Poetry Comparison and Analysis

While not the only writing genre that falls under the classification of Romanticism writing, poetry is a huge part of Romanticism period writing. Two famous Fireside Poets were Thomas Lounsbury and Oliver Wendel Holmes. Both poets wrote during the Romanticism period in literary history, and their writings reflected the time period. Many characteristics of Romanticism writing were an obsession with far away places, a love of nature and a sense of innocence, especially in young people. Loundsbury's poem "Thanatopsis" is a perfect example of Romanticism writing. The poem uses nature as a medium for describing life and death in a way that was seen by the writer. He personifies nature and gives her characteristics that were similar to those used in Romanticism. Just the simple fact of using nature as a main topic in the poem is a characteristic of Romanticism writing. The poem first approaches death from a physical standpoint, which was somewhat gruesome, but then refers to death in a way that makes it seem less intimidating. One of my favorite passages from the poem described death from the point of view of the author, who had Romanticism writing styles.

 Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night...approach thy grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. (Bryant 77, 79-81)

This passages tells the reader to not view death as a bad thing that a person should dread, but a long awaited rest after leading a good life.

The second author, Holmes, wrote a poem also about nature. He wrote the poem titled "The Chambered Nautilus." The poem was written from the point of view of a man observing an empty nautilus shell, reflecting on its life and comparing his life to that of the nautilus. Holmes chose to write his poem focused around nature, which was a major characteristic of Rationalism writing. One of his opening lines talked about a place where Sirens, from Greek mythology, sing and coral reef maids dry their hair in the sun (Holmes 1-5). The obsession with a far away land was a major sign that a literary work was written during the literary period. Holmes was refering to a far away land where Sirens and coral reef maids lived.

Both poems were examples of Romanticism writing, but they worked in different aspects. They were both about nature, and both poems did a great job teaching the reader a lesson. In Lounsbury's poem, he taught people that death was not something to be feared (Thanatopsis), and in Holem's poem, he taught people that they could learn from the nautilus and continue their spiritual growth before their death so they could be free from their physical body (Chambered). A similarity between the two poems was the topic of death. In both of the poems, death was brought up. Also, nature was used in both poems to convey the author's thoughts on the two subjects of the poems. These two poems were very similar in their subject matter as well as their approach to discussion.

Huff, Randall. "'Thanatopsis'." 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= CPAP0402&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 28, 2011).

Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. "'Thanatopsis'." Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0805&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 28, 2011).
Holmes, Oliver Wendel. English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman. Vol. XLII. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001. http://www.bartleby.com/42/801.html. Dec. 8 2011.

Huff, Randall. "'The Chambered Nautilus'." 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= CPAP0070&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 9, 2011).