Poems : A Critical Analysis Of Shel Silverstein

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

“If you are a dreamer, come in, if you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…” It’s in these words that Shel Silverstein’s poem “Invitation” opens a reader’s mind to a whole new world. One with flying children, animals that can fall in love and all sorts of outrageous things that have made Silverstein the multi-threat artist that the world has fallen in love with. His ability to compose, write, sing and illustrate are unparalleled to any poet of his time. Whether it be creating comics for soldiers, becoming a regular cartoonist for Playboy, or creating children’s poetry books for the whole world to love, it was clear Shel Silverstein was in

Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, and Rudyard Kipling all have an incredible sense for poetry. “The Road Not Taken”, “Dreams”, and “If-” all have many themes, unique writing styles, and clever uses of rhetorical devices.

Prompt: Write a unified essay in which you relate the imagery of the last stanza to the speaker’s view of himself earlier in the poem and to his view of how others see poets.

The existence of poetry as an artform predates literacy itself. Over the course of history, poetry grew from a verbal form of art, existing mainly in religious hymns, to becoming the universal “language of the heart”. The work of William Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe, some of the most notable poets of history, has resonated with generations of Americans. Although they lived in a Pre-industrial world, their work remains powerful because the themes expressed in their artwork can still be applied to modern society. On the contrary, protruding among this group of ancient poets is Robert Frost, whose modern work remains just as powerful, shaping generations through his questions of existence, and depiction of loneliness in an indifferent universe. One of Frost's most celebrated poems: The Road Not Taken, is influential not only in the literary world, but also within American culture. The poems subsequent ripple through American life is analyzed by David Orr In his essay The Most Misread Poem in America. Here, Orr argues that the misread of The Road Not Taken magnifies the underlying issues in society’s understanding of both Frost and poetry as a whole.

Two Poets, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson are probably two of the most influential people in American poetry. They are regarded as the founders modern American poetry. Walt Whitman (1819-1892), for the time was breaking new ground with his diverse, energetic verse with regards to subject matter, form and style whether talking about overlooked objects in nature such as a single blade of grass or even our own hearing. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) while living a life of seclusion, never really leaving her birthplace, was very adventurous internally. She was well read in English literature, often deeply exploring her own thoughts. While Dickinson and Whitman are referred to as the founders of modern American

Shel Silverstein was a loved and famed poet, singer/songwriter, and children’s book writer, cartoonist, and screenwriter. This essay will talk about why he is a famed poet and how he got where he is today, his childhood, and some of his life accomplishments.

In today’s modern view, poetry has become more than just paragraphs that rhyme at the end of each sentence. If the reader has an open mind and the ability to read in between the lines, they discover more than they have bargained for. Some poems might have stories of suffering or abuse, while others contain happy times and great joy. Regardless of what the poems contains, all poems display an expression. That very moment when the writer begins his mental journey with that pen and paper is where all feelings are let out. As poetry is continues to be written, the reader begins to see patterns within each poem. On the other hand, poems have nothing at all in common with one another. A good example of this is in two poems by a famous writer by

With that being said, I believe that any poet has the ability to educate or enlighten another person on otherwise overlooked parts of our society, and I believe that it’s beautiful but also frightening that poetry can almost be a more constructive factor to our youth than our news stations, schools, or churches.

Poets, and the poetry they write, are fundamental to the society in which they exist. The Modern poet is no exception. With words as weapons, the poet often challenges the very beliefs that underpin their civilisation and cause their fellow citizens to reflect on the status quo. It is the effectiveness of the literary devices the poet uses that often means the message is felt at a heart level, not just the head. An essay can give a dissertation on an important topic but it is the poet, using anything from personification to onomatopoeia, metaphor to assonance, that creates such

Robert Frost was a profound American poet who remains influential to this day. His versatility of theme, and his ability to relate to the human condition makes his work timeless. His simplistic writing style has made him accessible to generations of students. Much of his writing was motivated by the many tragedies he endured beginning with the death of his father and including the deaths of of his own children and his wife who died of cancer.

Shel Silverstein did many things in his life one which was writing poetry. He wrote many children’s books, poetry, and was also a song writer. He was described as a “free spirit and, wanted to experience everything in life.”Shell Silverstein Facts” (Friday, 1). Have you ever read any of Shel Silverstein’s work? One of my favorite poems was “Where the side walk ends,” I first read it when I was a child, and it is still one of my favorite poems. The Poem had a different meaning for me now than it did then. Back then I thought it meant children were going to the park to play and experienced scary things along the way to the park, but once they got there they played on the play ground, and they were happy. There are many ways we can interpret the poem, for each person who reads it has a different meaning. In the following paragraphs I will be telling you what this poem means to me.

Shel Silverstein in his children's’ poem, Where The Sidewalk Ends, reveals with sensory imagery the difference of perspective between children and adults. The location where the sidewalk ends represents the worldview of children. Silverstein describes the location in fantastical ways: “peppermint wind,” grass growing “soft and white,” and “sun burns crimson bright” (Silverstein 3-6). The imagery Silverstein uses creates a colorful and fantastical world that children see the world as. The positive imagery describing the worldview of children juxtaposes the imagery for the worldview of adults.

The writer uses and addresses the commonality of experiences in his late poem titled “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”. This was used to bridge the gap between the writer and the reader. The poem uses imagery to describe the movement of life through nature, bringing a togetherness of spiritual unity beneath the surface. He moves the audience into a state of vulnerability allowing a chance of persuasiveness. The poem opens with a narration of the commute on the Brooklyn Ferry using many metaphors to support the awareness of the continuity which he personifies as the movement back and forth in time.

Robert Frost is perhaps one of America's best poets of his generation. His vivid images of nature capture the minds of readers. His poems appear to be simple, but if you look into them there is a lot of insight. Robert Frost spoke at John F. Kennedy's inauguration. He is the only poet to have had the opportunity to speak at a presidential inauguration. Through his poetry people learn that Robert Frost is a complicated and intellectual man who has a place in many American hearts. (Richards P.10)