Comparison of pre 1914 and current poems

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The two poems I chose to compare are The Laboratory, and Mid-Term break. The laboratory is a poem from the pre 1914’s, in 1845, whereas, Mid-Term Break was written in the present time. I am going to compare the poems, and this will show the differences and similarities between poems from before 1914, and the present time. To analyse the poems I used FLIRTS, which is an abbreviation for form, language, imagery, rhyme, tone, and subject.

Secondly, I compared the form, or structures of the poems. In both poems, there is lots of reliance on structure for effect, however, the structure of both poems is very different, and the use of structure in both poems is very different. The first poem’s structure I analysed is Mid-Term break. The poem is in tercets, which means stanzas of three lines, however, I feel that the poem should not be structured this way. I feel that the poem should actually be structured in quartets, as this would make much more sense, as many phrases which should be on one line, are actually split up in 2 stanzas, for example, “By old men standing up to shake my hand and tell me they were sorry for my trouble.” I think that this should be on the same line; however, it is spilt up into two stanzas after the word hand. I think that the poet, Seamus Heaney, may have actually does this purposefully, to show the confusion in the boy’s mind. I feel that this confusion shows that the boy is so stricken with grief, and is so shocked; it has actually turned into confusion, and could even lead to insanity. At the end of the poem, the final stanza is not in tercets, instead, there is one single line, and I feel that there is a reason for this. I feel that the poet may be showing the end of the poem is fast, I feel that it does not only show the end of the poem, but it could also be the poet showing the end of a life. This could relate to a moral in the poem, that death can be quick. The laboratory is written in a completely different structure, it is in quartets, which means that there are four lines per stanza. In each of the four lines in every stanza, there are 10-12 syllables. When there are 10 lines per syllable, it is called iambic pentameter, and certain words such as “pound” are stressed, giving them more impact. This structure shows that the poet may have planned this, and this may be the poet showing that the entire poem was planned, just like the murder in the poem. Another thing the poet may have planned is that there are a maximum of 12 syllables per line, and there are 12 stanzas in the poem. Another way the poet may have used structure for effect in the poem is that the poem is in the shape of two test tubes, or two candles, which could be showing mystery, and giving a more spooky effect, just like in a laboratory. I feel that this spooky, and mysterious effect makes you want to read on, and makes you feel more tense, and making you read faster.

