Poetry Reviews and Analyses from the Reconstruction Era

[PPSEL Writing]

Poetic Analysis Essay
“Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together,” states Paul Ryan. The poem “O Captain My Captain” by Walt Whitman sheds light on the fact that you can always get a little help from someone else by using a variety of poetic devices, theme, and symbols.
To start, Whitman uses poetic devices to convey his theme. For example, he demonstrates apostrophe when he says “O Captain! my Captain!” and “for you the flag is flung”. By employing this poetic device, Whitman makes the audience inquire about whom he speaking to. Also, onomatopoeia comes in to play in the lines “for you the bugle trills” and “ring, O bells!” The poet’s use of onomatopoeia aids in the painting of a picture through imagery such as “his lips pale and still” and “the swaying mass”. Lastly, the poet exhibits repetition of the phrases “O Captain! my Captain!” and “fallen cold and dead” which makes the poem powerful. It creates a sense of urgency, and it encourages the audience to think.
In addition to poetic devices, Walt Whitman uses them as a medium to paint the theme. An interpretation of such theme would be that getting a little assistance from someone in the matter of something is okay. The phrase “our fearful trip is done, the prize we sought is won” contributes to the portrayal of the theme because it suggests that more than one person completed the voyage. The line “the bells I hear, the people all exulting” also suggests that there was more than one person. The overall theme makes a hard hitting impact on everyone who reads it by inspiring them to take action and pride in the assistance of others.
Finally, not only does Whitman have a prominent theme, he uses symbolism to propel the poem to a much deeper meaning. For example, “O Captain! my Captain/ my father” is a symbol for Abraham Lincoln. “Our voyage” represents the action or journey to abolishing slavery. “The prize” embodies their goal to annihilate slavery. Furthermore, “the ship” is a representation of everyone who supported and abetted the downfall of slavery. By Whitman’s choice of symbolism, he really exemplifies the overall importance of Abraham Lincoln and how he mended America back together.
In conclusion, Walt Whitman embellishes the theme which is: a little aid from other people is okay through his use of a plethora of poetic devices such as symbolism, apostrophe, repetition, onomatopoeia, and imagery, a strong theme that is obvious throughout, and an abundance of symbols that force the readers to stop and think deeper than the composition.

[PPSEL Writing]

“Surrounded!”
“Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!”
The references to the solders, the poetic symbolism, and the hidden theme come together to create the poetic masterpiece “Charge of the Light Brigade,” by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
The solders are generated by the use of guns, cannons, and army slain. The phrase “storm’d at with shot and shell,” could be related to the medieval term “siege” meaning: to strike a building or stronghold. Six hundred solders rode into the mouth of death. Six hundred solders so noble they left the realm in astonishment. Six hundred solders each with the ability to protect the people who cannot protect themselves. Solders who make sacrifices for others. “Solders” can be a symbolism for the heroes in our lives.
Symbolism is used in voluminous of ways to provoke the reader to ponder about what he/her read. For instance, “the valley of death” may be in fact death, or the enemies that wish to cause us harm. The “Light Brigade” may be symbolism for the heroes in our lives, not superheroes. The symbolism Tennyson incorporates into his work allows the poem to reach the height that others see it as.
Tennyson allows the theme of the poem to be hidden, yet have some parts shown, like the witness who has given a detective advice to help put together to solve a mystery. Although the poem seems to have an obvious subject and storyline, the genuine theme may relate to the choices we make in our lives. We may get Six hundred chances to make the right choice so we have to use those risks to our ability to become the superlative we can be.
To conclude, this poetry analysis on a respectable memo consider this: Who are my solders? Why do the solders in my life even care? What pushes them to fight for complete strangers like me? Remember, your answers is in the poem “Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

[PPSEL Writing]

