Summary:
An analysis of the concept of change as conveyed in the poems "Mid-term Break" by Seamus Heaney, "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell, and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
How is change conveyed in the poems I have studied"
Change is defined as-to make to make a shift from one to another or to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution. Change can be conveyed in several different ways within a poem: atmosphere, mood and purpose are usually most significant. Change is conveyed in all the three poems I would be looking at-'Mid-term Break', 'To His Coy Mistress' and 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'.
The first stanza of the poem 'Stopping by Woods' is simple and builds up the imagery mood of the poem, which continues on until the end. It shows the easy pace the speaker is taking, having plenty of time 'to watch his woods fill up with show'. The meditative and unhurried mood is reflected using words like 'village' and 'woods fill up with snow', thus a vivid imagery picture is painted.
The second stanza provides a more in depth view of the imagery than the first stanza; it also provides a more definite time and location-'between the woods and frozen lake'. The readers are told that the poet is rather deep in the woods, and the fact that his horse is puzzled by his actions. And then the phrase-'The darkest evening of the year' tells the reader that it is nighttime and very dark, either literally or emotionally. Here, the poet's emotions are brought into the poem, as the 'darkest evening' reflects the 'darkest emotions', meaning that he is depressed and perhaps lonely, similar to his horse which is used to 'stop with a farmhouse near'. The sounds described also provide a little insight to the poet's mind and feelings-'gives his harness bells a shake', 'sound (of) the sweep of easy wind and downy flake'. The poet is so calm and patient that he can hear even the fall of snowflakes and the movement of the wind.
The final stanza is a combination of both elements from the first stanzas. It clarifies the intense beauty and awe of nature-'the woods are lovely'. However, after the word 'lonely', the poet continues on to describe the woods as 'dark and deep'. This reflects the poet's dark emotions and explains that there is an unknown task or problem that troubles him-'but I have promises to keep'. This is emphasized in the repeated closing lines 'And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.'
As proved above, change in both mood and context is evident in this poem. In the first stanza, the poet vividly paints the scene of the woods, using few words and allowing the readers to use their imagination. He then goes on to express his troubled thoughts, using the scenery of the woods as a metaphor. Finally, he combines the first two stanzas into the last one, creating a dramatic effect by emphasizing greatly on the last line.
In another poem, 'Mid-term Break', change is only conveyed in the third stanza onwards. The third and fourth stanzas convey the poet's unease and discomfort in the house, silence and gloom being the dominant emotion in the atmosphere-'whispers', 'tell me they were "sorry for my trouble"'. The poet's feelings are put across in a rapid and disjointed manner, as if the poet is in shock and is having difficulties making sense of all the things happening around him. This is further emphasized in the mother's inability to cry because of the immense grief and heartache-'(the mother) coughed out angry tearless sighs.' The poet clearly feels uncomfortable with the atmosphere of formality within the adults and the unfamiliar attention he receives-"I was embarrassed by old men standing up to shake my hand." It is also possible that there are feelings of guilt and regret in the poet, at having been absent at a time when his family needed him. The poet's distress at his forced absence is emphasized in the sixth stanza-"I saw him for the first time in six weeks." The fourth stanza ends with the poet's mother holding his hand. This image serves to move the reader on from the formality of the old men's handshakes, to the more soothing and personal grief of a mother comforting and holding on to her son.
In the fifth stanza, the poet's brother/pet is not referred using personal or emotive terms, but as a 'corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses'. This image clearly emphasizes the presence of formality and coldness in the atmosphere.
There is a distinct transformation in atmosphere as the sixth stanza begins with 'next morning I went up into the room'. The poet is now alone and free to express his feelings as he wishes. His sibling/pet is referred to as 'him', rather than 'corpse'. 'Snowdrops and candles sooth the bedside', conveys a calm and gentle atmosphere, in contrast to the beginning stanzas of the poem.
The poem 'To His Coy Mistress' begins in a regular and organized manner, with a regular rhyming scheme and rhythm. The poet is clearly patient and somewhat relaxed. He uses a lot of effort to praise the recipient of the 'letter', using phrases like-'for, lady, you deserve this state' and 'two hundred to adore each breast'. He also accentuates on his love for her-'I would love you ten years before the flood'. The mood is unhurried and in favour of the recipient, and although time is mentioned ('had we but world enough, and time,'), it is not the highlight of the text and less emphasis is laid on the issue of insufficient time.
However, it is emphasized greatly in the middle of the poem onwards, the phrase 'I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near' being the turning point of the poem. The poet starts to become pessimistic-'thy beauty shall no more be found', 'worms shall try that long-preserved virginity' and 'quaint honour turn to dust'. He uses petrifying imageries to instill fear into the recipient and give in to him-'worms', 'dust', 'grave', 'vault', 'ashes', 'birds of prey', 'devour', 'strife'. The atmosphere becomes tensed and violent, in contrast to the calm and jovial atmosphere at the beginning, as the poet's patience wears thin. He also increases his consciousness towards time, as emphasized in the last line-'though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run'.
Although the rhythm and rhyming scheme of the poem does not change much throughout the poem, but the mood and atmosphere changes dramatically; from a calmed and unhurried atmosphere to a terrifying and edged one.
Change in atmosphere between stanzas is evident in all three poems. From an awkward atmosphere of 'shake my hand' to a more soothing one-'held my hand' (Mid-term Break) is one distinctive example. 'To His Coy Mistress' conveys a change in mood as Marvell uses 'sweet talk' at the beginning to persuade the 'coy mistress', but uses terror at the end instead. A poem can also express different things at different stanzas. In 'Stopping by the Woods in a Snowy Evening', Frost first describes the landscape, then goes on to express his troubles and thoughts.
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