Persimmons by Young-Lee versus Study Of Two Pears by Stevens

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Compare, contrast and contextualize Wallace Stevens, "Study of Two Pears" and Li Young-Lee, "Persimmons".

Compare, contrast and contextualize Wallace Stevens, "Study of Two Pears" and Li Young-Lee, "Persimmons".

(1) Wallace Stevens was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on October 2, 1879, and became one the most accomplished poets of his era. His modernist ideology coincides with colleagues such as T.S. Elliot and Ezra Pound. In his life Stevens wrote many poems, collected in over ten major publications, and won the Pulitzer price in 1955 for his works. In his poem ‘Study of Two Pears' Stevens describes two pears not only how they are, but at the same time as they are seen. Li-Young Lee was born in 1957 in Djakarta, Indonesia, son of parents with opposing backgrounds. After fleeing Indonesia through Hong Kong to the United States, Lee attended several Universities. His work is influenced by his childhood, his family history and individualism. His poem ‘Persimmons' is about himself growing up in the United States, trying to adapt to this new country and it culture. But also the relationship with his father plays a role.

(2) Both poems are about fruit. However, the fruit is metaphorical for different views people can have on the same object or subject. In both poems, the pieces of fruit are described with great detail. The shape, color and taste are all mentioned. In terms of format there are too similarities that can be found. Stevens and Lee both use stanzas that do not rhyme. Furthermore, both poems contain simple sentences, not long phrases. Both poems seem - one more than the other - to talk about a painting. "Citrons, oranges and greens", and "are blobs on the green cloth", in ‘Study of Two Pears', suggesting a still life. In ‘Persimmons' "three paintings by my father", talking about his fathers paintings.

(3) Various differences between the two poems can also be described. Stevens wrote his poem in 1942. At that time the world is at war against Nazism, and many believe that the free world did far too little to stop Hitler's sick philosophies from spreading. Although Stevens had little interest in politics, it could explain his attempt to teach his readers not to rely on one's own filling in of certain facts, such as upcoming Nazism, or just pears. ‘Persimmons' was written in 1986, when the Cold War was still present.

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