Question

Billy Joel Poetry Assignment (Add space as necessary to complete assignment.) Name_____________________________________________________ Section_____________ Poem Title ____________________________________________________________________ Select one of the Billy Joel poems and write a paragraph explaining the point of the poem, its message. Then select a minimum of four quotations that are important and explain the significance of each quotation (just a couple of sentences each). Then write a discussable question that the poem evokes in your mind as a reader.

Answer 1

poem Title : My life by Billy Joel

This is a song about strength. The strength to self re-examine oneself, and the strength to go about life the way you desire it. The strength move away from aspect of your life you are not okay with. The strength to avoid toxic people around you, people who only see things in their own perspective. The poem was written during an era when the social expectation was mostly about conforming, doing things that the society expected even if it is driving you nut.

Quotations important to the song

1.Got a call from an old friend

We used to be real close

Said he couldn't go on the American way

Closed the shop, sold the house

Bought a ticket to the West Coast

Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A

This gives us a background of who the song is directed to, someone who used to be very close to him but has take to another path in life and was expecting him is to join him on it.

2. I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright

I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home

I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life

Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone

This section potrayed his insistence on followinng his own path, not just conforming to others expectation.

3. They will tell you, you can't sleep alone in a strange place

Then they'll tell you, you can't sleep with somebody else

Ah, but sooner or later you sleep in your own space

Either way it's okay you wake up with yourself

this section is defined what he is expected to do, represeting societal expectations he is expected to conform with.

4. I never said you had to offer me a second chance

(I never said you had to)

I never said I was a victim of circumstance

This section is portrays that he is ready to find his own path in life rather than conforming. it shows strenght to explore and seek more in his own way

Discussable question that the poem evokes in your mind as a reader

The main question raise in the poem is about conforming. why should we conform? why we limit ourself just to satisfy others? why should we be something else other than what we truly want?