. To live it to the fullest, to be
yourself, to love, to be. In ‘Be Nobody’s Darling,’ it portrays life by saying for
someone to be themselves rather than to be like everybody else. To not be
someone else’s, to define yourself, to be independent. In ‘New Face,’ it shows
life with the hidden meaning of love. Life is entirely of love. Nothing can
compare or even come close to it. You have to love to live and live to love.
Thus, both poems are completely different in their styles and ideas, but they
both mean the same thing. Life.
Analysis of “New Face”
This poem is very clear: Mrs. Walker has found that letting the inevitable
happen (in this case, falling in love) and then thinking about it is a much
simpler approach to life. She feels falling in love comes from within and only
one person sees that face of love you show them.
The lack of capitalization is probably symbolic but what it is to show was
lost on us. This poem also lacks rhyme. It also seems to lack structure. She
compares feelings to the fast movement of water. This is a simile: a
comparison of two things using like or as.
Analysis of “be
nobody’s darling”
Don't let anyone control you. Choose to be alone. Take the things that don't
make sense about you and make them work for you. Those who laughed you to
scorn will be the same ones who will fail. Be proud to be alone or hang out with
other impulsive idiots. Rejoice where others have mourned. Remember to be
your own person. Don't please anyone. This way your life will be worthwhile.
Non-conformists will rule.
To get across its somber message, there is no rhyming scheme. The first and
second line are repeated several times throughout the poem for emphasis. The
other uses the English language to her advantage. Instead of people going mad,
People sussumbed to madness. With words such as succumb, ample, askance,
impetuous, and merry, Mrs. Walker was able to make her message even clearer
and stronger. The poem seems to randomly grouped- the amount of syllables per
line fluctuates, there is no steady rhythm. This was probably to show her refusal
to conform. In an interview, Walker said this poem was about people who were
persecuted for standing out, but instead of trying to fit in they rebelled further.
Every part of this poem emits that message.
Bibliography
1- Walker, Alice, and Scott Campbell. "About | Alice Walker | The Official
Website for the American Novelist & Poet." Alice Walker The Official Website for the
American Novelist Poet. N.p., 2013. Web. 04 June 2013.
2- Wolfe, Tom, and Jeffrey Hays. "1970s." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06
May 2013. Web. 06 June 2013.
3- Christain, Barbara. "A Study of "In Love And Trouble"" The Contrary Woman
of Alice Walker 12.2 (1981): 31-69. Print.
4- Curry, Cara. "Cara Curry*." : New Face by Alice Walker. Cara Curry, 23 Mar.
2011. Web. 06 June 2013.
5- "New Face: Alice Walker." Web log post. Foletry. N.p., 02 Jan. 2012. Web. 03
June 2013
6- White, Evelyn C. Alice Walker: A Life. New York, NY [u.a.]: Norton: W. W.
Norton &, 2004. 246-47. Print.