Alienation is also a key factor in these poems, particularly Hartley Coleridge’s sonnet. He talks about the fact that no-one will stop to tell him about the weather in lines 8 and 9, telling us of his isolation from the world. He uses an extremely effective simile in line 12, where he describes himself as ‘a drop of oil upon a flood.’ This shows us just how isolated he is among the rest of the world, as he is one drop of oil among the millions of people who are represented by the flood. Oil and water do not mix, and because of this the simile is extremely meaningful and it shows us just how alienated he felt in his exiled home. In Browning’s poem, he does not make it clear that he is alienated within his foreign country, but his mind is isolated from his surroundings, as all he can think about is being in England during the Summer. Isolation constitutes a large part of these poems, and because each poet writes about it in so much detail shows us just how they really feel about being away from home. This is a striking factor in each poem.
The way that each poet writes his or her poem is also effective in describing their thoughts on exile. One of the most effective methods used by a poet in these poems is the syntax used by Coleridge in his sonnet. He changes the order of the words on more than one occasion, on lines 1, 6, 10 and 14. One of the most effective examples is on line 14, where he says “Single am I amongst the countless many.” This not only conveys the sense of alienation of the poet, but also gives us an idea of how outnumbered he is in his new home. Also, it makes the poem more interesting to read, as the voice falls naturally while reading this line. Robert Browning also uses syntax in his poem, when he says “Scatters on the clover Blossoms and Dewdrops.” This also adds to the enjoyment of reading this poem as readers are drawn by the poetic nature of the language. The way that the words are laid out in this poem is striking and adds to the atmosphere and the reading of it. This is quite an effective technique to use. Another key technique that is used by the poets is the form of each poem, i.e. the way the poem is laid out. ‘Home Thoughts from Abroad’ is divided into 2 stanzas. This allows the poet to address different issues in each stanza, giving the reader a broader view as to the poets thoughts on exile. For example, in the first stanza he shows his envy towards the people who wake up in England and do not appreciate to natural beauty of the landscape. In the second stanza he reminisces about the wildlife and plant life in England, and compares it to the wildlife and plant life of Italy. In his opinion, the humble buttercup is “far brighter than the gaudy melon flower.” This shows just how much he misses living in England, so much so that he even misses the buttercup flower. The buttercup, as we all know, is a petite yellow flower that grows in vast numbers throughout the British Isles. Usually it would not compare to the great beauty and colour of the Melon Flower, but in Browning believes that nothing is brighter than the modest - a small but significant memory of his homeland. Charlotte Brontë’s piece is an extract of the full poem, and it is written using only one stanza. Hartley Coleridge writes his poem in sonnet form, using only 14 lines to record his thoughts on his exiled home. This is a very effective way of writing as it requires careful planning and a witty writing style. The fact that he is able to write a meaningful poem using only 14 lines shows his skills as a poet, and his thoughts on exile are very well represented despite his stricter writing style.
Another key element present in these poems that grabs the reader’s attention is the use of aspirations. Browning uses aspirations to great effect in his poem, opening with “Oh.” This instantly lets the reader know just how much the poet longs to go home. The word ‘Oh’ is also commonly referred to as slang, and this lets the readers of the poem relate to the poet’s thoughts on exile. Other aspirations are used in this poem to similar effect, for example “Hark” and “Now!” These phrases, when used in the context of the poem, powerfully depict the poets feelings. Charlotte Brontë also uses an aspiration in the extract from ‘The Teachers Monologue,’ as she says ‘Ay!’ This also portrays her true feelings to the reader.
A big difference in the poems is the way in which they are written, for example the town in which the writer talks about his home. Robert Browning’s poem is quite light hearted; the way he talks about the wildlife in England is quite innocent and reminiscent. However, Hartley Coleridge’s poem is a lot more deep and dispirited. There is a prominent sense of despair in his poem; an almost morbid sense of rejection from society. He mentions the fact that he ‘has not a common hope with any,’ telling us that he feels abandoned by the people around him, and that he thinks that there is no hope for him in his exiled home.
A key issue which is present in each of the poems we have studied is the way that the poets use sound to retain the interest of the reader. One of the main ‘sound’ techniques is alliteration. In Browning’s poem he uses examples of alliteration, including “whoever wakes” and “first fine.” This can be compared to the countless examples of alliteration in Brontë’s poem, some of which include “waveless water,” “silent and sunny,” “home my heart,” “thitherward tending,” “happiest hours” and “decayed to dark.”
Another method used to create a sound effect in these poems is enjambment. There are many examples of enjambment in each in of these poems. In Browning’s poem, enjambment is used to make lines 11 to 13 into one sentence. The pace quickens during this part of the poem, depicting the poet’s sense of urgency to return to his homeland. The same technique is used at the start of ‘Tis Strange to Me,’ where Coleridge joins lines 1 to 3 together. This faster pace at the start of the poem contrasts against the slower ending to the poem, which shows just how isolated the poet feels when he says “Single am I amongst the countless many.” Enjambment is also used in Brontë’s poem, although it is not used to ‘as great an effect’ as the other two poets use it.
In these poems, each poet has conveyed the sense of longing to go home very well. On many occasions people feel homesick when abroad, but these poets have recorded their homesickness in a way so as to let others know how they feel. Robert Browning – a well known English poet – has written about his yearning to observe the natural aspect of his homeland. Charlotte Brontë writes about her longing to go home, even though she lives just a few miles away over a distant hill. Hartley Coleridge is the more isolated of the three poets, feeling as if he was excommunicated from his surroundings.
In my opinion, the Coleridge sonnet has the most appeal of the three poems. His sense of alienation is extremely well represented in the short 14-line poem. He also uses very effective similes to express his feelings to the reader. I also believe that this poem is written more effectively than the other two, as he uses syntax and enjambment to great effect, whilst also using appropriate vocabulary to express his feelings. I feel that he misses home the most out of the three poets, purely because his poem has had some influence on me. ‘The Teacher’s Monologue’ and ‘Home Thoughts from Abroad’ do not compare to the work of Hartley Coleridge on this particular occasion.
