Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Waterfowl and Raven - Journal #7

Compare/contrast the different views of nature that are being presented in the poems. Refer to the list of classical and romantic characteristics and provide specific examples from the poems to support your analysis.


In “To a Waterfowl”, the view of nature is positive. In the poem, the tone has a peaceful, tranquil feel. The setting is on the coast of an ocean during a sunset. The narrator uses a neo-classical view of nature. They describe nature as calm, balanced, and in harmony. The classical view of nature deals more with landscapes and beautiful scenes. Like the classical view, the poem describes a landscape in which the waterfowl flew across the coast at sunset, only knowing where it was going through its instinct or a higher power. The writing style seems to be plain and direct. There is no conflict in this poem- there is just a question. Also, like the classical view of nature, “To a Waterfowl” has a hidden lesson. The lesson states that we should follow God and He will take us where we need to go.

“The Raven” has an emotional and moody view of nature. The tone of the poem is depressing and lonely. The setting takes place in the narrator’s room during the “bewitching hour”, or midnight. “The Raven” has a more romantic view of nature. The poem uses emotion, moodiness, introversion, inner struggle, artistic feeling, folklore, and themes from the occult. It describes the emotional struggle of a lonely man, which has recently lost his wife, and an eerie talking bird. It alludes to Greek mythology and occult ideas, such as the bewitching hour and the talking raven. The writing style is more lengthy and formal. The conflict deals with the narrator’s grief. The “lesson” in this story is that depression will conquer you. He also says that the raven has come from hell and is there to say that there is no afterlife.

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