1. Ooh, these were difficult -- I'm not sure if I got the interpretations at all correct.

There were certain passages of both that I couldn't really get to grips with, but I decided not to look at google, because of course in the actual exam I won't have google by my side ... Then again I don't have to compare unseen poetry, but I figure it's all good practice (: I'm afraid this essay is a shorty again, it's all I managed to get done in 50 mins! Isis Then again I don't have to compare unseen poetry, What poems might you have to compare? Do you have a list handy?

-----Frost and Warren both choose to portray their themes using imagery-rich language, yet their techniques differ in several key instances. Intro works, but you might want to change the second half of this sentence: too vague. Coming up with intros for these things kind of sucks, but you dont want to say anything vague and you also dont want to repeat yourself. The former should always be avoided, but sometimes the latter cant be. Perhaps say something like Frost and Warren both use imagery-rich language, but the different tone and diction of those images leads to different conclusions about a similar theme. Some features of After Apple Picking are echoed in Robert Penn Warrens Evening Hawk, though it is easy to point out several essential differences between the two. Similar to the above: what features? On what level? (mechanics, word choice, narrative, overall ideas?) Frost also considers the element of deaths uncertainty, alluding to the concept of hell when the speaker keeps hearing from the cellar bin / The rumbling sound; the incessant nature of the word rumbling contrasts well with Warrens almost violent depiction of the hawk, who Scythes down another day, or the uncomfortable-sounding way in which the earth [grinds] on its axis. Im not sure you need or want to go interpretive in this way here: this part of the paragraph is focusing on voice and sound, and I think its stronger when focused on voice and sound. Its hard, in poetry, to separate out certain devices, and essays about poetry shouldnt necessary be like this is where the sound is in the poem this is what the poem means or whatever. So far youve done a good job of integrating different aspects of how the poems are constructed in your comparison. This paragraph works best when you use the differences in sound, tone, and voice to build up to your conclusions about the different meanings of the poems. The academic language littered throughout, including Geometries, sharp hieroglyphics and the reference to Plato instills a sense of scholarly thought in the reader, without giving a subjective view of time. The objective nature of the words mirrors the way in which the hawk knows neither Time

nor error; in this way, the hawk takes on the persona of a god-like figure, surveying the world in an unforgiving yet objective manner. Im not sure what you mean by objective here, or if its the right word to use; I think its good for describing the hawk, since thats an impression granted by certain descriptions as well as knows neither Time nor error, but I dont think you can call the words themselves objective. Whats the difference between an objective and a subjective word? Probably context. However, choice by an author is always subjective. This is a little picky thing, but keep it in mind when youre writing or editing: by all means, let descriptions of the writing flow when youre trying to get your ideas down, but if you have a minute to read through your essay check back to make sure that in the process of describing and supporting your impressions, you dont have descriptions or generalizations that overstep the boundaries of what you can show with examples. , he deftly dismisses religion as a simple error, for which humanity need not be punished. I think your thoughts about the presence of religious imagery, or the possibility for religious ideas that will get picked up by some readers, are good throughout this essay. I think you pinpointed well the differences between Frosts more intuitive and down-to-earth way of thinking and speaking vs. the lofty and well controlled evening hawk. In a few places, particularly the end of the third paragraph, the essay extrapolates a lot and draws conclusions from the poem that I didnt draw (but which I think are valid conclusions based on their constuction). However, this section takes it too far forward; Im not sure that theres anything in Warrens poem that posits religion as an error directly. Again, Im not sure what you mean by objective imagery. Is it the poems bleakness that leads to a different view of religion? Overall, in this poem, I saw it as one where human ideas and actions are not relevant: they change, they are cut down, and they are not important. Take another look at the last stanza, particularly history dripping like a pipe in the cellar. On the whole this was a good short essay: it was straightforward, supported most of your ideas with appropriate quotes, and the last two concluding sentences concluded things nicely. I especially liked your treatment of the differences in word choice and level of language usage. Last edited by Isis; 05-18-2011 at 09:25 AM.