Dante's epic poem, The Inferno, follows the descent of Dante himself into the bowels of hell in search of salvation. This poem follows the monomyth pattern very closely. There are ten parts to the monomyth (birth/home, call to adventure, helpers/amulet, crossing the threshold, tests, helpers, climax/final battle, flight, return and elixir) and The Inferno has them all.

Rita Dove's poem "Daystar" talks about a woman who is both a wife and a mother and who is exhausted by her daily tasks. Dove's use of meter and tone concentrates on illuminating the beauty and the importance of everyday events in normal lives.

A comparison of two historical poems: William Woodsworth's "London, 1802," about famed author John Milton, and "Douglas" (author not listed), a poem about U.S. slave abolitionist Frederick Douglas. Both poems are tributes to the life of these important men in history.

Seamus Heaney's poems "Mid-Term Break" and "Follower" both depict Heaney's use of symbolism to foreshadow the sorrow and mourning of death. "Mid-Term Break" describes the powerful impact of death of a small child upon Heaney, his family, and all humankind; while "Follower" leads us to explore the different rhythms of life and how time affects generations. While these poems are of different emotional caliber, Heaney ultimately questions the idea of his own mortality in both poems, and his expert use of symbolism leaves us haunted, something few poets can achieve.

How do sound effects contribute to each poet's treatment of the theme of death in "Edge"  (Plath), "Death be not Proud" (Donne), and "Sheep" (Hughes)?

The theme of death in four Emily Dickinson poems: "I've seen a Dying Eye," "Because I could not stop for Death," "I like a look of Agony," and "I heard a Fly buzz--when I died."

Examines the poem, Death of a Naturalist, by Heaney. Discusses the structure and language used by the poet and describes the techniques he uses to describe the end of childhood.

Essay analyzes the poem "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden.

Essay gives a comprehensive analysis of John Keats' "Ode to a Nightengale."

An argumentative/persuasive essay on what literature is. The example of A Night Without Armor by Jewel Kilcher is considered in the context of the definition of literature, as it is a body of creative written works, and it includes the basic elements of poetry essential to the classification of literature.

Bruce Lundgren's poem "Sturt's Dreaming" is about a historical explorer who sought to map the interior of Australia in search of his dream of finding an "inland sea." The poem portrays an obvious contrast between Sturt's failed pursuit of his dream on one hand, and the dreaming of the Aborigines about the land on the other. It depicts changing times and expectations, as well as a change in perspective on the part of both whites and Aborigines.

The joy a comforting parent can bring is a key theme in the poem "First Lesson" by Phillip Booth. An analysis of the symbolism and language of the poem.

A breakdown of William Wordsworth's poem "She dwelt among the untrodden ways," including the poem's subject matter, word choice and punctuation.

A comparison of how love is described in two poems: John Clare's "First Love" and John Dunne's "The Flea." For Clare, love is an overwhelming first-time experience. For Dunne, love is seducing his mistress by overcoming her coyness through argument.

Pat Mora's poem "Immigrants" is a poem that confronts the social pressures put on immigrants to conform to the typical American image. Every person strives to be accepted into a certain culture and this is no different in the United States.

While similarities exist between the poems Results and Roses by Edgar Guest and Ben Franklin's Mr. Meant-To, the poems have a few differences. Structure, symbolism and the poetry process are ways the two are differentiated. But working towards goals is a way these poems show their similarities.

A crucial life changing event in a character's life.

Diction and alliteration is used to tell the cautinoary tale about following your own dreams rather than the wishes of others in "The Average," a poem by W.H. Auden.

Essay discusses the differences and similarities in the battles of the poem "Beowulf."

Essay on the poem 'Digging' by Heaney.

In the poem "Blackberry-Picking," Seamus Heaney uses oratorical devices to metaphorically illustrate how life's most anticipated pleasures never quite live up to our expectations.

