Iota 1
Group Iota
Mr. Cleon M. McLean
AP English Literature and Composition
Period 3
4 March 2011
Essay
The conditions of a specific time in history are constant only in that they are subject to
change. As a reaction to these changes, men will fantasize of a better time and summon the
ghosts of those who have passed. Such outcries as a response to shifts in society can be read,
rather than heard, in the poetry of writers such as William Wordsworth and Paul Laurence
Dunbar, in their respective works titled “London, 1802” and “Douglass”,. However, the poems
are two different responses to two different periods inhistory. Wordsworth’s poem is a reaction
to 19th century English society problems, while Dunbar’s poem is a reaction to the next
century’s problems. “London, 1802” and “Douglass” are both similar in their basic content and
structure, but through further analysis, the reader can discern some differences between the two
poems.
Indeed, a century separates the work of Wordsworth from the work of Dunbar, but there
are many correlations between the two poems. For example, both summon the presence of
venerable historical figures. In addition, both speakers reminisceof a better time (ubi sunt motif),
or a time more beneficial to them, as a reaction to shifts in accepted ethical and social practices
within their respective society. Furthermore, they both succeed in using nature as a means for
comparison to the changes occurring around the speakers. In “London, 1802”, Wordsworth
summons the ghost of John Milton, a 17th century English poet and political writer.
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Wordsworth’s speaker pleads for Milton’s assistance, despite his living impairment, because the
speaker’s home country of England has been reduced to “a fen/ of stagnant waters” (lines 2-3).
The speaker wishesMilton to restore the English people’s “manners, virtue, freedom, [and]
power” (line 8); he believes that these qualities listed have vacated 19th century English society.
Similarly, in “Douglass”, Dunbar summons Frederick Douglass, an American writer and leader
in the abolitionist cause, to “guide the shivering bark” (line 12) for America. Dunbar’s speaker is
living in America, neck-deep in post-Civil War turmoil, observing, with discontent, the society
bustling about him. The speaker expresses his dissatisfaction with the current state of the country
by explaining to the reader that “We [Americans] ride amid a tempest of dispraise” (line 8).
After analyzing the two poems, it is evident that the speakers felt utter unhappiness caused by
their respective country and fellow man. Although referencing nature is a very Romantic quality
in poetry (this would fit Wordsworth’s poem better), Dunbar also utilizes this technique in his
work. In “London, 1802”, Wordsworth exalts Milton by saying to him “Thou [John Milton]
hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea” (line 10), conveying the great power and influence
of the late Milton in a way that is akin to that of the ocean. Likewise, Dunbar uses a comparison
through nature by describing Frederick Douglass’ presence to be “high-sounding o’er the storm”
(line 11), with the storm representing America. In that line, Dunbar holds Douglass in such
veneration that the very influence of the deceased man seems, to the speaker, to ascend and
remain transfixed above the clutter of thoughtlessness that has possessed post-Civil War
America. Despite the gaping chasm of time between the conception of Wordsworth’s poem and
Dunbar’s poem, their use of nature as a comparison to man is a noteworthy detail; the Romantic
idea stood the test of time, and this is evident within the wordplay of Dunbar’s “Douglass”.
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Consequently, these similarities highlight the differences in the time period and place.
For example, in Wordsworth’s poem “London, 1802”, the setting is nineteenth century England,
a time “of stagnant waters” (line 3). The speaker expounds on how England is in need of John
Milton’s help, as it has turned selfish and unprogressive in the speaker’s view. The phrase “altar,
sword, and pen,/fireside…” (lines 3-4) is vested with synecdoche for religion, military, literature
and home, respectively, all of which have become static. Unlike the complacent English society,
in Dunbar’s “Douglass”, post-Civil War America is seemingly more chaotic. As Dunbar writes,
“the awful tide that battled to and fro;/We ride amid a tempest of dispraise” (line 7-8), showing
the relationship between a tumultuous America and a squall. If one shifts one’s focus to another
area in “London, 1802”, one sees that the octet shows Wordsworth’s yearning for Milton’s
return. However, in the sestet, Wordsworth esteems Milton to show what English men are
lacking in character. On the other hand, in “Douglass”, Dunbar the octet is a representation of
Douglass’ era while the sestet relates more to Dunbar’s time.
