Similarities of Different Styles of Writing

Title: Similarities of Different Styles of Writing Similarities of Different Styles of Writing Most recently, I have read many different short stories and poems. The three works that stuck out to me the most are, “A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner, “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” written by William Shakespeare, and “The Cathedral” written by Raymond Carver. Although there are different writers and poets, we are able to find similarities in the text through interpretation. A Rose for Emily” and “The Cathedral” is told in third person. The third person point of view is when the narrator relates all information in third person. The short story will often use third person pronouns like “he” or “she. ” The narrator in “The Cathedral” is consistently describing his wife and the blind man’s actions. Craver is also sure to provide great detail in the emotions that are supposed to be felt. Ignorance, for one, “My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed” (1977, Craver).

A Rose for Emily” is told from the viewpoint of an unknown townsman. “When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the mean through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the woman mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no save an old-manservant—a combined gardener and cook—had seen in at least ten years” (1929, Faulkner). Besides being told in third person, the main similarity that I recognize is how people react to others.

The narrator in “The Cathedral” was fascinated, for lack of a better description, about a blind man named Robert; to the point where he was not looking forward to the Robert staying in his house. When I was reading this story it seemed as if the narrator did not even understand how his wife could be friends with someone who cannot see. When Miss Emily passed away the women in the town went to her funeral because they had not seen the inside of her house. It also seemed as if Miss Emily did not leave her house for many years.

Miss Emily seemed to be one of those scary neighbors that we have seen in the movies, not too sound like the narrator in “The Cathedral”. Both of these short stories are familiar to life. When Faulkner writes about Miss Emily speaking to the City Hall about taxes, this rang true to me. I, myself, have had to discuss taxes with the city hall. When the narrator in “The Cathedral” made an off color comment to his wife about Robert this also rang true to me, “maybe I can take him bowling” (1977, Craver). Growing up with my brother, there was always an off colored comment.

He is ten years older than me always tried to ruffle my feathers. It is sometimes easier to interpret short stories. There seems to be more of a preface and description. When it comes to poetry, I feel that interpretation is using your imagination or creative side. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” is fourteen lines long but it says so much, as if it was a story about love. “But thy eternal summer shall not fade” or as I read it, my love will never die (1609, Shakespeare). To me, poetry is formed with non descriptive words that tell a story, mood, or feeling.

The main difference between a short story and poem is the length of the reading or its format. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” is written in sonnet style. Most poets use rhyme in set form. From my understanding this can be called a sonnet. Authors who are writing a short story do not think about making anything rhyme; however, I can still find similarities in a poem and short story. For example, “A Rose for Emily” talks about feeling. I felt one of the points being made in A Rose for Emily” was not to judge.

I also interpreted that just because someone is different does not mean that they cannot find love. Miss Emily found love. Does the title of Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily” mean this is a memoriam of Emily’s life? William Shakespeare is timeless writer. Not only did he write poetry but he is also a Play Right. Shakespeare wrote plays that I remember acting out as a child or reading in school, such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. I personally feel that Shakespeare wrote a lot about love. Of course I am a sucker for love stories so I instantly gravitate to his work.

Shakespeare, Carver, and Faulkner are all from different generations. Each writer has made a name for himself with words. These three men had a completely different up bringing; times differed morally as well. Similarities between these three gentlemen can also vary by person. I found that the two stories and poem had humanity in them. Everyone feels love, everyone is nosey, and unfortunately, everyone has stereotypes.

References DiYanni, R. , 2007. Literature, Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. McGraw-Hill, Higher Education, New York, New York.