Tag Archives: Ulysses

Pan’s Call–The Return of the Repressed

By Robin Bates | Published: December 2, 2012

Pan became a major figure for turn-of-the-century poets and artists.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Fed, Peyton: Made Weak by Time & Fate?

By Robin Bates | Published: September 8, 2012

Peyton Manning and Roger Federer, in the twilight of their careers, bring to mind Tennyson’s Ulysses.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Ulysses: Do Not Go Gently into Retirement

By Robin Bates | Published: March 5, 2012

A discussion of Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” led a group of senior citizens to conclude that it’s about a man who is experiencing difficulties transitioning into retirement.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , | Comments closed

Once We Memorized Poetry

By Robin Bates | Published: February 14, 2012

Memorizing poetry used to be standard classroom practice and poetry was widely popular before the snobs came in.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Rogers No Longer in Odysseus’ Shadow

By Robin Bates | Published: February 12, 2011

Sports Saturday Something memorable occurred last Sunday in Dallas in addition to the Green Bay Packers bringing “Vince Lombardi home” in their Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Aaron Rogers stepped out of the shadow of a legend. The literary equivalent that comes to mind is Homer’s Telemachus, but Rogers is Telemachus with […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Peyton Manning as Moby Dick?!

By Robin Bates | Published: January 7, 2011

Sports Saturday In anticipation of football’s “Wild Card Weekend,” which begins today, I see that a sports writer has invoked Herman Melville’s masterpiece. Dan Graziano believes that Indianapolis Colt quarterback Peyton Manning has become Rex Ryan’s Moby Dick. He has beaten the New York Jets coach so many times that Ryan has become obsessed with […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

A Poem for Heroes and Mass Murderers

By Robin Bates | Published: July 5, 2010

Since the World Cup is underway in South Africa, I watched Clint Eastwood’s Invictus last week, about the 1995 World Cup Rugby Tournament held in South Africa.  Based on a true story, the film notes that, while in prison, Nelson Mandela, like many black South Africans, would root against the South African rugby team, beloved […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Father-Son Conflict: The Comic Version

By Robin Bates | Published: July 23, 2009

  In yesterday’s post I began giving an account of a car conversation I had with my two sons regarding stories that explore father-son relationships, as well as my desire for a story in which fathers and sons collaborate to handle the world’s challenges.  Darien, my older son, felt that the archetypal conflict as it […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Poetry Standing Firm in the Face of Fire

By Robin Bates | Published: June 30, 2009

“But maybe stories and poetry can help open our minds to possibilities that are very real but extremely hard to see; and in that sense, they can be very practical.” – Rachel Kranz in a response to yesterday’s post I love the two responses to yesterday’s post (from the two major women in my life) […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed