This paper contains the comparison and analysis between two poems and a short story. The poems included in this paper are The road not taken by Robert Frost and When I consider how my light is spent by John Milton. The short story is entitled as the story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. Elements of poetry such as style or structure, rhythm and rhyme, meter, metaphor, etc. and for short story, settings, theme, plot, characters, etc are the basis of the comparison done in this paper. Along with the comparison, analyses of the three literary works are included to further explain how they differ with each other.
Literature pertains to written compositions such as prose, myth, short story, novel and many more. It is used to express what human beings have in mind. Most of the time, literature is a reflection from what is happening or had happened to that person. It adds up color in our daily lives. For instance, short story is a piece of work which is usually written in a narrative form and it does not follow the elements such as rhyme and meter. Instead, it has setting, plot, turning point, etc. novels tends to be the same as short story the only difference is that novel is longer than a short story. Reading these literary works fills up my soul because for every literary piece gives a message that can be applied into reality.
One example of literature that really caught my attention is poetry. Poetry is an imaginative form of writing where in feelings is expressed through rhythmic language of ones choice. Of course, to be able for a piece of writing to be considered as poem it must contain the elements of poetry. These elements under poetry are style or structure, symbol, theme, imagery, meter, alliteration, metaphor, rhyme and rhythm, onomatopoeia and simile. Style ascribe to the way the poem is written. Symbol allude the thoughts consider in the poem. Theme refers to the idea or point of view that the writer wants to allocate. Meter is the rhythmic structure of poetry it makes the poem more melodious. Rhyme and rhythm is the accented sound or sounds we usually hear as we read a poem. These elements are important contents of poem because it dictates how talented, imaginative and creative a writer is. It also gives life to the poem for it paint the thump it will leave to the readers.
Most of the writers used this kind of literature to relieve the pain they are experiencing moreover, share the lessons that they have learned in an artful and creative way. When I consider how my life is spent and the road not taken is some of the well known poems that are very meaningful nowadays.
In When I consider how my life is spent, it seems like there is a speaker and an audience. To justify this statement, the first eight lines of the sonnet somehow reveal the doubt of the writer which happens to be the speaker regarding with his faith to God. It was believed that while John Milton is writing this poem he was already loosing his eyesight. Thus in the preceding seven lines the audience who was God becomes now becomes the speaker relieving doubt and giving the man a peace of mind. As for the structure of the poem, Milton divides it into octet followed by a sestet stanza and due to this structure the poem was considered to be a sonnet. Sonnet is one form of lyric poetry. The structure was supported with rhyme, rhythm and meter making the sonnet more melodious. In line with the second stanza, the first word used was Ere and in the foregoing lines more words used are not that familiar. I may say that the language used is an Old English, thus, the poem is probably written long time ago.
Biblical reference is also prevalent in this poem since Milton had his doubt on his faith to God regarding with his talent, he questioned God about the darkness that he was experiencing which he thinks makes him useless yet He has given him the talent to share to others and that He is his maker.
Furthermore, readers will not have problems to understand the message that Milton is trying to impart to his readers because figurative language is not that often in his context. But his uncertainty was surely the message of his poem. Dark, which is found in the second line of his sonnet, symbolizes the darkness that he was facing at that time, taking away the light that he used to see. Or maybe the spiritual darkness that covers him due to lost of his sight. His talent is also significant since his problem is also attached with his abilities and he thinks, as the poem flow at the end, even without his eyesight he is still ready to serve God which happens to be his maker, for he fears that God will blame him from possessing a talent but not using it nor sharing it to others. Moreover, he fearfully asked God on why He gave him such catastrophic quality yet requires him to use it. This was the significant part of the sonnet where in Milton reveals the problem. But as the octet lines are finished, sestet begins. The audience a while ago was now the speaker. In Gods response to the doubts of the former speaker, He reminded him that He is not after to anybodys works rather after with those people that follow Him. He also state that a man has nothing to worry about anything because He has the control in everything that is happening here on us, all those who wanted to follow Him must only entrust their faith to Him and just continue what they want to do as long as it does not contravene Gods will.