PERSERVERANCE
By: Sami M
Did you know that George Moses Horton the man who wrote “Death of an Old Carriage Horse,” was born a slave and wrote this poem about slavery. In his poem Horton portrays a deep meaning, an engaging tone, and repetition.
To begin with, this poem has an in depth connotation that keeps you thinking and inspires people to carry on. The theme is, you should never give up no matter how tough the situation. Always appreciate what you have and don’t complain about what is not in your possession. Next, the poem uses symbolism to represent that the author is trapped in his own life, but he doesn’t give up or ever stop trying. He accepts his way of life and takes his serving as it is handed to him.
In addition, the poet writes in an engaging tone that engulfs the readers and pulls them in. the tone in the poem is tired and sad. At the same time the “ horse” id reflecting his accomplishments and is proud that he never stopped trying. The interpretation of the tone is that even if you are tired, sad, and low, there is always something to be proud of.
Equally important, Horton uses repetition to illustrate the fact that you should live your life to the fullest. The phrase “push along”(lines 4,9,13, and 17) is used multiple times to create a sense of urgency that you should “push along” (lines 4,9,13, and 17). The most important part is to keep going, keep moving on, and realize that what’s done is done. An explanation of the repetition is that Horton doesn’t want people to give up and stop because things are to hard. He wants people to live their lives and not dwell on what they could have had. He wants them to “push along” (lines 4,9,13, and 17) and not stop.
In conclusion, this poem is an important life lesson because there are too many people in the world that don’t appreciate what they have and you shouldn’t do that, you should accept your life as it is. “Death of an Old Carriage Horse” has a meaning that in order to understand you have to chip the surface, the intonation of the poem is one that is intriguing, and the remark repeated is one of importance.

[PPSEL Writing]

Lost in a dream
By Nika B.

The poem “dream land” by Christina Rossetti has a variation of imagery, repetition, and alliteration. Because of the imagery that is used throughout the poem it makes it very intriguing to read. “Dream land” has a significant meaning about beautiful life and death.

Christina Rossetti made this poem captivating with imagery that explains death: for example, she uses “the knighting gale sadly sings” and “she cannot feel the rain upon her hand.” This explains that death is sad but you cannot stop death. Also, it explains how you are in peace and you have no more problem to deal with, in a way, you are free.

“Dream land” had an emotional feeling to the poem some of the poem felt very somber; in example, in the poem it states “where the sunless rivers weep” it explains the sun is leaving you o you can find a new light. This poem was very intriguing and had a lot of symbolism. I felt as if I was a part of the scene the poem was describing. Christina Rossetti gives the reader an opportunity to relate to having to go through with something even when you don’t want to and how you choose to react to the obstacle can affect your future.

[PPSEL Writing]

‘’The City in the Sea’’
The Waves of the Void by Sean K
As troublesome treason shallows up our spine like the frost to the evergreen, “The City in the Sea” accustoms our forgetful hopes of conquering the dark. The poem, “The City in the Sea” by Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates a plethora of poetic techniques such as Diction, Alliteration, and Personification to portray the struggles that we as humans know as the shivering forgetfulness of the past evil.
To begin, Poe agglomerates this work of art by using a diction of that of the upper class. For instance, words in lines such as, “whose wreathed friezes intertwine” (stanza 2 line 1) and. “on seas less hideously serene’’ (stanza 4 line 12). These combined verbal varieties excel the theme in a distinct creative way by giving a feel for the surroundings of this troublesome vision.
Moving on, as well as having an upper class-like word choice, Poe also demonstrates such alliterate elegance in the common figurative language known as alliteration. These augments such as ‘’Thousand thrones’’ (Last stanza line 11), ‘’Time eaten towers that tremble’’ (First stanza line 8), and ‘’holy heaven’’ (stanza 2 line 1) all show that the past in this poem is being diminished by the lost memory of this city. Similar to real life, we humans don’t like to remember things which trouble our craniums.
To continue, this astonishing poem also beholds personification to show how crippled the past can be. The use of such terms like ‘’Death’’ (stanza 4 line 6) and ‘’idol’s diamond eye’’ (stanza 5 line 4) show evil through inanimate objects like the diamond which represents greed, supporting the theme of evil is not to be remembered for its dark crippling events.
To conclude, the poem, ‘’The City in the Sea’’ demonstrates a warping portal to fractured past memories; hence, delivering the message that dark events do not want to be remembered for they may bring back the evil which resides inside us all.

