Comparative Poetry Analysis
Haley Allen hour 2
Introduction
Every poem isn't ever the same as another, they all have something different about them. The poet is gonna have a different way to get the point across to the reader. Whether its from the structure of the poem to the figurative language the poet uses. Throughout my writing I will be talking about the poets word choice, form and structure, and figurative language. "Prayer to the Pacific" and "Problems with Hurricanes" are the two poems I will be comparing.
Tone and word choice
In the poem, "Prayer to the Pacific" the poet talks to the ocean like an person, based on her tone and word choice throughout the poem. For example, in lines 12-14 it says "Squat in the wet sand and speak to the ocean: I return to you turquoise the red coral you sent us, sister spirit of god." The poet also respects the ocean, like a prayer. The poem sounds soothing and it makes the ocean feel like u could go there and do anything. In lines 25-33 it states "And so from that time immemorial, as the old people say, rain clouds drift from the west gift from the ocean. Green leaves in the wind Wet earth on my feet swallowing raindrops clear from China." In Problems with Hurricanes the poet respects the power of the storm. In lines 25-35 "The campesino takes off his hat- As a sign or respect toward the fury of the wind And says: Don't worry about the noise Don't worry about the water Don't worry about the wind- If you are going out beware of mangoes And all such beautiful sweet things." Also, the poet uses a little bit of humor in stanza 2. "How would your family feel if they had to tell The generations that you got killed by a flying banana." The poets word choices makes the poem seem funny because he uses humor throughout the poem. Also the word choice throughout the poem makes the flow of it sounds soothing.
Figurative Language
Throughout the 2 poems "Problems with Hurricanes" and "Prayer to the Pacific" the poets use figurative language. In the poem "Prayer to the Pacific" In lines 10, 12-14, 22, and 31-3 talk about how the ocean and how it was born and all the wonderful creatures there is around it. Also, in line 5 the poet uses a simile. "Big as the myth of origin" which means where ever you looked u could see the ocean. In the poem "Problems with Hurricanes" the poet doesn't use figurative language like any other poet would usually use it. The way the poet uses figurative language is, the whole poem is a metaphor. The poem is contrasting the power of flying projectiles and all such beautiful things. It creates an image that u should be aware of all harmless things and beautiful objects in life.
Form and Structure
In both the poems both poets have an unusual structure to their poem. In "Prayer to the Pacific" it is free verse and no rhyme scheme, and unusual spacing between words. For example, in lines 8,20,22 there is spacing in between words. Also, throughout the poem there is some one word lines. For instance, in lines 2, 6, 26 there are one word lines. To go with line structure, you can't specify where there are stanzas. Additionaly, the poem some what looks like a wave with how the lines are spaced out. The sound and rhythm throughout the poem varies. Where ever there is spacing in between lines I think the poet wants the reader to stop and pause, which I think makes it sound some what like a prayer. In the poem "Problems with Hurricanes" it is free verse, 4 stanzas all different lengths. The sentence lengths are all almost the same.The poet makes the poem sound funny but also respectful. For example, in lines 14-24 the poet is being humorous with contrasting the difference from being killed by drowning and getting killed by flying fruits. "Death by drowning has honor. If the wind picked you up and slammed against a mountain boulder This would not carry any shame But to suffer a mango smashing your skull or a plantain hitting your temple at 70 miles per hour is the ultimate disgrace."
Conclusion
Structure, form, word choice, tone, and figurative language are all part of author's style. Author's style affects the poem because his or her work will affect the way the reader will interpret it. The theme of "Prayer of the Pacific" is that this world has so much that hasn't been discovered yet. In "Problem with Hurricanes" the overall theme is you should watch out for all innocent things because they might be harmful.