Introduction
Dorothy Parker was born on 22 August 1893 in West End, New Jersey, USA.; her parents, Jacob and Annie Eliza Rothschild, happened to be holidaying there then. They were actually from Manhattan, New York. Dorothy was the youngest of four children. During the Twenties and Thirties, Dorothy's work also appeared in Esquire, and collections of her witty short stories and equally cutting poems were published - 'Enough Rope' (1926), 'Sunset Guns' (1928), 'Death and Taxes' (1931), 'Not So Deep as a Well'(1936), 'After Such Pleasures' (1932), 'Here Lies'(1939), and others. Her short story 'The Big Blonde', which was published in Bookman Magazine, won the O.Henry Award in 1929 Dorothy wrote book reviews under the column 'Constant Reader'. Her barbs - "This is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. Dorothy Parker contributed to many works of literature including newspaper columns, reviews, screenplays, satirical verses, and books; she is especially known for short stories, poems, and powerful quotes. Her tone is ironical, poignant, and often cuttingly witty and cynical On 7 June 1967, she too collapsed from a heart attack. She was just short of turning 74. Her estate, according to her will, was bequeathed to the civil rights activist; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dorothy Parker is one of the most accomplished feminist and successful literary writers in women’s history.
Analysis
The Veteran
By: Dorothy Parker
When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
``Come out, your dogs, and fight!'' said I,
And wept there was but once to die.
But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid
I sit and say, ``The world is so;
And he is wise who lets it go.
A battle lost, a battle won--
The difference is small, my son.''
Inertia rides and riddles me;
The which is called philosophy.
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
``Come out, your dogs, and fight!'' said I,
And wept there was but once to die.
But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid
I sit and say, ``The world is so;
And he is wise who lets it go.
A battle lost, a battle won--
The difference is small, my son.''
Inertia rides and riddles me;
The which is called philosophy.
Basic verification
The Veteran
(Dorothy Parker)
When I was young and bold and strong, à Iambic tetrameter
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong! à Iambic tetrameter
My plume on high, my flag unfurled, à Iambic tetrameter
I rode away to right the world. à Iambic tetrameter
``Come out, your dogs, and fight!'' said I, à Iambic tetrameter
And wept there was but once to die à Iambic tetrameter
But I am old; and good and bad à Iambic tetrameter
Are woven in a crazy plaid à Iambic trimeter
I sit and say, ``The world is so; à Iambic tetrameter
And he is wise who lets it go. à Iambic tetrameter
A battle lost, a battle won- à Iambic tetrameter
The difference is small, my son.'' à Iambic tetrameter
Inertia rides and riddles me; à Iambic tetrameter
The which is called philosophy à Iambic tetrameter
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong! à Iambic tetrameter
My plume on high, my flag unfurled, à Iambic tetrameter
I rode away to right the world. à Iambic tetrameter
``Come out, your dogs, and fight!'' said I, à Iambic tetrameter
And wept there was but once to die à Iambic tetrameter
But I am old; and good and bad à Iambic tetrameter
Are woven in a crazy plaid à Iambic trimeter
I sit and say, ``The world is so; à Iambic tetrameter
And he is wise who lets it go. à Iambic tetrameter
A battle lost, a battle won- à Iambic tetrameter
The difference is small, my son.'' à Iambic tetrameter
Inertia rides and riddles me; à Iambic tetrameter
The which is called philosophy à Iambic tetrameter
Figurative language
There are two kinds of figurative language. The first one is personification in this sentence” Inertia rides and riddles me”, and the second one is hyperbole in this sentence “I rode away to right the world”
Interpretation
This poem tells us about the struggle of the veteran. When he was young, he was a strong man, he was an ambitious man. There are so many wars at that time, won and lost is could happened but he is not only keeps fighting to his enemies but also has a big effort to win the battle in every war. But now, when he getting older, he is as not strong as when he was young. He told to his son about his experience.
Paraphrasing
The author tells us about The Veteran’s experience when he was young. It was a great experience, it is about war. The Veteran, as the main character in this poem has strong power, strong body, strong struggle to make his enemies being lost. He always keeps his spirit to win his war in difficult condition at that time. He rides away to the right world, to fight the enemies in a battle field. He was very wise when he use some tricks to lose his enemies. The Veteran think that win and lost in a war is an ordinary thing. But he has strong effort to won the war.
But now, The Veteran’s condition is totally different with his condition at that time when he was strong and has a big power. Now he is getting older and the war makes him feel weak and inertia. And he tells to his son about his condition, he tells that it is a philosophy.
Point of view
In this poem, the word I refers to The Veteran, because the word I in this poem is generally tell us about The Veteran and his experience at that time. He refers to another veteran, because the word he in this poem as the second character or minor character. But this poem is totally tells about The Veteran’s life.
Message
This poem has a meaningful message. It tells us about the spirit and struggle. We have to keep fighting to do something in which that is in positive way and being wise when we get some problem in every condition. Because wise is the important way to solve our problem.
Conclusion
