Preliminary Thinking
My choice for this assignment fell on two poems, both by remarkable wordsmiths: My Heart Leaps Up by William Wordsworth and Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats. I chose them over others because they had the most captivating and vivid imagery compared to the other pieces of poetry proposed. I was thinking about doing a similar thing – extracting the most important symbols from the other poems and portraying them visually. However, it was those two that truly inspired me. The reason was directly inspired by the ongoing global events – the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the relationship of the subject explored in these poems and the current global situation is not particularly on the surface, they are still connected indirectly. Both of the poems are, essentially, timeless since they explore themes that will always be a part of the human experience – and therefore, they offer wisdom that will aid humanity in unsettling times.
Description and Explanation
My choice of medium will be drawing – I hope to translate the verbal art of poetry into visual imagery. The only way that this is possible to accomplish is through exhibiting core symbols in the poetic works. For instance, in My Heart Leaps Up, Wordsworth uses minimalistic imagery and describes such a simple concept – a feeling from observing a natural phenomenon – a rainbow. In the poem, Wordsworth describes the feeling that the sight of the rainbow inspires, serves as constant in his life, “so is it now I am a man; so be it when I shall grow old” (Wordsworth). This is exactly what humans lack in today’s situation – the source of simple joy in life; perhaps, this sort of joy serves as the only remedy to the disquieting, anxiety-inducing times. This way, the imagery of the rainbow is central to my piece – emphasizing how beautiful it is, that no matter whether it is a little boy or an old man who observes it – imminently, it brings joy to all.
Ode to Nightingale, however, exhibits a different, and clearly, more complex interpretation of personal freedom through intent observation. The imagery is much more complex and multi-layered, with Keats weaving long strands of epithets, talking about the Nightingale and its immortality, as well as its kinship with himself. He reveres this bird, saying that “Thou wast not born for death!” (Keats). Despite this, in the end, he accepts the fact that it flew away. At this moment, greater wisdom reveals itself – one that would prove to be especially helpful in difficult situations – to have the capacity to accept the loss and move on. This is why the image of Nightingale will be the focus of my adaptation – it symbolizes the idea of something immortal, infinite, and beautiful, — probably, Nature itself, even, or –Time. These concepts are not usually prioritized in modern society, the results of which often show themselves in the form of high rates of depression and suicidal tendencies. While it is all, majorly, occurs because of the lack of broader, philosophical aspects of life in people’s consciousness.
My Role
Undoubtedly, my role in the adaptation will be that of an artist. Drawing, painting, and generally expressing myself via visual arts is a passion of mine. I believe I will excel in translating a verbal art form into a visual one – it is my natural talent to perceive ideas visually.
The Relevance for Audiences
The target audience for this visual adaptation will be adults and people with depression. Generally, adults tend to have a much clearer picture of what is happening in the world, and therefore, they are aware of all the gloomy statistics. The volumes of information that they intake can make them unstable. Both poems provide an entrance to an alternate way of thinking, which will provide them food for thought that may alter their condition for the better. Hopefully, the adaptation will give them a new, fresh perspective and bring the joy of infinite and simple things into their lives again.
Works Cited
Keats, John. “Ode to A Nightingale.” Poetry Foundation, Web.
Wordsworth, William. “My Heart Leaps Up.” Academy of American Poets, Web.