Comparative Analysis

0906 Writing
May 30, 2011 Comparative Analysis The poem “Against Idleness and Mischief” written by Isaac Watts and the poem “How Doth the Little Crocodile” written by Lewis Carroll are two pieces of work that are always being compared and contrasted. The two poems are written by different poets in different times, however, they are very similar with each other in perspectives like the form, writing style, subject. Comparing to Carroll’s poem, “Against Idleness and Mischief” is more positive, educational and more suitable for children. There are a lot of similarities between two poems, such as form, structure and writing style. However, the two poems differ from each other in other sides. For instance, the length of two poems and purposes to write two poems are different. Therefore, it is worth analyzing Watts and Carroll’s works together to find what the similarities and differences are. One of the most obvious similarities is the form of two poems. Both of the two poets choose animals as subjects, for Watts chooses bees and Carroll chooses crocodile. They are also short poems and belong to poems that are written for children. Another conspicuous thing that the two poems have in common is that the writing structure. The rhyme scheme using in poems are very similar in Watts and Carroll’s works. For instance, both of two poems using alternate rhymes. In Watts’ poem, like the sentence “in works of labor or of skill, I would be busy too; for Satan finds some mischief still, for idle hands to do”, words like “skill” and “still”, “too” and “do” shows the using of alternate rhymes. It is the same in Carroll’s poem. In the sentence “How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spreads his claws, and welcome the little fish in, with gentle smiling jaws”, “grin”, “in”, “claws” and “jaws” are groups of words that have same rhyme scheme. Moreover, both of the two poems use some rhetorical devices, like exclamation and personification. In the two poems, there are several exclamatory sentences starting with “How” to enrich the emotion, like the sentences “How skillfully she builds her cell!” and “How doth the little crocodile”. Personification is also discernible in the two poems through the usage of personal pronouns like “she” and “his” and some personified behaviors. For example, like the action of the little crocodile, “welcome the little fish in, with gentle smiling jaws!” vividly describes a personified image in front of readers. However, differences still exist between the two poems. First point is that the two poems are written in different times. Isaac Watts is a hymn writer and was born nearly two hundred years earlier than Lewis Carroll. Therefore, there exists possibility that Lewis Carroll imitates the writing style of Watts’. What’s more, themes of two poems are different. Watts’ poem mainly conveys a clear massage that is against idleness and mischief by praising the labor of those lovely bees. On the contrary, Carroll’s poem emphasizes on greed and the predatory nature by depicting the cunning image of crocodile. What the two poems similar and different causes the different purpose of the two poems. Carroll’s poem offers readers an image of a fierce, cunning image of crocodile. He uses sentences which have an irony sense, which wants to warn readers to be conscious of the predatory nature and against selfishness, but it may be a little harsh for children. Comparing to Carroll, Watts conveys a more positive massage that labor should be praised by praising the busy life of bees. Watts’ poem can play a better role in educating children because the poem is of a kind and soft style, which is easily accepted by children. For example, the gender of bees can improve that. In Watts’ poem, the bees is considered as females, thus they will bring a feeling of softness and kindness and an emotion of love, and that is why this poem is more interesting to children. In a conclusion, both of Watts and Carroll’s poems are very similar in some aspects. However, each of the two poems has points that are unique and different from the other. Watts’ work is more suitable for children and positive comparing to Carroll’s poem and can play an better role in educating children and that’s why it is recommended.