57/1001 - Frye, O'Connor, Aldrich

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Hopefully, I'll have more time to read essays over the summer. I have really enjoyed exploring this form of literature. 

Essay: Charms and Riddles by Northrop Frye, in his essay collection called Spiritus Mundi. He wrote about the central place of Charms and Riddles in ancient literature, and it seemed that these forms are still with us, if in a more diluted form. Charms are connected with mythological universes, and Riddles are sort of the anti-charm, revealing instead of concealing or enchanting. Really interesting essay.

Short Story: The Geranium by Flannery O'Connor

Old Dudley's disorientation is palpable. By the end of the story, I felt as lost and out of place as he is. She is a master storyteller.

Poem: 

The Aim Was Song

by Robert Frost

Before man to blow to right

The wind once blew itself untaught,

And did its loudest day and night

In any rough place where it caught.

Man came to tell it what was wrong:

It hadn't found the place to blow;

It blew too hard - the aim was song.

And listen - how it ought to go!

He took a little in his mouth,

And held it long enough for north

To be converted into south,

And then by measure blew it forth.

By measure. It was word and note,

The wind the wind had meant to be -

A little through the lips and throat.

The aim was song The Aim Was Song

by Robert Frost

Before man to blow to right

The wind once blew itself untaught,

And did its loudest day and night

In any rough place where it caught.

Man came to tell it what was wrong:

It hadn't found the place to blow;

It blew too hard - the aim was song.

And listen - how it ought to go!

He took a little in his mouth,

And held it long enough for north

To be converted into south,

And then by measure blew it forth.

By measure. It was word and note,

The wind the wind had meant to be -

A little through the lips and throat.

The aim was song - the wind could see.- the wind could see.