The next aspect of the poems I analysed is the use of language in both poems. In the Laboratory, there is huge use of language in the poem, mainly to describe the narrator, whereas, in Mid-Term Break, there is less use of language for effect, however, there is some used, showing the poets sadness. In the laboratory, there is a use of language in The Laboratory in the first stanza, “devil’s smithy” shows that the woman knows what is being done is devils work, however, it does not make her stop, but entices her. This could be the poet showing that the woman is evil. The stanza opens with the woman putting on a mask to protect her from the poison “tying thy glass mask tightly,” I feel that the poet may be reminding the reader of a medical procedure, however, in medical procedures, lives are usually saved, in this case, someone will die. In stanza one it also says “which is the poison to poison her prithee,” I feel that this may be the poet showing that the woman wants a good knowledge of the poison, and shows that she is very curious to know which poison will be used to commit the murder, showing that she may want to do it again. The repetition of the letter “P” gives a plosive tone, and it could be the poet showing a sense of importance of the poison. This may show that the woman is desperate to commit the murder. I feel that in the next stanza, the quote “he is with her, and they know that I know where they are” is extremely important. It could be the poet revealing that the speaker is extremely jealous, as she is thinking about the couple being together. Therefore, this also could be the poet suggesting that the man has cheated on her. The quote also, sounds extremely aggressive and impersonal, showing her anger and hatred towards them. The poet may also be using the quote “while they laugh, laugh at me” to show that the speaker is becoming upset as her new “rival” spends time with her ex. I think that the repetition of the word “laugh” could show the writers enthusiasm towards the reader getting a strong perception of the speaker. Also, the repetition of the word “laugh” may be the poet showing that the laughs echo in the speaker head, causing her great pain, which may be the source of her insanity. In stanza three, a variety of imperative verbs are used, such as “mash,” “pound,” and “grind.” I feel that the poet might have used these words to show that the speaker is in an appalling state of mind. The words also show that in her current state of mind, she is extremely violent and angry. The quote “I am not in haste” in the poem may be the poet showing that the woman is not in a rush to commit the murder, but is happy to sit and watch the development of the poison, a “potion of death”. I feel that the poet may be showing that the woman finds more happiness watching the old man work on something which will kill someone, than at the royal court, where everyone loves her and she is thought of as a very attractive person from the quotes “Better sit thus and observe thy strange things,” and “Than go where men wait me and dance at the King’s.” This is odd, and contradicts the fact that her ex lover does not think of her this way. In stanza four I feel that the poet may have shown the theme of creating death, which should appal the speaker, however, it enthrals her, and the poet may be showing her interest when she asks questions such as “is that poison too?” This shows that she wants to know about the potion, and wants to be involved in its creation, and therefore, the thing which will kill her ex partners new lover. The speaker also uses rhetorical questions like “sure to taste sweetly,” this may be the poet trying to catch the reader’s imagination. Another way I feel the poet is showing that the woman is insane is through the use of relating a deadly creation, to beautiful colours, such as “exquisite blue.” In the sixth stanza, the poet reader says “an earring, a casket,” this is showing that she is thinking of ways to carry the poison, however, this leads to another way that the poet may be showing that the woman is mad. After this she becomes amazed at all the places she could hide it, and makes a list “A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket.” She then becomes fascinated about the idea. Also, in the sixth stanza, she compares the poisons to pleasures, “thy treasure, what a wild crowd of invisible pleasures,” this shows that she thinks that the power to kill someone is a pleasure, and something to be treasured. The poet may be continuing to show that the woman is insane is in stanza six, where the woman realises she could kill anyone. Before stanza six, the woman only has the intention of killing one person, however, as time passes, she has many fantasies where she imagines killing many other people, “Pauline should have just 30 minutes to live,” and “But to light a pastille – drop dead.” I feel that the reason for this may be that the woman has let the power of death go to her head, and now wants to kill for fun, again showing her twisted mind. Also, the fact that she says many of Elise’s features, may be the poet showing that the speaker is so angry, she cannot even find the right words. In stanza seven, there is contrast to her once laid back approach “I am not in haste,” with “quick – is it finished?” This shows her excitement at being able to kill someone, and that this may be the poet shows that the woman is not insane, but is actually evil. When the poison is finished, there is a contrast to this anticipation and excitement, as the speaker is unhappy with the colour “the colour’s too grim.” This is contradicted by the fact that she hates her rival who is more attractive than her, but wants an attractive poison to kill her with. The word “grim” may also be the poet associating the poison with death, the grim reaper.  It shows that the woman is unhappy with an end result which is like death; however, she loves the idea of death, which is again, contradictory. In this stanza is also the phrase “let it brighten her drink,” I feel that this might be the poet showing that the speaker wants to be caught, and that she wants her rival to notice there is something wrong with the drink, which may show some good deep inside of her. On the other hand. It may just be the speaker wanting to add excitement to the death. In stanza eight, the language used such as “minion” and the use of exclamation marks show a mood swing and that now, she is angry. The word “minion” also may show that the speaker knows what she is doing is wrong, and that she is evil, but she does not care. The word “minion” may even have a third use, in the phrase “no minion like me,” which could be to show that the speaker has no self confidence, and that she may believe she is unattractive, which is why she lost her love. The poet may be using “What a drop!” To show she is now concerned that the poison will not kill her target, and is now starting to also show a sense of paranoia. Another quote which shows this is “This never will free the soul from those masculine eyes.” The speaker says that her rival “ensnared” her ex partner, and that she ensnares men. This may show that the woman feels that her ex lover should not have left her, as she is superior to her. In the tenth stanza, the speakers instable mind may be shown again in “not that I bid you spare her the pain.” She wants her ex partner to watch his lover die in agony, which I feel is evil. This also may be the poet showing the woman’s control over the poison, and therefore, her ex lover. The poet also may be revealing in the quote “let death be felt and the proof remain” the speaker is so caught up in anticipation and fantasy that she forgets to realise that at the punishment for murder is death. Also, “and the proof remain” may be showing that death will always remain, and can never be undone, so the woman should think about the consequences, or it may be showing that the woman does not care, as long as her ex lover goes through the pain she is in. This may also be shown in the quote “Brand, burn up, bite into its grace,” which are all powerful, violent verbs, and the alliterative “B” sounds very violent, and aggressive. Another way the poet may be showing that the speaker is crazy, or that she is evil as she enjoys death is in “remember her dying face.” This sounds like she will savour her moment of triumph, which is again, suggesting that she is evil. The language used in the poem also suggests that the woman now only cares about the death of her rival, and that all of her riches mean nothing, “take all my jewels, gorge gold to your fill,” which I feel again, links money to evil. Finally, at the end of the poem, “lest horror it brings,” she may be showing that death brings horror, and she does not want to remember it, which again, shows that deep down, she may be a good person. In Mid-Term Break, there is much less use of language for effect, however, there are some instances, such as in the title, “Mid-Term Break.” I feel that this may be a subliminal message for saying that now that his brother has died, it is a break from all the grief, caring and worrying which was previously done all the time. In the first stanza, it says he is in the “college sick bay,” which could be the poet saying that the boy is not physically sick, but that he has become ill with grief. Another use of language in the poem is “it was a hard blow,” which is usually referred to when someone has been physically struck, however, in this instance; it may be the poem showing that he is so heartbroken, that the pain is too great, and that the grief is turning into physical pain. The phrase “the baby cooed and laughed” might be the poet putting a contrast into the poem from all the sadness and grief, and showing that he wishes he could be the baby, who does not even know what is going on, and will never remember the moment. Later on in the third stanza the poet writes “I was embarrassed,” which again could mean he just wants to be alone, and wishes he could be the baby, who no one is bothering. The word “strangers” in the poem could be the poet showing that he cannot even remember who the people are, and could be subliminally showing that he is blinded with grief. In the fifth stanza, the poet again could be using language to show his sadness, in this case, “coughed out angry tearless sighs” could mean that he is choking with sadness, and that it has overwhelmed him. With all of these emotions running through his mind, I think that the poet is saying that he was lost for words, and completely speechless.

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The third aspect of the poem I analysed is the imagery used in the poems. In both poems, there is around the same amount of use of imagery, however compared to many other poems, there is very little imagery used in the form of similes, however, there are lots of adjectives, and if the poems are read carefully, you see that there are metaphors used also. In Mid-Term Break, there are only a few uses of imagery. One use is “poppy bruise.” I think that the word poppy may actually be a metaphor for remembrance, and the poet may be ...

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