Root Cellar Poem Analysis

Two poems, “Preludes” and “Root Cellar”

“Preludes” by T.S. Elliot is a series of images to portray the dark and dreary state of a machinated city life. There are vivid imagery and foolproof messages. Elliot does not approve of the 'cogs-in-the-machine' way of life. There is a sudden change of atmosphere in the first stanza when he writes and then, the lighting of the lamps...' People are portrayed as just going through the motions, not really enjoying or looking forward to life. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. It is a melancholic poem, one that evokes sadness.

“Root Cellar” by Theodore Roethke suggests that even though life often appears difficult and unbearable, it is never worth it to give up. He tells of the dark cellar in

which nothing appears to be living, but in the end says how they never gave up trying to do so. All humans go through tribulations and great difficulties of some kind. Through Roethke’s vivid imagery, he shows that it’s never worth it to give up, despite the unfavorable conditions. Even the non living dirt finds a way to breathe.
The two poems “Preludes” and “Root Cellar” are comparable, because both poems suggest sadness. The poems appear to be the opposite, but analyzing the two, both have the dim and lifeless types of lifestyle. The author of “Preludes” suggest there is no light at the end of the tunnel and then the author of the “Root Cellar” the tone of this poem is clearly negative and dark.  You can see the author use of words such as "obscenely," "mildewed" and "dank."  All of these words have a very undesirable connotation.