Poem Introductions- Stories of Ourselves Cie

Because I Could Not Stop for Death In “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” the author is taken on a metaphorical “ride” past her entire life and to her end by a personified death. Symbolism, personification and alliteration are used to highlight the fact that she has come to accept fate as natural and is even happy with her new, “eternal,” life.

My Parents Kept Me from Children Who Were Rough “My Parents Kept Me from Children Who Were Rough” tells of an author looking back on his life as a sheltered, high class boy that is harassed by the town’s “common kids.” He is abused both physically and emotionally while he, following higher class norms, ignores them. Similes, verbs in past tense, diction such as “kept” and symbolism help describe not only the situation but give insight on the boy’s true desire: acceptance.

Attack “Attack” is a poem , anxiety, uncertainty and danger. The author uses imagery, personification and onomatopoeia to paint a picture of war, describe the dangers as “alive” and out to get you and reflect the quick and crude sound of bombs and bullets.

Anthem For Doomed Youth “Anthem For Doomed Youth” is a tragic depiction of the meaningless and devastating ends young soldiers meet in battle. Their deaths, unhonored, are blended into the overall war landscape of “stuttering rifles” and “angered guns.” Alliteration, personification and metaphors are used to illustrate a landscape filled with gun and bomb sounds and dangers that parallel the human condition during the war.

My Dreams Are Of A Field Afar “My Dreams are of a field afar” is a song of guilt in which a man remembers his fallen comrades and laments not having acted in a certain way. The author mentions the fact that he remains alive because, unlike his mates, he failed to react in an honorable and satisfactory manner; this conflict serves as the root of his remorse.

One Art In “One Art,” the author tries to confront her emotions towards losing a loved one by comparing it to many trivial things. The authors hesitation to write at the end and the change in tone when she says “the art of losing’s not too hard” (an obvious diversion from the confidence expressed in previous lines) show that no matter how much she wants to believe that the “art of losing,” might be perfected to the point of indifference, she will continue to be affected. Personification in the beginning parallels the nature of the more significant loss at the end of the poem.

Tears, Idle Tears Tears, Idle Tears is a poem about the past: a past that although filled with happiness and love is remembered as dead with regret and sadness. Using metaphors, imagery and the repetition of the last line in each stanza, the author paints a picture of a beautiful “before” that has somehow been lost. Death is made a synonym of that love that once was, but is now a thing of the past.

Because I liked You Better “Because I Like You Better” is a poem of unreciprocated love, a love so strong it was willing to deny itself for the other’s sake. Metaphors are used to see exemplify the effect actions and events have on the author, i.e pain and reluctant agreement. The author might, to a degree, be scornful of his situation since he decides to, without much trouble, accept rejection and describes his love as “…better than suits a man to say.”