ipl-logo

Comparing Tones And Nuances In Dorothy Livesay's A November Landscape

478 Words2 Pages

Dorothy Livesay’s “Winter” and “A November Landscape” by E. J. Pratt are both short poems with similar tones and nuances. The two seem to be metaphors personifying the winter season with comparable themes. While both poems have a theme of captivity, “A November Landscape’ ends with a note of freedom and ‘Winter’ finishes with one of hopelessness.

There are images of suppression to be found in these poems. In ‘A November Landscape’ we find phrases such as: “November came today and seized the whole…” and “...rain-winds patrol the earth…” November and the rain-winds are being personified as harsh, those that cause oppression. They took the earth captive and controlled it. In ‘Winter’ we can also find these phrases: “...our stumbling feet were …show more content…

“A November Landscape” has un unpromising beginning and ends with hope while “Winter” begins almost optimistically yet has a disheartening ending. The opening of ‘A November Landscape’ contains phrases such as: “...land bereft of bird and leaf, of body and of soul…” The land is devoid of life, painting quite a depressing picture. However, it ends much more optimistically with words like: “...and yet…” and “...when April lured the crocus through the snow…” The poem takes a turn for the best, displaying a chance at life. ‘Winter’ starts with sentences like: “Winter has turned reluctantly at last, unfastened the sharp snares...” and “Winter has gone.” It seems as if the oppresser is leaving, granting the prisoner freedom. The ending, though, is far less optimistic: “...we must be captives still…” and “...speak with his bitter breath…” The author speaks of how even though Spring has come, she cannot save them from Winter’s lingering grasp. The people are still under Winter’s phantom control, even if he has already left. They behave like him, treating each other coldly, having completely adopted his ways from being with him for too long.

These two poems exhibit the same themes, but send a different message each. The contrast between the order of events is significant in understanding both works. While the poems are laced with captivity and oppression, “A November Landscape” gives a more

Show More
Related

Emotions And Holiday Spirit In The Novel 'Scarborough' By Catherine Hernandez

319 Words | 2 Pages

Oftentimes people correlate certain emotions and events in regards to specific seasons. The novel “ Scarborough ” written by Catherine Hernandez, portrays the concept of death, bitter emotions and holiday spirit in the chapter of winter. To begin, one of the major events that happen during the season of winter is Laura’s death. This is evident when the text states, “ I only knew her name after she had died, and the news was all over the Scarborough Mirror. Laura Mitkowski ” (Hernandez 180).

Read More

Compare And Contrast John Twachtman And George Luks

844 Words | 4 Pages

The subject matter of this painting is a bare, open landscape that features a dull sky, fresh layers of ice and snow, and a frozen river leading to an abandoned building. These descriptions resemble winter as a period of peace, silence, and loneliness. In 1912-1913, childhood memories from numerous winters influenced George Luks

Read More

Crane-Man In A Single Shard

225 Words | 1 Pages

The statement “‘The worst of winter, snowmelt, spring

Read More

The Painted Door Summary

1217 Words | 5 Pages

Imprisonment and Freedom in Relation to “The Painted Door” Canadian literature has always been heavily involved with the wild landscape and nature. In Ross’ short story “The Painted Door”, he explores the themes of imprisonment and freedom in relation to the winter landscape of the prairies. This is evident through Frye’s concept of the garrison/colonial mentality and through the environment’s influence over the Ann. Canadian literature has been distinguished by its methods in writing nature and the environment as Frye suggested, “Canadian writing expressed a ‘garrison mentality’” in which their works highlighted a sense of separation and isolation (New 217).

Read More

How Is Waymar Anton Different From The Book

793 Words | 4 Pages

“Winter is coming” we hear all throughout the series of the Game of Thrones, but what all does winter bring? The opening scenes in the first season of Game of Thrones’ episode exposes viewers to a curious yet gruesome scene. Right away viewers learn that this medieval show has as an ancient and magically theme to its plot. While the both the book and the TV show open with exposing us to the white walkers, they differ in character development and story telling. Beginning with time the men of the night watch range north of the wall in the TV series and the book, the differences begin.

Read More

Winter's Tale Book Analysis

1729 Words | 7 Pages

The winter’s Tale novel by Mark

Read More

What Is The Tone Of Everything Stuck To Him By Raymond Carver

731 Words | 3 Pages

Fall is leaving and winter is strolling in. Carver uses this to symbolize the change between the young couple. They are young and in love, but they have no chance to grow as individuals. As they grow together Carver shows how the girl and the boy begin differ in opinions. The boy wants to hunt and the girl is focused on minor issues, such as when the baby was crying.

