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Essay / Comparative analysis of “The Raven” and “In the Autumn”
“The Raven” and “In the Autumn” are two romantic poems written in the same period but which have very different points of view. In the poem “The Raven,” we follow a man sitting in his room, mourning the loss of his beloved Lenore, when suddenly a raven appears at his window. He begins to speak with this crow as if it were a person and more and more he is plunged into a devastating mental state of depression and hatred. On the other hand, “To Autumn” is a very different type of poem than “The Raven.” This piece is nowhere near the height of sadness and hatred. In this poem, the author creates a vivid picture of the autumn season and how it reaches a state of perfect maturity and the beauty of different parts of nature at this time. Through different themes, tones, shifts, and figurative language, the poems “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe and “To Autumn” by John Keats each prove that literature is a reflection of its times. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay To begin with, a poetic element for each of the poems is the theme of emotionality and its effects in the poems. John Keats says: “Season of mists and sweet fruitfulness / Intimate friend of the ripening sun” (Keats 1-2). This shows Keat's romantic perspective on the beauty of nature, specifically the season of autumn, and how bright and happy nature is. It is a product of its time because the romantics of this period held nature to a very high standard and believed that nature was very beautiful, as shown in this poem. Poe had a different view, he said: "'Prophet!' I say, bad thing! — prophet again, whether bird or devil! — / Whether the tempter sent you, or the storm threw you here to earth” (Poe 85-86). This shows Poe's romantic views because he is in a critical mental state and thinks the raven is a supernatural entity or something of the devil. It is a product of its times because religion was an important part of people's lives and the fear of the devil was very present at the time, which was reflected in this literature. Ultimately, both poems use a theme to show romanticism and how literature is a reflection of its times. Additionally, a poetic element of the poems is the tone of depression and sadness versus the happiness and love of nature between the two pieces. Keats exemplifies a joyous, nature-loving tone by illustrating: “Till they think the hot days will never cease / For summer has overflowed their sweaty cells.” Keats demonstrates romanticism with tone by highlighting autumn and using a nature loving and happy tone in his poem to show his view that nature is beautiful. It is a product of its times because at the time, the romantics believed that nature was made up of good and happy things, which is reflected in this poem. Poe has a different view and says, “Other friends have already flown away — / Tomorrow he will leave me, as my hopes flew before” (Poe 58-60). Poe shows romanticism in this quote because he uses a sad and depressed tone when he talks about his loss and how there is no hope in society and in himself and he feels feels isolated. It is a product of its times because the romantics had no trust in society and this is reflected in this literary work. Overall, tone is used in both poems to show romanticism and reflect on the literature of the time. Additionally, a poetic element used in both poems is the.