Student Essay on The Poems "London 1802" and "Douglass"

In times of dire need many people invoke God's name to give them strength and hope. Some, however, turn to their heroes. William Wordsworth and Paul Lance Dunbar did just that through their poetry. In " London, 1802 Wordsworth cried out to John Milton, an English poet and political writer, to right the wrongs of Wordsworth's present-day England. In "Douglass" Dunbar invoked the comfort of Frederick Douglass, an American writer and abolitionist. The two pieces of poetry are very similar but contrasts are evident.

In "London, 1802 Wordsworth begs Milton to return and give England "manners, virtue, freedom and power" and champion the cause of liberty and public virtue once again. He is afraid of what England has become, " a fen of stagnant waters." Wordsworth praises Milton for his greatness and accomplishment, and wishes his return in order to restore England to her full glory. Like Wordsworth, Dunbar also cries out to his hero, Frederick Douglass. In the poem "Douglass" Dunbar wishes that Frederick Douglass were still alive to guide his people out of the "tempest of dispraise." Dunbar describes the evil days that have fallen on America, and is convinced that Douglass has not seen times such as these. Still, he wants Douglass to be the pilot that will guide America out of the storm. Like Wordsworth, Dunbar also praises his hero, Douglass, for his "blast-defying form" and leadership abilities. Another similarity is that both poems are Italian sonnets comprised of 14 lines, the first eight lines have the abba rhyme scheme. The poems also parallel in the fact that both Wordsworth and Dunbar cry out to accomplished men; Milton and Douglass were authors who fought for their cause.

Differences between the two works of poetry are visible. Wordsworth wrote about the social turmoil in England in 1802 while Dunbar wrote about the degradation of African Americans living America in 1902. Public virtue in England prevailed when Milton was alive but African Americans knew not of better days in America. Wordsworth wanted Milton to return to England "manners, virtue, freedom, power" once again, while Dunbar wanted African Americans to experience true freedom and justice for the first time.

The relationship between the two poems is lucid. Both Wordsworth and Dunbar are crying out to someone they admire, someone who fought for the same cause and was successful. Their tone is one of desperateness mingled with reverence . They are deeply saddened by their circumstances and they need reassurance and something to believe in. The poems start out with sorrow, both Wordsworth and Dunbar explain just how horrible their circumstances are. But as the poem progresses both authors begin to praise the man they are calling out to. Their tone transforms into one of reverence and hope. For a moment, they forget their present situations and are blown away by greatness of the men they are praising. This gives them hope for a better future.

"England, 1802 and "Douglass" are in many ways similar. Both are crying out to accomplished men for hope and comfort. Yet these Italian sonnets differ. Wordsworth describes England 100 years before Dunbar wrote about the degradation and suffering of African Americans in America. Dunbar wanted things for his country that African Americans never truly tasted in America. However, the relationship between the two poems is strong. The relationship is one consisting of hope. Both poems are crying for hope, and something to look forward to. Both writers are desperate and deeply saddened by their country's circumstances. This relationship binds the two poems eternally.