Essay Example on 3 Poem Types: Theme, Form, Figurative Language

Introduction

Three elements of comparison are evaluated in this topic, theme, form, and figurative language. The theme of a poem is the central idea that the poet wants the reader to digest; it can be a story, a thought, or a description (Husda, & Azizah, 29-35). The form of a poem may have a specified number of stanzas or lines and a rhythm scheme. There are three common types of pf poem.

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First, lyric poetry is a poem with only one speaker who expresses a strong feeling or thought. Second, a narrative poem is a poem that tells a story; it has a structure similar to a storyline, in comprises an introductory, conflict, climax, and finally denouement (Husda, & Azizah, 29-35). A figurative language is a different approach that makes writing memorable and unique. The strategies connect the minds of the reader with what the poet is saying (Husda, & Azizah, 29-35). The figurative language, which is used in this comparison, includes metaphor, which is a comparison of two seemingly things that are unlike. The imagery, which is used to appeal the senses of the reader, and finally, the symbolism, which infuses things of literature with the meaning of what they symbolize. Other elements of poetry include; meter, rhythm, and rhyme scheme.

Theme comparison

The central theme of the Road Not Taken is the choices in life that define our destiny (Bovey, 2020). The principle idea outlined in the poem shows the speaker is confronted with the road, and a choice has to be made on which route to take. The speaker is supposed to choose one path and abide by it. The theme of choice in this poem defines how human beings face decisions in life and what they make. While we wish to eliminate options, the speaker tells us that we cannot avoid the element of choice. Little alleviation can be there for us to avoid this burden, but the decision has to be made for the fork we encounter on the road. In the conclusion analysis, the poem gives us the primary indication of the theme that our choices must come from what we content. The last line "has made all the difference." Indicates the content choice of the speaker on realizing the choices he made. It demonstrates that no matter what we choose and decide, they belong to us; hence we have to take ownership of them.

The Mending Wall is mainly concerned with the theme of self-imposed barriers that prevent the interaction of human beings. The neighbor of the speaker keeps rebuilding the Wall pointlessly; even if it benefits someone, it is harmful to the land, but the neighbor continues to maintain it. The neighbor relies on traditional reasons and does not critically think about the fence, which makes the speaker upset-the speaker wonders at first place why the neighbor rebuild a stone fence that separates their properties. The speaker's estate is made of apple trees, while that of neighbor is made up of pine trees. Inline (24-25) the speaker that his apple will never cross to eat the cones, but the neighbor stubbornly replies on line (44) that "Good fences make good neighbors." The neighbor does not want to examine the reasons for rebuilding the Wall, but he does the repair year after year.

Poetic Form

The Road Not Taken is a descriptive poem that consists of five verses summarized in four stanzas forming a rhythm of ABAAB exception of the last line. In the first stanza, and imagery is depicted using two roads separated from each other by yellow wood. This stanza introduces the questionable choices of a human being faced in life as people encounter many dilemmas circumstances. In verse two, a decision is made, and the speaker chooses the road, which he thinks it's better. This stanza clarifies misunderstanding of one way, having traveled less than the other, as the speaker states that both routes were the same. In verse three, the final decision of leaving the other road is made, but the speaker confesses his doubts that he might come back to travel in the other way. This stanza shows the honest of making a crucial decision as the speaker notices equal choice ahead of him. Lastly, in the fourth stanza, the speaker foreshadows to tell a story about his decision. This shows the nature of our future regrets when it comes to dilemma decisions that whatever we choose, we will eventually regret it.

Mending Wall takes the narrative form presenting two neighbors whose land is separated by a stone fence. In each spring, the neighbors come together to repair the damaged Wall caused by winter. The speaker claims the Wall is unnecessary, but the neighbor has strong desires to maintain it because he believes that, "Good fences make good neighbors" (Mending Wall by Robert Frost). Lines (1-4) introduces the Wall as the poetic symbol. Lines (5-9) the speaker contrasts the nature, the destruction of the Wall by the groundswell, the speaker understands and recognize their motive. Lines (10-11) the speaker stimulates the idea that breaks made of nature are mysterious than the hunters' breaks, and the actions are unobserved as much as effects repeats year after year. Lines (12-16) the speaker becomes apparent by his ambivalence, as much he has the desires that the Wall belongs to his neighbor, he arranges to repair it.

