1985 Poems: “There Was A Boy” (William Wordsworth) and “The Most of It” (Robert Frost)Prompt: These two poems present encounters with nature, but the two poets handle thoseencounters very differently. In a well-organized essay, distinguish between the attitudes (towardnature, toward the solitary individual, etc.) expressed in the poems and discuss the techniques thatthe poets use to present these attitudes. Be sure to support your statements with specific references.

1988 Poems: “Bright Star” (John Keats) and “Choose Something Like a Star” (Robert Frost)Prompt: Read the following two poems very carefully, noting that the second includes an allusionto the first. Then write a well-organized essay in which you discuss their similarities anddifferences. In your essay, be sure to consider both theme and style.

2002B Poem: “If I Could Tell You” (W. H. Auden)Prompt: The following poem is a villanelle, a form having strict rules of rhyme, meter, andrepetition. Read the poem carefully. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze howthe formal elements of the poem contribute to its meaning.

2004 Poems: “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” (Emily Dickinson) and “Acquainted with theNight” (Robert Frost)Prompt: The poems below are concerned with darkness and night. Read each poem carefully.Then, in a well-written essay, compare and contrast the poems, analyzing the significance of darkor night in each. In your essay, consider elements such as point of view, imagery, and structure.

Contrast of Wordsworth and Frost

Summary:   comparision essay between Wordsworth's There Was a Boy and Frost's The Most of It

As American literature evolved with changes from the 19th to 20th century a shift in belief

transformed the once optimistic nature-adoring attitude into a grim, pessimistic perspective. A

contrast between "There Was a Boy" written by William Wordsworth and "The Most of It" by Robert

Frost clearly portray this transformation. The use of detailed imagery as well as the introduction of

sound devices shows numerous differences among poetic techniques of poetry as well as an

apparent contrast in principles of belief concerning the relationship between nature and the solitary

individual.

"There Was a Boy," by William Wordsworth uses an affluence of imagery to make apparent to the

reader nature's impact on our emotional and spiritual lives. With the image of the boy "fingers

interwoven, both hands/pressed closely palm to palm," Wordsworth creates a link to the eternal.....

Poems About The Stars of Frost and Keats

"Bright Star" by John Keats and "Choose Something Like a Star" by Robert Frost both present to the

reader a desire to be like the "steadfast" star. Both poets gaze for this same quality in the stars, but

thematically and stylistically each poem has its similarities and differences.

The themes evident in "Bright Star" and "Choose Something Like a Star" are similar, but do have

subtle differences. A theme shared between the two is man's wish for eternalness. The first fifteen

lines of "Choose Something Like a Star" ask for the secret of "steadfastness," and the first line of

"Bright Star" says, "would I were steadfast as thou art." The speaker of each poem wants to be able to

identify with the star and its quality of persistence. This same theme the two poems share also has

faint differences. The speaker of "Choose Something Like a Star" does not wish to be "steadfast" like

the star, but wants to obtain the secret of permanence. The speaker says, "Tell us what elements you

blend." The poem "Bright Star" differs in that the ...

Bright Star” and “Choose Something Like a Star” Comparison

October 5, 2009

Tayler  Plathe

Mr. Weinberg

English 407

October, 5 2009

“Bright Star” and “Choose Something Like a Star” Comparison

“Bright Star” by John Keats and “Choose Something Like a Star” by Robert Frost share a common topic, but have different messages that are

manifested though different and conflicting techniques.  Though the “steadfastness” of a star is clearly the main topic in both poems, and both Keats

and Frost agree that the star is removed from humanity as they know it, Keats takes a personal approach to the star, where as Frost takes a more

scientific approach to the star and tries to learn from it for more social reasons.  Both agree that there is lessons and knowledge to be learned from the

star but their interpretations of the stars opinion on life lessons is contradictory.

