Authors craft

Jasper Townsend Class 707

3/24/14

            The 2 poems “aquatinted with the night” by Robert Frost, and “we grow 

accustomed to the dark” by Emily Dickinson both both use authors craft for showing 

depression. In Frosts poem, there is no hope and the speaker is lost in depression. In 

Dickinson's poem, we learn that the speaker is experiencing depression, but the 

speaker still has hope. Between these poems, the authors express depression 

differently by using different structures, point of views, and imagery.

             In these 2 poems, the point of view affects the way the speaker is feeling. In the 

poem by Frost, he only uses “i”, which says that he is alone. In Dickinson's poem, she 

uses the “we” voice, which indicates that there are more people, that the speaker isn't 

by their self. In Dickinson's poem, the speaker says  “We uncertain step for newness of 

the night.” This is showing the reader that the speaker is not alone. In Frosts poem, the 

speaker says “I have walked out….” This shows the reader that the speaker is alone. 

The “i” voice makes the reader feel isolated and depressed. On the other hand, when 

an author uses the “we” voice, it makes the reader feel like they are not alone and there 

is still hope. The “we” voice also is more comforting than the “i” voice.

In these 2 poems, depression is also shown in the structure. In Frosts poem, the 

structure is very compact and organized, consisting of rhyme schemes. This shows that 

the speaker is used to being in the dark, used to being in a state of depression, and it is 

not a new experience. The author says that “down the saddest city lane...dropped my 

eyes, unwilling to explain.” This is an example of one of the multiple rhyme schemes. In 

Dickinson's poem, there are multiple dashes in each stanza, making the poem very 

choppy and  awkward. This resembles a new experience for the speaker- depression. 

The author demonstrates this by saying such as “A moment - We uncertain step…

Darknesses…” This is showing that the speaker is stepping into a new feeling of 

darkness. 

            These 2 poems also use imagery to create a picture of depression and what the 

speaker are feeling and seeing. With Frosts poem, all of the images are sad and 

depressing, representing the speakers feelings. the author uses imagery such as 

“...outwalked the furthest city light.” This is showing the reader that the speaker has out 

walked the last light of hope. This is also showing that the speaker has no hope in 

himself, that there is no way to make himself happy again. Dickinson's poem insinuates 

that there is still a flicker of hope in the distance. She creates this feeling by using 

imagery such as “...Life steps almost straight.” This means that life is almost normal

again, how the speakers life used to be. The author also shows hope in imagery by 

saying “...Darkness alters-….” This is showing that the speaker is changing, and is 

seeing hope once again.  

            All in all, the poem “aquatinted with the night” is insinuating that when someone 

is sucked into a state of depression, they need comforting and loving. “we grow 

accustomed to the dark” shows us that people need to believe in themselves when they 

are depressed, and they cannot give up and let depression win. this is also showing us 

that we are not alone, and there are always helping hands. 

two poem essay

The two poems “My Papas Waltz” by Theodore Roethke and “Those Winter 

Sundays” by Robert Hayden both show a child and father relationship. In “My Papas 

Waltz”, we see an evening with a father and son who are waltzing around the kitchen, 

showing a close relationship. In the poem “Those Winter Sundays” we see a child who 

doesn't realize how much he loves his father. 

In “My Papas Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, the father comes back from work, has 

a drink, and with his child, “we romped until the pans slid from the shelves...” This 

sentence is showing a son and dad waltzing around the kitchen, and having a good time 

with each other. The speaker is showing the reader how much affection the dad has 

towards his son. When the son and father are dancing, the “...mothers continence could 

not unfrown itself.” The speaker is telling us that the mother is annoyed because pans 

were falling from the shelves and they were dancing in the kitchen. When it was time for 

bed the dad “then waltzed me off to bed, still clinging to your shirt.” This shows that the 

child was exhausted after a pleasant and entertaining evening dancing with his father. 

In “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, the father even “sundays too...got 

up early... cracked hands that ached from weekday weather made banked fires blaze” 

This shows the reader that even on his day off, the father still gets up early to heat the 

house so his family would be warm. “No one ever thanked him.” the speaker is showing  

shows that his family took what he did for them for granted.Later as an adult the son 

realizes all that his father had done for him. He “had driven out the cold...polished my 

good shoes as well.” Looking back at all of the things his father had done for him, “what 

did I know, what did I know...” This shows that he should have been grateful for 

everything his father had done for him, and he shouldn't have ignored that. 

These two poems shared many things in common. both families were working 

class, and both fathers did many things to help their children. Both fathers showed their 

love for their children in different ways, such as dancing with them, or keeping them 

warm in the morning by waking up early to make a fire.