Literary Essay
Poem analysis
● Funeral Blues by W.H Auden
● Not Love Perhaps by ASJ Tessimond
● You’re by Sylvia Plath
● Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
● The World is too much with us by William Wordsworth
, Funeral Blues
In W.H. Auden's "Funeral Blues," the reader is plunged into a world of mourning and
heartache, where the speaker grapples with the profound loss of a loved one. Through the
deliberate use of tone, vivid imagery, carefully chosen diction, and raw emotion, Auden
navigates the depths of grief, weaving a tapestry of sorrow that resonates with readers.
Point:
Auden's tone in "Funeral Blues" is unmistakably solemn and mournful, evoking a sense of
profound sadness and despair.
Evidence:
The poem opens with the commanding lines: "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, /
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone." This imperative tone sets the stage for the
speaker's overwhelming grief and desire to halt the world in its tracks.
Explanation:
By employing an imperative tone, Auden conveys the urgency and desperation of the
speaker's grief. The command to "stop all the clocks" suggests a desire to freeze time, to
suspend the inevitable march of life in order to mourn the loss of a cherished loved one. This
tone not only emphasizes the depth of the speaker's sorrow but also invites the reader to
enter into the emotional landscape of grief.
Link:
Through the use of a mournful tone, Auden establishes the emotional framework of the
poem, laying the groundwork for the exploration of loss and longing that follows.
Point:
Auden's use of imagery in "Funeral Blues" is vivid and evocative, painting a poignant picture
of grief and despair.
Evidence:
The speaker employs striking imagery to convey the depth of their sorrow: "Let aeroplanes
circle moaning overhead / Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead." This image of
planes circling overhead, etching their message on the vast canvas of the sky, serves as a
powerful metaphor for the inescapable presence of death.
Explanation:
By juxtaposing the mundane image of airplanes with the weighty message they carry, Auden
underscores the omnipresence of death in the speaker's world. The relentless circling of the
planes, their mournful moaning, mirrors the ceaseless cycle of grief that envelops the
speaker, highlighting the futility of attempting to escape the reality of loss.
Poem analysis
● Funeral Blues by W.H Auden
● Not Love Perhaps by ASJ Tessimond
● You’re by Sylvia Plath
● Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
● The World is too much with us by William Wordsworth
, Funeral Blues
In W.H. Auden's "Funeral Blues," the reader is plunged into a world of mourning and
heartache, where the speaker grapples with the profound loss of a loved one. Through the
deliberate use of tone, vivid imagery, carefully chosen diction, and raw emotion, Auden
navigates the depths of grief, weaving a tapestry of sorrow that resonates with readers.
Point:
Auden's tone in "Funeral Blues" is unmistakably solemn and mournful, evoking a sense of
profound sadness and despair.
Evidence:
The poem opens with the commanding lines: "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, /
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone." This imperative tone sets the stage for the
speaker's overwhelming grief and desire to halt the world in its tracks.
Explanation:
By employing an imperative tone, Auden conveys the urgency and desperation of the
speaker's grief. The command to "stop all the clocks" suggests a desire to freeze time, to
suspend the inevitable march of life in order to mourn the loss of a cherished loved one. This
tone not only emphasizes the depth of the speaker's sorrow but also invites the reader to
enter into the emotional landscape of grief.
Link:
Through the use of a mournful tone, Auden establishes the emotional framework of the
poem, laying the groundwork for the exploration of loss and longing that follows.
Point:
Auden's use of imagery in "Funeral Blues" is vivid and evocative, painting a poignant picture
of grief and despair.
Evidence:
The speaker employs striking imagery to convey the depth of their sorrow: "Let aeroplanes
circle moaning overhead / Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead." This image of
planes circling overhead, etching their message on the vast canvas of the sky, serves as a
powerful metaphor for the inescapable presence of death.
Explanation:
By juxtaposing the mundane image of airplanes with the weighty message they carry, Auden
underscores the omnipresence of death in the speaker's world. The relentless circling of the
planes, their mournful moaning, mirrors the ceaseless cycle of grief that envelops the
speaker, highlighting the futility of attempting to escape the reality of loss.
