Different In Tall Nettles The Poet example essay topic

525 words
Compare and Contrast Tall Nettles and Thistles Tall Nettles by Edward Thomas, and Thistles by Ted Hughes but show similarities and differences. One similarity would include the titles; they both refer to weeds. But a difference would also show the contrasting views of nature. These poems both deal natural aspects and human aspects of weeds.

Tall Nettles shows a perspective of a small and beautiful piece of the world. It tells of the cycle of nature or, "these many springs", represents that this place is special that it doesn't change very much or has been left to grow without human affect. In Thistles by Ted Hughes the setting of the ground on which the thistle weeds are growing is constantly in turmoil. Both these poems deal with the cycle of history and that it repeats it self. In Thistles there is fighting that goes on over the same piece of ground. Tall Nettles shows how over a period of time there was a cycle of regeneration where the nettles would grow then would be cut back.

Both of these poems use an unconventional perspective of man and nature. A thistle is how nature is a lot like the men how they grow old and die. And also when their sons appear fighting over the same ground. The thistle's next generation will re-grow and again the conflict will still repeat itself with the, "hoeing hands", from the men and the, "blue-black pressure", which are the cows. In the Tall Nettles the poet emphasizes on the small piece of the farm which he treasures because of the weeds. People would normally think of weeds as a pest but the poet believes they are special.

The repetition of the O consonant is to give the line a feeling of a period of time has pasted this is called an alliteration. The feeling of time or slowness in the poem is also in Thistles because they both deal with a certain season. And seasons as we know occur in cycles. As these poems are both similar they are too also different. The poet Edward Thomas looks at the Tall Nettles in great detail and depth dealing with what has been happening around the nettles. But Ted Hughes gives a very big picture into how the thistles interact with the environment they are in dealing with the conflicts.

Also the tone in which the poems are presented is vastly different. Tall Nettles is a calm and less violent poem without much conflict. While Thistles is got to do with the Viking's invading and conflicts of the farmers and cows destroying them. The structure too is also different in Tall Nettles the poet writes the poem in quatrains while in Thistles it is structured in three line stanzas without any general direction. As seen in both poems they are very much alike and different. It is possible to assume that these poems are deeply rooted to do with nature and the conflicts with humans.