William Wadsworth. The Writer Attempts to Analyze

¶ … William Wadsworth. The writer attempts to analyze the poet's technique and style and discuss the use of emotions within those works. There were three sources used to complete this paper. Throughout history authors of literature have used their works to fill their readers with emotions. Poets have been especially good at making the reader feel things that they might otherwise not have felt before reading the work. William Wordsworth is considered one of the most prolific and classic poets in history.

His works cover topics of wide range and there are over 900 poems that flowed from his heart to the reader within his life. Many of his works are strong examples of his ability to show emotion in his speakers. The poet is well-known for his ability to reproduce emotion in his reader through the use of diction, rhythm, detail, apostrophe, and imagery. The Lucy poems, The Thorn and Home at Grasmere are three of his finest works when it comes to conveying and reproducing emotion within his readers.

Home at Grasmere "the thorn" and the "Lucy poems" each have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the conveyance of emotion and the ability to transfer or reproduce that emotion within the readers. Wordsworth used many tactics to accomplish the reproduction of emotion within his readers in these three poems. Through apostrophes, diction, rhythm and imagery Wordsworth recreates emotions in each work while being able to make them separate and distinct from each other.

In Home at Grasmere the writing works to draw feelings out of the reader through the use of several tactics. One of the first things the reader notices about this particular work is the rhythm that takes it on the journey of peace and hope. HOME AT GRASMERE ONCE to the verge of yon steep barrier came roving school-boy; what the adventurer's age Hath now escaped his memory -- but the hour, One of a golden summer holiday (Wordsworth, 1990)" This passage sets the rhythm for the rest of the poem.

It is a rhythm that causes an immediate emotional relaxation as it sets the stage for the rest of the story to be told. At this point the reader has no idea where the story is going to take him or her but they do know the mood is a memory of peace from childhood. The imagery that is common to Wordsworth's works is also present in this particular poem as well. He speaks of the wonders of childhood, which is youthful and innocent and carefree.

He sets the scene for the reader to be taken back to a childhood that they may or may not have had....but certainly can relate to on the level of being part of a common society. The imagery used by Wordswroth conveys an idyllic childhood that is filled with what years later became Norman Rockwell perfection.

But stirring to the spirit; who could gaze And not feel motions there? He thought of clouds That sail on winds: of breezes that delight To play on water, or in endless chase Pursue each other through the yielding plain Of grass or corn, over and through, In billow after billow, evermore Disporting -- nor unmindful was the boy Of sunbeams, shadows, butterflies and birds (Wordsworth, 1990)." Wordsworth spent many poems using imagery and diction to convey the emotions he wanted felt.

The tactics used worked because they lead the reader to the desired response or emotion in such a gentle manner the reader is not aware it was not his or her idea to go there. In his poem called the thorn Wordsworth immediately sets the stage for the emotion he wants reproduced when he uses imagery to lead the reader to understand the elderly state of the thorn.

THE THORN THERE is a Thorn -- it looks so old, In truth, you'd find it hard to say How it could ever have been young, It looks so old and grey (Wordsworth, 1990)." Not higher than a two years' child It stands erect, this aged Thorn; No leaves it has, no prickly points; It is a mass of knotted joints (Wordsworth, 1990)." The above passage drives home the fact that society fears and shuns old age.

The thorn description provides an image of age that is as unflattering as our society has always viewed the topic. The use of rhythm and diction are clear and sharp which further sets the feeling that the thorn has lived its life and is now old and ugly which is how society treats the elderly in this world. There are many similarities about these two poems even though the first glance seems to place them on opposite ends of the spectrum. The first poem describes an idyllic setting of childhood.

It allows the reader to once again feel the carefree days of youth and it works through its rhythm and diction and imagery to recreate, or create that feeling within the reader. The second poem immediately sets up a feeling of old age and the negative aspects of the look. The two poems convey the same message without meaning to or being obvious because they both convey youth as a wonderful emotion and old age as something to be feared and avoided as long as humanly possible.

The final poem also shares similarity in emotional response from the reader that is drawn because of the efforts of the author. The Lucy Poems are perhaps the most rhythm tic of the three with its equally measured meters between words and syllables and sentences. It is this that makes it different than the other two because they were less rigid in their speaking rhythms.

The poems themselves however again speak of things that make youth appear desirable while old age appears to be something to avoid if one is not looking forward to loneliness and rejection. The "Lucy" Poems Strange fits of passion have I known: And I will dare to tell, But in the Lover's ear alone, What once to me befell. When she I loved looked every day Fresh as a rose in June (Wordsworth, 1990).".