Diction and Symbolism in Keats and Frost's Star Poems

270 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolism and interpretation

The Stars of Keats and Frost Although both "Bright Star" by John Keats and "Choose Something Like a Star" by Robert Frost both address a star with a spirit of awe, the first uses formal diction to express a wish while the second uses informal diction and contains a lesson. "Bright Star" contains lofty, formal kinds of words such as "thou art" and "splendor hung aloft" to show reverence toward the star. Keat's specific word choices also contribute to the theme of the poem that man wishes happiness would last forever. Comparing the star to an eye with "eternal lids apart" brings to mind God, who is connected with eternity and happiness and the sky or heavens. The star is also compared with a hermit wich brings to mind silence, holiness, and solemnity. The word "ripening" connotes life, and the speaker wishes to enjoy the best of life "forever." Robert Frost's poem also address a star in the first fifteen lines, but the diction is informal. In plain, ordinary kinds of words, the speaker asks the star to "Say something to us that we can learn/By heart." The speaker of this poem wants the star to tell the secret of its steadfastness, instead of just wishing to be like the star. Then in the last ten lines, this poem adds a lesson. Although the star seems to give "little aid," it teaches the speaker "something in the end." The speaker feels that just thinking of the noble star will help him to be steadfast and not to be swayed easily with the "mob."

Show More
Related

  • Comparing the Stars of Bright Star and Choose Something Like a Star

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the final line, the similarity between "stay" and "staid" emphasizes that we must emulate the star in being constant and moderate while society may revolve around us in social or political turmoil. This "staidness" is our key to survival like the stars. Therefore, one can see that these poems, although similar in their title and central image of the star, differ in their themes, form and treatment of the author's ideas.

    Read More

  • Poem Analysis: Starlight By Ted Kooser

    257 Words  | 1 Pages

    Starlight by Ted Kooser All night, this soft rain from the distant past. No wonder I sometimes waken up as a child. Starlight (“Starlight”) Starlight by Ted Kooser speaks to me. It encourages me to think about how something so common or small can cause pain, or happiness.

    Read More

  • The Life and Works of Ezra Jack Keats

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    After a four week survey of a multitude of children’s book authors and illustrators, and learning to analyze their works and the methods used to make them effective literary pieces for children, it is certainly appropriate to apply these new skills to evaluate a single author’s works. Specifically, this paper focuses on the life and works of Ezra Jack Keats, a writer and illustrator of books for children who single handedly expanded the point of view of the genre to include the experiences of multicultural children with his Caldecott Award winning book “Snowy Day.” The creation of Peter as a character is ground breaking in and of itself, but after reading the text the reader is driven to wonder why “Peter” was created. Was he a vehicle for political commentary as some might suggest or was he simply another “childhood” that had; until that time, been ignored? If so, what inspired him to move in this direction?

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Choose Something Like A Star And Bright Star

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    The poet John Keats, who writes “Bright Star” and the poet Robert Frost, who wrote “Choose Something Like a Star” both share a common writing style which is shown through the similarity in the theme, structure and other poetic devices in their poems.

    Read More

  • Bright Star essay

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... imagery, as both meanings could describe Keats longing, as he could wish to remain for as long as possible in the embrace of his lover, but also how he could wish to continue to hear her ‘tender-taken breath’, in which the alliteration portrays his lover as beautiful and inviting, further showing how Keats now prefers the life of reality. He forgets about the impossible, and being immortal and being alone, but rather embraces the temporary and exhilarating.

    Read More

  • Bill Clinton And His Many Problems

    573 Words  | 2 Pages

    him down and he gave up and said that she should forget all about this. That is

    Read More

  • Macbeth: Letter From Lady Macbeth To Macbeth

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    prospect of you being king was so great that I lost touch with reason. When the

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Bright Star By John Keats

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Keats’ poem, “Bright Star”, and Robert Frost’s poem, “Choose Something Like a Star” are compared and contrasted; both poems have similar themes, but very different styles, which can be seen through the poets’ calm and serious tone and the type of persuasion that each poet uses. Both poems are related, but not the same and although they have similarities they have entirely different meanings from each other.

    Read More

  • Desert Places by Robert Frost And Loneliness

    1313 Words  | 3 Pages

    Frost demonstrates that what he feels inside is far most vast than even the stars. Edward Hirsch states it best when he wrote, "He knows a desolation inside that can match and even outdo any desolation that exists apart from him." Hirsch also notes how the very last line of the poem reveals the poem's title. When one reads the title of the poem this time around, one has a very different sense of the meaning. The very worst "Desert Places" are within the speaker and ultimately Robert Frost.

    Read More

  • Woodrow Wilson And The Progressive Movement

    286 Words  | 1 Pages

    Woodrow Wilson was the leader of the Progressive Movement. His term lasted from 1913-1921, making him the 28th president of the United States. Wilson received his doctorate from John Hopkins University and became a professor of political science. In 1902, Wilson became the president of Princeton. In 1910, he was swayed to run for Governor of New Jersey and 1912 he was nominated for president at the Democratic Convention.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Kino From "the Pearl"

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kino declined that offer claiming that his pearl was "The Pearl of the World." By reacting in such a manner he yet again demonstrates his greed. It is not about saving Coyotito anymore, for he is already feeling well, it is now about the money. Although one thousand pesos was more money than Kino had ever seen he demanded that he would get fifty thousand pesos.Later in the text, Kino discovers Juana trying to destroy the pearl, causing Kino to become very angry, and resulted in him beating her. Although Juana was in very much pain she accepted the beating as if it were a punishment and stayed with Kino.

    Read More

  • Use of Elemental Imagery in Philip Larkin's High Windows

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    Yet as the poem progresses he sees that views of paradise are always changing and shifting, thus his parents would envy his religious freedom and regard his situation as freedom. He recognises that the only paradise that does not change is the "sun-comprehending glass" and the "deep blue air" thus he has once again affirmed his reverence of the continuity of the elements.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of "The Sun Rising," by John Donne

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    The sunrise has provoked the speaker to speak. The sun is symbolic of an intruder. Although the speaker acts extremely conceded in parts of the poem, perhaps he is actually insecure and fears that another man will steal the heart of his lover. Maybe the sun is symbolic of another man, which may be the reason that the speaker is really upset. It is also a possibility that the speaker realizes that he is getting old and is worried that his "time" is soon going to run out. He seems to worry a lot about "time." In the first stanza, he is saying how love is eternal and should not be measured by apprentices, seasons, hours, days, or months. On a more realistic level, I think that the speaker is trying to make the point that love is a reality, and that you cannot put a time constraint on love.

    Read More

  • Use of Dramatic Contrast in Yeats' Poetry

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Yeats' poetry is very dramatic because he usually creates dramatic contrasts within his poems and because his tone changes regularly. When he wasn't in conflict with the world around him he was in conflict with himself. He was never satisfied with modern Ireland, even when he was younger. As he grew older, his dissatisfaction became even greater.

    Read More

  • Breeding: A Short Story

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Do you know what time it is?” the king yells, climbing out of bed. He yawns. His eyes were red from tiredness. His body move at a sluggish pace. He woke at the slightest of sound, and barely had one hour of unbroken slumber. “How dare you enter unannounced,” he barks. Ever since Prince Gabriel Wylie attacked him, the king does not feel safe in his home anymore. Even with several of his Kingsman, including First Commander Tocharian, standing

    Read More

More about Diction and Symbolism in Keats and Frost's Star Poems

Open Document