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omnipoetics:to_roosevelt [2025/02/19 23:19] – [Allusions] joshuaomnipoetics:to_roosevelt [2025/04/24 00:40] (current) – joshua
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-====== To Roosevelt - 1904 (215) ======+====== To Roosevelt====== 
 + 
 + 
 +<WRAP center round info 60%> 
 +**//The Serpent and the Fire// (pp. 215)** \\ 
 +</WRAP>
  
 By: Rubén Darío (1867-1916) By: Rubén Darío (1867-1916)
-From: Nicaragua+1904 Nicaragua
 Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Gudding  Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Gudding 
  
 ===== Historical Context/Background ===== ===== Historical Context/Background =====
  
-He wrote this poem in response to the aftermath of the Spanish-American War of 1898. It came out just as Theodore Roosevelt entered the Presidential office.+Darío wrote this poem in response to the aftermath of the Spanish-American War of 1898 during the Theodore Roosevelt's term in office as the President of the United States of America. 
  
 Theodore Roosevelt is well known for his role in the war. He was a Lieutenant Colonel and led the Rough Riders during the Battle of San Juan, in which he was commended for his bravery.  Theodore Roosevelt is well known for his role in the war. He was a Lieutenant Colonel and led the Rough Riders during the Battle of San Juan, in which he was commended for his bravery. 
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   - [[https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/spanish-american-war-a-splendid-little-war.htm|Spanish American War]]   - [[https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/spanish-american-war-a-splendid-little-war.htm|Spanish American War]]
  
-===== Allusions =====+===== Literary and Historical Allusions =====
   * **Alexander-Nebuchadnezzar**   * **Alexander-Nebuchadnezzar**
  
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 [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/26426066|jstor]] [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/26426066|jstor]]
  
-* **“Hugo said to Grant: ‘The stars are yours.’” - Victor Hugo and Ulysses S. Grant**+  * **Victor Hugo and Ulysses S. Grant**  
 +<poem> 
 +“Hugo said to Grant: ‘The stars are yours.’”  
 +</poem>
  
 Victor Hugo was a French writer, born in 1802 to 1885.  Victor Hugo was a French writer, born in 1802 to 1885. 
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 [[https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3208463-les-mis-rables|Quotes]] [[https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3208463-les-mis-rables|Quotes]]
  
-* **Cult of Hercules** +  * **Cult of Hercules** 
-The main function was to worship Hercules, son of Zeus as a hero and a god. It was said that he would strike down types of wasps that his worshippers were worried about. +The main function was to worship Hercules, son of Zeus as a hero and a god. It was said that he would strike down types of wasps that his worshipers were worried about. 
 When the cult reached Rome, it inspired the Hercules games, which were similar to modern-day Olympics. When the cult reached Rome, it inspired the Hercules games, which were similar to modern-day Olympics.
 [[https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/33430/chapter-abstract/290594314?redirectedFrom=fulltext#:~:text=Although%20he%20is%20clearly%20a,he%20was%20a%20guest%2Dfriend.|Oxford]] [[https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/33430/chapter-abstract/290594314?redirectedFrom=fulltext#:~:text=Although%20he%20is%20clearly%20a,he%20was%20a%20guest%2Dfriend.|Oxford]]
    