Lines (17-19) the stone becomes playful as the farmers try to cast the spell on it. Lines (20-22) the speaker's activities of the Wall as insignificant, and the task is difficult. Lines (23-26) the poem illustrate central tension as the speaker desires to end his relationship with the neighbor. String (27), the neighbor speaks personally and implies separation to be essential. Lines (28-31) the speaker tries to provoke the neighbor but with low statement. Lines (32-35), the speaker starts to speculate the symbolic significance depicted by the Wall. Lines (36-38), the speaker discovers an ambivalent attitude, thinks of playful and suggests that their Wall was destroyed by "Elves." Lines (39-42), the speaker views his neighbor as primitive and mysterious, who rely on a smile to make an observation. Lastly, lines (43-45), the speaker shows that his neighbor is unable to take a risk because he is unable to reveal reasons beyond the fact of the attitude of his father.

Figurative language

Metaphor

The Road Not Taken poem, the speaker has used several metaphors; in the lines (4-5), the road is a metaphor for the near future. The speaker looks at the road and sees a distant point, and this is the same way we cannot see the consequences of our future based on the choices we make. The same way inline-six, the speaker takes the road that he had not examined. Another metaphor is "Then took the other, as just as fair," this makes the decision of the spur-of-the-moment in life. It was finally realized in lines (13-15) that the speaker would never come back at the beginning of the two roads. On the side of Mending Wall, the speaker used, "And some are loaves and some so nearly balls," as a metaphor of comparing stone blocks to loaves and balls (Copland, 2016). Every winter, walls got destructed and had to rebuild every spring.

Imagery

The Road Not Taken is rich in imagery. The speaker uses yellow wood and grassy ways to describe to us the beautiful, natural context. This description gives us the feeling of fresh air, crisp, and be able to see the bright colors of trees. We also see the woods surrounding from the speaker's point of view, stopped at the fork, and alone in the setting. As the speaker looks down on one road until undergrowth is bent, we are able to picture the disappearing path in the lush forest. There is an image of disappearing light into the dark. When the speaker says, "Equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black" (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost), we picture how the ground is fresh without being disturbed by travelers. On the other hand, Mending Wall has also employed imagery, and the speaker said, "He is all pine, and I am apple Orchard" (Mending Wall by Robert Frost); in this case, we get that picture of how the speaker is different from his neighbor. The neighbor is placed in the image of primal existence. In the primitive setting, the stone moves from being used as a material building to the weapon.

Symbolism

Mending Wall has employed symbolism to generate different meanings to readers. The speaker uses the word "fence" to symbolize the gap which exists between him and his neighbor, and it shows how one should establish and maintain long-lasting relationship and privacy. The speaker also uses "nature" to symbolize his reunion with the neighbor in every spring they meet to fix the destructed Wall. On the other hand, The Road Not Taken has also employed several symbols, and the speaker uses "road" to symbolize the journey. "The fork in the road" (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost) also expresses the essential life choices to make. Presenting the poem in autumn with yellow leaves symbolizes later years; in this poem, it helps us to picture out that the speaker is an older person who has lived may spend years on the journey of life.

Works Cited

Bovey, "Summary and Analysis of the Road Not Taken." Poem Analysis, 26 Feb. 2020, poemanalysis.com/robert-frost/the-road-not-taken.

Copland, Sarah, and Alexandra Peat. "Mending Walls and Making Neighbors: Spatial Metaphors in the New Modernist Studies." (2016).

Husda, Azizah. "STUDENTS'ABILITY OF IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS OF POETRY THROUGH GROUP DISCUSSION." Vernacular: Linguistic, Literature, and Communication Journal I (2019): 29-35.

"Mending Wall by Robert Frost." Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-theme-poem-mending-wall-20711.

"The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost." Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-main-theme-poem-road-not-taken-91189.