Romanticism in poetic works centers around the idea that humankind is able to find peace and solace with the natural world. While Romantic writers often describe nature as a beautiful paradise, the wilderness can also be dangerous. In the poem A Bird Came Down the Walk, Emily Dickinson illustrates the juxtaposition between the civilized society of man and the behavior of animals in the natural world. The speaker of the poem is seen observing a bird feeding on its prey, while the small creature remains unaware of it spectator. However, once the speaker has been discovered, the bird is frightened and flies away.
In “Sympathy”, by Paul Laurence Dunbar, a man can see the reflection of the subjugation he feels as he views a bird, trapped in a cage. In this lyric poem, filled with agony, grief, and painful emotion, a reader can receive a glimpse into the eyes and mind of someone who has been oppressed. This poem is designed to create a tone that gives the reader insight into and lets the reader feel the pain of the bird and the man who can sympathize with him. The poem starts by a description of a wonderful place. The images of a bright sun, and “wind stir[ing] through the springing grass”, and how the river flows, all show the design of a care-free, jubilant life in this peaceful place, that is just outside the bird’s reach.
A healing of the mind can happen and the song of a bird is the catalyst. This melancholy is carried over into the second stanza and the poet speaks of wanting to "leave the worl... ... middle of paper ... ...eats lacks resolution; his poem is slightly disturbing. While the reader can discern seeds of happiness in Keats' poem, it never fully develops. Both poets though convey a sense of being one with the bird. In effect the birds become anthropomorphic.
The last two lines of the 2nd stanza (couplet) and the entire 3rd stanza is repeated in the 5th and 6th verses to amplify the significance of the perils of a closed mind, a mental state filled with darkness. The poem provides insight into the direct relationship of using choice to transcend (“free bird”) and excel to unlimited possibilities (“the sky”) versus using a choice which mentally stagnates (cages the mind) and results in mental strain (“his tune is heard on the distant hill…sings of freedom”). The outstanding aspect of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is the exceptional use of personification. The author’s personification of a bird (wild/free vs captivity) to compare and contrast to the cognitive operation of the human mind is provocative, compelling me to reflect, daily, on my life
But the bird will eventually leave the narrator just like everyone else. Here describe the ultimate loneliness the narrator felt. When the bird repeated “ Nevermore ” the narrator know that this is the only word the bird will say. “Doubtless, said I, what it utters is its only stock and store”(63) “Stock and store” means the bird is trying to learn human language like a parrot. “Poe also considered a parrot as the bird instead of the raven; however, because of the melancholy tone, and the symbolism of ravens as birds of ill-omen, he found the raven more suitable for the mood in the poem”(Quinn) “Caught from some unhappy master”, the narrator stated that the bird have an unhappy master, that’s how he learn the word.
S/he also uses visual imagery by constructng an image of the actions the bird does. Such as, “Perches in the soul.” (l.2) and “sings the tune without the words –” (l.3). The speaker also uses alliteration, such as, “without the words” (l.3), “strangest sea” (1.10), which brings colorful images to the minds of the readers. The symbol of this poem is the bird which is a symbol of hope and the lack
And the last part, starts from the fifth letters to the rest of them, which mainly describe the harmonious life between the parents and those birds. As mentioned, the parents’ pains, negative emotions and hatred are presented in the first part. Even from the first few lines from the poem: “Ulcerated tooth keeps me... ... middle of paper ... ...t is arguable that the birds fight is also a metaphor, implying the fight exists not only between birds but also in the father’s mind. Finally, the last part confirms the transformation of the parents, from a life-weary attitude to a “moving on” one by contrasting the gloomy and harmonious letter. In addition, readers should consider this changed attitude as a preference of the poet.
The innermost emotions, as a human, are always vulnerable. The bluebird is every human who is vulnerable, the bluebird is who a person is before they put the mask on of becoming guarded. The bluebird is our emotions and feelings; our pleasures and happiness as well as our depression. T... ... middle of paper ... ...Bukowski’s poem occurs when he changes the line, “there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too tough for him” to “there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too clever, I only let him out at night sometimes when everybody’s asleep.” This shift of emotion shows that as humans we all have secrets and we all are able to let go of our scaredness, even if it is alone and at the darkest of hours. Bukowski then writes, “then I put him back, but he’s singing a little in there, I haven’t quite let him die” this shows that no human ever completely lets themselves be oblivious to the natural sense of emotions.
The main focus here is the symbolism of the birds in the poem. The poems are in fact based around the birds and their meanings. There are three main points to compare between the symbolism of the birds, they are; the birds both being an omen, the birds giving a feeling of remorse or prosperity, and the birds creating a false hope. First of all the Raven symbolises a bad omen and the Albatross symbolises a good omen. The mariners on the ship in Rime of the Ancient Mariner, see the Albatross and immediately their spirits are uplifted.
I am also going to write about my reactions to each of the poems. Both of the poems are describing birds of prey. The Eagle focuses on the dominant side of the bird while Hawk Roosting focuses more on the ruthless side of the bird. They both start with the bird in an elevated position and emphasise the birds poise. Hawk Roosting says, "I sit on the top of the wood, my eyes closed."