A Literary Analysis
In her poem “What the Living do,” Marie Howe uses the poetic form, elegy, in which she writes a letter to her younger brother Johnny who lost his battle against AIDS in 1989. “The elements of a traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss. First; there is lament, where the speaker expresses grief and sorrow, then praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and finally consolation and solace” (“Poets.org”). In this poem, the author goes through all three stages of loss proving that often remembering a loved one who has passed is a way to remind us just how precious life is. Throughout this context, Howe’s perception of death and the sorrow that the living face in the process of mourning before embracing death and its influence in the living are mirrored in the three stages of loss.
Howe applies the element of symbolism, which is a common and interesting concept in poetry. Through the experiences that Howe has encountered in the course of her life, the concept of the contradiction between …show more content…
Therefore, the poem sort of advocates for the living to find a way in that they will grieve the loss of a loved one because failure to do so can lead to psychological problems that affect the quality of life such as it did for Howe. However, it is important to remember that time is the healer of all things, and with it, Howe alludes that eventually all will be well, and the living will be in a position to handle grief. The emotional attribute in the poem is emphasized by the fact that Howe describes in details some of the things that would capture Johnny’s interest signifying their closeness. For example, Howe writes, “It is our desire to see the spring as well as the passing of winter. “We have the same desires as they relate to the people we call, through the letters we write, and the kiss we share” (Lines
In her poem “What the Living do,” Marie Howe uses the poetic form, elegy, in which she writes a letter to her younger brother Johnny who lost his battle against AIDS in 1989. “The elements of a traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss. First; there is lament, where the speaker expresses grief and sorrow, then praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and finally consolation and solace” (“Poets.org”). In this poem, the author goes through all three stages of loss proving that often remembering a loved one who has passed is a way to remind us just how precious life is. Throughout this context, Howe’s perception of death and the sorrow that the living face in the process of mourning before embracing death and its influence in the living are mirrored in the three stages of loss.
Howe applies the element of symbolism, which is a common and interesting concept in poetry. Through the experiences that Howe has encountered in the course of her life, the concept of the contradiction between …show more content…
Therefore, the poem sort of advocates for the living to find a way in that they will grieve the loss of a loved one because failure to do so can lead to psychological problems that affect the quality of life such as it did for Howe. However, it is important to remember that time is the healer of all things, and with it, Howe alludes that eventually all will be well, and the living will be in a position to handle grief. The emotional attribute in the poem is emphasized by the fact that Howe describes in details some of the things that would capture Johnny’s interest signifying their closeness. For example, Howe writes, “It is our desire to see the spring as well as the passing of winter. “We have the same desires as they relate to the people we call, through the letters we write, and the kiss we share” (Lines