In the poems “A Barred Owl” by Richard Wilbur and “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins these poems campare in the ways of adults trying to protect children from the fears of reality. They contrast in ways of reality and why adults lie or tell children not to worry. Wilbur uses irony and personification while Collins uses denial and imagery. In “A Barred Owl”, the author (Wilbur) uses the irony of a child being awaken in the night and frightened by a owl’s loud voice. The child's’ parents tell him to not be worried the owl is asking just ‘“Who cooks for you?’’ this is ironic because the owl must fend for itself and capture its on prey in contrast of a child whose parents cook for him. But then the owl turns evil, the child is frightened
