2001 Compare and Contrast Poem Analysis

AP Literature

2001 Compare and Contrast Poem Analysis

            In the poems London, 1802 written by William Wordsworth and Douglass written by Paul Laurence Dunbar contains numerous similarities and dissimilarities. Although Douglass was written a century after London, 1802, the two poems uphold the same identical motives: a plea for the return of their “savior”. However, Wordsworth speaks of, the deceased English poet, John Milton and Dunbar speaks of, the deceased African-American leader, Fredrick Douglass. The authors establish ethos, symbolism, and imagery to further their point. Both, London 1802 and Douglass, convey a retrospective tone while transmitting a somber-filled and mournful mood.

            To begin with, both London, 1802 and Douglass contains a large amount of imagery and symbolism. Starting with Wordsworth, in lines 2-3, he compares England to a “fen of stagnant waters”. Meaning, England has transformed into a swamp, if you will, where the water is still and all water flow is halted. He goes on to say what England lost, “altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower”. These “lost traits” Wordsworth presented all contains a symbolic meaning. The altar means religion, sword means military, the pen means the literature, fireside means the family, and the heroic wealth of hall and bower means the economy. Moving onto Dunbar, he uses the words “evil days”, in a way this phrase works as both imagery and a symbol. It is imagery due to the fact that one can imagine that the days after Douglass died has turned life sour. The phrase “evil days” symbolizes the hard times the African-American society went through after he passed. It, also, symbolizes the impact and influence he had on the African-American society. Overall, the word “evil” has a negative connotation to it by itself, when adding “days” to it creates a negative feeling towards those days.

            Simultaneously, Wordsworth and Dunbar both established ethos. The two bring ethos to life by not the credit to themselves but to whom they were writing about. Wordsworth does so by speaking highly of Milton, saying Milton could “give us manners, virtue, freedom, and power.” He was saying Milton had the ability to exalt the people to become better individuals. And he even goes as far as to compare Milton to nature and the unexplained forces, “thy soul was like a Star… Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as… heavens, majestic, free.” Dunbar does the same, comparing Douglass to nature and the unexplained forces, “Oh, for thy voice high-sounding o’er the storm, For thy strong arm to guide the shivering bark, The blast-defying power of thy form.” This, also, shows the influence Douglass held.

            In closing, William Wordsworth and Paul Laurence Dunbar made their strong points using symbolism, imagery, and ethos. Although these two poems have a century gap, they both have the same intentions. Both, William Wordsworth and Paul Laurence Dunbar not only wanted the betterment of their countries but also the betterment of the people.