Nature Comparisons & Power

Question 1

Compare Prelude with DOAN

Answer 1

Opening:
- DOAN begins with adult speaker, Prelude with child
- Differing images of sun/heat
- Nature as complex vs joyful

Middle:
- both have energy in memory
- in both childhood innocence
- seeing nature vs being nature

End:
- both have volta with changed perceptions as time progresses, triggering metaphorical deaths of childlike innocence
- prelude shows fear whilst DOAN shows a more visceral disgust

Structure:
- neither very structured showing nature’s power to express itself
- both have voltas

Question 2

Compare Prelude with AIAG

Answer 2

Opening:
- adult vs child speaker, differing images of nature through heat/sun imagery (differing emotional tone)
- loss of time with nature vs celebration of time at beginning (gentle, soft tone vs excitement, nostalgia)

Middle:
- both used twilight imagery for different reasons (memories vs grief), however both include sadness that comes with slight joy of nature
- humans a part of nature vs personifying nature (both become one)

End:
- both show a loss in nature, loss of childhood innocence for nature (reflective, fear) vs loss of summer/somebody (grace, beauty)
- differing human perceptions as adults, nature with grace, vs dangerous, feared perhaps as well as time presented differently (hope, no hope)
- nature used to discuss how human feelings change

Structure:
- similarly structured with single stanza showing organic form of nature, its power

Question 3

Compare Prelude with to Autumn

Answer 3

Opening:
- winter vs autumn, both used sunlight imagery (coldness behind summer vs warmth in winter), both used to celebrate nature
- childlike energy of nature vs rich, warm imagery of autumn (excitement vs contentment)

Middle:
- both represent the violence intermingled with nature through hunting vs ploughing, foreshadowing a sort of death (more honest account)
- nature as active vs passive
- both have a subtle hint at time passing/progression

End:
- change of nature through passage of time which is seen to be sad in both poems, both deaths (metaphorical vs season)
- however there is a strong sense of fear in prelude vs glory for autumn passing (ode)
- different presentation of time (+vs-), revered end vs loss of adoration

Structure:
- lack of vs ode structure indicates power of man over nature vice versa

Question 4

Compare Ozy and HR

Answer 4

Opening:
- both begin with personal pronoun but set different perceptions of power, with both having skewed sense of authenticity (and named as titles showing arrogance)
- HR captures false beliefs of absolute powers held by individuals whereas Ozymandias demonstrates consequences of such misplaced hubris (his fall is reminiscent of Hawk who perceives no threat over natural world despite being of it)

Middle:
- in Ozy we see a higher force than King Ramesses II himself whereas Hawk believes himself to be a higher force than God
- nature seems to ridicule Ozymandias by leaving enough to violate (facial expressions) but in HR we see him controlling the narrative about himself

End:
- Hawk emulates his responsibility as a ‘Godly’ individual whilst Ozy also thought he surpassed status of God (both ridicule)
- through Ozymandias’ surrender to natural world, readers acutely made aware of hawk’s eventual fall from power (survival vs defeat, challenged vs unchallenged)

Structure:
- HR 6 quatrains showing power (coupled with final line) over poem, whilst in Ozy sonnet form which is ironic, ridiculing such love for oneself and lack of being loved as a result