Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B

Note: The response can be used for any of these TWO questions.

The poems “Mirror” and “Little Boy Crying” both present the theme of pain that humans experience. Write an essay that compares the pain that speakers experience in EACH poem. In addition, comment on the effective use of allusion in EACH poem.

OR

Select TWO poems from the list that deals with the theme of painful experiences. Discuss how each speaker handles this painful experience. In addition, you will identify and discuss the effective use of allusion in the poem.

Sylvia Plath’s “Mirror” and Mervyn Morris’s “Little Boy Crying” are two poems that describe the painful experiences of their speakers in a detailed manner. “Mirror” portrays the speaker as a mirror that reflects the changing appearance of a woman as she ages, while “Little Boy Crying” depicts the speaker as a father who scolds his son and later feels guilty about it. Both poems effectively use allusion to add depth and meaning to their themes.

In “Mirror,” the mirror reflects the changes in the woman’s appearance as she ages, which she finds difficult to accept. The poem’s allusions are effective in conveying the woman’s pain, as the mirror refers to other objects and events that are associated with aging, such as “a lake” and “a terrible fish.” These allusions create a sense of loss and unease that the woman feels as she confronts her changing appearance. Further, the poem’s use of imagery, such as “unmisted by love or dislike” and “the eye of a little god,” adds to the depth of the woman’s pain and insecurity.

Similarly, in “Little Boy Crying,” the little boy’s pain is that of being scolded by his father for misbehaving. The father’s harsh words and strict discipline make the little boy cry, and the father feels guilty about it. The poem’s use of allusion is effective in conveying the emotional complexity of the situation, as the speaker references “Adam’s curse” and “the fruit” to suggest the biblical fall from grace and the punishment that followed. These allusions add depth to the poem by connecting the father’s actions with larger human concerns. The use of imagery, such as “sobbing, his face like a dewy rose,” creates a vivid picture of the little boy’s pain and vulnerability.

Overall, both “Mirror” and “Little Boy Crying” effectively convey painful experiences through the use of allusion and imagery. In “Mirror,” the pain of aging is expressed through the mirror’s reflection of the woman’s changing appearance, while in “Little Boy Crying,” the pain of discipline is conveyed through the father’s scolding of his son. The allusions used in each poem add depth and meaning to the themes, making them more complex and resonant. The vivid imagery employed in both poems helps to create an emotional connection with the reader and makes their pain relatable.