In the poems "Hawk Roosting" written by Ted Hughes and "Golden Retrievals" written by Mark Doty, both poets compose their poems as speakers "talking" (thinking) through animals' point of views. Although both poems are written through an animal's eyes, both take on the world from very different views through their complex characterization of an egotistical hawk to a lighthearted golden retriever. Hughes and Doty portray their animals in a way that makes it seem like they feel that they're superior to humans (although in different manners) through the usages of alienated alliteration, inventive imagery, straightforward syntax, melodramatic metaphor, and perplex personification.
Alliteration is present in "Hawk Roosting" through the repetition of the callous sound of the letter "K" the first and third stanza. The hawk speaks of slaying of his prey in their sleeps when he catches a glimpse of "hooked head[s] and hooked feet" (Line 3) which to him are signs of a "perfect kill" (4); thus, showing how ruthless he is by showing no mercy for the prey to even attempt to fight back. He then moves on to state, "My feet are locked upon the rough bark" (9), with the K sounding in locked and bark portraying how powerful he thinks he is by being able to perch up against something that God created (nature, trees). Although, alienated in different lines of the poem, the alliteration of this consonant presents that the haw-K is self absorbed and full of confident due to the effect the letter K makes; therefore, showing how the hawk views the world - which the world revolves around him. However, in "Golden Retrievals" the repetition lies in the letter
Another technique used by both poets to characterize their animals is imagery. In "Hawk Ro...
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... happier humans may feel. Hughes' Hawk views the world in a way that he is the center of all creations and that he is the one that would prevail through all troubles. Doty's Dog views the world in the present, never looking toward the past or future living in the moment. Both poets convey their speakers in different scenarios and different viewpoints, but in general both hawk and dog sees the world through their eyes as if they're both of better-quality than humans. The techniques both poets presents helps shape these speakers as egocentric (hawk) and carefree (dog) showing the perspectives each holds dearly to the Earth. In my analysis, [H]ughes' [H]awk in "Hawk Roosting" and [D]oty's [D]og in "Golden Retrievals" were really written in their point of views of the world and conveying their own personalities within a poem only to be swathed under stanzas and a title.
In the narrative poem “Cautionary Tale of Girls and Birds of Prey” the author, Sandy Longhorn, tells the story of a young girl who is afraid of a hawk, and her inconsiderate father who doesn’t take her concerns seriously. The story shows how her father is determined to get rid of her fear of the hawk, because he thinks it is both foolish and childish. The daughter very well knows the capability of the hawk, however her father doesn’t acknowledge it until it is too late. In the poem, Longhorn uses alliteration and rhyme to help explore the theme of how being inconsiderate towards others can in the end hurt you as much as it hurts them. The poem takes place on a little farm where the girl and her father live with all of their livestock.
One of the literary techniques most prominently featured throughout the passage would be that of imagery. The author takes great care to interweave sentences comparing the traits
Mark Doty’s poem, “Golden Retrievals” describes the thoughts of a dog who’s merry tone contrasts with the human’s sentimental view towards life. The poem is in a form of a Shakespearean sonnet, but uses slant rhymes to further portray the speaker is a canine. Doty uses images, rhythm, rhyme, and organization to encourage the tension between the speaker and the human.
Coleridge and Poe are both known for writing incredible horror stories. There most famous stories are The Raven, Poe, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge. Both stories were the first of their kind and were written around the same time. These poems have many things in common and many other things not in common. The main focus here is the symbolism of the birds in the poem. The poems are in fact based around the birds and their meanings. There are three main points to compare between the symbolism of the birds, they are; the birds both being an omen, the birds giving a feeling of remorse or prosperity, and the birds creating a false hope.
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 the name of Langston Hughes. A well-known writer that still gets credit today for pomes like “ Theme for English B” and “Let American be American Again.”
Both these poems are great poems and emphasize on different parts of an animal’s life. The two poems are “The Blessing” and “Predators.” The four topics that will be compared and contrasted are the animals, the speaker’s feelings, the title, and the conclusions.
The poet in her writing used the language tools of symbolism, images, metaphor and nature to illustrate her poetic ideas. The writer, used the word ‘’Hunters’’ in the first line which indicates an imagery of man in existence, example
Initially, the poem appears to be about an observer forming a connection with a blackbird that he encounters many times. Then the reader realizes that the poem is by Stevens and something else must be going on- and they are correct. In order to see the entire picture, it is very important to look at the bits and pieces that create it. The meaning of each individual part, the setting, the usage of literary devices such as distinct symbolism, and versatile thematic messages are all very important in creating a clear understanding. The path has been laid out, now it is time to shred this work into pieces!
The essays used in this book have been chosen by Harold Bloom, being that they are still by different essayists than the last two sources mentioned and considering Bloom is not one of them, it is still not bias. This source shed some light on the context of the two poems that were analyzed, but minimal observations on the poem itself and its correlation to the themes. Given this, there was only bare to little use of this secondary source.
Both poems address the widespread societal issue of racism that is so prevalent in America. Hughes and Alexie seem to agree that judgment of others has been the disgrace of our nation. If the color of a man's skin did not have such a great value in our society maybe then America could be everyone's. Not just the rich white man's but the immigrants, the Africans, the Indians and the poor.
Poets use imagery to help convey a particular action, theme, or characters (Kriszner et al. 248). For instance, the theme for “Phenomenal Woman” is about a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. One can acknowledge the theme even more with the help of figurative language. The speaker mentions, “The sun of my smile” (Angelou). Instead of saying that her smile is great and bright, she uses personification to convey this instead. One is able to connect, visualize, and compare her smile to a sun on a hot Summer day. Metaphors are present in great numbers, “Then they swarm around me,/ a hive of honey bees” (Angelou). Bees are highly attracted to honey. The connection one can make is the speaker’s presence as she enters into a room attracts many. This helps one visualize what the speaker is trying to depict. Men are highly attracted and enlightened by her presence that she brings in a room or place. Angelou uses physical features throughout the
Edgar Allen Poe’s alliteration and repetition of words support the poem’s flow and musicality. Poe begins with the alliteration of the m sound in “merriment” and “melody” (3). The soft m sound, also known as a liquid consonant, helps to keep a quick and continuous pace for the poem. Similarly, the alliteration of the s sounds in sledges, silver, stars, and seem, emphasize the calming sounds of the bells (1-2, 6-7). The s sound helps express the soothing and comforting effects of the bells, essentially contributing to the merry tone of the poem. Furthermore, the alliteration of t...
... the reader understand the meaning that is behind it, like so “the poem concludes by asking rhetorically whether its listeners now understand the truths produced by both birds and poetry” (SparkNotes Editors). Besides nature being compared from birds a deeper meaning is behind this symbol and this is “art produces soothing, truthful sounds” (SparkNotes Editors) just like the soothing sounds from a bird that anyone can enjoy.
bird as the metaphor of the poem to get the message of the poem across
Many poets are inspired by the impressive persona that exists in nature to influence their style of poetry. The awesome power of nature can bring about thought and provoke certain feelings the poet has towards the natural surroundings.