A Comparative Discussion of Wild Swans at Coole and The Second Coming
These two poems, written by the same author focus on different aspects
of what was happening in his life. They are written at different times
and are concerned with what is happening in his life at the time. One
is concerned with world issues, such as the aftermath of World War 1,
and the other, a contemplation of different aspects of his life. Both
use different techniques and styles to emphasise these differing
themes.
'The Second Coming' was written just after WW1 had finished, but the
fighting still carried on in Ireland, and the communist revolution in
Russia had just occurred. Yeats seemed to take all these events as
signs that the Christian ear was coming to an end and the birth of a
new god, the poems poses the question of what form this new god will
take. At the time the 'Wild Swans at Coole' was written, Yeats had
proposed to Maude for a second time and been refused for a second time
and some of Yeats’s friends had been executed in the Easter Rising of
1916. so, understandably he was depressed at the time.
'Wild Swans at Coole' has a rhyming pattern (ABCBDD) and a consistent
number of lines in each stanza. This predictability of pattern and
numbers, I think, represents the predictability of the swans, the fact
that they always come back to the same place at the same time, and the
consistency of their numbers, there are always 59. whereas, on the
other hand, in 'The Second Coming' there is no rhyming pattern at all
and no fixed number of lines for each stanza. This emphasizes the
unpredictable future that he is writing about, no one knows who, what,
how or when this new god or beast will arise.
The themes and moods of the poems are very different, Yeats has chosen
his words very carefully to emphasise the mood. 'The Second Coming'
has a very depressive, apocalyptic and dramatic mood, the repetition
of ‘turning’, repetition of ‘cannot’, the imagery of ‘the beast’, and
Carson, D. A. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
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The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Indexed. New York: Oxford UP, 2007. Print
...ears were now completely useless. To be an atheist and realize, not that there is a God, but discover there is a Devil, must be a very chilling and disheartening experience. For if there is definitely one, there must be the other.
In William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” and “To A Waterfowl”, Bryant promotes extended metaphors in order to show nature as being a guide for humanity. Nature guides humanity to show him that the dark thoughts are normal. Nature also shows him that death is a natural thing and that when it happens he will not have to worry because he will be safe.
To begin with, Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack has an underlying theme which is about isolationism. In the book, Angus is a very curious dog that wants to learn about the things outside of his home. Furthermore, when the opportunity presented itself Angus ran outside to see what was on the other side of the hedge. Moreover, it is important to realize that the hedge represents the division between the United States and the rest of the world. The author wants the audience to recognize what could potentially happen when a country decides to become involved with the political affairs of other countries. One particular example, is given when Angus cannot control his overwhelming curiosity and decides to go under the hedge to see what is on
John Updike’s poem “The Great Scarf of Birds” expresses the varying emotions the narrator experiences as he witnesses certain events from nature. His narration of the birds throughout the poem acts as numerous forms of imagery and symbolism concerning him and his life, and this becomes a recollection of the varying emotional stances he comes to terms with that he has experienced in his life. These changes are so gradually and powerfully expressed because of a fluent use of diction and figurative language, specifically symbolism and simile, and aided by organization.
Verstraeten, J. Scrutinising the Signs of the Times in the Light of the Gospel. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2007.
The White Heron is a spiritual story portraying great refinement and concerns with higher things in life. A 9 year old girl once isolated in the city found fulfillment in a farm surrounded by nature. Too those less unfortunate, money charm and other attractions can be intoxicated; Sylvia did not bite. She could have helped her situation and found a way to wealth but in the end she realized that it wouldn’t help her to be the person she wanted to be. This paper will illustrate a critical analysis of the story of White Heron and focus on the relationship between the literary elements of the story, plot, characterization, style, symbolism and women’s concerns that are specific to this period.
Arragel, Moses, A. Paz Y Meliá, Julián Paz, and Alba, Jacobo Stuart Fitz-James Y Falcó. Bible (Old Testament). Madrid: Priv. Print. for Presentation to the Members of the Roxburghe Club, 1918. Print.
New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 3 Mar 2011. Accessed 22 April 2014.
Henry, Matthew, and Leslie F. Church. Commentary on the Whole Bible: Genesis to Revelation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1961. Print.
Wilkin, Robert. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity. London: Yale University Press, 2012.
Church History in Plain Language is written by Bruce L. Shelley. This work focuses on the history of Christianity from 6 B.C. to the current period. It covers some of Christianity’s greatest events, theologians, and the various subsection of Christianity. Other than the events leading up to the death of Jesus, I had very little knowledge of Christianity’s history. After reading through the book, I have gained understanding on the Christian Councils, scholasticism, Christendom, and modern trends of Christianity.
Carson, D.A., and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005.