-* **Cult of Mammon**+  * **Cult of Mammon**
 This cult mainly prioritizes money and power over God. Usually, Mammon would be used in regards to technology taking over, the corrupted power of Wall Street, and similar figures and concepts. This cult mainly prioritizes money and power over God. Usually, Mammon would be used in regards to technology taking over, the corrupted power of Wall Street, and similar figures and concepts.
 [[https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/12/17/the-cult-of-mammon-and-the-culmination-of-advent/|Catholic World Report]]  [[https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/12/17/the-cult-of-mammon-and-the-culmination-of-advent/|Catholic World Report]] 
-  - Nezahualcoyotl+ 
 +  * **Nezahualcoyot**
 A scholar and philosopher from Texcoco; pre-Columbian Mexico. A scholar and philosopher from Texcoco; pre-Columbian Mexico.
 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nezahualcoyotl_(tlatoani)|Wikipedia]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nezahualcoyotl_(tlatoani)|Wikipedia]]
-  - Bacchus+ 
 +  * **Bacchus**
 Roman god of wine, agriculture, and fertility. Oftentimes, he is combined with Liber as well. In Greek mythos, he is called Dionysus. Roman god of wine, agriculture, and fertility. Oftentimes, he is combined with Liber as well. In Greek mythos, he is called Dionysus.
 [[https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchus/#:~:text=Definition&text=Bacchus%20was%20the%20god%20of,god%2C%20driving%20one%20into%20madness.|World History]] [[https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchus/#:~:text=Definition&text=Bacchus%20was%20the%20god%20of,god%2C%20driving%20one%20into%20madness.|World History]]
-  - Atlantis + 
-It is considered to be a fictional island in Plato’s work. However, many believe that the island was, in fact, real and that it had been flooded, sinking below the ocean. Many historians and architechs have been searching for evidence of its existence. +  * **Atlantis** 
 +It is considered to be a fictional island in Plato’s work. However, many believe that the island was, in fact, real and that it had been flooded, sinking below the ocean. Many historians and architects have been searching for evidence of its existence. 
 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis|Wikipedia]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis|Wikipedia]]
-  - Moctezuma + 
 +  * **Moctezuma**
 He is considered the last ruler of the Aztec region and fought against the Spanish.  He is considered the last ruler of the Aztec region and fought against the Spanish. 
 [[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montezuma-II|Britannica]] [[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montezuma-II|Britannica]]
-  - The Inca+ 
 +  * **The Inca**
 Head of the Inca empire, a monarchical state in South America that extended from modern Ecuador to Central Chile, whose capital was the city of Cusco.  Head of the Inca empire, a monarchical state in South America that extended from modern Ecuador to Central Chile, whose capital was the city of Cusco. 
  
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 This poem is written like a letter, however, I believe that it is a response to the current events at the time. America has been expanding, just coming out of the idea of Manifest Destiny and they have been very involved in the shaping of several Spanish-American countries.  This poem is written like a letter, however, I believe that it is a response to the current events at the time. America has been expanding, just coming out of the idea of Manifest Destiny and they have been very involved in the shaping of several Spanish-American countries. 
  
-Writers like Darío are concerned that America will attempt to overthrow their cultures and traditions and become an imperalistic power. Especially, after the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris which gave so many territories to the United States. +Writers like Darío are concerned that America will attempt to overthrow their cultures and traditions and become an imperialist power. Especially, after the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris which gave so many territories to the United States. 
  
 Darío wants to make it clear that America can think it holds all the power that it needs, but it will never be able to take over Spanish-America. They won’t go down without a fight and they have the one thing America doesn’t: God, which is referenced in the very last line of the poem.  Darío wants to make it clear that America can think it holds all the power that it needs, but it will never be able to take over Spanish-America. They won’t go down without a fight and they have the one thing America doesn’t: God, which is referenced in the very last line of the poem. 
  
 Read More [[https://literariness.org/2021/02/21/analysis-of-ruben-darios-to-roosevelt/|Here]]. Read More [[https://literariness.org/2021/02/21/analysis-of-ruben-darios-to-roosevelt/|Here]].
 +
 +**Emphasis on Spanish America, Lion Symbolism, and Royal Descent/National Drift **
 +
 +<poem>
 +Be very careful. Long live this Spanish America!
 +The Spanish Lion has loosed a thousand cubs today: they are at large, Roosevelt,
 +and if you snag us, outlunged and awed,
 +in your claws of iron, you must become God himself,
 +the alarming Rifleman and the hardened Hunter.
 +
 +And though you count on everything, you lack the one thing needed:
 +God.
 +(translated by Gabriel Gudding)
 +</poem>
 +
 +
  
 ===== Poem's structure ===== ===== Poem's structure =====
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 Source: Ellis, K. (1967) "Un análisis estructural del poema 'A Roosevelt'". //Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos//, no. 212-213 (August-September 1967), pp. 523-528.  Source: Ellis, K. (1967) "Un análisis estructural del poema 'A Roosevelt'". //Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos//, no. 212-213 (August-September 1967), pp. 523-528. 
  
 +{{tag>Spanish Nicaragua Teddy_Roosevelt}}
  
  
  

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