In the history of literature, different aspects are prevalent during the different time periods. The Victorian poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in the nineteenth century in England, which was a time when the literature reacted against science. During this era, most people in England believed in God being the creator. Conversely, Robert Frost is a modern poet that wrote in America during the twentieth-century. “He has been described as the purest classical poet of America” (Browning and Cousin 243). Many authors throughout this time period rebelled against religion in their writing. The poems “Pied Beauty” by Hopkins and “Design” by Frost are both characteristic of the time periods in which the authors wrote them. These two poems have distinguishable similarities and differences, and the main aspects of these poems that have similarities and differences is their imagery and theme. The two poems “Pied Beauty” and “Design” have many similarities in their imagery. Both of these poems contain natural imagery in great detail, and the imagery focuses on the unusual things about nature. A vivid example from “Beauty” is “I found a dimpled spider, fat and white” (Frost 1). ¹ This quote describes the appearance of the spider that is one of the characters that Frost includes in this poem. An example from “Pied Beauty” is “For skies of couple-color as a brindled cow” (Hopkins 2). ² Hopkins is painting a picture of what he believes is beautiful in nature, which includes a
i. Just because something has always been done, does not make it right or just; following the crowd can be dangerously wrong and evil.
Poetry as a literally work in which the expression of ideas and feelings is given strength has had great authors overtime who took different perspectives in this genre of literature. These poets used distinctive rhythm and style to express their styles, poetic themes, outlook on life, and had their share of influence on the American society. This paper uses the basis of these styles, themes, outlook on life and subsequent influence on the American society to compare three prolific poets who ventured into this literature genre: Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, and Maya Angelou. Robert Frost (1874-1963) holds a unique and almost sole position in the career span which mostly encompasses
Robert Frost's Design Robert Frost outlines an ironic and disturbing situation involving a flower, a spider, and a moth in his poem "Design". The poem's text suggests the possibility of an absence of a god, but does no more than simply beg the question, for Frost's speaker does not offer the answer. By examining the events of the poem in the first stanza and the speaker's annotative second stanza, we
“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where one ends and the other begins”(Poe, par. 3). Edgar Allan Poe, as well as many other writers throughout history, have questioned the ideological standards of society. A noteworthy debate that has surfaced time and time again through varying time periods is the dispute of logical and rational intelligence versus the impassioned emotion of one’s inner-self. These two conflicting philosophies divided and defined the different characteristics of literature during the Enlightenment era and the Romantic era. In order to understand why various authors such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and John Locke wrote in their differing styles, it is important to understand the historical context that inspired these authors. Although these approaches in style were exceedingly different, remarkable works of literature emerged from both time periods. While the various writers of the Enlightenment era had a more historical motivation for writing, the writers during the Romantic era composed an overall more amusing anthology of literary works.
Some people think that if they could only change one aspect of their lives, it would be perfect. They do not realize that anything that is changed could come with unintended consequences. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs and “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken both illustrate this theme. They demonstrate this by granting the main character three wishes, but with each wish that is granted, brings undesirable consequences. The main idea of this essay is to compare and contrast “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Third Wish.” Although the “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Third Wish” are both fantasies and have similar themes, they have different main characters, wishes, and resolutions.
“A Noiseless Patient Spider”, by Walt Whitman, and “The Snow Man”, by Wallace Stevens are two poems that contrast well with each other, while still sharing some similarities. The two poems take place in nature, and are about the observations of the surrounding area, with Whitman’s poem being more focused on a creature, a spider to be specific. Steven’s poem focused more on the area itself. They are both rather philosophical in nature, with Whitman’s talking about soul and Steven’s seems to be about a lack of soul. The two poems contrast in the tone with Whitman’s being more optimistic and lighter, and Steven’s being darker in contrast. The comparison will be of the two poem’s tone, and motivation.
Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and John Henry Newman were all great poets of the Victorian Era. Though all three of these poets were successful and well known, they did have their differences. This paper is going to show the different views each of these poets had on religion. All three of them had different views; some were against the strict religion of the Victorian Era and more open to a relaxed version that would focus more on the body and the spirit and what it wants. Others didn’t have too much of an opinion on them and were open
Both Robert Frost and Robert Service are literary perfectionists. With all the different work each poet has done, both of the artists can be compared to one another. However, due to their different styles and themes and how both artists decide to communicate them, they are both very much different in the world of poetry. Therefore, this essay highlights the similarities
We live in a country where television and advertisement is designed to entice people into always wanting more than what they already have. This enticement is achieved by feeding into the human desire for happiness. Advertisers create persuasive campaigns that inundate the public with images of societies narrow interpretation of success and beauty. These images are then presented as a precondition to the happiness that human beings are searching for. When a person’s reality does not match this narrow image, the message sent through television and advertisements is that in order to be content people need to find a way to acquire it. As a result we live in a society where people are continuously longing for a happiness that
The world has several great poets and numerous mind-blowing works, each with its own way of portraying its own message using symbolism to represent lessons of everyday life. Jane Flanders wrote the poem named “Cloud Painter” she shows the world from an artistic way, using a painter and his canvas to help the reader picture the true meaning behind the words and images created. Robert Frost takes on the same idea, but uses a less complex example so that it makes his work easy to understand while not revealing the actual meaning of the poem. Frost and Flanders are just two of the many poets that use nature as a way of explaining the very lessons in life. Each poet has a different way of presenting similar images but from a different perspective. Poems are short stories that have a meaning behind them without revealing them in obvious ways. Although some are confusing and may use a different style there are a few that present the same message even if they are written by a different poet. “Cloud Painter” written by Jane Flanders uses the clouds and other subjects of nature. Such as trees and the hills. to help the reader picture the true meaning behind her poem. Robert Frost's poem by the name of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” also takes the nature route to convey the point of his poems words and their Each has a unique way of creating an idea that most can relate to emotionally and physically.
The beauty of nature is often overlooked and underappreciated in today’s society. The neglect and lack of respect given to such a beautiful creation by members of society is widely reflected in Romantic poetry. The romantic era began in 1798, where writers such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge expressed their opinions and feelings towards nature. Overall such writers typically express a positive outlook on the natural world around them, however some stray the other way. Specifically Coleridge and Wordsworth began to express the feeling of disconnect towards nature. Both writers began to feel as though they could not understand nature and cannot connect with the beauty it gives off as expressed in poems such as “Dejection”, “London 1802”, and “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”. Not only did some of these writers begin to feel a disconnect but a select few also begin to feel as though people are disrespecting the balance of nature and are trying to disrupt the balance and manipulate it. Writers such as Mary Shelley, author of the novel Frankenstein, expresses the concern of people taking the laws of nature and twisting them. Writers and people living during this time period not only express an appreciation for nature but also the truth about the human relationship with nature. The relationship between humans and nature is on of mistreatment.
The speaker furthermore conveys the idea that nature is a grandeur that should be recognized by including the element of imagery. The poet utilizes imagery as a technique to appeal to reader’s sense of sight . It is “the darkest evening of the year” (line 8) and a traveller and his horse stop “between the woods and frozen lake” (line 7). By writing with details such as these, readers are capable of effortlessly envisioning the peaceful scenery that lies before the speaker. The persona then draws on reader’s sense of sound. “The only other sound’s the sweep / Of easy wind and downy flake.” The illustration allows readers to not only see,
Robert Frost’s nature poetry occupies a significant place in the poetic arts; however, it is likely Frost’s use of nature is the most misunderstood aspect of his poetry. While nature is always present in Frost’s writing, it is primarily used in a “pastoral sense” (Lynen 1). This makes sense as Frost did consider himself to be a shepherd.
Throughout recorded history, humans have accredited the happenings of nature to a higher power; shown through religious beliefs past and present. The Greeks believed in a myriad of gods and goddesses, who supposedly governed all aspects of life and nature. They believed in a god or goddess to represent each part of nature from the sun to the sea; there was even a goddess of rainbows. The Grecians used their religion to explain the elements of their world for which they had no other explanation. Christians explain the natural world in a similar fashion. Instead of a god or goddess for each individual piece of nature, they preach that nature was created and is controlled by their God. The belief of divine control is a popular topic in literature; specifically poetry. “Pied Beauty” written by Gerard Manley Hopkins in 1877, and “Design” written by Robert Frost in 1922 are just two examples of many that follow this trend. Gerard Manley Hopkins was a 19th century, English, Victorian poet. He was brought up in a religious and artistic family, leading to his becoming a poet and Jesuit priest (Reid). Alternatively, Robert Frost was a 20th century, modern, American poet. Frost lived and taught in New England; through his poetry he described much of its scenery and landscape (Gerber). Despite the differences in their lives and writing styles, Frost and Hopkins developed poems of similar image and theme. Though Hopkins’s “Pied Beauty” and Frost’s “Design” are of similar theme, their
Bridging the distance between nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poetry is of great significance. As often the case with innovators and artists who are ahead of their times, Gerard Manley Hopkins was torn by contradictions and his poems regarded as unconventional for the historical period. His works are specifically marked by the varied use of linguistic features and rhythmic patterns which did not match the traditional writing styles of the