Essays on Poets Page 5

The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood describes the story of Offred, a Handmaid, that is a woman ascribed a breeding function by society, and who is placed with a husband and wife higher up the social ladder who “need” a child. Through Offred’s eyes we explore the rigidity of the theocracy in which she lives,…

Two poems penned by two powerful female voices who have made immense contributions in the literary world make for an interesting and insightful study. Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” and Adrienne Rich’s http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3579 for more details. Adrienne Rich’s groundbreaking book, Diving Into the Wreck,” was published in 1973. This work remains a significant contribution to feminist literature…

‘I’ll publish, right or wrong: Fools are my theme, let satire be my song,’ said Lord Byron. Although whimsical in words, a satire is that genre in literature that strikes the hidden blatant chords and enlightens the readers with the truth. One such satire characterized by irony, sarcasm and wit is Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels….

Jonathan Swift uses satire in A Modest Proposal to critique his audience and convey his main point indirectly. Through the creation of a seemingly sympathetic character who aligns himself with both the poor and the upper class of Ireland, Swift undermines the reader’s trust in the speaker. This trust is shattered when the speaker unveils…

Introduction ”Rat Song” is a poem written by Margaret Atwood and is part of Selected Poems from 1976. What is interesting about the poem is that it is written from the point of view of a rat. And by looking through the eyes of a rat (which many people see as a primitive and inferior…

Satire is a writing technique used to show readers the flaws and foolishness of an individual/people or society. The author writes in a way that exposes and criticizes the thing that is being satirized. The goal of satire is to expose the wrongdoing of a person/people or society so that it can be better and…

Often times when one reads a piece of literary work, the way that its’ themes and storyline are interpreted is truly dependant upon the reader’s individual beliefs and morals. The same passage from a novel or poem can be seen in completely opposite perspectives from two different readers, despite the fact that they contain the…

Analysis of Diving Into the Wreck There are many poems in today’s literature that are detailed and paint a picture for the reader. A poem that really stands out is Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich. Rich is a well known poet born 1929 in Baltimore, Maryland (Milne). She is a very influential poet…

Jonathan Swift’s renowned fresh Gulliver’s Travels is perchance the greatest work of literary sarcasm of all time written. Ever since its publication. it has been an of import and challenging piece in English literature. As defined by a dictionary. sarcasm is “The usage of wit. sarcasm. hyperbole. or ridicule to expose and knock people’s stupidity…

In “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift sets about as if he were proposing a reasonable political solution to the severe economic and social issues facing Ireland.  According to his words near the end of his essay, Swift has been “wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length [he is]…