Comparing Let It Grow And The Good Earth

Robert Hall Weir’s song, “Let it Grow” and Pearl S. Buck's book, The Good Earth are amazing pieces that center around the theme of nature. Both authors apply different types of literary devices to express the relationship of the earth to the characters in the poem and the song. Such include figurative language and figures of speech. By using a variety of these writing techniques, readers can better understand and interpret what the author is trying to inform us. One component that is shared is that the main characters in “Let it Grow” and The Good Earth are compared with the rich soil of the earth. The authors compare the character’s skin color to the color of the earth. “She’s brown as the bank where she kneels down to gather water.” (Line 5) This line taken from the song suggests that the woodcutter’s daughter is similar to the color of the water bank due to her fetching water from the flowing river daily. In The Good Earth, O-lan was also described as being as “brown as the very soil itself.” (Page 30) Her tanned skin was caused by the prolonged labor on the farm, even when she was pregnant with her first child. …show more content…
The plowman in the song “dances the circular track of the plow.” (Line 13) The songwriter compares the act of plowing to dancing. This literary technique is known as imagery. The Good Earth on the other hand, demonstrates syntax as the text stated, “Moving together-together-producing the fruit of this earth-speechless in their movement together.” (Page 30) The syntax being used in this line of the excerpt emphasizes the hard work of Wang Lung and his wife who work together in order to harvest their crops year