Infant Mortality in We are Seven by William Wordsworth and On My First Sonne by Ben Johnson The two poems are 'We are Seven' by William Wordsworth and 'On My First Sonne' by Ben Jonson. Prior to 1900 infant mortality featured in most peoples lives but although it was expected it still created personal catastrophe which could be devastating. Although both 'We are Seven' and 'On My First Sonne' are both taking about the subject of infant mortality, they portray it in a very different way. Wordsworth's poem is about a young girl who does not recognize death as a separation or loss which the narrator feels he is trying to explain to her but in fact the girl teaches him a lot more than he teaches her. Jonson's poem is about the father-son relationship, an exploration of a father's feelings on the loss of his son. In Jonson's poem we get an insight into how Jonson is feeling over the loss of his son. Jonson's poem has a complex structure and we can see from this that perhaps he wanted to focus his mind on a poem to try and ease the pain of his loss. The poem can also suggest to us that at this point Jonson's feelings are also very complex as he uses different arguments in his poem to try and convince himself that his son is now at and advantage. "My Sinne was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy" In the opening lines we see how Jonson feels that he has loved his son too much and that his future was too dependent on his son. "Seven yeeres th'wert lent to me, and I thee pay," We see how Jonson feels at this point saying that he was only lent to him and now he is paying for it because of the pain he is experiencing. Jonson has ... ... middle of paper ... ..., as we see that the children's lives are celebrated not just mourned over. It is not only the content that makes Wordsworth's poem have a happy mood but it is the way he has made the poem very simple without complicated language. The two poems are both exploring the subject of infant mortality but for different purposes. Wordsworth's poem is to try and inform people, not only about infant mortality but of everyday judgements that are made. Jonson's poem is one that was probably written for himself, as a way of coping with grieve he was faced with. Although the poets have very different opinions we can see in both how infant mortality was a major fact in live before 1900. We can also see how it affected the people who were involved. This was in very different ways, as people react to different situations differently.
My initial response to the poem was a deep sense of empathy. This indicated to me the way the man’s body was treated after he had passed. I felt sorry for him as the poet created the strong feeling that he had a lonely life. It told us how his body became a part of the land and how he added something to the land around him after he died.
“Pass On” written by Michael Lee is a free verse poem informing readers on grief, which is one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome not only when losing a loved one, but also in life itself. “Pass On” successfully developed this topic through the setting of an unknown character who explains his or her experience of grief. Despite Lee never introducing this character, readers are given enough information to know how they are overcoming this difficult obstacle. In fact, this unknown character is most likely the writer himself, indirectly explaining his moments of grief. One important piece of information Lee provides is the fact that he has experienced loss twice, one with his grandfather and the other a friend who was murdered by the
that he is a brave man. As soon as his wife is accused, John quickly
John is a loving husband. He proves that by telling Elizabeth, “It is well seasoned” (p. 48) in reference to the rabbit she cooked, in which he had to add salt to. He likes to make her happy, which shows he loves her, and so he asks, “Would that please you?” (p.48) He is asking in reference to buying a heifer for her if the crops are good. He assures her he will “fall like an ocean on that court” by which he shows his love in caring for her freedom (p.73). To the court he admits he has “known her” he is talking about Abigail and their affair (p.102). He is showing his love towards his wife by throwing away his freedom, life, honor, dignity, and pride to prove Elizabeth’s innocence and have her freedom. He tells Elizabeth to “show honor now” as he is to be hanged in the gallows (p. 133). He is showing his love for her by letting her know he cares about her enough to want her to be strong even though he is to die.
as told from the point of view of a friend serving as pall bearer. The poem
All these “wrongs” to John, were making him upset. John tried to give the hospital workers freedom. He threw away their soma, and made them more upset. The workers rioted against John, and he realized he could not change society. John argued with the Mustapha Mond about the way society was, but it seemed Mond had a response to everything. John decided to indulge himself in the Brave New World’s lifestyle. John tried sex, and soma, and enjoyed it. John knew he had sinned to his own religion, and he felt so wrong, that he murdered himself.
...lp deal with grief and loss. He also reminded readers that we must not think just about ourselves, but others as well.
He began to boast and embellish the story of what actually happened in that moment. He became seemingly selfish, and self absorbed doing only what would advance him in the society. After the small infraction of lying about this event, he brought John and his mother from their home, only to use them for personal gain and blackmail. These moments reveal that he is not so much about defining himself as an individual but more about conforming. That he did, becoming calculating and cold for self-gain.
...hung from the church’s walls john has ended the pain for his family and John was hung. All the event that occurred showed that John’s action effect the people around him in a positive and negative way, having cheating on his wife had an major effect on his wife and there relationship he completely took away all the trust she had for him, also form being a very selfish man and only caring for himself to a man who gave him life for his wife so that she can live a easier life.
The idea of graves serving memory is introduced in Part I of the collection within the poem
Taylor, Edward. “Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 303-304. Print.
... be casting stones, or holding a conversation. The speaker of the poem does not move on from this emotional torment, yet I do feel as if in his quest for closure he does resolve some of the tumultuous feelings he does have in regard to losing his love.
He wants vengeance against death because he can no longer communicate with his dead friend. This anger anchors the speaker by allowing him to focus on something other than his grief over the loss of his friend. During the next stage of grief, bargaining, an individual wants life to return to the way it was before the loss of a loved one. Depression can be seen in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “In Memoriam A. H. H.” For example, in Canto 46 the speaker writes, “A lifelong tract of time revealed; / The fruitful hours of still increase; /
the theme of death. The speaker of the poems talks about the loss of a
Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden is a short poem that illustrates the emotions that he is dealing with after the love of his life passes away. The tone of this piece evokes feelings that will differ depending on the reader; therefore, the meaning of this poem is not in any way one-dimensional, resulting in inevitable ambiguity . In order to evoke emotion from his audience, Auden uses a series of different poetic devices to express the sadness and despair of losing a loved one. This poem isn’t necessarily about finding meaning or coming to some overwhelming realization, but rather about feeling emotions and understanding the pain that the speaker is experiencing. Through the use of poetic devices such as an elegy, hyperboles, imagery, metaphors, and alliterations as well as end-rhyme, Auden has created a powerful poem that accurately depicts the emotions a person will often feel when the love of their live has passed away.