Thanatopsis vs. Sea Canes
During the time period of the nineteenth century there was a shift from classicism to romanticism. Different elements of romanticism that varied from classicism included an emphasis on the individual, nature, the past, and the inner world of human nature. In William Cullen Bryant?s ?Thanatopsis?, and Derek Walcott?s ?Sea Canes?, the inner world of human nature, and also the extensive use of nature are implemented, in the basis of these poems. ?Thanatopsis? focuses more on the inner world of human nature, whereas ?Sea Canes? focuses on nature itself, and the taking of loved ones from us. ?Thanatopsis? is a serene perceptive view, to calm those who are concerned with their own death. However, on the other hand ?Sea Canes? is a perception of those concerned with others? death such as close friends, and family. Case and point, these two poems have led to the apparent conclusion that both focus on death, but in different ways. Although Bryant?s poem ?Thanatopsis? and Walcott?s ?Sea Canes? are both about death, ?Thanatopsis? focuses on those who are concerned about their own death, and ?Sea Canes? focuses on those who mourn the death of loved ones. In the two poems the ideas, and tones, differ much.