The language and structure of poem Essay Example for Free

The language and structure of poem Essay The language and structure of poem two Warning is, as with Old Man, Old Man, fairly simple with only four stanzas all but two of which are different lengths. I expect this is because in stanza one, the longest verse, she says all the things she has planned to do in her future as an older woman these of course are all the things that she wants to do so of course there are lots of them. Stanza two says all the things she could do this is not as long because it would have come under the first verse if it was something that she really wanted to do. Stanza three is also a short one as it is about all the things she has to do now which are all boring and tedious. The last stanza is the shortest as it is, in my opinion, what she is thinking but she has to stop herself in her thoughts as she might have thought it was not appropriate at this time to act like an old woman. There is no rhyme or rhythm as with poem one or any complicated language. I also suspect this is because it is a straightforward subject and needs no complications. The two poems are very similar as they are both very easy to understand, as there is no complicated words or English techniques, like similes. The message and tone of poem one is very grim. It takes a pessimistic view of old age saying how your senses deteriorate and how you almost become incompetent. It basically says, you, as someone who is capable and in control will deteriorate to someone who can not do as much as you want to do as you will not be able to see well, you pretty much will not like it! The message and tone of poem two is almost completely contrary to that of poem one. It takes a very optimistic view of old age saying how you can let go of old barriers in life and be able to do what you want. The story is when you are young you must be responsible and set an example. When you get old you can become irresponsible and careless and be able to do the little things that are silly just for the sake of doing it. My personal response to the poem Old Man, Old Man is that it makes me think about my grandparents who were able and active and now have become retired and have their illnesses, this is why the poem makes me think of them. The old man in the poem was a capable man and has now become very dependant. It also makes me think that family is very important because one day you may end up with a dreadful disease and if you cannot turn to your family who can you turn to? My personal response to poem two is somewhat murky. I do not know how to put it but although it is an optimistic view of old age are the things this women wants to do that much to look forward to? I think we can do most of these things now, even as adults, but we do not because it is not advantageous and some of the things are just silly. For instance spending your pension and say weve no money for butter. Is that logical? This is where Im unclear may be shes saying let go out of logic! This poem also reminds me of the great Indian circle of life. This is where the native Americans believed we went round in a circle in our life. We would start life from the ground or mother, progress through childhood to become an adult then revert to being a child again, then the part to the ground.