[PPSEL Writing]

“Lines” Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Gabriel



“What shall be our country’s doom?” Is referring to what will happen if the earth continues on its path. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper is saying that our world is falling apart because of pollution crime and non-runnable resources. “The great keys of Doom and Fate.” The key of Doom is said to be held by bad people who make bad decisions. The key of Fate is held by people who correct their decision. The bad people are playing tug-o-war with our world against the good people. The bad people are running towards doom and despair as the good people are running the opposite direction towards fate and hope. “He stood up holding his banner’ with blood and tears.” God is admitting defeat because he cannot control what he can control and must destroy it. Frances is leading you towards the reason why we should save the world from a fiery death. Frances Ellen Watkins “lines” is stating that we need to take better care of our world or there will be no world to take care of.

[PPSEL Writing]

Amaranthine Love
In the poem “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke, the poet engages his audience to continuously read this poem and wish there was more. Some of the lines are very alluring, yet seem so simple. An example of this could be, “Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam; A body of England’s, breathing English air.” This line is very descriptive and overall, just engaging. Brooke does a good job of explaining the theme of the poem throughout it and does not state the theme exactly. In fact, Brooke discloses the theme, in a very subtle way, throughout the poem. “The Soldier” can engage a plethora of audience members no matter who or where they are. Rupert Brooke uses poetic devices in a very exquisite style on all accounts in this poem. A list of these devices may include: symbolism, personification, tone/mood/voice, and many more. Brooke also has an engaging theme. All of these devices are used to enhance this significant poem. Inescapably, Brooke uses very many poetic devices to grapnel the reader in the poem “The Soldier”

To begin, Rupert Brooke uses symbolism in his poem to explain and engage the audience. One of his lines states, “A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,” This line is explaining that England is making a person who was not aware, more aware that death comes at a price, but love is always free. Even though England is not alive, it is still a really powerful line. Brooke uses this to emphasize this amazing poem. The poem “The Soldier” has a plethora of significant symbolisms in “The Soldier” to help contract the pursuer to continue reading the poem. Also, in “The Soldier” Brooke uses symbolism to change the tone in the poem very subtly. Brooke clearly symbolizes that when the soldier dies, he will always be with his lovers. This is going more in depth with the line “A pulse in the eternal mind, no less” and Brooke really emphasizes this.

Proximately, Rupert Brooke also uses personification in “The Soldier” to catch the audience among his poem. Brooke gives England human qualities to explain how “The Soldier in the poem is with England and how England is depressed at his death. Even though England is a country withholding three million people (estimate from early 1900s), this country was given human qualities. Brooke did a very good job at using very little personification lines and still showing how important it is in the poem. In fact, this poem has 1-2 lines with personification and those lines are some of the short ones. Even with the amount of personification used, Brooke made this device visible in those lines in “The Soldier”.

Equally important, the overall theme and tone/voice of “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke is a good theme for a great poem. For starters, one of the many thought out themes of “The Soldier” is that even when death comes, love will always be by your side.

[PPSEL Writing]