Moreover,Wordsworth and Dunbar share a striking similarity in their poems: the use of
apostrophe, which is a shift in the audience to whom the speaker addresses to someone who is
not present, or is long deceased. In “London, 1802”, Wordsworth opens with “Milton!” (line 1),
a deeply emotional plea for the late John Milton to return to the present and to lend to the world
his “voice”, once again Likewise, Dunbar opens his poem, “Douglass”, with “Ah, Douglass”
(line 1); it is the speaker’s sigh of discontent and his digression to the late Frederick Douglassa
source of solace for the speaker. As the two poems ensue, the poets practice the use of imagery
to better portray the distress that they see in their time and place. Wordsworth describes and
exalts Milton by using visual language such as “Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart/ Thou
hadst a voice whose sound like the sea;” (line 9-10). With the images portrayed in those lines,
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the reader can infer thatMilton wasa pious and humble man , quite the contrary of the typical 19th
century Englishman, and with a voice that thunders over absurdity and senselessness.
Furthermore, Dunbar’s “Douglass” follows suit, using a similar portrait to Wordworth’s poem to
paint the visual image of Frederick Douglass: “Oh for thy voice high-sounding o’er the storm”
(line 11). This is an example of imagery used to conceive a vignette of the power and influence
of the booming voice of Frederick Douglass. In both poems, Wordsworth and Dunbar heavily
utilize nature in their exaltation of Milton and Douglass, respectively. The images that are
created are of two wise men, towering above the fiercest and most merciless conflicts, with
power illuminating what the speakers feel is an impenetrable darkness of mindless disorder.
In essence, the conditions of society are forever subject to change, for time is eternally
moving forward without hesitation. With this progression of time, men must learn to adapt, as
revolutions take place, civil wars are fought, and the very foundation of truth is crumbled and
replaced by a new establishment. These are times rich with the thoughts of the men who think
most thoroughly; their mind’s musings will be transferred into words, whatever the method, and
they will romanticize their past, calling upon the ghosts of better men to offer their wisdom.
However, one thing can be said for certain: despite the magnitude of change that takes place with
every passing century, the true amount of change can be questioned, as the poems of
Wordsworth and Dunbar have shown. They are separated by nearly a century, but their words
mirror the same human struggles
Note: I would have liked to see more analysis and evidence. Specifically, more could have been
explored with the untraditional sonnet structures of the two poems, and the ubi sunt motif
technique. Also, the last two body paragraphs are not organized properly; this leads to choppy
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analysis. Nonetheless, I applaud your worthwhile analytical feat; I do hope you continue down
this road, intrepidly. Essay grade: A-Group Iota Outline
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Thesis: “London, 1802” and “Douglass” are both similar in their basic content and
structure, but through further analysis the reader can discern the differences between the two
poems.
Paragraph 2: Similarities regarding the content of the work
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Addressing a prominent person.
Concerned about the social changes of the time.
Reference to nature
Paragraph 3: Dissimilarities regarding the content of the work
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Different time periods.
“London, 1802”
o reference to stagnation (swamp)
o Octet: describing how England is during the time of Wordsworth
o Sestet: how England was through Milton’s time.
“Douglass”
o reference to chaos (Tide)
o Octet: Douglass’s time
o Sestet: Dunbar’s time
Paragraph 4: Dissimilarities in structure
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Rhyme scheme
o Structure reflects the time
 Romantic: London, 1802 experimentation
 Structured: Douglass… more consistent
Paragraph 5: Similarities in structure
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Apostrophe…. Milton and Douglass
Octet & sestet present
Metaphors
Heightened emotion
Imagery
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Paragraph 6: The conclusion