" If I could only live at the pitch that is near madness, When everything is as it was in my childhood..." This statement in the "Ode" is a common theme between the two poems. The poems being If I Could Only Live At The Pitch That Is Near Madness by Richard Eberhart and Ode : Intimations Of Immortality From Recollections Of Early Childhood written by William Wordsworth. A contrast between the two poems is the time period which both these poems were written. The romantic period verses the modern period. A similarity between the two poems is the common manner which poetic devices are used. Aside from the fact that the time periods were different, the two poems hold many similarities between the theme and the poetic devices used through- out both pieces. Through examination of the common theme , poetic devices and the contrast of when these two poems were created, one may conclude that society blinds one from truth.

In these poems, there lies a difference. The difference being the fact that these poems were written in different periods. William Wordsworth writes his poem "Ode : Intimations Of Immortality From Recollections Of Early Childhood" in the romantic

period. Key elements to this time were, feelings and emotions, individualism, realistic attention to vivid detail, "God is demonstrated in Everything",the questioning of the commonplace, and the form is less restrained meaning that it was a more freely written structure. This varies from the modern period even though the modern period was influenced by the romantic period. Richard Eberhart writes in this period to father his poem " If I Could Only Live At The Pitch That IS Near Madness". The key elements of this time period are simply more social and psychological pressures to alter views, anger and protest, it further examines human existence in a changing environment, questioning of the existence of God, and finally, a greater concern over self characterization. Wordsworth refers to God several times throughout the poem" But trailing clouds of gory do we come from God , who is our home..." . There is no question about his existence, which is one of many dominant elements to the romantic style of writing. Eberhart explains his view of society in the following " I saw battalions of the race of mankind , Standing stolid demanding a moral answer.." Society stands parallel with each other, each questioning their existence, and demanding reason. These questions are direct examples of the modernistic tone. Also in Eberharts poem there is no rhyme, nor specific structure. It simply has one unintentional rhyming couplet . This being modern broke from traditional form, and proved to be more individualistic. This differs from the poem "Ode" where it is composed of stanzas, and is more structured yet less restrained then the classical period. Regardless of difference of style between these two poems, both poems still portray the concept of society blinding one from the truth and beauty of the world.

These two poems come together to share similarities through the use of poetic devises. Even though there is no real rhyming scheme in Eberharts work, there is however a single rhyming couplet. It bears no significance in general to the poem. Although William Wordsworth uses a repeated pattern of rhyming lines, in other words he uses the stanza device. There is a common atmosphere between the two poems. Commonly, they both posses a natural enviroment. Wordsworth writes " There was a meadow, grove, and stream, the earth,.....while birds thus sing a joyous sound.....in a thousand valleys far and wide....fountains, meadows, hills and groves...gather round the setting sun.." these are all particular lines which portray an image and atmosphere of earth and its natural, beautif

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Approximate Word count = 1751
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)