Analysis For Favorite Poem
Sometimes the standards that the media sets for society can interfere with our true values of beauty. Fairy is Not a Fairytale by Jane Yolen portrays this major issue in the cutest, simpliest yet most innocent way ever. Yolen puts her simple thoughts of how society never thinks about being fat as beautiful in unexplanatory way. To be honest, I very much enjoyed the use of her connections to not one, but various fairy tale texts and movies; it proves her point very well and leaves the reader left speechless. Starting off the poem, Yolen starts with a very happy tone: "I am thinking of a fairy tale". "Fairy" and "tale" commonly propose a very happy, situated lifestyle which sends out a vibe of positivity of beauty beyond what life can withhold. Yolen is trying to direct the reader at how once fairy tale pops up in their mind, they start wandering off in a fantasy of where the world is perfect: in this world, skinniness, slenderness is what truly defines the meaning of beautiful. However, further on in the poem, creative twists in legendary fairy tales are created by Yolen’s imagination by replacing words in the titles of all these fairy tales. Instead of Cinderella, it's Cinder Elephant. Instead of Sleepy Beauty, it's Sleeping Tubby. Instead of Snow White, it's Snow Weight. Despite the different stories these all involve, they all have one thing in common: they all are twisted into a story where the princess is not the ideal weight that often idolized as beauty- instead, these princesses are crowned with their weight. Elephants, tubby, and weight all describe the complete opposite of what typical Disney movies compel and brainwash society into thinking what beauty really means. It is because of this new and completely opposite approach at this typical thinking process that goes through everyone's mind by the sound of fairytales, that the reader feels guilty. Especially me. I felt guilty for even picturing every princess in my head so thin. My intention was not to agree with this ideal size of weight because, I personally don't think that's the true definition of what a princess would look like, but sadly it's what I was brainwashed to see since I was a kid. It is because of this thinking that the media has put in fairy tales that the tone of the poem starts to change into a more serious tone. This solemnity is what shatters the obscene thoughts of what our minds automatically picture when it thinks of fairy tales. It is because Yolen implores a different side of fairy tales that the tone changes to a serious one, because when we think of fantasies, they appear to be dreamy and happy, making us think of such a place as beautiful (in the world of fantasies). However, when we realize that not everyone is as happy as they appear to be in real life that we see how ugly reality can be. This ugliness can precisely be viewed by how we barely think about a overweight or obese person to be seen as a princess. Ugliness is not even the word to describe this way of thinking. It is beyond ugly... because of the labels we place in society. This contemptible thought is what changes the mood from serious to shamefully sad; sad for how we as a society have taught each other such standards for being viewed as “beautiful”, whereas everyone should be beautiful no matter the weight. As the poem deepens so does it's conviction of it's message; Yolen continues to rename the fairy tales into those with a more realistic view. Repoundsel as Rapunzel Bounty and the Beast as Beauty and the Beast. Why is it that we seem so allured by the contrariness of these titles? Why do they seem so cute and adorable? We see this type of thinking as true beauty: if someone can see a person despite their weight as beautiful as a princess, that is what truly captivates the mind and heart, which is exactly why I fell in love with this poem. Towards the end of the poem, the tone changes to a more wishful type of tone, leading the mood to change to a brighter one- one filled with hope. This insight is directed off of the diction used. I thought over and over about how the ending could have been different. I thought, Yolen could have used the words never instead of not yet. They both mean almost the same thing (they both seem discouraging), but they are just expressed in a different way. That is where I found out exactly why her choice of words were such that. Not yet compared to never seems like a less harsher word: it makes it seem as though there is still hope for something to start. Not yet gives way for thinking of something to come still, whereas never makes it solid: it will never happen, no matter how hard you try or think, this will never happen. This thinking will never come true. Yolen's diction plays a huge role in the tone of the last stanza. Her tone is what contributed to a softer ended poem that shows her insight of hope for princesses (or beauty) to also be seen within the obese/overweight. That is what I thought was amazing powerful. Despite the typical way this poem would have been perceived if it was written differently (in a more angered way), it was perceived in a way that was extremely sweet, warm and fuzzy even though there still was roughness to the reality of what it was conveying. I love this poem. It's diction speaks out to me- it makes me feel that there is still hope for humanity. If someone like Yolen is able to make such a disgusting way of thinking be transformed into a more beautiful hope-filled thought, I'm reassured. Reassured that there are still people like her that do care about everyone else. Everyone else that is not apart of that "beautiful fairy tale". Who are not apart of society's manipulation...
Who are not seen as the princesses they wish to be seen as.
