tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post109474600831669340..comments2023-05-03T11:54:07.518-04:00Comments on Pugnacious Pinoy: The battle against abstractions: Round 1Oliver de la Pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1094766164551073702004-09-09T17:42:00.000-04:002004-09-09T17:42:00.000-04:00What I've heard consistently from students is "if ...What I've heard consistently from students is "if I use general abstract words, my reader can interpret it the way *they* want to... and isn't that the point of poetry? for it to mean what the reader wants it to mean?" Makes me want to walk into Target and tell the cashier I want to buy this bar stool for ten cents, so they should sell it to me for ten cents. O, I'm sympathetic... all you can Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1094758313935293532004-09-09T15:31:00.000-04:002004-09-09T15:31:00.000-04:00That's exactly the trouble. That they use the abs...That's exactly the trouble. That they use the abstractions because they're not equipped to actually describe something. Instead, they use abstraction as shorthand. Another contention is that they seem to think the abstract word would make what they're trying to express MORE obvious.Oliver de la Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14708989542004589056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1094756726260793622004-09-09T15:05:00.000-04:002004-09-09T15:05:00.000-04:00Interesting--I had thought young folks like abstra...Interesting--I had thought young folks like abstract nouns just based on their writing, but I didn't realize they would be so adamant of holding onto them as a tool, even once you explained their limitations. I find that fascinating. I used "greed," "joy," and "guilt" in some poems lately and it was painful painful painful. I think if they are used sparingly, they might be okay, but young Victoria Changhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404765710797944524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1094755599337502172004-09-09T14:46:00.000-04:002004-09-09T14:46:00.000-04:00indeed, this is why i am enjoying our writings on ...indeed, this is why i am enjoying our writings on the sins and the mercies. we have to give them substance, something tangible, visual. some*thing* for the reader to latch onto.<br /><br />i smell a writing assignment here...<br /><br />love, <A HREF="http://www.blogger.com/r?http%3A%2F%2Fbjanepr.blog-city.com">barb</A>bjaneprhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07212077947146090915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465386.post-1094746617959400042004-09-09T12:16:00.000-04:002004-09-09T12:16:00.000-04:00I told my students the diff between abstract nouns...I told my students the diff between abstract nouns and concrete nouns is this:<br /><br />Concrete nouns are like saying, "I live at 166 Meadow Lane: the fourth driveway on the left after you pass the old maple tree with the hole in it."<br /><br />Abstract nouns say, "I live ten minutes from where you are."Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222297450888695352noreply@blogger.com