anthology comparison

Question 1

Comparison between If- and prayer before birth

Answer 1

both about stoicism and endurance

similarities (Both poems present speakers views on life and their fears)

-both use apostrophe

• both use assonance

differences (their perspectives differ)

• the speaker is optimistic about life (if suggestions followed), but in prayer before birth speaker is pessimistic.
• if- made up of 32 lines divided into four octaves (show balance), where in prayer before birth poem 39 line with 8 different length stanzas. (reflects speakers years which at times childlike)
• in if poem is filled with hypothetical situations (anaphora) - where in prayer before birth repetition used to show they are not yet born. allows speaker to understand why afraid