Lexie Phongthai-Yochum
English 175 Similarities in Poetry Critique
Aristotle wisely stated, “Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.” Poetry has been around for thousands of years, so it is not peculiar that many works are similar to one another. As you read more and more poetry, you began to see their similarities, primarily in their themes and figurative language. Because poetry has been around so long, it is understandable that there are many similarities. Similarity is not uncommon, Tv shows, movies, magazines, books, and songs are all immensely similar to one another. After awhile you simply run out of brand new ideas and must enhance already existing …show more content…
Similarly, Carol Ann Duffy refers to light throughout her poem; “bright”, “summer sky”, “Midas light”, “shining hour”, “candle”, “chandelier”, and “spotlight”. In these words, she is similarly suggesting a positive representation of love and implying that love is light which you cannot live without. Another common device that the two poems use is imagery. Both Carol Ann Duffy and William Shakespeare use imagery to describe the appearance of each one’s lover. In Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116”, he states that “though rosy lips and cheeks/ within his bending sickle’s compass come” (9-10). This line describes how time is love 's enemy and will one day reach love and age us, taking away our good-looks which make it easy to fall in love. In saying this he uses the imagery of “rosy lips and cheeks” to signify beauty as a whole and also his significant other. Similarly in “Hour” Duff says, “loves time 's beggar” (1). In this she is implying that love wants and needs more time; love is a “beggar”. “...Your hair/ like treasure on the ground; the Midas light turning your limbs to gold” (5-7). In this, she is using imagery to describe her lover’s physical appearance. These two poems use metaphors and imagery in a very similar
English 175 Similarities in Poetry Critique
Aristotle wisely stated, “Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.” Poetry has been around for thousands of years, so it is not peculiar that many works are similar to one another. As you read more and more poetry, you began to see their similarities, primarily in their themes and figurative language. Because poetry has been around so long, it is understandable that there are many similarities. Similarity is not uncommon, Tv shows, movies, magazines, books, and songs are all immensely similar to one another. After awhile you simply run out of brand new ideas and must enhance already existing …show more content…
Similarly, Carol Ann Duffy refers to light throughout her poem; “bright”, “summer sky”, “Midas light”, “shining hour”, “candle”, “chandelier”, and “spotlight”. In these words, she is similarly suggesting a positive representation of love and implying that love is light which you cannot live without. Another common device that the two poems use is imagery. Both Carol Ann Duffy and William Shakespeare use imagery to describe the appearance of each one’s lover. In Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116”, he states that “though rosy lips and cheeks/ within his bending sickle’s compass come” (9-10). This line describes how time is love 's enemy and will one day reach love and age us, taking away our good-looks which make it easy to fall in love. In saying this he uses the imagery of “rosy lips and cheeks” to signify beauty as a whole and also his significant other. Similarly in “Hour” Duff says, “loves time 's beggar” (1). In this she is implying that love wants and needs more time; love is a “beggar”. “...Your hair/ like treasure on the ground; the Midas light turning your limbs to gold” (5-7). In this, she is using imagery to describe her lover’s physical appearance. These two poems use metaphors and imagery in a very similar