Six Steps to Writing the Perfect In-Class Poetry Comparison Essay

Step 1: Read the poems to gauge the speakers’ distinct (or similar) attitudes of the topic at hand. Decipher the speakers’ ultimate messages. Articulate these attitudes in a complete statement for your own clarity and benefit. Thematic purpose is welcomed, but not required.

            Smith: Because of the turmoil of her earthly life, Smith yearns to experience the tranquility of the moon. (Possible Metaphor for death?)

            Blake: Blake praises the protective and calming influence of the moon, which helps everyone face the struggles and challenges of the day. (Possible Metaphor for God?)

Step 2: Analyze the poem to locate different poetic devices the authors use to enhance these attitudes toward the topic at hand. Articulate these uses in broad, general language. Make sure to clarify whether this essay will analyze the similarities or differences of the poetic techniques seen in the two poems.

            Smith: Allusion to Artemis; Contrasting diction of calm moon and dreadful earth; Moon as metaphor for giver of calmness/ metaphor for a space of solace.

            Blake: Personification of moon as protector of the land; soothing diction/tone; alliteration that adds to the soothing mood; light/shiny visual imagery

Step 3: Write out an introduction paragraph that gets straight to the point of your essay (no need for an attention grabber in an in-class essay). Most likely, your thesis will be several sentences long. Address the general differences in the messages of the poems, but hold back on the specifics of the poetic devices for your body paragraphs.

Although both Charlotte Smith’s poem “To the Moon” and William Blake’s poem “To the Evening Star” address the same lunar satellite of the night sky, Smith does so in yearning for the solace the moon has to offer while Blake praises the “evening star” for the solace and protection it already provides. While Smith uses metaphor and contrasting diction to convey her yearning for the solace she lacks in her life, Blake uses personification and visual imagery to express his comfort and bliss concerning the moon’s protectiveness.

(If the poets use the same poetic devices, just mix it up: In conveying these different approaches to the moon, both poets use figurative language and contrasting diction to convey their distinct messages regarding the moon’s solace and tranquility.)

Step 4: Outline the essay in a way that allows clarity and cohesion in your comparison of the two poems. Use only the strongest poetic techniques (2-4 of them).

Intro

Body Paragraph 1: Smith’s use of figurative language (metaphor) – how it conveys her message

Body Paragraph 2: Blake’s use of figurative language (personification) – how it conveys his message

Body Paragraph 3: Smith’s use of contrasting diction (pleasant/dismal) - how it conveys her message

Body Paragraph 4: Blake’s use of visual imagery (bright/shiny) – how it conveys his message

Conclusion

Step 5: Begin writing the body paragraphs of your essay with careful attention given to your organization of the actual paragraph. (Topic sentence; reasoning; quote; analysis; reasoning; quote; analysis; tie it together). As you write, make sure you cite your quotes properly. Use slash marks to show a line change, write the poet’s last name in the in-text citation, and write the line numbers in the in-text citation.

Blake’s use of figurative language helps convey his comforting attitude toward the moon. Throughout the poem, Blake personifies the moon as a figure of human authority capable of providing protection and calmness in the land: “…light/ the bright torch of love; thy radiant crown/ Put on, and smile upon our evening bed” (Blake 2-4). By placing a literal crown upon the moon’s head, Blake provides the reader with the image of a kingly figure, ready to protect his vassals of the land. But even in the description of this kingly moon, Blake uses further personification to create a peaceful atmosphere under this lunar reign by having the moon “smile” over his sleeping subjects – thus ensuring that this protective ruler has kind and compassionate intentions. Further evidence of this is seen when ….

Step 6: Finish writing the essay. Proofread. Turn in. Relax… until the rewrite.