Journal 7 Waterfowl Raven

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Journal Assignment #7

William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” (p.151) and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (p.181)

Read the selections and write a detailed response to the following:

1. Compare/contrast the different views of nature that are being presented in the poems.  Refer to the list of classical and romantic characteristics and provide specific examples from the poems to support your analysis. 

In the two poems, “The Raven” and “To a Waterfowl” we see an example of two different time periods in the writing. While “To a Waterfowl” is classic and written in the Age of Reason which focused on natural values and logic, “The Raven” poem is from the Romantic era which focused on emotions, senses and the way humans perceive their environment.

The tone and style of the waterfowl is optimistic and positive which contrasts to the gloomy and sad world of “The Raven.” Edgar Allen Poe’s poems are often toned to what is happening in his characters head while the water fowl’s tone is positive and focuses on rationality and harmony as most classical writings did. The settings also contrast romanticism and neo-classical writings. The setting of The Raven appeals to the senses in a dark and gloomy matter, the setting of the waterfowl is realistic.

The two poems have a similar purpose; the poets are trying to explain something. The water fowl is trying to show the beauty of nature while The Raven is an attempt to show that there really is no purpose to life, that the principles of logic and reason.