Comparative Poetry Analysis
Katherine Panzer Hour 3
introduction
Have you ever read a poem and wondered what the author's tone was? Or how they used figurative language? Or maybe how their poem was structured? In the poems "Problems with Hurricanes" by Victor Hernandez Cruz and "Tornado at Talledega" by Gwendolyn Brooks all those questions will be answered.
Tone and Word Choice
The poet's tone in "Problems with Hurricanes" is that he respects nature, in lines 25-35 he says that you should not worry about wind or noise, but about fruit and all such beautiful sweet things. Which makes the poem feel a little silly near the end, but there is a tone of seriousness too.
The poet's tone in "Tornado at Talledega" is that she respects the power of the tornado and that she feels sorry for that trees but also that they deserved what they got. In lines 6-8 she says that the trees are unimportant now and that they cannot sass anymore. Which makes the reader feel sad for the trees.
Figurative Language
In lines 7-8 in the poem "Problems with Hurricanes" there is personification describing fruit that flies.
I think that the author included this because it gives the reader a clear picture of fruit hurling itself at someone like a projectile. Also, the whole poem is a metaphor about life stating that things that seem innocent may not be as harmless as they seem. In stanza 2 in the poem "Tornado at Talledega" there is personification of the trees. I think the author put that in because it tells us how the trees feel about being flattened by a tornado. Also, in lines 1-2 there is personification of the bird who is reporting the storm. I think the author included that because it gives the reader a picture of a bird chirping to tell everyone of the tornado.
I think that the author included this because it gives the reader a clear picture of fruit hurling itself at someone like a projectile. Also, the whole poem is a metaphor about life stating that things that seem innocent may not be as harmless as they seem. In stanza 2 in the poem "Tornado at Talledega" there is personification of the trees. I think the author put that in because it tells us how the trees feel about being flattened by a tornado. Also, in lines 1-2 there is personification of the bird who is reporting the storm. I think the author included that because it gives the reader a picture of a bird chirping to tell everyone of the tornado.
Form and Structure
In the poem "Problems with Hurricanes" there are uneven lines which cause the reader to pause at the end of the line and think about what they have just read. Also, the poem is free verse which does not add rhythm to the poem , but adds a feeling of suspense. In the poem "Tornado at Talledega" there is one line alone which causes the reader to pay attention to it because that line is the climax of the poem. Also, there are uneven lines which cause the reader to pause at the end of each line and reflect on what they have just read.
Conclusion
The author's tone, word choice, type of figurative language, form, and structure all affect how their poem feels and flows. I believe that the overall meaning of the poem "Problems with Hurricanes" is that you should expect the unexpected. I also believe that the overall meaning of the poem "Tornado at Talledega" is that storms are powerful and they do not care what they crush in their path.