The speaker in “Bright Star” begins in admiration and respect for a stars “steadfastness” but later learns that there is conflict between the possibilities

of immortality and what ecstasies immortality would prevent between him and his lover.  This conflict is best articulated in the poems final line, when

Keats states “And so live ever — or else swoon to death”; you can see the speaker left his thought partly unclear and was still undeceive on weather he

admires or despises the star.  The word swoon is strangely placed in this line (which is meant to send the final message to the reader); swoon is an odd

choice of word to be placed next to death, in this case, suggesting that the stars final message to the reader is that the understanding of life comes

through the respect for death, not the desire for a longer life.  The immortality of a star is addressed through religious diction when Keats relates the

star to an “Eremite” (4) and “priest-like” (5).  The star in this poem is addressed simply for the speakers personal concerns regarding the speaker and

his lover.  The paradox that the star shares with the speaker is that being immortal with his lover is exactly what he wished for but while doing so, he

would loose all mortal feelings that set the basis for his love for her.  Although the speaker in the poem leaves confused, it is not because of the lack of

knowledge that the star leaves him with, it is because of the frustration of his previous lack of realization that the ecstasy of love and humanity would

be lost in an immortal world.  The reader leaves the poem in understanding that and that life as we know it should be praised for its shortness, and

movement through life is better than the stars steadfastness.

The speaker in “Choose Something Like a Star” begins his thought about a stars “steadfastness” in frustration but later shifts his attitude to a more

appreciatory state of mind.  The immortality of a star is addressed in a scientific way, and the star is only considered and confronted for the speakers

public and social concern.  The speakers desire and demand for facts from the star shows that Frost was trying to send a message to the reader that

although the star is immortal, it does not mean that the star is smarter with facts, but that it is wiser in truths.  The reader in this poem learns that the

stars steadfastness should be praised and desired rather than condemned like it is in Keats’ poem.

Though both the speaker in “Bright Star” and “Choose Something Like a Star” try to learn from the star and its “steadfastness” it is for different

reasons, and through different tones they convey different messages to the reader.  All can learn from a stars steadfastness and apply it to their life just

as Keats and Frost did.

Reflections: Form letter in response to criticism

by Ebey Soman

well here is a criticism, i am simply comparing two authors of two similar poems.

Hold onto a Star

Robert Frost's "choose something like a star" is an example of a poem written based upon John Keats's "Bright Star." Both poems characterize one goal, to grab onto something to keep steadfast. These poems have a lot of differences and similarities and for starters, John Keats poem is a sonnet while Frost's poem is not. Both authors use explicit details, use of imagery and a variety in the style to address the ideas that they are transferring to the reader. Robert frost uses an allusion to connect Keats ideas into his poem."Bright Star" is a sonnet and it is evident in its 14 line iambic pentameter. The First line itself, "Bright star!" is an apostrophe. Also on the first line, Keats uses "steadfast" to show the star's unchanging nature and uses "thou" to address the star. He then wishes that the he "were" this star but not alone in the night. He does not want to be watching like the hermit forever. Versus from lines 4-8 are producing a visual imagery as well as a simile. Usually a priest is associated with holiness, forgiving sins, and healing, answering prayers and thus by comparing the moving water to the priestly duties, Keats might be suggesting that the waters cleanse and heal as well as wash the "human shores" of its filth'. Keats also compares the snow on the mountains as a "soft-fallen" mask upon the earth and he is suggesting that the mountain is wearing this "mask" so you can see a bit of personification, but more importantly, you see the mountain as unmovable, thus connecting to what he said in the first line about the star being "steadfast" and how he wishes to be like so. Also, through this poem, John Keats uses dashes or "-" to break up ideas and words so thus contributing to the syntax. The word "no" is a strong indicator that Keats does not want to be like these things, rather he wants to be steadfast, unchanging, holding onto his love, resting upon his love's breast (can mean chest or literally breasts), safe from the world, yet faithful and always there like the star. He compares the breast to the snow and he connects this back to the snow by saying that it is "soft and swell."Robert Frost in this poem takes a different approach. Frost in his poem starts his whole first like as an apostrophe. In the second line, the poet uses "loftiness" to address the star and this can be seen as either making fun of the star or we can take its literal meaning. Frost can be seen as saying loftiness as another way of saying oh you proud star up high or literally as a star that is high above in the heavens. He is saying that what makes the star beautifully, bright and shinning is the darkness that we are enveloped in. Sometimes, the best things in life only happen when everything may seem to go bad. Thus Robert Frost is saying, people only see your beauty when they are surrounded by darkness and then only can they see your light reaching out to them. The next line contains an inverted syntax and is appealing to obscurity. This can connect that the people that are most often seen as mysterious are the ones with the

