Poetry Progress Report
How is everyone doing with their poems? I've got "Stopping by Woods" and "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" down. I had planned to do "Kubla Khan" next, but I think I'd like to get a few more short-ish poems under my belt before tackling it.
So I'm trying to decide between "The world is too much with us" (Wordsworth) and "Ozymandias." I also have a couple of things in Latin I'd like to memorize: a psalm, a compline hymn, a very short Catullus poem (that I used to know), and a poem from the Carmina Burana. So many words, so few available brain cells! ;)
-Drew
Sure...
I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but I'm very impressed. It is based on Aquinas's memory method (the ancient loci of Simonides, in essence). The author has created a series of "rooms" in a "house," each of which is keyed a particular set of items to memorize: the 10 Commandments, 7 Sacraments, etc.
He explicitly deals with teaching the method to children (I haven't read the chapter yet, though!) and says that he has homeschoolers particularly in mind. Finally, he talks at the end of the book about how to apply the method to other material.
I'm willing to give it my vote of confidence even before finishing it because after reading through the chapter on the 10 Commandments, I could recite them cold. Of course I was familiar with them ;) but I never would have been able to rattle them of in order before. I'm thinking this is going to figure prominently in that "someday" memory work book I'm working on. :)
-Drew
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"I wonder how far I shall carry any opinion with me when I plead for active effort to revive the general use of Latin?" - Hilaire Belloc
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Many thanks....
Thanks for the review! The book sounds like a great asset. I am interested in learning more about the memory loci method, so I'll have to take a look at it.
Can you tell us a little more about your plans for a memory work book? I've been putting together some lists for memorization, and I'd enjoy hearing what you recommend commiting to heart. Are you seeking suggestions? I'd like to know what others think is most important to memorize, too.
Best wishes,
Jennifer
It's still very much in the planning stages, but...
the goal is to have a year-by-year collection of memory work material for all the subjects, including Latin and Greek, plus some art and music appreciation material. It's a huge project; I expect it to take some years to complete, particularly since I can only devote "spare time" (ha!) to it at this point. And I'm definitely open to suggestions!
-Drew
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"I wonder how far I shall carry any opinion with me when I plead for active effort to revive the general use of Latin?" - Hilaire Belloc
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I need to restart
I memorized about 3/4 of "Seein' Things" by Eugene Field, so I could recite it at a family reunion talent show. I was able to do almost all of it, but I had my paper with me as a crutch. As soon as the family reunion was over I pretty much forgot about it. Life took over.
Thanks for the reminder. A couple more days and I should have it finished.
Polly
Not as well as I'd hoped:-(
Not as well as I'd hoped:-(
I started with a reasonably regular effort, (for a day or so), then got distracted. But there's still a week left! Plenty of time if I focus on forming the habit (which is the real reason for starting now!)
I memorized Kubla Khan, then
I memorized Kubla Khan, then got sidetracked. I don't think my recitation is by any means smooth or perfect, and I made a few errors writing it down, so I'll need to review it for a while before I've really got it.
I'm thinking next I might tackle one of the Rune Poems (Old Norse or Old English, in translation).
Poetry progress...
Hi,
I tried to post an update earlier, but I think I forgot to sign in first. I've been memorizing Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night and Death Shall Have No Dominion by Dylan Thomas. Great poems! I'd like to memorize something by George Herbert next.
Has anyone looked at John Hollander's anthology of 100 poems to memorize? It looks like an interesting collection, though not necessarily the ones I would choose.
Speaking of memorization, Drew, can you tell me a bit about Memorize the Faith, which I saw linked on your blog? I'm curious to know if the book describes in detail the memory loci methods of the ancients, and if you have found it to be worthwhile.
Best wishes,
Jennifer