Essay - Robinson, Whitman, and Wordsworth Poems are Often Vehicles of Personal...

Robinson, Whitman, and Wordsworth

Poems are often vehicles of personal reflection and expression. Poets often write poetry to communicate their personal messages to the world. Edwin Arlington Robinson, Walt Whitman William, ***** *****, ***** three poets who write ***** for the world through ***** poetry. This paper will examine the theme, tone, and literary devices in the poems, "Richard Cory," and "Oh Capta*****! My Captain!" and "I W*****ered Lonely as a Cloud."

These poems focus on themes of a serious nature. For example, *****'s poem, "Richard Cory," we are presented with the subject ***** suicide committed by an individual that was rich *****d considered by the townspeople to be "everything/To make us wish that ***** were in his place" (Robinson 11-2). Richard Cory was a gentleman yet the town envied him beca*****e he ***** ***** and "admirably schooled in every grace" (10). The poet also describes how ***** townspeople worked through the night ***** went without eating meat. The poem concludes with ***** Cory Putting a bullet through his head, emphasizing the point ***** money will not make one happy. In fact, it may often alienate individuals from others as it did Richard ***** ***** those in the town. In "Oh Captain! My Captain," ***** ***** writes about the death of the captain who has finally won the battle but lost his life. We know ***** captain is loved and admired because the poet says, "***** you the flag ***** flung—for you ***** bugle trills;/For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding" (Whitman **********). These lines express a sorrow that ***** people feel for the captain ***** is not present in "Richard Cory." The theme of "I W*****ered Lonely as a *****," ***** also serious; however, it is more lighthearted. ***** this poem, the poet is reflective and compares himself to a cloud. From this perspective, the poet pl*****ys with words and images to express his point. For example, he writes, "I saw a crowd,/A host of golden d*****ffodils" (Wordsworth 3-4). The daffodils are like individuals and the ***** is suddenly viewing humanity in a different way that makes him *****. Each of *****se ***** reflects on serious matters that force us ***** think of things in a different way.

Robinson and Whitman ***** their poems with a ***** tone. For ex*****mple, the line lengths ***** long ***** they force ***** to read the poem smoothly, so we may pay attention ***** what the poet ***** saying. Sine *****se poems are about the death of an individual, the poet w*****ts to ***** close attention to their words. In *****'s poem, the ***** lengths are shorter, which makes us read the poem quicker. ***** fits with the poems less serio***** subject matter.

***** can see how each poet uses literary devices such ***** imagery, symbolism, and irony. In "Richard Cory," we see an example of imagery when ***** ***** told that Mr. Cory "glittered ***** he walked." (8). In "Oh *****! My Captain," the poet ***** "the bleeding drops