Analysis of Poetic Devices Analysis of Poetic Devices in Nature Poemsin Nature Poems

Erich FinkleErich Finkle

English IV – 6English IV – 6thth Period Period

Poem #1 – Poem #1 – The OakThe Oak

The OakThe OakLive thy Life,Live thy Life,Young and old,Young and old,Like yon oak,Like yon oak,Bright in spring,Bright in spring,Living gold;Living gold;

Summer-richSummer-richThen; and thenThen; and thenAutumn-changedAutumn-changedSoberer-huedSoberer-huedGold again.Gold again.

All his leavesAll his leavesFall'n at length,Fall'n at length,Look, he stands,Look, he stands,Trunk and boughTrunk and boughNaked strength.Naked strength.- Alfred Lord Tennyson- Alfred Lord Tennyson

One poetic device found here is One poetic device found here is definitely definitely imageryimagery. Tennyson’s . Tennyson’s description of the oak tree gives description of the oak tree gives off a vivid picture of its beauty off a vivid picture of its beauty and its strong presence in nature.and its strong presence in nature.

There is also There is also personificationpersonification when when he refers to the tree as “he,” in he refers to the tree as “he,” in Line 13, when he says “Look, he Line 13, when he says “Look, he stands.”stands.”

A A metaphormetaphor is used in Line 5, is used in Line 5, “Living gold.” Tennyson implies “Living gold.” Tennyson implies that the leaves and the sight of the that the leaves and the sight of the tree are akin to that of the beauty tree are akin to that of the beauty of something made purely of gold of something made purely of gold being alive.being alive.

Poem #1 – Poem #1 – The OakThe Oak

The OakThe OakLive thy Life,Live thy Life,Young and old,Young and old,Like yon oak,Like yon oak,Bright in spring,Bright in spring,Living gold;Living gold;

Summer-richSummer-richThen; and thenThen; and thenAutumn-changedAutumn-changedSoberer-huedSoberer-huedGold again.Gold again.

All his leavesAll his leavesFall'n at length,Fall'n at length,Look, he stands,Look, he stands,Trunk and boughTrunk and boughNaked strength.Naked strength.- Alfred Lord Tennyson- Alfred Lord Tennyson

I think the meaning of this poem I think the meaning of this poem is to show that nature and people is to show that nature and people are strong, and can survive are strong, and can survive through many things. Tennyson’s through many things. Tennyson’s use of an oak tree reflects this: as use of an oak tree reflects this: as the picture shown here the picture shown here demonstrates, an oak tree is very demonstrates, an oak tree is very large, with many leaves, and a large, with many leaves, and a wide, sturdy trunk. These aspects wide, sturdy trunk. These aspects of the tree show a powerful life of the tree show a powerful life force within, and a majestic grace force within, and a majestic grace that should be an example to us as that should be an example to us as people.people.

Tennyson tells us to live our lives Tennyson tells us to live our lives as does the oak tree: strong, as does the oak tree: strong, proud, and beautiful.proud, and beautiful.

Poem #2 – Poem #2 – Stopping By Woods on A Stopping By Woods on A Snowy EveningSnowy Evening

Stopping By Woods on A Snowy EveningStopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it's queer My little horse must think it's queer To stop without a farmhouse near To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there's some mistake. To ask if there's some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.And miles to go before I sleep.

- - Robert Robert FrostFrost

This poem has a more obvious This poem has a more obvious rhyme rhyme schemescheme, and also uses powerful , and also uses powerful imageryimagery to describe the setting with use of words to describe the setting with use of words such as “dark, deep, wind, woods, such as “dark, deep, wind, woods, snow” etc.snow” etc.

Frost uses Frost uses onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia when he when he describes the “sound” of the “easy wind describes the “sound” of the “easy wind and downy flake” as a “sweep” in Lines and downy flake” as a “sweep” in Lines 11-12.11-12.

Again, there is Again, there is personificationpersonification, this time , this time of the horse. In Line 5, the horse of the horse. In Line 5, the horse “thinks” as would a person, and in Line “thinks” as would a person, and in Line 10 he “asks if there’s some mistake,” as 10 he “asks if there’s some mistake,” as if questioning the speaker’s actions.if questioning the speaker’s actions.

Poem #2 – Poem #2 – Stopping By Woods on A Stopping By Woods on A Snowy EveningSnowy Evening

Stopping By Woods on A Snowy EveningStopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it's queer My little horse must think it's queer To stop without a farmhouse near To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there's some mistake. To ask if there's some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.And miles to go before I sleep.

- - Robert Robert FrostFrost

The meaning of this poem is simple, I The meaning of this poem is simple, I believe. Frost intended to show his love believe. Frost intended to show his love of nature by demonstrating a simple of nature by demonstrating a simple pleasure: the enjoyment of being in the pleasure: the enjoyment of being in the middle of the woods when it’s snowing. middle of the woods when it’s snowing. There is even an implication of a kind of There is even an implication of a kind of danger, as he says it is “the darkest danger, as he says it is “the darkest evening of the year,” and being out in evening of the year,” and being out in the snow on a dark night isn’t exactly the snow on a dark night isn’t exactly safe.safe.

He ends the poem on a slightly sad note, He ends the poem on a slightly sad note, saying that although “The woods are saying that although “The woods are lovely,” he needs to move along and lovely,” he needs to move along and leave them behind, as he has a long leave them behind, as he has a long journey home ahead of him. He journey home ahead of him. He expresses a kind of wanting to remain expresses a kind of wanting to remain with nature, to not have to be separated with nature, to not have to be separated from it.from it.

Comparison of PoemsComparison of Poems Alfred Lord Tennyson’sAlfred Lord Tennyson’s

poem was a commentary on poem was a commentary on human life and a short human life and a short description of a natural description of a natural occurrence. He intended it occurrence. He intended it to be a method of advising to be a method of advising the reader on how to be the reader on how to be more like nature, and to more like nature, and to avoid detachment from the avoid detachment from the world around us, an idea world around us, an idea which stems from the which stems from the Naturalist movement.Naturalist movement.

Robert Frost’sRobert Frost’s poem was poem was more structured in terms of more structured in terms of rhyme and rhythm, and used rhyme and rhythm, and used it more to express his it more to express his personal opinion on nature, personal opinion on nature, and to demonstrate his love and to demonstrate his love of the natural world. It is of the natural world. It is also a poem more accessible also a poem more accessible to young readers, as the to young readers, as the language isn’t very complex language isn’t very complex and is has a pleasant sort of and is has a pleasant sort of “sing-song” feel to it “sing-song” feel to it because of the simple rhyme because of the simple rhyme scheme.scheme.