I need help paraphrasing a poem.

[MjM]

Thread title says it all. I need to completely paraphrase this poem for English class and I have no idea where to begin. Every word must be differnt including the title. I don't like this poem or understand it.

The Man In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for life.
And the world makes you king for a day.
Just go to the mirror and look in the glass,
And see what the man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife,
Whose judgement upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one looknig back in the glass.

Some people may say your a straight-shooting chum,
And call you a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum,
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

Hes the fellow to please never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end.
And you've passed your most dangerous diffucult test,
If the man in the glass is your freind.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears,
If you've cheated the man in the glass.

-Anonymous

 

[Sophie 378]

How do you mean by paraphrase? Do you have to write another poem expressing it, or an essay on it, or do a deconstruction, or what? Ask Birdjaguar if you need a replacement poem.

 

[conehead234]

Grab a thesaurus. Does every word really have to be different, even the 'the's and the 'a's

 

[Moss]

Paraphrasing doesn't mean rewriting, it means writing about what you think the poem means.

So I guess I'm not sure what your assignment is...rewrite? or paraphrase?

If you have to rewrite a poem that paraphrases what this means...then I guess that makes sense...but first you have to figure out what the poem means to you.

BTW, this is one of my favorite poems...

 

[Sophie 378]

I think it's about how you must rely on your own judgement rather than others', in summary. If you aren't satisfied with yourself, you shouldn't try to be satisfied just because everyone else says that you are perfect. It suggests looking at your reflection in the mirror to see if you are entirely satisfied with what you see. If you're in school, you may win brownie/nerd points for comparing it to the Mirror of Esired in Harry Potter 1. If you have to write a poem comparing it, how strict are the rules? Do you have to match each line or just each verse to meaning? Does it have to have the same rhythm and style?

 

[Japanrocks12]

You are responsible for your life. What you do matters. What anybody else does is not nearly important.

 

[MjM]

@Sophie We have to write a poem that has completely differnt words but the same meaning. It doesn't have to rhyme like this one, but have a similar feel.

@conehead I did that last time she made us do this, and I got a bad grade for it.

@Moss It is rewrite, and I didn't get the poem at first, but I'm begining to see it now.

@all thanks for the help.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Ask Birdjaguar if you need a replacement poem.

You are too kind. It seems he has got the picture now.

 

[Moss]

What's the point of rewriting, word for word, a poem, just using different words?

Or am I still misinterpreting the assingment?

 

[MjM]

What's the point of rewriting, word for word, a poem, just using different words?

Or am I still misinterpreting the assingment?

Your not misintrepting. I think it's a pointless assignment. And the worst part is we have to do one every month.

 

[I am the Future]

Your not misintrepting. I think it's a pointless assignment. And the worst part is we have to do one every month.

Is this a 9th or 10th grade english teacher? It seems like a very odd assignment, now for spanish class it might be interesting "Re Escribes la poem en espanol" not perfect spanish but all i remember right now.

Maybe it is just to try and get you to increase your vocabulary skills. but it still seems preaty stupid.