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.