A Review of 5 Poems
In "The Man He Killed," Thomas Hardy uses the possibility that two men could be friends or have some sort of relationship to show how war makes no sense. One of the men shoots the other all because they had enlisted on different sides in a war. That man realizes the possible similarities between them and comes to the author's conclusion about war.Imagery brings out the unjustified hatred each man showed towards each other during war, "And staring face to face, I shot at him as he at me" (line 6-7).The idea that a man would buy a twenty-dollar drink for a man he does not know symbolizes how the man imagines the possibility of a friendship, "You'd treat if met where any bar is, Or help to a half-a-crown" (line 19-20).Personification is used as the man associates certain characteristics to war that show how war makes no sense, "Yes; quaint and curious war is" (line 17)!A sad tone is developed through the story as the author takes a look at the power that war has on humans. Sadly we can see how this man turns cold-hearted as he justifies his killing with the only reason that he can come up with, "I shot him dead because- Because he was my foe. Just so: my foe or course he was" (line 10-11). It is sad to see that war can
"Darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep" (line 18-19), this describes the evil future that we all aren't anticipating, but will actually be coming. "In her wake No waters breed or break" (line 23-24), cacophony is used to show that the only thing that is looking for them is a boat that doesn't bring good things, instead someday that will ruin their anticipation of the future. As a friend points out how the boy was a wanted child, the boy realizes how fortunate he is to have a mother that couldn't live with out him, "the world that was not enough for her without me in it" (line 18). Sound is used to justify the theme revealed throughout this poem. Imagery is used to help visualize the scary atmosphere during the transition, as well as after the transition, "Reel shadows of the indignant birds. In Sharon Olds's, "The Planned Child" a boy who dislikes his planned conception is used to show how one should appreciate what they have, because not everyone is as fortunate. By pointing out how the future isn't always what is hoped for, we see how this puts more importance on the present and creates inspiration to grasp the present, "We think each one will heave to and unload. The future isn't something to wait for since it usually doesn't stop for you, "Arching our way, it never anchor's" (line 14). Both these examples give support to the theme and show how we should put more time into living in the present rather than living in the future. Rhythm is used as the pause in speech signals an explosion of emotion from the boy, showing that even though he felt so badly about his mothers decision, he realized how lucky he was, "rising and falling to know the day to make me-I would have liked to have been" (line 5-7). Yet it is just that we are so concentrated on the future and anticipating the promises coming that it stirs up our emotions unnecessarily, "How slow they are! And how much time they waste, Refusing to make haste!" (line 7-8). Right to the last" (line 15-16), shows how quickly the present goes by, inferring how we are missing out on the present and that we should grab it. "but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle" (line 18-20), this gives off the vibe that this new era can simply be described as a nightmare. Repetition and rhythm are used to emphasize the horror of the Second Coming, "Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
Common topics in this essay:
Philip Larkin,
Planned Child,
William Shakespeare,
Thomas Hardy,
Surely Coming,
Butler Yeats,
Coming Surely,
planned conception,
twenty centuries stony,
centuries stony sleep,
significance importance,
sweet silent,
line 3,
stony sleep,
future isn't,
line 1,
twenty centuries,
world line,
centuries stony,
foe course line,
foe foe course,
sessions sweet silent,
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Acceptance Essays