money or they are proud. One literary example is Great Gatsby. Frost is now calling out to the star to respond back to him and to tell him and speak to him of things that he can understand and grasp. To reveal mysteries to him and the only thing the star respond with is by saying that "I Burn" and frost is earnestly urging the star to give details, to be more intimate calling for figure we can understand. An Allusion can be found here to Keats's poem and his eremite that the star is always watching and being steadfast, steadfast in the fact that it is a long way from us and does not stoop low to humanity, rather it maintains its own level or standard. So when trouble rage in your life and you need to rely on something, Frost is saying, do not pick a star. Get something to hold onto because a star is unmovable and gives "little aid" but we have to choose something to "stay our mind" or be steadfast."Bright Star" by John Keats and "Choose Something like a Star" by Robert Frost both address a star with a admiration and wonder but, the former uses solid diction and a style that sympathizes with the star and shows an urging for the star. Keyes wants to be like the star in some aspects and he uses various styles to achieve that. However, Robert Frost uses fairly common diction to address the star but not to symbolize the star but to criticize the star in its lacking and urging the readers to not just trust in a star but anything, or any concept. Keyes is speaking of his own personal action as how he held onto his own love while Robert Frost is commenting on that and is counseling, holding onto to love is good, but having something to hold onto is more important that you can understand and trust.

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A Bright Star by KeatsA "Bright Star" by Keats, is a sonnet that shows his infatuation to be with his lover for eternity. The poem's main theme deals with the

love and appreciation of things that are unchanging. This theme is brought up many times in the poem. For example, Keats uses a bright

star and the earth to describe his innermost desires to be immortal, unchanged, and rejuvenated. He expresses deep feelings toward his

lover, and if he had to live without her, he would welcome death.

In the first two lines, Keats shows us that he would love to be around forever and full of life. "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou

art" (1). A star implies something that is around forever and unchanging because, in spite of occurrences throughout life, the star will

reside in the sky each night. Adding bright to the star shows the importance of life to it and that to be unchanging alone is not enough for

admiration. "Not alone splendour hung aloft the night" (2). This line states the bright star is not alone in its brilliance, but is accompanied

by other stars. With this line, Keats expresses the importance of companionship and the fear of being alone.

"And watching, with eternal lids apart,

Like nature's patient, sleepless Ermite" (3-4).

Using the term eternal lids apart projects Keats' immortality and human characteris

Acquainted With The Night Poetry Analysis

The poem “Acquainted with the Night” was written by Robert Frost and was published in the collection, The West Running Brook. A common interpretation of the poem is that the author has experienced depression.   Frost himself was said to have experienced depression, and mental illness is unfortunately prevalent throughout his family. He had to commit his sister to a mental hospital and his own son committed suicide. Using the “night” as a metaphor the reader can experience what the world around them feels like when inside of the darkness of depression. It speaks of isolation and loneliness. The narrator feels this loneliness even though he is surrounded by life in a city. The poem is in the same format as a Shakespearian sonnet. It is fourteen lines and written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme that Frost uses is the “terza rima” pattern (meaning the third rhyme). The pattern is ABA CDC DAD then AA. This pattern is said to be very difficult to write in English. The rhythm of iambic pentameter