The miller parodies the Knight's Tale in several different ways. He cleverly achieves this through his description of the characters, the style in which the story is told and the way in which the characters conduct themselves in the tale.

Discipline, will a child learn from it, or would he disregard it? Mervyn Morris fully answers this question in the poem "Little Boy Crying." The poem illustrates a situation with a father and son, in which the son has been struck and for revenge has used false tears to hurt his father.

In " The Wild Swans at Coole", William Butler Yeats uses many sound techniques and literary devices in order to communicate the purpose of the poem such devices are rhyme, metaphor, alliteration and personification. Once these devices are put together the purpose of the poem is emphasised.

A poets view on the figure of poetry.

Both John Donne's "The Funeral" and "Holy Sonnet 3" are undeniably similar in their discussions of death and afterlife, with death referred to more as a beginning to a new life than an ending, particularly for the soul. Each poem reflects the soul being released from the body as a way of cleansing the spirit, while allowing the mind to rid itself of things that might have troubled the speaker while alive.

A message hidden by Dylan Thomas in his poem tells readers to live their lives to the fullest. The poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night is very powerful and touching that sends an important message.

The poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" written by Dylan Thomas conveys the universal theme of death's inevitability. The poet of this poem conveys the theme of anger against death and death's inevitability through the literary devices. The structure of this poem is in villanelle form and the literary devices that are used in the poem are metaphor, paradox, and repetition. In the poem the poet is encouraging his father to resist the acceptance of death and rage against dying.

Brief look at the techniques (imagery, diction etc.) of Donne and Hopkins with a focus on love.

This essay explores the type of love that John Donne's poetry evokes.

There are many literary devices at the disposal of writers that are used to emphasize ideas. In his sonnet "Death, be not proud", John Donne chooses to use personification. He personifies death in order to emphasize the idea that Christians have victory over death, and the promise of eternal life, where death is no more.

An explication of the poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

W.B. Yeats creates a horrifying scene with powerful images, symbols and allusions in the apocalyptic poem "The Second Coming." The first stanza describes the world's decline, then the second predicts the final downfall of humanity.

Take some risks and enjoy life or you will never begin to live. This is the evident thesis in Harry Van Dyke's poem, Doors of Daring. This story tells of adventures that have been taken. Also it tells of people that don't explore and what will happen to them. He tells us this threw his extensive use of symbolism and imagery.

Poems often tell about the reasons people should take risks and never give up until they start trying. In Henry van Dyke's poem Doors of Daring, he explains how people are sometimes held back from taking chances. The author narrates people challenging mountains and oceans even when they know that they are far from measuring up to them. He then writes about the individuals who are continuously held back from trying something new. In three lines of the poem, the message to take risks is expressed through the author's use of symbolism and imagery.

Poems often tell about the reasons people should take risks and never give up until they start trying. In Henry van Dyke's poem Doors of Daring, he explains how people are sometimes held back from taking chances. The author narrates people challenging mountains and oceans even when they know that they are far from measuring up to them. He then writes about the individuals who are continuously held back from trying something new. In three lines of the poem, the message to take risks is expressed through the author's use of symbolism and imagery.

Provides a brief analysis of the poem, "XX" by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Discusses the theme of respect for one's elders.

Provides an in depth analysis of the poem "Dover Beach," written by Matthew Arnold. Examines the importance of setting. Provides biographical detail on the poet.

Analyzes "Dulce et Decorum est", the poem by Wilfred Owen, written to display the terrible conditions of the First World War, and to increase awareness of it. Explores Owen's use of poetic devices and how they help readers think differently about a historical event.

This essay shows how Wilfred Owen tells the truth about the horrors of war through a combination of vivid imagery, rhythm and sound in his poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est".

Critiques "Dulce et Decorum est," a very unusual but intriguing poem written by the famous poet Wilfred Owen. Summarizes the subject matter and themes. Explains more fully the features, which have made such an impact on us.

This essay describes the meaning and intentions of Dunbar's poem, 'We Wear the Mask.'