The persona is not the poet in poetry

Image source: writingcooperative.com

It’s not uncommon in poetry classes for students to equate the poet with the speaker or persona of the poem. But this shouldn’t be condoned. When, for example, Pablo Neruda says that “tonight I write the saddest lines,” it doesn’t have to be Neruda himself feeling the said sentiment.


The duty of poets is to make readers feel the poem, not just feel bad or good for the writer. The emotions being conveyed by poetry should be devoid of authorial intrusion. Sympathy is not as important in literature as empathy, of putting oneself in another’s shoes. And accomplished writers are guided by this quiet distance from their own work.


Often than not, those beginning to analyze poems think a poem with an I persona means that the narrative of poem happened to the poet in real life. But we must remember that poetry’s online instrument is language, and often their duty compels them to embellish narratives to heighten language. It’s not as though we’re saying that poets are necessarily liars, but poems aspiring for literariness don’t aim to capture truth per se, but to reach verisimilitude, a semblance of the true.

Image source: slideplayer.com

Again, not all poems are biographical in nature, even when we read works by confessional poets like Sylvia Plath. Much negotiation happens with language to make the poems not just elaborate, exposed diary entries but works we can truly relate to. Poems after all, according to the Neruda-inspired film Il Postino, “belong not to those who write it, but to those who need it.”


Hey, what’s up? My name is John Eilermann, a Comparative Literature major based in St. Louis, Missouri. Long before I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in this field, I’d already decided to become a lifelong learner. Comparative literature provides me with many multidisciplinary approaches. Follow me on Facebook for more writing tips and insights.

Soccer training: The weak foot

Image source: teachpe.com

Having a weak foot in soccer is perfectly normal. Even the greatest players in the world have a weak foot which of course, over time they’ve trained to make it stronger. And so should you. Here are a few pro tips on increasing the proficiency of your weak foot.


Juggle with the weak foot as often as you can.

Juggling is a great way to increase your control over the ball, and it’s as dazzling to see as it is to do. As such, having your weak foot get used to juggling will make it more adept in overall control when it comes to kicking.


Practice trapping and catching with the weak foot.

Trapping is such an underrated skill for soccer players. Toss the ball up and kill the bounce as soon as it lands with your weak foot. Another way of killing the bounce is catching the ball with your weak foot. Alternate between trapping and catching to increase the weak foot’s control.

Image source: myactivesg.com

Dribble with the weak foot.

Try running at different speeds, but instead of dribbling the ball forward using both feet, use only your weak foot. This is another great drill for control.


Practice free kicks using the weak foot.

This drill improves control and increases power of the weak foot. Experiment with your shots as though you were using your strong foot. Watch your form as you do this drill.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a World War 2 and soccer enthusiast. Follow me on Twitter for more updates.

What parents need to know about young adult lit

Image source: YouTube.

If you’re a parent and you have teenagers in your home, there’s a big chance you’ve seen a young adult novel lying in their room. Young adult (YA) literature has experienced quite a rise in popularity over the past two decades largely thanks to the massive success of the Harry Potter books. Many of the YA series have made their way to the big screen, with again, Harry Potter being the most popular of them all.


Although the YA category has only been labeled recently, there have always been books about teenagers, written for teenagers, or young adults. Books such as “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Lord of the Flies” have teen protagonists but were never called YA until many years later.

Image source: ReelRundown.com  

YA books follow a specific formula, with a main teen character, taking on challenges that teens mostly face. They are mostly about coming-of-age, where one is introduced to the world of adults. This introduction mostly takes place via an experience that seems almost ritualistic. Sex, race, politics, and religion also figure into YA lit.


It’s also worthy of note how YA lit treats adults as background characters, and many times, as the antagonists. The spotlight in YA lit is entirely on teens who are almost always struggling with emotions and ideas.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a St. Louis, Missouri-based student currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. The cross-disciplinary approach of the program enables students to take courses in philosophy, politics, and culture, while intersecting literature with history. More of my writings here.

World Cup: The future of English football is here

Image source: youtube.com

Millions of hearts were broken all across England when their team lost against Croatia in the World Cup semifinals by the slimmest of margins. Up to that point, fans of the England team all over the world were hopeful that their footballers could get the job done and see it through all the way to the finals, and bring home the Cup after half-a-century.


However, the sting of the 2-1 defeat to Croatia was only temporary as English fans knew their team had arrived. Truth be told, the English team was the youngest fielded in this year’s World Cup, which only meant that in four years, they would be mature enough to perhaps win it all.

