An Analysis of Four Poems

Paper Summary:

This paper describes and compares the form, style, poetic techniques, and effectiveness of four poems. The poems, Hopkins' "As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Dragonflies Draw Flame" and "Carrion Comfort" , and Yeats' "An Irish Airman Foresees his Death" and "Sailing to Byzantium", are considered in detail, and their strengths and weaknesses are described. In addition, the poems are rated as either effective or ineffective.

From the Paper:

"This first line describes a strong wind removing the chaff from the wheat, so the grain can be seen. This represents how the suffering may have been positive, in that it pushed away the outer layer to reveal the poet's good character. The poet then asks who he should cheer. First, he wonders if he should cheer God when God has made him suffer. Then he wonders if he should cheer himself for enduring. The poet does not find an answer to this question, with the poem ending with him still wondering whether he can thank God for making him suffer. Considering that the entire poem is a narrative of the poet's journey out of depression, there is a suggestion that at some point later in time the poet will resolve this issue and manage to look back thankfully on what has happened. Overall then, this is a poem that offers hope."

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