Read More

Comparing Lines Written In The Days Of Growing Darkness And Nothing Gold Can Stay

996 Words | 4 Pages

Moreover, she shows that seasons are changing; more specifically that fall is changing into winter. For example, in the first stanza, the author states that “the world descends into a rich mash” (2-4), meaning that she is comparing dead leaves to the whole “world” which is massive. She does this in order to show how depressing it is that the leaves are falling and mixing together like compost, and to emphasize that the world is so precious and when things die, it feels like the whole world is falling; but it is all a part of a change in a cycle. Similarly, Oliver also adds the image of a “crisping day” (19), which connotes a cold, icy day. This is because during the winter, the dead leaves have a crunchy consistency, which is because of a cycle.

Read More

Snow Day By Billy Collins

161 Words | 1 Pages

Billy Collins’ poem “Snow Day” encompasses irony throughout the poem. The poem is about a snow day and Collins’ starts the poem by describing the beautiful blankness of snow. He uses phrases like “landscape vanished”, “libraries buried” and “the path of trains softly blocked” to depict a blank, quiet world; one which has fallen under the spell of snow. He goes on to write about how he stays inside and listens to the radio while it announces all the different schools that are closed. Towards the end of the poem, he starts to talk about the children who play while school is out.

Read More

Sara Teasdale's Spring In War-Time

970 Words | 4 Pages

Referring to the winter solstice, it is shown that natural events do still occur, though the things that remain are small and go largely unnoticed. In the third stanza, the seasons continue to change, shown by the grass “waking in the ground, / Soon it will rise and blow in waves-“ (11-12). This personification

Read More

Gary Snyder's 'Covers The Ground'

518 Words | 3 Pages

In Gary Snyder’s poem, “Covers the Ground”, he describes his outdoor experience in the Central Valley by using metaphor. In verse 1 and 2, he illustrates what he saw when he was walking down the Great Central Valley. Through the description, Snyder paints a picture of the landscape of Central Valley that captures the beauty , the plants and the surroundings at that point in time during 1993. Also, Snyder descriptively captures changes of the plants, weather and the surroundings during that season. For example, it says“ And the ground is covered with cement culverts standing on end…” which illustrates the ongoing change in plants in respect to time and weather.

Read More

The Great Gatsby Creative Writing

870 Words | 4 Pages

Winter The ground is barren, littered with patches of snow. The trees are naked, the leaves seemed to have disappeared. I haven’t talk to George in months, our relationship seems to have vanished, just like any evidence of life outside. The interior of our house is always cold, no one bothers to turn on the heater.

Read More

Basic Themes Of A Successful Canadian Poet

233 Words | 1 Pages

This assortment of poetry displays pieces of written work by a series of highly accomplish Canadian authors. Each of these poetic works reflect some of the various basic themes used in Canadian poetry, particularly with great respect to Canadian nature and spirit. These themes are so commonly present in Canadian poetry for Canadian pride and the beautiful Canadian landscapes can cause such creative motivation in its own lyrically gifted citizens. If a Canadian poet were searching for inspiration, the picturesque mountain ranges, the scenic lakes, or the classically crystal white winters are great sources for inspiration. These poems each construct the impression that Canadian wilderness is an animated entity.

Read More

Summary Of John Keats Bolt Of Beauty

1256 Words | 6 Pages

Winter Rain “Receive the truth and let it be your balm” John Keats After the stock market crash of ‘29, Ernest Spaulding lost his job at a private school back east and came home to farm between two rivers running sand; he painted his house Tuscan orange in a valley of white farm homes, bought milk cows from a slaughterhouse herd and work horses from canny men who made their living buying horses cheap and selling them high. Reading late by lantern light, his window was single orange star low on the horizon, seen by men during calving season, shaking their heads at this idealism. Once a week he hitched his young team of horses to steel-rimmed box-wagon and drove them to town to sell milk and eggs and buy groceries, difficult because young horses only want to go back to pasture —undiscipline creasing smiles on sun-leathered faces of

Read More

The Tide Rises Tide Falls Essay

558 Words | 3 Pages

The “Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” is a poem by Henry Longfellow. This is one that depicts the never ending cycle of life. “Snow-Bound” is a poem by John Whittier, which depicts the difference between warmth and cold, and comfort and discomfort. There are many differences between these poems, through themes, symbolism, and imagery. I have analyzed both poems throughout this module.

Read More

More about Comparing Tones And Nuances In Dorothy Livesay's A November Landscape

Related Topics

Open Document