This sonnet is all about the uncertainty of a mans faith to his creator yet this man is willing to serve Him despite his unwanted quality and shortcomings. In return, his maker assures him with peace and reprimands all his worries regarding his problem. Milton gave us an inspirational message that surely can overcome our doubts in life and faith with our maker. All of us are experiencing pain and troubles in life and most of us threw the blame to our God and loose our faith in Him. With this incredible incident that happens in a writer comes up a rousing and brilliant sonnet.
Compared to the previous poem analyzed in this paper, Robert frosts The road not taken is unique in its own different way. It is somehow a delicate poem as you analyze the whole piece. In my own opinion, the theme of frosts poem is all about making decisions in life. At the start of his poem it looks like his having the hard time to decide on which road he will be taking but accepted the fact that he was to choose only one road to travel in to. Taking it a way in reality, it seems the setting of the story is that there is a man lost in a forest finding a way home then stops in front of two splitting roads taking it into an account that these roads are very different with each other. One road is the usual way that everyone is picking up while the other road is the less traveled one. The usual road is where anyone can find their comfort zone, meaning, more or less they already knows the outcome or the exact thing that will happen to them that is why they chose it. Unfortunately for the other road the outcome is unpredictable no one knows what will happen there it may be good or bad. Then on the second stanza the speaker now decide on which road he will take. He pictured it as grassy and weary place. It seems like no one take up that road because it might be too dangerous to walk by in there. In the last two stanzas, Frost clearly takes the less traveled road. But he has his doubt at the back of his mind as he moved forward. He doubted if he must come back and just take the easy road. The sigh stated at the last stanza of the poem might mean as relief or part of his holding back. Relief, because he has taken into his account that he surpassed the road that he chose and had lived with that decision without blaming himself on not taking the other road and missed a lot of opportunities given by that road. Or maybe that sigh belongs to his regretful decision on picking up the less traveled road and missed the outcome that he really wanted to have or happen. But at the last lines of his poem, he boastfully admitted that he is proud with his decision because at sometime of his life he had made a difference and not just follow a traditional deed.
Frost used metaphor in most of his lines in his poem. To support this statement, he compared walking in the woods to decisions in life, the diverged roads signify the paths that each of us are usually choosing in response to our problems. The grassy and weary place is associated to the consequences that arise whenever we made decisions. Consequently, rhyme and rhythm is very flamboyant in the poem making it so interesting to hear and read. Its meter is in nonameter which adds up color to the poem.
This poem becomes significant to every reader because its message reveals how people choose their way in solving their own problems and on how they deal with. Most of us choose the easy way out, few takes the risk but somehow fulfilled and obtain happiness. Just like Frost who weighed the costs that he might face in the future from pros to cons, take his stand and decided to take the road that has a much risky side and the percentage of failing is exceedingly towering.
These poems different in many aspects, although they are considered one in terms of category they differ on the elements of literature under poetry. It differs based on poems structure or style, theme, meter, metaphor and simile lines used, symbols and in rhyme and rhythm. In terms of style or structure, the first poem in sonnet form taking it in to consideration that the first part is in octet form then followed by sestet overall it is consist of fourteen lines that is why it is considered as a sonnet while Frosts poem is not in a sonnet form, only a typical poem we used to read. Rhyme ands rhythm is evident within these two poems. Following would be the meter of their poem, the road not taken is in nonameter, while I consider how my life is spent is in octet and sestet meter. As for the themes of the two poems, the road not taken imparts how people decide on their lives. It also highlighted the roads that the usual person that has a problem has to choose. And how a single person take his stand and take the less traveled road despite the holding back he thought at the back of his mind. And at the end he felt somehow satisfied with his decision. Subsequently, the poem when I consider how my life is spent revealed a persons questionable faith to God due to a quality that has given to him that he consider unusable and a hindrance to his God given talent. But despite all of this instances, his fading faith, spiritual darkness that covers him the questions building up on his mind and the doubt in himself he continued to serve the one who makes him. He take away all of his doubt and do whatever He asked for He gave him peace and free him from any worries and just asked him to entrust his faith to Him and everything will be fine. These poems are supported by metaphor and simile lines to further attract the minds of every reader. It is used for creative writing and for readers to interpret the work in their own analysis.
