1. James Weldon Johnson “The Creation”
Johnson’s poem “The Creation” describes the creation of the world and humanity. However, it differs slightly from the ‘classical’ description of the story.
Judeo-Christian concept of God regards God as an omnipotent and infallible superhuman. Creation of the world was deliberate and the meaning of each item created is described, “And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.’”; “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’” (New International Version Bible, Genesis 1.6, 1.11).
In contrast to the biblical vision of God, Johnson gives the preacher emotions, which are inherent in man’s nature, “I’m lonely— / I’ll make me a world.”(Johnson “The Creation” 3, 4). Thereafter, everything was created simply because of human desire to get rid of loneliness. Thus, God is humanlike and relatable according to Johnson’s vision. Turning to black culture, we can find a well-known personage – the old-time African American preacher of the South. Possibly he was an exact prototype of Johnson’s anthropomorphic image of God.
2. Robert Frost “Home Burial”
Having read some Frost’s poems I have chosen my favorite one among them. It is a poem named “Home Burial” which describes one of the most emotional and tragic stories I have ever read.
The plot includes two tragedies: the death of a loved child and the family collapse. It is easy to notice that the main reason of such tightness in the air is misunderstanding between overemotional wife and her husband, who is restrained in his emotions.
In my opinion, this is one of the best examples of psychological gender difference. We have two typical opposing models and the barrier of misunderstanding between them. On one hand, if analysing the situation from wife’s point of view we can see the man who is totally apathetic about his dead child and the woman who can’t accept this situation. On the other hand, we have the man who is emotionally resistant and who has accepted this tragedy because there isn’t any way out. And we have the woman, who can’t feel anything but despair and it makes impossible her adequate understanding of the situation.
In this way, Robert Frost’s poem “Home Burial” is a perfect example of how misunderstanding between men and women can lead to drastic consequences. Furthermore, the story shows how life’s tragedies can affect people’s emotional and psychological condition.
3. Ezra Pound “In a Station of the Metro” (Imagism); Wallace Stevens “The Snowman” (Modernism)
3.1 Ezra Pound “In a Station of the Metro”
Ezra Pound is a classical representative of Imagism Movement and one of its founders.
Let’s review his poem “In a Station of the Metro” as a typical imagist’s work. It’s structure and style of writing are similar to Japanese haiku, “The apparition of these faces in the crowd; / Petals on a wet, black bough.” (Ezra Pound “In a Station of the Metro”). In terms of rhythm, the poem composed in the sequence of the musical phrase that is common for Japanese and Chinese poetry. Furthermore, the poem is an entire metaphor. Faces in the crowd not just compared to petals, they described as if they were petals.
In this way, Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro” perfectly represents unique features of Imagism Movement.
3.2 Wallace Stevens “The Snowman”
Wallace Stevens is another prominent representative of Modernism in poetry. In his poem “The Snowman” we can find typical modernistic features as symbolism and the denial of the generally accepted norms in poetry. “The Snowman” is a three-line stanzas in free verse – this form is commonly used among modernist poets. In fact, the poem is written in all one sentence.
Thereby, we can provide this poem as a good example of modernist poetry of the 20th century.
4. T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is quite interesting for analysis.
The question about the ‘mood’ of this poem is rather controversial. We cannot say for sure whether it is sad or comical, but we can highlight certain features of the poem’s ‘mood’.
Turning to the plot, we find narrator who wanders around the town remembering his life. Although it is hard to identify his memories as bad or pleasant ones, all of them are rather neutral and mundane, unable to bring any positive emotions, “The muttering retreats / Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels”, “The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, / Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening” (T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” 5,6,16,17).
Also, we find the hero comparing himself to the well-known Shakespeare’s personage, “No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be” (T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” 111). He thinks he can’t be as significant or special as Hamlet was. There is nothing ideal about Prufrock and he is too critical of himself, “ At times, indeed, almost ridiculous – / Almost, at times, the Fool.” (T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” 118, 119).