Memories

Dreamland is a poem that explores the discourse of death. This poem really captures the events this girl is feeling. It paints a mental picture of this girl encountering death.
The poem was written by Christina Rossetti. Rossetti’s experience with “Dreamland”, explained that this girl was going through a hard time and that when the time came she would face her death. Rossetti uses expressive words to create images that could symbolize death. For example, in the first stanza, Rossetti described a girl who is in a “Charmed Sleep”. The “Charmed Sleep” could symbolize the eternal, enchanted, sleep someone encounters when they die. She also, says that this girl is “Lead by a single star”. This phrase could be symbolizing god guiding the girl to heaven. Rossetti really wrote about her beliefs in most of her famous poems.
Christina Rossetti carefully picks the creative, inspiring, words she uses to ensure the message she is trying to come across. Rossetti’s presents countless examples to the scenery. In the line “Where the sunless rivers weep”, captives plainness, darkness, sadness, and possibly lifelessness.
The poem itself leads people into a depressing, misleading juncture. “Dreamland” is a heart twisting poem that holds a plethora of figurative language. Such as, repetition. Examples of repetition is “Rest, Rest” describing that the girl is resting in her peaceful place. Also, Christina Rossetti did an overall astonishing job rhyming and really thinking through the words! She put her heart and soul into this poem. “Dreamland”, is a poem that apprehends a girl dying and being lifted into heaven.

[PPSEL Writing]

The Life After Death
“O, not in cruelty, not in wrath, the Reaper came that day; ‘twas an angel visited the green earth, and took the flowers away.”
~Stanza Seven of, “The Reaper and the Flowers”

Throughout this poem, “The Reaper and the Flowers,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the symbolism and metaphor used, gives a lighter perspective of death. Longfellow uses objects familiar to us to portray a deeper meaning than first assumed in this literary piece of art. For example, in stanza four the poet writes, “My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,” using, “flowers,” to symbolize the souls from those passed away. Longfellow, also uses symbolism in stanza five when he suggests, “They shall all bloom infields of light.” The, “fields of light,” the poet refers to symbolizes the beauty of Heaven and possibly the afterlife. Longfellow uses this wonderful symbolism to enhance the picture of how important it is to live a good life, for one day we will all die.
As commonly seen as great poet he is, Longfellow uses meaningful phrases meant not as literal, but metaphorical. The emotion he creates when he writes, “He kissed their drooping leaves,” is impeccable. Seeing as the Reaper does not actually kiss, “flowers,” some conclude the Reaper was showing affection towards the souls of those past as he is taking them to the Spirit World and eventually Heaven. In stanza three, Longfellow suggests the Reaper binds flowers in his sheaves, but this is not the case. Most deduct that it doesn’t make sense to bind flowers in sheaves and realize the deeper perspective; the Reaper decides to let a living soul become one of the past. Through his engaging metaphors, the poet has a powerful effect on those who have a firmer grasp on the concept of death, as well as those less familiar with the deceasing of loved ones.
Henry Longfellow also makes use of imagery to increase the intense and throughout many cultures, diverse and complex, perspective on death in society, and what’s beyond. The instrumental way imagery is being used throughout this poem makes itself evident in the use of imagery is being presented in the stanzas. For instance, in stanza five the poet portrays his belief of how we will be clothed in the afterlife when he writes, “And saints upon their garments white, these sacred blossoms wear.” In stanza six, to express his ideals of on the appearance of Heaven, the poet includes the lines, “She knew she should find them all again in the fields of light above.” Though it is often hard to grasp the concept of death until it is practically on the doorstep, Longfellow beautifully illustrates his ideas of death through astonishing imagery.

This poem appears to be about tragic death when judged no further than the title, but if one only listens to the message within, one will most likely find that it is really a life lesson of peace, and how those who are constantly striving to be a better version of themselves and willingly help others, have no reason to fear death or what is to come. Through his astounding imagery, symbolism, and metaphor, Longfellow is able to create a gripping picture of how death could and will be for those who live life well.

[PPSEL Writing]

THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER BY: Connor
“If I should die think only this of me”, the poem “The Soldier,” by Rupert Brooke, is a great piece that will make you rethink life and everything along with it. “In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.” represent death or dying and “…all evil shed away,” is getting rid of sin and all the wrong you have done that is just some of the symbolism used by the poet in this piece. “Her sights and sounds…” and “washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home,” makes you sad but then right after blessed by the sun it makes you happy this is an emotion swaying piece. “… corner of a foreign field,” symbolizes where he is buried or where he will die. “If I should die”. In conclusion this poem teaches you to respect life and what you have because it could all go away in the snap of a finger. This poem is important because it teaches you a lot about live and its joys and it’s down fall. But all thought it is short it makes you imagine what a day in this man’s shoes would feel like.

