5. CHANGES & TRADITIONS

As we continue to read poems there are some traditions that poets still to follow. As times change they introduce new ideas, thoughts, and objects into the poems. Throughout this week’s poems there were a lot of religious and biblical poems references. Many mentioned God an identified character being the only god, verses believing in multiple gods. The act of praising, blessing: “blessed Hope” (The Darkling Thrush, line 31), and praying is commonly mentioned, being derived from religious acts. William Butler Yeats uses Adam from the Book of Genesis in the title of his poem, foreshadowing the theme of the poem. As times passes, people become more knowledgeable, worldly, and aware. They are also creating new ideas, new inventions and developing things on their own.

Traditional themes being continually used are people’s feelings and nature. Using common traditional themes that surround human beings constantly create a connection between the poem and the reader. A person can always relate to personal feelings, poets use feelings to help the reader form empathy to the poem, being able to relate to it on a personal level. In Thomas Hardy’s “Hap” he quickly mentions “love’s loss is my hate” (line 8) two strong foil feelings to capture the reader’s feelings for both love and hate. As many poets do Hardy also uses nature; “sun and rain” (Hap, line 11) “leaves lay” (Neutral Tones, line 3) and “God-curst sun” (Neutral Tones, line 15).

As years, decades, and centuries pass the written language of poems change. The way it is written, the connotation of words, the lingo used, and the ideas continue to develop and evolve. Poets in the beginning don’t have the same beliefs, ideas, or knowledge the latter poets have. The language they use is out of date and loses some of the meaning in the translation. The poets that were influenced them have continued to use to main, popular, common themes while developing their own form of writing. Influences from poets to new generation poets will continue, fore the newer poets embrace the poetry they read and still use the themes, subjects, and styles that never get old.