Initially, when reading two different poems, written in two different centuries, by two different authors it can be very hard to make comparisons. To His Excellency, General Washington by Phillis Wheatley, and On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou seem like completely different poems on the surface. However, when you look a little closer at themes, characterization, and personification the similarities may become a little more obvious.
Hope is a central theme in both To His Excellency, General Washington and On the Pulse of Morning. Phillis Wheatley describes how other nations have hope that America will become a new nation free from England. “Fix’d are the eyes of nations on the scales, For in their hopes Columbia’s arm prevails” (Wheatley …show more content…
In To His Excellency, George Washington, the nations around the world came together to support the American forces; and the colonies came together to create a strong army to fight against England for the good of their country. “How pour her armies through a thousand gates” (Wheatley line 14). In On the Pulse of Morning, it mentions how all genders and ages should come together for their country to make it a place everyone can be proud of. “Women, children, men, take it into the palms of your hands, Mold it into the shape of your most Private need” (Angelou lines 85-88). The people need to join together and make it their responsibility if they want to see change in their country. In the content of both of these poems, people from America are uniting together for the good of their …show more content…
She gives a Rock, a River and a Tree, the ability to speak to the reader, “But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny” (Angelou lines 9-12). The rock is telling the reader that it will support them, but will not let them hide from their destiny. “Yet today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. Come, Clad in peace, and I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me” (Angelou lines 34-37). The River will sing the songs that will create peace help a person to forget about hatred, war, and other world issues. “The speaking of the Tree. They hear the first and last of every Tree Speak to humankind today… Plant yourself beside the River” (Angelou lines 52-56). The tree is asking the reader to plant themselves beside it, so it can hold them up and give them
Hope is a central theme in both To His Excellency, General Washington and On the Pulse of Morning. Phillis Wheatley describes how other nations have hope that America will become a new nation free from England. “Fix’d are the eyes of nations on the scales, For in their hopes Columbia’s arm prevails” (Wheatley …show more content…
In To His Excellency, George Washington, the nations around the world came together to support the American forces; and the colonies came together to create a strong army to fight against England for the good of their country. “How pour her armies through a thousand gates” (Wheatley line 14). In On the Pulse of Morning, it mentions how all genders and ages should come together for their country to make it a place everyone can be proud of. “Women, children, men, take it into the palms of your hands, Mold it into the shape of your most Private need” (Angelou lines 85-88). The people need to join together and make it their responsibility if they want to see change in their country. In the content of both of these poems, people from America are uniting together for the good of their …show more content…
She gives a Rock, a River and a Tree, the ability to speak to the reader, “But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny” (Angelou lines 9-12). The rock is telling the reader that it will support them, but will not let them hide from their destiny. “Yet today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. Come, Clad in peace, and I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me” (Angelou lines 34-37). The River will sing the songs that will create peace help a person to forget about hatred, war, and other world issues. “The speaking of the Tree. They hear the first and last of every Tree Speak to humankind today… Plant yourself beside the River” (Angelou lines 52-56). The tree is asking the reader to plant themselves beside it, so it can hold them up and give them