[PPSEL Writing]

LONGING FOR FREEDOM


Freedom allows people to dream, and be whatever they want, and everyone is allowed to want it. The poem “Love Letters” by Josephine Delphine Henderson Heard uses symbolism, theme, and different tones in stanzas to portray a slave going through being a slave, and missing and longing to be free the whole journey. What this wonderful poem does is show that people can’t take away your want to be free.
To begin with, the use of symbolism opens the reader’s eyes to see a slaves desires. In the first stanza the poet writes “…must with you I part…” the poet is implying that the person in the poem doesn’t want to part with the love letters. In the second stanza the love letters have put a “…strange mystic spell” on him that “… O no power on earth can break…” the poet must be implying that the person cannot live without them. In the third stanza, the poet writes “ … Don't you tell it anyone-Let it live and grow” the poet is implying that the person has gotten back with the love letters and wants to keep it a secret from someone. The love letters must represent something greater, possibly freedom. The poet implies this throughout the poem, because at first the person doesn't want to part with them. Then, the person is longing for them, and finally, at the end of the poem the person wants it to be a secret that he is back with them.
In transition, the authors use of tone helps uncover the poem's true meaning. For example, many lines in the poem seem to indicate that it is a slaves journey. The first stanza the poet writes, “ … must with you I part … “ it seems he is being taken away from his freedom. In the next stanza the poet writes “ … O no power on earth can break this strange mystic spell” seems as if the slave is wanting to be free. Finally, in stanza three the poet writes the line “ … Don't you tell it, anyone … “ seems as if the slave is done with his journey and has finally become free.
Finally, the different tones in stanzas give a sense of logical order to the poem. For example, in the first stanza, the poet writes , “ … Must with you I part … “ the person is parting from his freedom , which makes the tone sad. In the next stanza the tone changes again, with the poet writing “ … What a tell you tell … strange mystic spell” to depict the seeming of a remembrance in the tone. In the final stanza the line “ … Don't you tell it, anyone … “ shows secrecy in the tone.
In conclusion, the poem “Love Letters” gives the life story of a slave wanting to free, and this teaches us a lesson. Even if someone is a slave, everyone has the want to be free, so no matter how hard you try, you can't make someone not want to be free. The poem “Love Letters” mentors us that you can't make someone not want to be free through symbolism, theme, and different tones in stanzas.

[PPSEL Writing]

Find Your Freedom

In this reconstruction area poem “as I walk these boards, majestic days”
The Author use many different poetic device, like rhetorical questions, and alliteration. And slaves and what you think slavery means throw rhetorical questions.
When the author first stats alliteration, when he states “times towards a denser war”. Also when he say that, he wants you to think what is that denser war? Well that for you to find out on you on. When you the author is use something called a rhetorical question, which he want you to think on your own.
Throw out the poem the author wants you to think about what is going on throw out the time called the reconstruction area and what is heaping around that time period. When the author states “I see ships (they last a few more years)” that grabbed me and amused me. But I think the ships were war ships because when he said “they last a few more years”.
When the author clamed “then in vast land factories lost their works” I thought the works were the slave because they stopped there work because they heard they were free.
I thought that when the author stated “freedom to every slave on the face of the earth”
He as asking a rhetorical question. “And that slave deserve their freedom and if anyone was going to take it away they don’t deserve it” from ab Lincoln.
I think that this poem means everyone deserves freedom and don’t be afraid to stand up for it.


That freedom for everyone ad poetic device are easily to use.

[PPSEL Writing]

Death is not giving up

“The horse comes over the flower covered hill, after a long day pulling a heavy wagon the horse eats the green grass and thinks I am finally free.” The poem “Death of an old carriage horse” is a symbol that even in times of darkness, hope never dies. It is a metaphor that all the work the slave is put through a reward will come sometime in the future or closer than t slave thinks.

