Write an essay about contrast and compare essay on 'Dule et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen and 'The Woman Speaks to the Man who has Employed Her Son' by Lorna Goodison talking about the techniques the p...
Asked on 5/31/2023, 19 pageviews
Poetry has been used to express various emotions and messages to the readers. The poets use various literary techniques such as imagery, metaphors, and similes to communicate their message and stir the reader's emotions. Two poems, "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen and "The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed Her Son" by Lorna Goodison are powerful pieces of literature that use different techniques to evoke different emotions in the readers.
"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a war poem by Wilfred Owen that is critical of war and the idea that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. The poem describes a group of soldiers who are exhausted and in the grip of gas attacks. Owen uses strong and vivid imagery to describe the agony of these soldiers. In the first stanza, he describes the soldiers as "Bent double, like old beggars under sacks" to create an image of tired and worn-out soldiers. He also describes the gas attack in detail, "Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time." Owen's use of imagery creates a vivid picture of the horrors of war, its aftermath and the pain of the soldiers. Owen's message is clear: there is nothing honorable or sweet about war.
Contrastingly, "The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed Her Son" by Lorna Goodison is a powerful poem that addresses the issue of social injustice and classism. The poem explores the emotions of a mother whose son has been employed by a wealthy man to serve as his gardener. The woman speaks to the man and expresses her worries, anxiety about her son's future, and how she has worked hard to ensure that he gets an education. Goodison uses vivid imagery to express the woman's emotions, for example, "Help me to carry the education I have pulled like a sack of coal behind me all my life." The metaphor creates an image of the mother carrying a heavy burden for her son's education. Goodison also uses repetition to emphasize the mother's plea to the man "Teach him something." The mother's words reveal her fears about the future of her son and her desire for him to have a meaningful life.
In conclusion, "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen and "The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed Her Son" by Lorna Goodison are both powerful pieces of literature that communicate different messages and evoke different emotions. Owen uses vivid and brutal imagery to reveal the horror and pain of the war, while Goodison uses metaphors and repetition to express the mother's fear and anxiety for her son's future. Both poets use literary techniques to stir the emotions of their readers to engage them in the poem and convey their central message. Overall, these poems illustrate the power of poetry in evoking emotions, and communicating messages that can resonate with readers long after reading.