How Are Lawrence And Stafford Alike
D. H. Lawrence, an English author, and William Stafford, an American writer, lived and wrote at different times but their chosen subjects were often similar. “Piano” written by D. H. Lawrence and “Traveling through the Dark” by William Stafford show remarkable similarities and differences in their experiences and emotions. Although Lawrence and Stafford are both respected poets, their writing styles, and expectations for readers differ significantly. While Lawrence maintains a feeling of nostalgia and remembrances to keep the reader’s attention, Stafford’s pervasive structure includes a bit of darkness and suspense for his readers. These astute writers are similar in many ways, but they also have significant differences represented in
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To that end, he writes, “Traveling through the dark I found a deer dead on the edge of the road,” (1). Then he continues to avoid the use of simple terms by not saying the deer is pregnant, but instead, he says “I dragged her off; she was large in the belly” (8). He probably employed this technique and choice of words to soften or sugarcoat what he was about to do, “…pushed her over the edge into the river” (18). Stafford’s imagery leaves the reader with the view of the dead deer and live fawn rolling down into the river amplifying the grossness of the ordeal. The poem expresses the struggle of dealing with a tragic event and the anxiety experienced. As stated by Greiner, “…his manner of choosing, ordering, and arranging his words contributes to the success of the poem. The speaker’s actions move him and the reader to a closer appreciation of the darkness and anxiety we are all traveling through” …show more content…
By using words like “tingling,” “tinkling,” “boom,” and “appassionato” to describe the sounds being made by the piano, he chooses to use words that give the reader a vivid description of the sounds. The sweet music reminds him of his mother and his childhood. Lawrence’s use of imagery through the line “To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside and hymns in the cosy parlour [sic], the tinkling piano our guide,” presents a sharp image of a mother singing in a warm parlor in contrast with the chilly night outside. The narrator returns to his boyhood with fond memories. The poem suggests the simplicity and innocence of childhood. Lawrence portrays the intricate workings and dealings of the human heart in such an elegant, yet simple way. “Sentiment is controlled through nearness, concreteness, and coherence. Lawrence’s control is aided by rhyme and rhythmic originality” (Pritchard 578). The author’s sentimentality and reminiscence seem to show the reader a part of his personality. “Piano” begins with a woman singing and it reminds the reader of a past time. The narrator can see himself as a child sitting at his mother’s feet, taking him back to a happy time. Then in the second stanza, the narrator says the song takes him to his childhood and to a nostalgic time. The narrator recalls the cold Sunday weather experienced in winter. As the song becomes
To that end, he writes, “Traveling through the dark I found a deer dead on the edge of the road,” (1). Then he continues to avoid the use of simple terms by not saying the deer is pregnant, but instead, he says “I dragged her off; she was large in the belly” (8). He probably employed this technique and choice of words to soften or sugarcoat what he was about to do, “…pushed her over the edge into the river” (18). Stafford’s imagery leaves the reader with the view of the dead deer and live fawn rolling down into the river amplifying the grossness of the ordeal. The poem expresses the struggle of dealing with a tragic event and the anxiety experienced. As stated by Greiner, “…his manner of choosing, ordering, and arranging his words contributes to the success of the poem. The speaker’s actions move him and the reader to a closer appreciation of the darkness and anxiety we are all traveling through” …show more content…
By using words like “tingling,” “tinkling,” “boom,” and “appassionato” to describe the sounds being made by the piano, he chooses to use words that give the reader a vivid description of the sounds. The sweet music reminds him of his mother and his childhood. Lawrence’s use of imagery through the line “To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside and hymns in the cosy parlour [sic], the tinkling piano our guide,” presents a sharp image of a mother singing in a warm parlor in contrast with the chilly night outside. The narrator returns to his boyhood with fond memories. The poem suggests the simplicity and innocence of childhood. Lawrence portrays the intricate workings and dealings of the human heart in such an elegant, yet simple way. “Sentiment is controlled through nearness, concreteness, and coherence. Lawrence’s control is aided by rhyme and rhythmic originality” (Pritchard 578). The author’s sentimentality and reminiscence seem to show the reader a part of his personality. “Piano” begins with a woman singing and it reminds the reader of a past time. The narrator can see himself as a child sitting at his mother’s feet, taking him back to a happy time. Then in the second stanza, the narrator says the song takes him to his childhood and to a nostalgic time. The narrator recalls the cold Sunday weather experienced in winter. As the song becomes