When the poem uses these references it signals that it creatively makes a type of repetition and rhyme to enhance the way it’s perceived by the reader. Along with that the poem is a way to send a message that can be interpreted through different meanings. When the author used “push along, push along” it’s a message encoded into the words and means after all this work the slave is finally free!

The poem is a type of poem that has a deeper feeling, even if the slave is not free. Also the poem can mean it’s like if it meant that the slave was not freed he could also be freed by death! The limits are endless to what the reader or how he or she interoperates it’s meaning. The slave that was imprisoned by the master is being forced not matter what if the slave dies no one would care except for family!

Finally, this inspiration piece is amazing to read. The poem beings a sense of peace to the readers mind after the horse has done so much work and is finally free. With that the poem is representing what happens next during the dark times. The south has done horrible to everyone that SHOULD BE TREATED EQUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The poem “death of an old carriage horse” is a symbol of freedom and meaning it is brought by the reconstruction era. This poem brings meaning to describe what is happening.

[PPSEL Writing]

It’s Time to Rise


“Let a new earth rise, let another world be born, let a bloody peace be written in the sky.” This poem brings sadness, guilt, and happiness to the table, with the ability to bring tears to one’s eyes, from the heart breaking thought of the blacks being tortured but finally free, I give you the poem “For My People “ by Margaret Walker.

It has such a sad tone to it. For example, “for my people everywhere singing there slave songs.” or when it says, “praying their prayers nightly to an unknown god, bending on their knees humbly to an unseen power.” It is so sad that people went through this and this poem is great at describing the sadness and struggle of living like a slave.

“Dark churches and schools, miss understanding the fashion of gore people.” It’s like the way the wording is changed, its explaining the guilt and pain people are feeling. “ for my playmates in the clay and dust and sand of Alabama backyards.” Or, “Distressed, devoured, and deceived by money.” Thus describes the struggle and guilt within the torture there was.

In the end there is a happy ending, for instance “let a people loving freedom come to growth. Let the martial songs be written let the digres disappear.” This poem was very touching and based off of what has happened in your life, you might take the theme of the poem a different way. “ For My People.”

[PPSEL Writing]

A Time of Death and Abandonment
By: Leah L
“Resignedly beneath the sky the melancholy waters lie. So blend the turrets and shadows there that all seem pendulous in air, while from a proud tower in the town death looks gigantically down.” This poem uses poetic devices such as a rhyming scheme and imagery, engaging the reader to read more about “The City in the Sea”, written by Edgar Allen Poe. It is about a city in a sea which is abandoned and broken down. People don’t live in it anymore: “Far down within the dim rest, where the good and the bad and the worst and the best have gone to their eternal rest…” This is linked to the Reconstruction Era when the good people and the bad people are not known for much anymore. They’re just like any other neglected person on the street where the world is too busy to stop for anyone who can’t keep up. “No rays from the holy heaven come down on the long night time of that town.” This city is in eternal darkness, with the occasional change: “But lo! A stir in the air! The wave-- there is a movement there!” Poe gives the reader a slim chance of hope to assure the reader that there is still hope in this lonely and disrepaired city.
Edgar Allan Poe writes this poem as a time of Deaths’ reign in this “City in the Sea”, later called “City of Sin”. He uses his choice of wording to engage the reader of his poems to read till the end of the “City in the Sea”, wanting to read on to see what will happen to the city: will it be recognized or will it be forever forgotten by passersby? Poe tries to use the most descriptive words to convince the reader of this fact: no one lives here, it is abandoned, and it will stay that way till further notice. Until Poe writes the end of the short and interesting story with either a happy ending or the doom that this city dreads: the eternal reign of death.
To conclude, this poem and the title are expertly linked together by the famous, descriptive, and loved-by-all poet, Edgar Allan Poe. He tries his best to tell a story, but only through a heartfelt and descriptive poem without flat out coming out and telling the story. He makes people think about the world that we live in: how it works, what we can’t change, and what we can in this cruel world.