Poetry Coursework :: English Literature

Poetry CourseworkI am going to compare these two poesys by thinking about the theme,purpose, mood, language and imagery.An extract from The Ballad of Reading tuck in by Oscar Wilde.In the first verse of this poem, the writer introduces us to amiserable setting of a prison, the dripping wall, the run shorten sky.This sets us in the mood of how it was to be a prisoner at the end ofthe nineteenth century.Oscar Wilde introduces us to another character, a murderer. Throughoutthe poem, Wilde sympathizes with this character. We see this by the subprogram of language. Wilde tells us about the wardens who watched thisprisoner, for fear the universe might die. And by individually side a warderwalked. Although the wardens knew that this man would be put todeath, they still watched him in the event that the prisoner mighttake his own life. Wilde refers to this man as prey thus giving theimpression that the wardens are hunting this mans blood. This use oflanguage reveals that Wilde disapprov es of the bureau the man is treatedand sees this as an unjust act.The purpose of Wildes poem is to protest against the authorities andagainst the way the prisoners are treated. He writes about the harshconditions,We rubbed the door, and scrubbed the floors,And cleaning the gleam railsAnd, rank-by-rank, we soaped the plank,And clattered with the pails.The rails were already shiny they didnt need cleaning.Wilde in addition protests against the punishing and monotonous work. Thestructure, language and brisk rhythm in this poem give emphasis to themain point of Wildes poem.And shaven heads and feet of leadMake a merry masquerade.He uses harsh repetitive spoken communication that are difficult to pronounce.With blunt and bleeding nails. Just as this is difficult to say, itwas difficult work to do. The thought of this cruelty makes youquiver.Oscar Wilde was in prison when he wrote this poem, and therefore hecould not openly address his intended audience. Instead, He used a lotof iron y in his writing. He questions the eccentric of compassion throughirony, in such a place with a definitely ironic tone,And what should human pity doPent up in a murderers hole?What word of staid in such a placeCould help a chums sole?Wilde is attacking the governor, the doctor, and the Chaplin for nothaving pity on the prisoners. He disapproves of their approaches bylisting their actions coldly. A minister of church should be prayingwith him. unearthly men have jobs to pray with him and accompany him.But the Chaplin isnt doing his job.