Image source: inews.co.uk

This is a huge boost for a team that saw superstars such as Beckham, Rooney, and Gerrard one by one leave international competition. The new captain is the 25-year-old Harry Kane, who in this year’s competition showed that not only was he capable of leading this young team, he was capable of leading them to the brink of a final showdown against eventual winners, France.


Together with other young, up-and-coming football stars, Kane looks to return to the grand stage and make a run at sports’ ultimate prize. Perhaps 2022 is the year the World Cup finally comes home.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a huge fan of the beautiful game, football. I’m also a World War 2 enthusiast. Learn more about me and the stuff I love by following me on Twitter.

Improve your vocabulary with these tricks

Image source: Pexels.com

Having a rich vocabulary can help you convey your thoughts and feelings more specifically. Instead of saying, "I'm fine" or "it's bad", you'll be able to give more meaning to your experience. If you want to develop how you gather new words, here are some simple tricks to ensure your learning:


Learn one new word everyday

Imagine adding more than 300 words to your vocabulary bank each year. That's a lot! If you're always online, you can subscribe to dictionary apps or sites that will deliver your word of the day. Before you know it, you'll be using these words in your daily conversations and even in your writing.


Read and write

I grew up highlighting unfamiliar words on paperbacks. Why some wouldn't appreciate marks on their books, this helped me remember new additions to my word bank. To take it a step further, after finding out the meaning, I would write five sentences to ensure that I fully understood what I just learned. These days I'm grateful for e-book readers because the built-in dictionary can instantly provide the meaning to a new word with just one long click.

Image source: Pexels.com

Play word games

Playing Scrabble, Word Factory, or Wordscapes are great ways to remind us of words we know but don't really use daily. Of course, there are other games that will test your vocabulary and lead to new discoveries. But aside from jolting your memory, seeing a word while playing will lead to a discussion with friends and you'll end up using these answers in conversations. Personally, these games are the most entertaining way for me to lengthen my word list.


Learning new words doesn't need to be exhausting. You need to incorporate it with an activity you find pleasurable so it won't feel like a chore. Before you know it, you'll have more expressions to use.

Hi! John Eilermann is the name. I’m a comparative literature student from St. Louis, Missouri, and I’m enjoying my life here. For similar reads, visit this blog.

The importance of Lionel Messi to Barca

Image source: espnfc.com

Lionel Messi is considered to be one of the best footballers, not just of this generation, but of all-time. He has won dozens of awards, with only the World Cup eluding him. Be that as it may, Messi is still a hero in his home country of Argentina. And on the club level, he is considered a football god.


However, beyond the stats, awards, and accolades, just how important is Messi to the football club and the city? The short answer is, very.


The president of the football club himself, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has worked doggedly to keep his Argentine superstar in the team. With greats such as Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic in the roster, having Messi means the organization can keep its spot atop European club competition.

Image source: suitelife.com

Barcelona is just as thankful of Messi as the superstar of the city. Since joining the city’s football club in 2001, he was shown up for the team over 350 times and scored over 300 goals. He has won the Ballon d’Or on multiple occasions and has been assured of his spot in the team as long as he is able to play the game.


While much of Barca’s success in the 2000s is attributed to the trio of Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta, not having the Argentine in the group would not translate to as much success.


Hi! I'm John Eilermann, a huge football fanatic. Check out my Twitter page for more on the stuff I love.

What makes comparative literature different from other English degrees?

Image source: rayatarjomeh.com

Taking up an English degree will let you choose from a number of majors in most universities, such as, often, English literature, Creative Writing, and Comparative Literature.


English Literature is focused on an in-depth study of literature of the U.K. and the U.S., from old English and Medieval works to the Romantic, Victorian, and modern era. A Creative Writing degree requires complementary subjects in English literature but is more concerned with the actual writing of works of poetry, fiction, drama, and creative non-fiction. In short, creative writing students must come up with their own collection of works to graduate.


Comparative Literature is distinct from the two as, as the first word in the phrase suggests, it is a degree informed by other fields. In other words, it cannot exist in a vacuum, but must take into account the social, cultural, economic, and historical context of a given piece of literature.

Image source: coloradocollege.edu

Comparative literature graduates will gain the same set of career advantages as those of the two other degrees, from editing, technical writing, journalism, blogging, and copy writing. But they also have the likelier chance of becoming full-fledged literary critics and translators. Their better understanding of context and interdisciplinarity make them great academicians. Many comparative literature students end up staying in the academe and choosing a career in teaching.


My name is John Eilermann, a Comparative Literature student based in St. Louis. Comparative literature may be a seen as a poor choice for a degree to some, yet I truly believe that this discipline provides the foundations for sound critical thinking that applies to all fields. Know more about me by following this Facebook page.