Sometimes the standards that the media sets for society can interfere with our true values of beauty. Fairy is Not a Fairytale by Jane Yolen portrays this major issue in the cutest, simpliest yet most innocent way ever. Yolen puts her simple thoughts of how society never thinks about being fat as beautiful in unexplanatory way. To be honest, I very much enjoyed the use of her connections to not one, but various fairy tale texts and movies; it proves her point very well and leaves the reader left speechless. Starting off the poem, Yolen starts with a very happy tone: "I am thinking of a fairy tale". "Fairy" and "tale" commonly propose a very happy, situated lifestyle which sends out a vibe of positivity of beauty beyond what life can withhold. Yolen is trying to direct the reader at how once fairy tale pops up in their mind, they start wandering off in a fantasy of where the world is perfect: in this world, skinniness, slenderness is what truly defines the meaning of beautiful. However, further on in the poem, creative twists in legendary fairy tales are created by Yolen’s imagination by replacing words in the titles of all these fairy tales. Instead of Cinderella, it's Cinder Elephant. Instead of Sleepy Beauty, it's Sleeping Tubby. Instead of Snow White, it's Snow Weight. Despite the different stories these all involve, they all have one thing in common: they all are twisted into a story where the princess is not the ideal weight that often idolized as beauty- instead, these princesses are crowned with their weight. Elephants, tubby, and weight all describe the complete opposite of what typical Disney movies compel and brainwash society into thinking what beauty really means. It is because of this new and completely opposite approach at this typical thinking process that goes through everyone's mind by the sound of fairytales, that the reader feels guilty. Especially me. I felt guilty for even picturing every princess in my head so thin. My intention was not to agree with this ideal size of weight because, I personally don't think that's the true definition of what a princess would look like, but sadly it's what I was brainwashed to see since I was a kid. It is because of this thinking that the media has put in fairy tales that the tone of the poem starts to change into a more serious tone. This solemnity is what shatters the obscene thoughts of what our minds automatically picture when it thinks of fairy tales. It is because Yolen implores a different side of fairy tales that the tone changes to a serious one, because when we think of fantasies, they appear to be dreamy and happy, making us think of such a place as beautiful (in the world of fantasies). However, when we realize that not everyone is as happy as they appear to be in real life that we see how ugly reality can be. This ugliness can precisely be viewed by how we barely think about a overweight or obese person to be seen as a princess. Ugliness is not even the word to describe this way of thinking. It is beyond ugly... because of the labels we place in society. This contemptible thought is what changes the mood from serious to shamefully sad; sad for how we as a society have taught each other such standards for being viewed as “beautiful”, whereas everyone should be beautiful no matter the weight. As the poem deepens so does it's conviction of it's message; Yolen continues to rename the fairy tales into those with a more realistic view. Repoundsel as Rapunzel Bounty and the Beast as Beauty and the Beast. Why is it that we seem so allured by the contrariness of these titles? Why do they seem so cute and adorable? We see this type of thinking as true beauty: if someone can see a person despite their weight as beautiful as a princess, that is what truly captivates the mind and heart, which is exactly why I fell in love with this poem. Towards the end of the poem, the tone changes to a more wishful type of tone, leading the mood to change to a brighter one- one filled with hope. This insight is directed off of the diction used. I thought over and over about how the ending could have been different. I thought, Yolen could have used the words never instead of not yet. They both mean almost the same thing (they both seem discouraging), but they are just expressed in a different way. That is where I found out exactly why her choice of words were such that. Not yet compared to never seems like a less harsher word: it makes it seem as though there is still hope for something to start. Not yet gives way for thinking of something to come still, whereas never makes it solid: it will never happen, no matter how hard you try or think, this will never happen. This thinking will never come true. Yolen's diction plays a huge role in the tone of the last stanza. Her tone is what contributed to a softer ended poem that shows her insight of hope for princesses (or beauty) to also be seen within the obese/overweight. That is what I thought was amazing powerful. Despite the typical way this poem would have been perceived if it was written differently (in a more angered way), it was perceived in a way that was extremely sweet, warm and fuzzy even though there still was roughness to the reality of what it was conveying. I love this poem. It's diction speaks out to me- it makes me feel that there is still hope for humanity. If someone like Yolen is able to make such a disgusting way of thinking be transformed into a more beautiful hope-filled thought, I'm reassured. Reassured that there are still people like her that do care about everyone else. Everyone else that is not apart of that "beautiful fairy tale". Who are not apart of society's manipulation...
Who are not seen as the princesses they wish to be seen as.