Comparison of Miracle on St. Davids Day by Gillian Clarke and Daffodil

Comparison of Miracle on St. David's Day by Gillian Clarke and Daffodils by William Wordsworth 'Daffodils' was written by William Wordsworth approximately a century before 'Miracle on St. David's Day' was written by Gillian Clarke. Due to this, the poems differ greatly in their style and language. Observing the poems at first glance, it is obvious that they also contrast in content, however at greater depth, the connections between them are made obvious. In this essay, I will be discussing the connections and differences between the two poems. The daffodil is the national symbol of Wales; it represents hope, joy and celebration. Both of the poets make this markedly palpable using this as a theme for their poems. In 'Miracle on St. David's Day' daffodils are mentioned at the beginning and end of the poem, carrying significance as it is they that remind the 'big, dumb labouring manà ¢? ¦' of a time when he had something to say. The man speaks for the first time in forty years, reciting the poem 'Daffodils' implying that this is what he has to say: the joy and hope evoked in him by both the daffodils that he sees and the poem 'Daffodils'. Wordsworth is less subtle is his regard of daffodils, his poem is more conspicuous in portraying the 'fluttering dancing jocund ' daffodils as they fill his heart with pleasure and this image of the daffodils is the same throughout the poem. Both poems depict how it is the daffodils that evoke some form of emotion in either the author himself, or a character in the poem. In 'Miracle on St. David's Day' the 'yellow and open-mouthed [daffodils]' and the 'rhythms of the poems' remind him that 'once he had something to say' and brings him out of his 'dumbness of misery', w... ... importance of a word or emotion ' I gazed- and gazed ' To gaze implies to watch with a certain amount of emotion, unlike to simply look at something. By repeating the word gaze, he emphasises that the flowers actually meant something to him. Wordsworth also uses onomatopoeia to allow the reader to visualise the description, ' fluttering ' The word allows the reader to see the daffodils fluttering, like a butterfly. These descriptive words are often used in association with a well-known description for example: the fluttering butterflies. Having studied both poems in depth, it is clear that they have more differences than similarities. However, they both have the same underlying theme of something wonderful happening that should be treasured, although they have presented this theme differently to the reader (different setting, characters, topic etc.). Comparison of Miracle on St. David's Day by Gillian Clarke and Daffodil Comparison of Miracle on St. David's Day by Gillian Clarke and Daffodils by William Wordsworth 'Daffodils' was written by William Wordsworth approximately a century before 'Miracle on St. David's Day' was written by Gillian Clarke. Due to this, the poems differ greatly in their style and language. Observing the poems at first glance, it is obvious that they also contrast in content, however at greater depth, the connections between them are made obvious. In this essay, I will be discussing the connections and differences between the two poems. The daffodil is the national symbol of Wales; it represents hope, joy and celebration. Both of the poets make this markedly palpable using this as a theme for their poems. In 'Miracle on St. David's Day' daffodils are mentioned at the beginning and end of the poem, carrying significance as it is they that remind the 'big, dumb labouring manà ¢? ¦' of a time when he had something to say. The man speaks for the first time in forty years, reciting the poem 'Daffodils' implying that this is what he has to say: the joy and hope evoked in him by both the daffodils that he sees and the poem 'Daffodils'. Wordsworth is less subtle is his regard of daffodils, his poem is more conspicuous in portraying the 'fluttering dancing jocund ' daffodils as they fill his heart with pleasure and this image of the daffodils is the same throughout the poem. Both poems depict how it is the daffodils that evoke some form of emotion in either the author himself, or a character in the poem. In 'Miracle on St. David's Day' the 'yellow and open-mouthed [daffodils]' and the 'rhythms of the poems' remind him that 'once he had something to say' and brings him out of his 'dumbness of misery', w... ... importance of a word or emotion ' I gazed- and gazed ' To gaze implies to watch with a certain amount of emotion, unlike to simply look at something. By repeating the word gaze, he emphasises that the flowers actually meant something to him. Wordsworth also uses onomatopoeia to allow the reader to visualise the description, ' fluttering ' The word allows the reader to see the daffodils fluttering, like a butterfly. These descriptive words are often used in association with a well-known description for example: the fluttering butterflies. Having studied both poems in depth, it is clear that they have more differences than similarities. However, they both have the same underlying theme of something wonderful happening that should be treasured, although they have presented this theme differently to the reader (different setting, characters, topic etc.).