11/13/13
Professor Sircar
Poetry
In the two poems “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” and “When you are old” to me are nearly both the same kind of poem. They both talk about how they loved a person. They are both narrative poetry. With both of their beginning phases giving the meaning to their poetry. It starts by talking about the person they love, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” (Browning, 509, 1) “When you are old and grey and full of sleep”. (Yeats, 510, 1) It opens as narration of the author themselves revealing the how they loved their significant other. The themes for both of these poems are very clear. It is showing the affection they have for their loved one, but is different from the subject of the poem. The subject is about how much they loved them and how long their love will last. It is nearly the same concept, however it hold different meanings. “I shall but love thee better after death” (Browning, 509, 14) “ How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face.” (Yeats, 510, 5-9)
Indicates throughout life and beyond they shall continue to love. It gives a clear message for the subject of these poems. Both of these poems are easily written with a few allusions. “I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.” (Browning, 509, 7-8) Its allusion depicts a love so honorable and pure as would men who seek to strive to be right and justice and even as they attain praise for their actions, it won’t reflect on how they act. “And paced upon the mountains overhead and hid his face amid a crowd of stars” (Yeats, 510, 11-12) It shows that even though no one loved her for who she was, rather people loved her for appearance, except the author who loved her for