The Thickness Of Ice Analysis

989 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of a love poem

A Comparison of Love Poetry
Works Cited Not Included

Love is one of the most popular poetic themes. It is an intensely personal theme and can be approached in a great variety of ways. It is a theme affected by times. Many people believe that the true definition of love is found in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 quotes, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Although many people believe this is the true definition of love it is not …show more content…

The three poems are, The Thickness Of Ice by Liz Loxley, How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and First Love by John Clare.

The Thickness of Ice by Liz Loxley is a modern day poem on love between two people written between 1980 and 1990. It uses an extended metaphor to portray the feelings of the two people it is describing. The metaphor is ice-skating and how they are testing the thickness of the ice and wondering when it is going to break, "we'll skate nearer the centre of the lake." The poem describes how there is "ice" between the two people, eventually it breaks and then ice is formed again. The 'ice' is referring to the feelings and the atmosphere between the two people involved. There is awkwardness and tense feelings between them at the start as the 'ice' has not been broken. Eventually the 'ice' is broken and they are comfortable being in each other's company. Throughout the poem the two people experience different feelings. At the start there is lack of trust and they stay to the edges of the lake. Trust grows each time they meet, so that they are "less …show more content…

The second aspect of love is unrequited love. This is where he loves her but she does not love him. He has a deep passion and infatuation with this woman and she doesn't even know of his existence.

This poem is a good description of falling in love. It describes in detail the physical and emotional effects of love on a person. John Clare's experience of falling in love is strange as the woman he had a passion for didn't even pay him the slightest bit of attention. This is how it is different from the other two poems as the other person wasn't feeling the same feelings. John Clare has been able to portray his feelings well by the words and language he has used in this poem.

Looking at these three poems show how poets' attitudes to the theme of love can vary. My reactions to each poem varied. The Thickness Of Ice reflects disillusionment, How do I Love Thee shows how love can be elevated above everyday feelings and First Love showed how someone is able to fall deeply and passionately in love at first sight. Out of the three poems I can't decide on a favourite as they all deal

Show More
Related

  • Poetry Comparison Essay

    602 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Edgar Allan Poe once stated, “I would define, in brief the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of beauty.” The two poems, “Birthday,” and “The Secret Life of Books” use different diction, theme, and perspective to give them a unique identity. Each author uses different literary devices to portray a different meaning.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast John Donne And Anne Bradstreet

    140 Words  | 1 Pages

    Moreover, there are different types of love, and in this case, both authors describe the love of their characters as something unconditional and genuine. Sometimes it does not have any explanation of what people feel when they are in love. Indeed, both poems portray the same idea of an endless love. Also, both poets describe how their characters are fighting distance and proving that their love is pure and sincere. As a result, both attempt to prove that love is the most powerful thing in the entire world, and their goal is to show that

    Read More

  • Attitudes Towards Love in Pre-1900 and 1990's Poetry

    3047 Words  | 7 Pages

    Attitudes Towards Love in Pre-1900 and 1990's Poetry “The Despairing Lover” written by William Walsh was written pre 1900 whilst the second poem “I Wouldn’t Thank you for a Valentine” by Liz Lockhead was written in the 1990’s. These poems are almost a century apart. Attitude towards love changes over time and these poems represent this. I Wouldn’t Thank you for a Valentine is about how people think about Valentine’s Day in the 1990’s, while The Despairing Lover is showing what people think and how important they see love in the 1990’s.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Themes of Love in Lord Byron's “She Walks in Beauty” and Keats' Poem, “La Belle Dame sans Merci”

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many different themes that can be used to make a poem both successful and memorable. Such is that of the universal theme of love. This theme can be developed throughout a poem through an authors use of form and content. “She Walks in Beauty,” by George Gordon, Lord Byron, is a poem that contains an intriguing form with captivating content. Lord Byron, a nineteenth-century poet, writes this poem through the use of similes and metaphors to describe a beautiful woman. His patterns and rhyme scheme enthrall the reader into the poem. Another poem with the theme of love is John Keats' “La Belle Dame sans Merci,” meaning “the beautiful lady without mercy.” Keats, another nineteenth-century writer, uses progression and compelling language throughout this poem to engage the reader. While both of these poems revolve around the theme of love, they are incongruous to each other in many ways.

    Read More

  • Use of Poetic Devices in Two Love Poems

    970 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both, the poem “Reluctance” by Robert Frost and “Time Does Not Bring Relief” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, revolved around the theme of lost love. Each poet used a similar array of poetic devices to express this theme. Visual imagery was one of the illustrative poetic devices used in the compositions. Another poetic device incorporated by both poets in order to convey the mood of the poems was personification. And by the same token, metaphors were also used to help express the gist of both poems. Ergo, similar poetic devices were used in both poems to communicate the theme of grieving the loss of a loved one.

