The two poems analyzed have several features in common. First of all, they are both classical in their form, being built as sonnets, with Leda and the Swan being classical and The True Story of Snow White being an envelope sonnet. One of main reasons for choosing a traditional from may concern the very plot of poems. Both of them retell classical stories of epic literature: a Greek myth and Snow White fairy tale accordingly. Sonnet shape and classical plot resonate with each other, allowing writings to be particularly expressive in their poetic narrative.
The main similarity between the poems is the very action described. In Leda and the Swan, a “staggering girl” (Yeats Pagenumber) is being stripped off of her innocence by means of sexual violation, whereas in The True Story of Snow White another innocent child with “heart full of love” (Bennet 212) is killed for Queen’s vanity sake. Both heroines are abused despite being pure and guiltless. Both criminals are authoritative figures, who do not display any sign of remorse of regret. Their deeds are cruel, egoistic and unpunished.
Thus, the main consequence of the described criminal behaviour is total confirmation of authority of those evil and powerful. Both Snow White and Leda have become victims of vanity, greed, lust and constraint, being too weak to oppose. Those innocent and naïve suffer, whereas the superiors are free to please their ego. Zeus flew away to chase his next victim; Queen’s inferiors continued to live under her constant pressure, including her mirror, which “learned to lie” (Bennet 212), when the Queen asks her eternal question with only one acceptable answer.
Works cited
Bennet, Bruce. “The True Story of Snow White.” Title of Book. Ed. Firstname Lastname. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. 211-212. Print.
Yeats, William Butler. “Leda and the Swan.” Title of Book. Ed. Firstname Lastname. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Pages. Print.
