Reflection: Analyze Two Poems

The two poems that I have chose to analyze are "Autumn" by Longfellow and "April" by John Greenleaf Whittier. I picked these two poems because they were both about seasons. I figured if they were on the same topic it would be easier to compare and contrast them.

Autumn was a very interesting poem to read. Longfellow used a lot of descriptive words to get his point across. It was mainly about the season of Autumn and how they were going to be ready for it. "Autumn" was a happy poem because the speaker discussed how the farmers were prepared and excited for the season. Longfellow made Autumn a happy time for all. Using metaphors describing Autumn as a bright time, he was definitely a fan of Autumn.

Greenleaf's poem "April" was also on the happier side of poetry. It, like "Autumn," described the season and all the joy it brings. For example, the following lines from this poem really describedthe season (lines 35-37).

Revive with the warmth and the brightness again,

And in blooming of flower and budding of tree

The symbols and types of our destiny see.

I think that Greenleaf and Longfellow were both two men who really appreciated nature. They each used a lot of description to describe the season that they chose to write about. They also seemed to talk about the positives of the seasons they picked. All seasons have some down sides, but Longfellow and Greenleaf only wrote about the positives.

Greenleaf used a lot more description than Longfellow, though. He seemed to use more metaphors and was more creative for his words. The next lines from this poem I am going to share is my favorite part of Greenleaf's poem (Lines 23-25).

O soul of the spring-time, its light and its breath,
Bring warmth to this coldness, bring life to this death;
Renew the great miracle; let us behold

I like this part of the poem because it gives the season human characteristics. It also uses a lot of symbolism. I really find this passage interesting. "Bring warmth to this coldness, bring life to this death" (line 24) is my favorite line in the whole poem. The speaker of this poem writes this line as if something as little as a season can bring someone a reason for living and an answer to their problems. He makes April sound like God in this line. I find it really creative and one of the best lines of poetry that I have heard before.

According to Randall Huff, Greenleaf's first exposure to poetry was from the bible. I find this interesting because Greenleaf's poem had nothing to do about religion. By Huff's point, it seems as if Greenleaf belonged in the Puritan time period. If I did not read his poem, that is probably what I would have thought. After reading this poem and reading a little more about Greenleaf himself, I think I will read some of his other work. He really seems to be an interesting man and his poetry seems just wonderful.

Greenleaf, John. "April by John Greenleaf Whittier." PoemHunter.Com - Thousands of Poems and Poets.. Poetry Search Engine. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .

Longfellow, Henry. "Sonnets. Autumn. The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1893. Complete Poetical Works." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .

Huff, Randall. "Whittier, John Greenleaf." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CPAP0476&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 11, 2011).