Comparing and Contrasting the Ways in which a Single Theme is treated in Two Different Poems - Essay Example

Introduction The task of writing this research paper is to identify the different treatments given to the same theme by two different poets in theirrespective poems. In this paper, our chief consideration is to compare and contrast two of the poems carrying the same theme, by different authors from our text course book, Western Wind. I have chosen to discuss love and loss as the theme for the poems, with the poems by John Donne (A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning) and Andrew Marvell (To his Coy Mistress) to be the subject of our evaluation. We will be discussing the various themes involved in the poetry, the poetic and literary techniques and devices involved in both the poems, while comparing their usage all the same. The brief explanation of the poems selected is given below: “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” by John Donne The poem was written by the poet when he was about to leave for France and Germany in 1611, leaving his pregnant wife home. The poem was written in order to pacify her till the homecoming of the poet. The name of the poem itself, “Valediction” mean “farewell,” reflects the basic theme behind the poem. The poem urges the lady love to bear the temporary parting without any tears or protests, while also explaining the kind of love the poet has for the lady. “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell The background to this poem is not as clear. However, the reading of the poem makes it clear who the key players are in the poem. The poem targets a damsel, who is poet’s love (or infatuation!), while the poet (playing the role of an old gentlemen on waiting) tries to seduce the lady into having physical relations with him. The poem pronounces deep love of the poet towards the lady, while reproaching her simultaneously for not falling to the physical charms of the poet. Now that the basic motive behind each poem has been made known, let us move forward to the analyzing part of this paper. In this paper, I will argue that even though the themes involved in both the poems selected are the same, the treatment given to those by the respective poets are entirely different, rendering the poems completely different feel and tone. Comparing and Contrasting the Themes Involved In this section, we will make contrasting differences and references to the poems selected, while discussing the themes involved in both the poems. There are basically two major themes involved in the poem – love and death. 1. Love – Love is the common theme employed in both the poems. While John Donne’s “A Valediction” tries to pacify the heroine by explaining the ethereal or spiritual quality of love, Marvel’s “To his coy mistress” focuses more on the physical aspect of love, though the realization comes suddenly to the readers. In “A Valediction,” the poet explains to the heroine that sighing and crying will not be in their case for these are the devices of the general “Dull sublunary lovers.” Their love was rather free of all physical attributes that makes them “by a love so much refined.” According to Julie Phelan, “the poet rejects the duality of body and soul: Love for him is both, an indivisible entity.” On the other hand, “To His Coy Mistress” expresses emotions on behalf of the poet who is endearing his lover to give in and make physical relations with him: “Let us roll all our strength, and all / Our sweetness, up into one ball;” Hence, both the poems, though explore the same theme, treat them differently, what with one making love spiritual, while the other is solely pleasure based, exploiting the theme of sexuality. 2. Death – In both the poems, there are uses and references made to “death” or “dying” by the poets. In “A Valediction” the poet opens the poem by exploring the theme of death. He cites “as virtuous men pass mildly away / And whisper to their souls to go,” the friends of these ‘virtuous men’ cry and mourn. However, the poet and his lover should not do the same crying and mourning, for the poet will unite back to the lover after temporary distance. In “To His Coy Mistress,” the poet uses the theme of death to rather scare his mistress or lover into having sexual relations with him. He says that is the lady does not give in to sex, “that long preservd virginity / And your quaint honour turn to dust / And into ashes all my lust. The graves a fine and private place / But none I think do there embrace.” Hence, while the theme is the same in both the poems, the latter employs it as a metaphor for separation, the former uses it to mock and reproach the mistress, creating a sense of horror in the mind of the maiden. Comparing and Contrasting the Poetic Devices and Techniques Involved While both the poems under our scrutiny have explored the same themes, let us understand how each poem made use of different (or similar) poetic devices and literary techniques. The poem “To His Coy Mistress” involves the usage of the famous device of the 17th century literature – Carpe Diem. This technique “often took an apostrophic form and style which stressed the temporality of youth” (John Larson, 1999). This technique was usually used in a poem that would further take advantage of the theme of temporary youth to entice a partner into furthering the relationship (sexually or otherwise). The metaphysical element makes its presence felt in both the poems selected herein – “A Valediction” and “To His Coy Mistress.” In “A Valediction,” the poet makes use of intensive imagery and metaphors that can be termed as far sighted in reference to the context. The poet makes use of images like death, celestial motion and twin compasses in order to substantiate the ethereal quality of love shared between him and his lover (his wife in this case). These are well validated in phrases and lines such as “A breach, but an expansion / Like gold to aery thinness beat,” “If they be two, they are two so / As stiff twin compasses are two.” Then again, in “To His Coy Mistress,” the poet also makes use of extensive out-of-the-way imagery and metaphors, which can be well witnessed in lines and phrases such as “vegetable love,” “then worms shall try / That long preserved virginity,” etc and so on. While the above mentioned phrases bring out the metaphysical element, it also brings forth the powerful use of imagery in both the poems. Similar like in their themes, both the poems also are composed in following the similar meter composition – the iambic tetrameter, with eight syllables or four feet per line. The difference arises in the scheme of rhyme. The poem “A Valediction” has the last syllable of the first and third line as rhyming, while “To His Coy Mistress” has the last syllable of the first & second line and third & fourth line as rhyming (couplets scheme of rhyming). Conclusion From the above interface, we can very well reach the conclusion that though, both the poems do cover similar themes, that is, of love and death, the treatment given to each is entirely different. The literary techniques are used, but the purpose behind their usage is different. The themes explored are same, but the purpose behind is opposite. The poem “A Valediction” carries with it a tone soft, suave and ethereal, appealing the senses of the reader. However, in the poem “To His Coy Mistress,” the tone is romantic in the beginning, getting to crass sexuality in the end, while also horrifying the reader with certain imagery in between (imagery of death of the maiden and worms eating away). Hence, this is to conclude that like the example taken above of two poems, while the themes they share might be same, the treatment given may be different, changing the purpose behind the poem and poetry and the meaning altogether. References: "A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning by John Donne." 123HelpMe.com. 09 Dec 2008 . Ian Mackean. "John Donne / A Valediction: of Weeping, and A Valediction: forbidding mourning ." March 2007 John Larson. "Carpe Poem - Marvells "To His Coy Mistress" ." http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/larsonmarvell.htm Luminarium, 1999. Julie Phelan . "Poetry analysis: A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne." http://www.helium.com/items/1144297-google-yahoo-poetry-analysis-a-valediction-forbidding-mourning-john-donne-poetry?page=3 "Marvells To His Coy Mistress Essays: Powerful Imagery." 123HelpMe.com ., 2008. Quentin Miller. "Approaches and Context for "To His Coy Mistress"." http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/Virtualit/poetry/mistress_elements.html VirtuaLit, "The Essence of Time in Marvells To His Coy Mistress." 123HelpMe.com. ., 2008. Read More