Poems often use many elements such as rhyming, alliteration, and repetition in order to entice readers. However, one that is extremely prevalent in poetry, especially lyric poetry, is imagery. When used properly, imagery can get the reader much more invested by using words to help them relate, visualize or even feel the poem. This emotional investment in poetry is what led lyric poetry to boom during the Romantic period. John Keats’ “To Autumn” and Tu Fu’s “Spring Prospect” were two poems written in a time where poetic creativity flourished. Although Keats and Tu Fu were located in completely different continents, aspects of their works have clear similarities despite having expected differences.
Some clear differences are seen in the forms of the poem. Keats’ work is an ode or a poem that addresses and inanimate object or idea as a person. In this instance, he is using the season autumn and describing it as a woman. For example, on lines 23 and 24 he asks, “Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too”. He even says ‘thou’ as if he’s talking to another individual. Additionally, this ode is broken down into three stanzas, with each stanza changing the season and time of day. On the other hand, “Spring Prospect” is mostly a poem that evokes feelings by describing nature rather than through a conversation. For example, on lines 3 and 4 Tu Fu states “Feeling the times, blossoms draw tears; hating separation, birds alarm the heart”. These words also give an insight onto his mindset when writing this poem. Another difference is in the form of the poems. While Keats’ is organized into three stanzas, Tu Fu’s is written in blank verse, with no stanzas, just eight lines.
Both authors’ use of imagery differs in each poem. In Keats’ work, he uses personification through the majority of the poem. Autumn is the women and her ‘life’ is viewed through the seasons. The abundant crops represent her hard work while spring in the last stanza is written to show autumn dying. Tu Fu uses both visual and emotional imagery with oxymorons to convey feelings to the reader. For example, in line 1 he states ” The nation shattered, hills and streams remain”. This gives the reader an idea of battle and warfare. However, in the proceeding line he states, “The city in spring, grass and trees deep”. By doing this it’s as if he is masking the severity of the situation by using lighthearted words such as ‘spring’ and ‘trees’.
Similarities are still apparent through both poems. They both revolve around nature and the beauty behind it. By the end of both poems, we witness death. In “To Autumn”, Spring has come by the third stanza which represents autumn’s death as a season, and as the women it represents. In “Spring Prospect” Tu Fu states “white hairs, fewer for the scratching” in line 7. When he says this he is referring to the men who have died in the war and have not even become old enough to grow white hairs. John Keats’ “To Autumn” and Tu Fu’s “Spring Prospect” are both forms of lyric poetry and both use imagery to convey a feeling to the reader.