As I have said earlier, there are other forms of literary works aside from poem. This is the short story. Short stories have their different elements to follow compared to poetry. To further understand the elements between poetry and short story here is an example of a short story entitled The Story of an hour.
The plot of the story begins when Brently Mallard was reported to be included as a victim in a train accident. This breaking news was first heard by Mr. Richards, who happens to be the friend of Mr. Mallard. From then, he tries to contact Josephine, Mr. Mallards sister in law to tell her about the death of Brently Mallard. Josephine was the one who told Louise, the wife of Brent about the shocking accident happened to her husband. But because of Louise condition, specifically, a heart condition Josephine broke the news to her as gently as possible. After hearing the new, she broke down and went to her room to be alone. On her room, she sat down beside the window and gazed out while she is sobbing. From her window she can see the top of the tress and hear the birds singing. Since it is springtime as stated in the story patches of blue sky are showing, swiftly rain clears the sky. While staring outside, thoughts have covered her mind that interrupts her grieving, and then she just whispered in bewilderment that she is now free. But guilt comes through her veins and she tried to stop the
thoughts in her mind. But these thought are overwhelming, she allows it to flounce over her. Somehow in her mind she knows that grieving will surely come haunt her down when funeral is arranged. Thus, after this moment she will be forever happy and free. These feelings does not mean that she does not love her husband at all, she do, but she admitted that she does loved him sometimes. But that does matter anymore because what is important now is the freedom that she is longing for.
Josephine disrupts her sisters moment she knocked at her door because she is worried about her condition. At first Mrs. Mallard told her sister to leave her alone and that she is fine but for some moment she open the door and goes downstairs with Josephine while Mr. Richards is waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Meanwhile, someone is opening the front door, and then there were Mr. Mallard, alive and do not have even a small scratch. He was not in the accident nor near at it when it happened. Mr. Richards quickly go towards the door to prevent Mrs. Mallard from seeing Brently. But it was too late. She sees him. Afterwards, doctors told them that Louise Mallards death resulted from joy that kills. It means that her heart could not hold the happiness she felt when she see her husband again.
The setting of the story seems to happen in a home and the action takes place in just a single hour. The characters involved are Louise Mallard, a young attracted woman who broke down when she receives the news about the death of his husband but rejoice for the freedom that she receives, next would be Brently Mallard the husband of Louise, Josephine Mrs. Mallards sister, Mr. Richards the friend of Brently Mallard and the doctors.
Short stories have also themes. Like in here, I think the theme of this short story is about the rejection of women in a male prevailing society. This short story was written as sometime in 19th century. During this time men overpower women. Women are just there to cook, clean
the house and be there for their children maybe this was the reason why Chopin wrote this story. To awaken the society that they should not oppress women and give them equal rights as men received from the society.
Exquisitely poems are different in many ways from its structure up to the messages that writers like to share to the readers. Just like short stories too. These two kind of literary works differ and has somehow connections in terms of the elements considered when writing such. Poems have style, theme, meter, metaphor, etc. while short stories have plot, setting, characters, etc. But what makes them special A literary piece becomes special when a writer loves what he was doing. They all say that a work would be special if your heart is with it. Meaning, if you put all your effort, feelings and your talent in what you are doing the outcome will be extraordinary. But other than that we must not forget the One that gave us all these talent and blessing we must always ask for His presence and everything will follow. Poems and short stories are unique in every way this reflects the writers insights and feelings. But these differences have only one goal, this is to give an inspiration to every one and an opportunity to express what we really feel.
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