Compare or contrast how Bronte and Dunbar use form, language and symbolism to present a theme in their respective poems. Emily Brontë was born in Yorkshire, England on July 30th, 1818 (Benvenuto). Brontë grew up in a very strong Catholic home (Benvenuto). She was known to be very reclusive and mostly kept to herself. Brontë lived in the Romantic period, often in these times nature would resemble perfection (Benvenuto). Most often, Emily Brontë 's pieces reflect mostly on her agoraphobic personality (Benvenuto), and the time period where she grew up. As like Brontë, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, did not allow his social limitations to hold him back. Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio on June 27, 1872 (Bloom). Dunbar was able to relate to Brontë feeling isolated because he was the only black student enrolled in his local high school (Bloom). The backgrounds of these two poets reflect clearly onto their poems; The Caged Bird and Sympathy. Although both writers experienced limitations in their life growing up, Neither of them let those limitations stop them from being amazing writers. A lyric poem allows both of the poets to express their deep personal feelings about their sense of operation or their desire for freedom.
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A lyric poem is a type of emotional songlike poetry, distinguished from a dramatic and narrative poem. Emily Bronte uses a lyric poem to express her great longing for freedom. Lyric poems require the author to be speaking in first person. Bronte clearly does this in her poem when she symbolically says; “could my hand unlock the chain” she is referring to releasing herself to freedom by suicide. She presents the bird and herself as one. Secondly, Bronte expresses her deep despair feeling when she says; “In exhausted woe”. This gives the reader a clear descriptive sense of how she is feeling. In comparison, Dunbar also uses a lyric poem to express his great longing for freedom. He like Bronte uses the first person; “I know what the caged bird feels”. He is expressing how he personally knows the feeling of being caged. In addition to this, Dunbar also states “I know why the caged bird beats his wing till its blood is red on cruel bars”. The cage is symbolic for being a black man growing up in his times. He often felt there were barriers and limitations as he grew up being the only black boy in high school (Bloom); same as the caged bird. Language is important in poetry because its ' use determines the impact of the poem and expresses the intentions of the author. Bronte uses language to present her respective message. For example, she uses imagery to convey her desire for freedom. “Earth’s breezy hills and heaven’s blue sea” she is comparing nature to perfection. Growing up in the romantic period, they often relate nature to perfection. She conveys the perfection of nature while using imagery to paint a clear picture. In addition, she uses repetition of words to convey her message. “And like myself alone, wholly alone” this creates a deeper perspective by repeating herself. Similarly, Dunbar makes use of language to convey his deep desire for freedom. “When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; when the wind stirs soft through the springing grass” this reflects to perfection as well. The sense of freedom Dunbar is longing for is clearly presented in this writing. Just as Brontë did, Dunbar uses repetition to emphasize how he is able to relate to a caged bird. “I know why the caged …show more content…
Symbolism is a poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express strong emotion and/or ideas. Brontë uses a bird, a cage, and nature to symbolize her longing for personal freedom. “The caged bird” is symbolic because it 's representing her, the caged bird, she 's stuck and trapped, she 's in deep despair, and longing to be released to freedom. Secondly, “How gladly would I watch it soar, and never regret, never complain” when she refers to “it” she is referring to her soul. She is speaking of ending her life and letting her soul free. She longs for heaven as an escape. This ties into her background because she grew up in a very religious home; where suicide is not a choice, but she knows heaven is where she
A lyric poem is a type of emotional songlike poetry, distinguished from a dramatic and narrative poem. Emily Bronte uses a lyric poem to express her great longing for freedom. Lyric poems require the author to be speaking in first person. Bronte clearly does this in her poem when she symbolically says; “could my hand unlock the chain” she is referring to releasing herself to freedom by suicide. She presents the bird and herself as one. Secondly, Bronte expresses her deep despair feeling when she says; “In exhausted woe”. This gives the reader a clear descriptive sense of how she is feeling. In comparison, Dunbar also uses a lyric poem to express his great longing for freedom. He like Bronte uses the first person; “I know what the caged bird feels”. He is expressing how he personally knows the feeling of being caged. In addition to this, Dunbar also states “I know why the caged bird beats his wing till its blood is red on cruel bars”. The cage is symbolic for being a black man growing up in his times. He often felt there were barriers and limitations as he grew up being the only black boy in high school (Bloom); same as the caged bird. Language is important in poetry because its ' use determines the impact of the poem and expresses the intentions of the author. Bronte uses language to present her respective message. For example, she uses imagery to convey her desire for freedom. “Earth’s breezy hills and heaven’s blue sea” she is comparing nature to perfection. Growing up in the romantic period, they often relate nature to perfection. She conveys the perfection of nature while using imagery to paint a clear picture. In addition, she uses repetition of words to convey her message. “And like myself alone, wholly alone” this creates a deeper perspective by repeating herself. Similarly, Dunbar makes use of language to convey his deep desire for freedom. “When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; when the wind stirs soft through the springing grass” this reflects to perfection as well. The sense of freedom Dunbar is longing for is clearly presented in this writing. Just as Brontë did, Dunbar uses repetition to emphasize how he is able to relate to a caged bird. “I know why the caged …show more content…
Symbolism is a poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express strong emotion and/or ideas. Brontë uses a bird, a cage, and nature to symbolize her longing for personal freedom. “The caged bird” is symbolic because it 's representing her, the caged bird, she 's stuck and trapped, she 's in deep despair, and longing to be released to freedom. Secondly, “How gladly would I watch it soar, and never regret, never complain” when she refers to “it” she is referring to her soul. She is speaking of ending her life and letting her soul free. She longs for heaven as an escape. This ties into her background because she grew up in a very religious home; where suicide is not a choice, but she knows heaven is where she