Imagery in "Elegy for My Father, Who is Not Dead"

This poem, along with many others in this chapter, discusses the topic of death. In this poem, imagery of the sea is used to describe the father and son's differing viewpoints of the outcome of death. Lines 18-21 state, "I see myself on deck, convinced his ship's gone down, while he's convinced I'll see him standing on the dock and waving, shouting, welcome back." The imagery of the dock and ship sailing out to sea gives the reader a better image of the distance being created between the father and son at the ship's departure, or the inevitable death. The ship sinking indicates the end of a travel, or the end of the relationship between father and son. The father sees death as a new opportunity to "travel" to another world while awaiting his son's arrival. He does not see his ship sinking, but rather arriving at a new destination.

Irony in "Lonely Hearts"

"Lonely Hearts" is set up like a newspaper ad which contains various requests for love in this poem. In each stanza, someone is asking for something different in a partner. The first seeks fun and adventure, the next companionship, followed by someone interesting, Jewish, and finally Libran. These requirements become rather picky and likely hard to find. However, despite the involvement of each description, each ends with the question, "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" I find it ironic that the speakers call their desires simple when in fact they are rather picky. If it were really a simple request they would be open to anyone from any background or upbringing. Hobbies or religion would not matter and love would be the only necessity if it were truly a simple request.

Oxymoron in "Delight in Disorder"

A few significant oxymorons are found in Robert Herrick's "Delight in Disorder." The author presents these in lines 1, 12, and 14. These all serve to justify the overall message of the poem. "Sweet disorder" (line 1), "wild civility" (line 12), and "too precise" (line 14) appear to be rather contradictory descriptions. However, the speaker is stating that he thinks being perfect and precise is not nearly as beautiful as a little disorder. Without any disorder there is nothing to notice and nothing real. It is just a put-together picture. To the speaker, imperfection is perfection.

Paradox in "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"

In the first stanza of "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," the speaker commands his father, "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day..." The night refers to death throughout this poem. The author uses other images of night to describe death such as in line 4 when the speaker states, "wise men at their end know dark is right..." Death is referred to as a good thing and as the right thing. However, the speaker tells his father to "not go gentle" into death. This is a paradox because usually if something is referred to as a good thing, then it would seem natural to want to have it. But instead the speaker suggests that "wise men...rage against the dying of the light." This paradox is justified through the speaker's feelings for his father. He does not want his dad to die, even if it is the right thing. He cares about his father and does not want to be without him on earth.