"A Poet's response to place is rarely purely descriptive" - Discuss.

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"A Poet's response to place is rarely purely descriptive"

In this essay I will write about whether I agree with the statement above, or not. I will base my conclusion upon a detailed examination of two poems. I will look at the ideas and techniques poets use, language and imagery etc.

I agree with the above statement, I feel nothing is purely descriptive, for example when someone says " That house looks deep-rooted and daunting" the quote is descriptive as well as being someone's personal opinion. To one person it may look daunting but to another the house may look safe and restful. Whenever someone describes something, it always includes an opinion, so nothing can ever be purely descriptive. I will back up my opinion by looking at the two poems:

London -William Blake (1757-1827)

Dover Beach -Matthew Arnold (1823-1888)

"London" is a poem about William Blake's interpretation of the dark side of London, he talks about how everyone is suffering, and how everyone is looking for freedom, no one has a future.

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" Dover Beach" is a poem about a beach in England, Matthew Arnold is describing what he feels is wrong with the world, and the reasons for the problems we have.

"London" - A poem of social protest, against the suffering of all who live in a world such as this.
Written in 1789 (during the British industrial revolution).
Not a poem of observed factual detail but Blake's perception of London, he uses the traditional form of alternate rhyming lines to imitate the repetitive predictability of the circle of suffering.
'London' shows that: if the institution and structure of a place is corrupt then ...

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