Essay on The Theme of Freedom in Poetry - 2575 Words

The Theme of Freedom in Poetry Write about three poems on freedom: On Liberty and Slavery (George Moses Horton), Sympathy (Paul Laurence Dunbar) and Caged Bird (Maya Angelou). I have chosen to write about three poems on freedom: On Liberty and Slavery (George Moses Horton), Sympathy (Paul Laurence Dunbar) and Caged Bird (Maya Angelou). The full text of the poems is attached. I chose these three poems because the subject matter appealed to me and I believe that the poems convey their meaning very effectively. Upon researching the poems, I discovered that Caged Bird was in fact inspired by Sympathy, which accounts for the similarities in language and imagery, as outlined below. All three poems deal with the subject of†¦show more content†¦This poem uses 4-line stanzas (quatrains) and an ABAB rhyming technique, with 8 syllables for the 1st and 3rd lines and 6 syllables for the 2nd and 4th lines. The effect of the rhyming technique gives the poem a religious feel; the rhythm and the repetition of certain words (soar, alas, deprived) add to the effect of chanting. The use of alliteration provides another rhyming effect (lain and languished, roll through my ravished ears, gift of natures God, sacred sun) throughout the poem, lending a sense of endlessness and continuation. The petition to Heaven reinforces the religious theme; the poem is written as a 1st person narrative, a plea from an individual to a higher power be released from their suffering. Liberty is given physical aspects; it is described as a cheerful sound and golden in comparison to the hardship, toil and pain of the narrators current situation. The language reinforces the contrasts within the poem - Liberty is described with words such as cheerful, joyful, soar, golden, gift, cooed and heavenly. Slavery, in contrast, is described using words such as slavish, chain, rage, foul oppression, bondage, grief and storm. Hortons use of language is astonishing, considering his origins. On Liberty and Slavery was first published on 8 April 1829, in a Massachusetts newspaper, the Lancaster Gazette. It is remarkable for a number of reasons; it wasShow MoreRelatedGiving A Voice : Langston Hughes, An American Poet And Social Activist967 Words   |  4 Pagestranscend time. Hughes wrote his poetry so eloquently that his poetry can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the reader’s personal background and what they bring to the reading. Even today his readers can connect to his poetry because he discusses subjects that we are faced with today, such as identity issues. Hughes is known for focusing on issues that were confronting the nation during his time. Hughes used his African-American roots to highlight the themes of his poems. Hughes’ poemsRead MoreWalt Whitman And Langston Hughes1009 Words   |  5 Pagesin these categories; structure and technique, themes, and effect on people and society. 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