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Literature & Language
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English (U.S.)
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Comparing Sharon Olds' Poems with Linda Pastan's Using the Trend of Confessional Mode
Essay Instructions:
One contemporary trend in poetry is known loosely as the "confessional mode," in which the poet's own life becomes an important element of the subject of his or her poetry.
Compare and contrast Sharon Olds' poems with Linda Pastan's poems. Have a debatable, persuasive claim and focus on specific points of comparison, using the trend of "confessional mode".
Here are the poems(sources) to use on the compare and contrast essay of the two authors:
Sharon Old's "First Thanksgiving", "Still Life in Landscape", "After Making Love in Winter", "The Planned Parent Child".
Linda Pastan " A Rainy Country", " I Am Learning To abandon the World," "The Obligation To Be Happy".
All of the poems can be found on https://www(dot)poetryfoundation(dot)org. Remember, a compare and contrast essay of the two author's poems
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Compare and Contrast
Introduction
In the world of poetry, confessional poetry is a unique style which incorporates the use of "I". Often, poets prefer to use third person in their writing. Confessional poetry uses the first person and involves the expression of deep and innermost feelings of the poet. Just as the name suggests, confessional poetry is about confessing personal experiences and sharing the personal world of the poet with the audience. In this style of poetry, the life of the poet is one of the key elements of the main subject. In order to have an in-depth understanding of confessionary poetry, this paper has taken a comparative approach. The work of Linda Pastan has been compared to the work of Sharon Old. In the comparative analysis, aspects of confessional poetry have been pointed out.
Ethics by Linda Pastan and 35/10 by Sharon Olds
Both works of Linda and Sharon have striking similarities. This is perhaps due to the fact that both authors have fully embraced confessional poetry in their work. They are the subject of the poem in which they are both the authors. The story in both poems is about the author. They are talking about their personal life experiences and they are speaking directly to the author. One of the aspects that makes this style of writing effective is the fact that the audience can relate with the author. Confessional poetry is about the author owning the story told in the poem. This resonates better with the audience than when the author is talking about a third person to the audience.
In both poems, one notes that the tone used is the same. Both authors have used a pensive and somewhat reflective tone. It is as if the writers of the poem are looking at themselves in the mirror and speaking about the reflection that they see. Sharon’s Poem ‘35/ 10’ is the story of a mother who realized that is quickly aging and her daughter is quickly growing up. The mother in this story is Sharon herself and the daughter is Sharon’s daughter. In describing their life as mother and daughter, the tone is both nostalgic but also full of admiration (Brickey p. 34). Sharon look back at her life and she misses what it was like growing. Although she realizes that is now aging, she is proud and full of admiration for her daughter who reminds her of her young self. Looking at her daughter is almost like looking at the mirror and seeing her younger self. 35 is the age of the mother while 10 is the age of the daughter.
In Linda’s Ethics, the speaker who is the author (Linda Pastan) reflect on a dilemma of moral nature which a teacher would present every fall semester. This dilemma always haunts her and she has chosen to speak about. The question that her teacher would always pose was, when in amuseum and fire breaks out, would you rather save an expensive painting or an old woman whose days on earth are almost countable? It is on the basis of the question from her school days that Linda takes a reflective look at life. She notes that the only way to inculcate morals is through maturity and experience.
When speaking, the author, who is now an old woman reckons that the subject in question cannot possibly be appreciated by a young generation. She argues that in order to fully realize the magnitude of ethical dilemma, one must go through life and the experiences so as to be nurtured into maturity (Harris p. 92).
Sharon Old’s First Thanksgiving
Sharon Old’s style of poetry writing is unique and distinct. She is among the few poetry writers who has remained consistent with the confessionary style of writing. All her poems revolve around her life and personal experiences. This style of poetry has been found to have a better reach to the audience owing to the fact that the audience can easily relate with her. It is also used to speak about topics which are ordinarily difficult to tackle or talk about. This style brings about an element of intimacy, almost like an autobiography (Sontag and David, p. 34-37). It is a story of the writer, told by the writer and based on personal life experiences. First Thanksgiving revolves around a young woman who has come of age and must now assume her right role in the society. The focus of the young woman in particularis in the family unit where she is expected to carryout various duties, fulfillment of sexual needs being one of them. The setting of this poem is during the Thanksgiving Holiday and as the name suggests, it is the first time that the two are sharing a Thanksgiving Holiday together. Sharon has also let in her audience into her life and she openly gives the impression that she is a lesbian. She says that ‘my chest pressed against her tender breasts’. This is an indication of intimacy between two women. She further gives the indication that before this woman came into her, there was a man (Cullum, p. 26-30). The confessional poetry by Sharon opens up a platform where women c...
