Analysis of “Poetry and Religion” by Les Murray. Poetry is an imaginative awareness expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. It is also an ancient form that has gone through numerous and drastic reinvention over time. The nature of poetry as an authentic and individual mode of expression makes it nearly impossible to define. While religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spiritual and, sometimes, to moral values.
Not only does “The Paradox”, use personification for characteristics, but also for actions. This is demonstrated in the last quatrant, “I’ll guide thy footsteps and lead thee” and many more areas in the poem. Another common literary element in poetry is the use of metaphors, a figure of speech where a subject is described in resemblance to an unrelated object or thing, without the use of comparative words. Metaphors tend to give poems a deeper meaning or a hidden message, and it also allows the readers a chance to explore beneath the surface,
In the early seventeenth-century, English poets used metaphysical poetry to enlighten highly intellectual and often abstruse imagery in their works, which further advanced the poetic style of John Donne. Donne’s poetry makes use of complex images, which are remarkably convincing to the reader. Despite the use of extensive techniques and varying images, the greatness of Donne’s poetry is the simplicity in the ideas expressed. John Donne’s poem, “The Triple Fool,” suggests unrequited love and folly through his use of creative imagery, sorrowful diction, and assertive tone. Firstly, Donne's poetry is highly distinctive and individual, adopting a multitude of images.
In addition, both Dante and Chaucer wrote their works in the vernacular or the commonly spoken language of the times. Although their works are similar in theme, they significantly differ in style. Dante and Chaucer used two completely different writing styles in composing their works. Dante was the first to use what is called Terza-Rima, an interlocking three line rhyming verse stanza while Chaucer used what is known as a Heroic Couplet. This style was constructed by using sequential pairs of rhyming iambic pentameter lines.
To start, rhyme scheme plays a very large role in setting the mood for this passionate poem. The rhyme scheme the poem takes is A, B, A, B, D, B (Eliopulos Pg 74). The poem flows nicely ending with the words ago, sea, know, Lee, thought, and me. You can feel the emphasis in the words sea, Lee, and me which contrast smoothly with the warmer words like ago, know, and to an extent thought. Realize what words Poe wants to emphasize; “Sea” for example is repeated throughout the poem hinting the importance of the sea.
It is a general reference to humanity as a whole. Even looking at the very beginning of this poem, this can be easily inferred from the line "For every atom belonging to me as well belongs to you" (Whitman). Whitman switches back and forth from his own personal feelings and tangible experiences to generalized, philosophical statements about this "self" and humanity. As Yong-lan notes, this microcosm-macrocosm outlook is necessary to establish the feeling of relation with others, and more importantly, the ability for the reader to relate to what Whitman is saying (Yong-lan). In Whitman's lines "Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events; these come me to days and nights and go from me again, But they are not the me “myself", he pulls common feelings and events together for the reader to relate to (Whitman).
The poetic techniques employed by Harwood effectively communicate distinctive aspects of her themes while allowing them to remain universal. Harwood captures ubiquitous tensions through her use of contrasting imagery and makes them familiar with vivid detail and a dramatic use of dialogue. It is Harwood’s unique ability to combine the philosophical and the emotive which allows for the continuity of her poetry. In “Triste, Triste”, Harwood explores the tensions between the creative spirit and the limitations of the earthly. The concept of the artists’ imagination as a separate entity, able to transcend the physical is a rather Romantic one.
The poem points to the paradox of naming: while naming is creative and powerful, it is also limiting. Once named, an object snaps into focus. But the name interferes as well: it comes between us and the object. We can think of the object now only through the name that has been attached to it. The opening line of the poem, “By naming them he made them,” connects “naming” with making (Page line 1).
How does Browning use Narrative Blocks to help tell the story of ‘The Patriot’? Browning uses several methods to create an engaging narrative in ‘The Patriot’. The most notable of these is the structure of the poem. The structure links in well with the time and sequence of the poem. The structure of the poem demonstrates the positive setting in the beginning, which then decreases to a negative setting towards the end.
An explication should not be confused with a paraphrase, which puts the poem’s literal meaning into plain prose. An analysis separates a poem into elements as a means to understanding that subject. Some possible choices are tone, literal meaning, imagery, figures of speech, sound, rhythm, theme, and symbolism. Comparison and contrast places two poems side by side and studies their differences and similarities in order to shed light on both works. When writing an effective comparison and contrast paper involves the following steps; pair two poems with much in common, point to further unsuspected resemblances, show noteworthy differences, and carefully consider your essay’s organization.