Compare and contrast the two poems 'The death of a hired man' and 'Out, Out-'

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M.Law 11X1 Mrs.Hunt

Thursday 12th January

Compare and contrast the two poems

The death of a hired man’ and ‘Out, Out-

Robert frost was born in Vermont in 1874 and died in 1963. Robert Frost was a farmer and lived in Vermont, USA. Both poems ‘The death of a hired man’ and ‘Out, Out-‘are set on a farm in Vermont which is probably because of where Robert Frost lived and worked.

I will know begin to discuss the similarities. As I said previously both poems are set in a farm enviroment. The poem ‘The death of a hired man’ is probably set in winter so there would not be a lot of work to be done therefore Warren; the owner of the farm would not need to hire any workers because he would be able to do the work himself. The poem ‘Out, Out –‘ is set in summer therefore there would be a lot of work to do and this is the reason why the boy, at his age, is working.

My next similarity is that both poems flow through chronologically from beginning to end and this can be said to be the first level of understanding, the next level of understanding is that the poem portrays the last part of time that Silas and the young boy have alive; the poem starts off and they’re alive and as soon as the poems end so does their lives, thus giving the poem an abrupt ending, just like actual death. So time plays a major role in these poems. Another example of time is that both of the poems have a passage of time in them. In ‘The death of a hired man’ the passage is when,

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“I’ll sit and see if that small sailing cloud

Will hit or miss the moon.”

After this there is a passage of time, which portrays Warren spending time with Silas.

“It hit the moon.”

This is like Mary telling us that Silas has died.

My next similarity is that in both poems the poet shows a wider picture of the surroundings, which is to show the beauty of the natural world and contrast it against the sadness and depression of what is the inevitable; death. Also, in both poems, I think that there is a realisation ...

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