Helen of Troy has always been looked upon as the prototype of classic beauty. Known as "the face that launched a thousand ships", Helen was known as the most beautiful woman in the world in Greek legend. These poems present a contrasting yet fascinating manner in which two people view this woman. The two poems depict a different side of Helen that is shown through the use of imagery, diction, and structure; Poe's being a more positive beauty of Helen, and Doolittle's being a hateful and blameful tone toward Helen.
One is able to grasp a clear picture in each poem of how Helen is viewed through the evident imagery in each piece. Poe tells of Helen's, "hyacinth hair, classic face" when he mentions her and almost makes her seem angelic. To him, she is an important figure as he says, "how statue - like I see thee stand" and it is evident that he thinks mos
Poe does not have a set structure to his poem, which perhaps suggests his feelings of Helen, as in his mind she is one of a kind. Therefore, he may have been trying to represent this by making his poem one of a kind as well. Alliteration is used expansively throughout Poe's piece with, "weary, way - worn wanderer", "hyacinth hair", and "glory that was Greece, and he grandeur that was Rome". In the second poem the word "white" is used four times and the use of the "w" itself is seen throughout the piece. The title "To Helen" that Poe uses seems as though it is a dedication or even a tribute to Helen herself, whereas just the "Helen" that Doolittle uses is a straightforward and direct title.
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