    Read More

  • Essay On Spirituality And Spirituality

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    Much of my life, love has been defined by an unexplainable and uncontrollable feeling that burns inside your soul. One that when you look at a person you will just know and the rest will be history. This definition of love I grew up love was also demanding, controlling, dependent, and selfish. But still it was something to be desired and something everyone couldn’t wait to feel. To love

    Read More

  • Comparing Love In The Lottery And To His Coy Mistress

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is love? The age-old question arises once more. In truth, a universal definition has not been agreed upon, but generally one can define love as “an indication of adoration” or an “an ineffable feeling of intense attraction shared in interpersonal and sexual relationships.” Love can be directed towards kin, a lover, oneself, nature, or humanity- but regardless that love in an emotional sense is eternal. Some fall into love, and some claim they fall out. Love should be endless, lasting, and pure, but half of the time that love ends up being a sham. There is solid record of this false love- love that is meant to look pure- in the famous writings The Lottery and To His Coy Mistress.

    Read More

  • Love in Toni Morrison's "Beloved"

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    Love is said to be one of the most desired things in life. People long for it, search for it, and crave it. It can come in the form of partners, friends, or just simply family. To some, love is something of a necessity in life, where some would rather turn a cold shoulder to it. Love can be the mixture of passion, need, lust, loyalty, and blood. Love can be extraordinary and breathtaking. Love being held so high can also be dangerous. Love can drive people to numerous mad things with it dangerously so full of craze and passion.

    Read More

  • Love As a Theme In a Poem

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the other side, “Love Poem” is very different from the previous poem. This seven stanza poem is based on a man describing the imperfections of his lover. In this, the speaker uses stylistic devices, such as alliteration and personification to impact more on reader, for example as the speaker shows “your lipstick ginning on our coat,”(17) ...

    Read More

  • Believe in Love at First Sight

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    Love is having compassion for others, sharing feelings and your life with another person, as well as, having faith in others and forgiving those we love for the any errs that they may make. Most of all, we must be committed to those we love. Of course, this is only my opinion. No matter how long I try to explain what love is ultimately it is up to you, the reader, to define what love is to you. So let me leave you now with the words of the great Humanist Erich Fromm, "Can anything be learned about the art of love, except by practicing it?"

    Read More

  • The Theme of Love in the Poems First Love, To His Coy Mistress, Porphyria's Lover, My Last Duchess and Shall I Compare Thee?

    1962 Words  | 4 Pages

    The types of love in a poem can be reflected in many ways. One of

    Read More

  • A Thin Line between Love and Hate

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    Love is not usually well defined. People often think that they are in love, but they can�t explain it. There is a great dealing of confusion of the words love, and infatuation. Love may include romance, infatuation, affection and tenderness. But it could be love if one or more of the elements are not present. The definition of love varies from person to person. Love is essential element for all relationships. Much of what is written about love is either brief or mocking. Society in general is very cruel and heartless toward real love of any kind. Modern writing mocks marriages, husbands and wives, but condones adultery, and other obscene values. Real love is a mystery to most people. Most people never realize the true potential or value of love, nor do they learn to practice the art of love.

    Read More

  • The Definition of Love

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Definition of Love Love by definition is an emotion explored in philosophy, religion, and literature, often as either romantic love, the fraternal love of others, or the love of God based on the definition found in The Encarta Encyclopedia. As I explored the definitions through the Internet, books, and articles, I noticed the definitions changed quite a bit, but yet had the same basic understanding. The definition I found in The Encarta Encyclopedia is probably the most simple and most basic. It refers to love in the whole aspect, which is Godly, fraternal, and romantic. All of which can only be defined by one word and that is love.

    Read More

  • The Concept of Love

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    To better understand the concept of "love", lets define the value of love. Love is the most valuable commodity in the world. We all need love just like a fish needs water. Without love, life would not be worth living. With love in our lives, we are empowered beyond belief.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay About Love

    1998 Words  | 4 Pages

    Love, that single feeling which generates the funny sensations in people's stomach, giving them the warm pleasures in their body, causing them to feel joy, and to believe every aspect in their life is right. It causes them to receive an exhilarating, appealing feeling that makes them want to rejoice. Love can be a speeding of their heart, but it can also be nerve-racking. It makes their hearts begin to rapidly pump, making a rapid beat— “ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom”. Attempting to describe love is a rigorous task, but it is possible. However, the easiest detail to describe and understand about love is not so much the feeling of it, but the concept of what it is about. Many people may obtain different views and definitions regarding love, but

    Read More

More about The Thickness Of Ice Analysis

Open Document