Professor:
Course title:
Date
Compare and Contrast
Introduction
In the world of poetry, confessional poetry is a unique style which incorporates the use of "I". Often, poets prefer to use third person in their writing. Confessional poetry uses the first person and involves the expression of deep and innermost feelings of the poet. Just as the name suggests, confessional poetry is about confessing personal experiences and sharing the personal world of the poet with the audience. In this style of poetry, the life of the poet is one of the key elements of the main subject. In order to have an in-depth understanding of confessionary poetry, this paper has taken a comparative approach. The work of Linda Pastan has been compared to the work of Sharon Old. In the comparative analysis, aspects of confessional poetry have been pointed out.
Ethics by Linda Pastan and 35/10 by Sharon Olds
Both works of Linda and Sharon have striking similarities. This is perhaps due to the fact that both authors have fully embraced confessional poetry in their work. They are the subject of the poem in which they are both the authors. The story in both poems is about the author. They are talking about their personal life experiences and they are speaking directly to the author. One of the aspects that makes this style of writing effective is the fact that the audience can relate with the author. Confessional poetry is about the author owning the story told in the poem. This resonates better with the audience than when the author is talking about a third person to the audience.
In both poems, one notes that the tone used is the same. Both authors have used a pensive and somewhat reflective tone. It is as if the writers of the poem are looking at themselves in the mirror and speaking about the reflection that they see. Sharon’s Poem ‘35/ 10’ is the story of a mother who realized that is quickly aging and her daughter is quickly growing up. The mother in this story is Sharon herself and the daughter is Sharon’s daughter. In describing their life as mother and daughter, the tone is both nostalgic but also full of admiration (Brickey p. 34). Sharon look back at her life and she misses what it was like growing. Although she realizes that is now aging, she is proud and full of admiration for her daughter who reminds her of her young self. Looking at her daughter is almost like looking at the mirror and seeing her younger self. 35 is the age of the mother while 10 is the age of the daughter.
In Linda’s Ethics, the speaker who is the author (Linda Pastan) reflect on a dilemma of moral nature which a teacher would present every fall semester. This dilemma always haunts her and she has chosen to speak about. The question that her teacher would always pose was, when in amuseum and fire breaks out, would you rather save an expensive painting or an old woman whose days on earth are almost countable? It is on the basis of the question from her school days that Linda takes a reflective look at life. She notes that the only way to inculcate morals is through maturity and experience.
When speaking, the author, who is now an old woman reckons that the subject in question cannot possibly be appreciated by a young generation. She argues that in order to fully realize the magnitude of ethical dilemma, one must go through life and the experiences so as to be nurtured into maturity (Harris p. 92).
Sharon Old’s First Thanksgiving
Sharon Old’s style of poetry writing is unique and distinct. She is among the few poetry writers who has remained consistent with the confessionary style of writing. All her poems revolve around her life and personal experiences. This style of poetry has been found to have a better reach to the audience owing to the fact that the audience can easily relate with her. It is also used to speak about topics which are ordinarily difficult to tackle or talk about. This style brings about an element of intimacy, almost like an autobiography (Sontag and David, p. 34-37). It is a story of the writer, told by the writer and based on personal life experiences. First Thanksgiving revolves around a young woman who has come of age and must now assume her right role in the society. The focus of the young woman in particularis in the family unit where she is expected to carryout various duties, fulfillment of sexual needs being one of them. The setting of this poem is during the Thanksgiving Holiday and as the name suggests, it is the first time that the two are sharing a Thanksgiving Holiday together. Sharon has also let in her audience into her life and she openly gives the impression that she is a lesbian. She says that ‘my chest pressed against her tender breasts’. This is an indication of intimacy between two women. She further gives the indication that before this woman came into her, there was a man (Cullum, p. 26-30). The confessional poetry by Sharon opens up a platform where women c...
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