Compare and Contrast Poetry Timed Writing

In both poem A and poem B, the speaker depicts explanations for children through the
use of varied diction and contrasting imagery in order to stress the importance of preserving
childhood innocence by sheltering children from a young age.
Both poems A and B use imagery to convey the theme of protecting innocence through
sheltering. Poem A begins with the warping night air beckoning to a child in her sleep. The
personification of the wind into a voice brings about a sense of mystery to the poem. Wilbur
creates a dark image in the first stanza, symbolizing the corruption that is trying to taint the
innocence of the child. At the end of poem A, the speaker illustrates prey about to be eaten by a
predator. This image conveys the idea that innocence will inevitably be overtaken by corruption
or darkness. In poem B, the speaker depicts a sheltered image in the first four stanzas. These
stanzas strengthen the need for preservation of innocence. The final stanzas imagery illustrates
the idea that in some instances, the fight for protecting innocence is a lost cause. Overall, the
images presented to the children of the poems are sheltered in order to preserve their innocence.
In addition to imagery, the different authors convey a similar theme about sheltering
children innocence through varied diction. The speaker of poem A uses negative words such as
darkened, terrors, and fear while not speaking to the child. Words with such a negative
connotation suggest the inevitable darkness slowly tainting childhood innocence. On the other
hand, poem B was written using euphemistic language as if a child were listening. The diction of
poem A is more scholarly, therefore enhancing the complexity of protecting innocence. Poem B
has diction that conveys the idea that innocence is easy to preserve. The diction of both poems
reinforces the meaning or meanings for each poem.
The poets of poem A and B want to stress the importance of protecting young innocence
and they effectively did so by using varied diction and imagery. According to these poems, the
innocence of children needs to be sheltered and preserved for as long as possible.