Poetry Analysis: "Conjoined" vs "Most Like an Arch This Marriage"
Poetry Analysis: "Conjoined" versus "Most Like an Arch This Marriage"
People often dream of finding the perfect soul mate…a special someone with similar hopes and goals for their future. They dream of someone to share the good and bad times with them. They dream of a person that will love them unconditionally until death parts them. And although I seriously doubt anyone has ever said the sacred marriage vows to another while believing the union would not last forever, the high divorce rate shows that more and more, marriages are failing and separation is highly probable. It’s not clear why some marriages are successful and why some fail, but after reading the two poems, “Most Like an Arch This Marriage” and “Conjoined”, it’s crystal clear to me that marriage can indeed be either dream come true, or a living nightmare. In fact, it’s also quite possible for one partner to be happy in a marriage and the other one to be completely miserable. In this analysis, I plan on comparing the two poems, their similarities as well as their differences and how the poets used various writing techniques to illustrate their ideas on the marriage theme they have written about.
In “Most Like an Arch This Marriage”, poet John Ciardi uses symbolism, similes, metaphors, and imagery when comparing his marriage to an arch. The theme illustrates that marriage can be an ideal, happy, blissful union. Ciardi shows how he and his spouse are “two weaknesses that lean into a strength” (5), and how, when partners act alone, “what’s strong and separate falters” (10).
When first reading “Most Like an Arch This Marriage”, I truly didn't understand most of the meanings behind the similes and metaphors and therefore I really wasn't as captivated as I am now that I have researched how arches are successfully constructed. The poem is beautifully written, where I felt a strong sense of commitment from the author that gave a happy and secure tone to the poem.
The Merriam Webster
People often dream of finding the perfect soul mate…a special someone with similar hopes and goals for their future. They dream of someone to share the good and bad times with them. They dream of a person that will love them unconditionally until death parts them. And although I seriously doubt anyone has ever said the sacred marriage vows to another while believing the union would not last forever, the high divorce rate shows that more and more, marriages are failing and separation is highly probable. It’s not clear why some marriages are successful and why some fail, but after reading the two poems, “Most Like an Arch This Marriage” and “Conjoined”, it’s crystal clear to me that marriage can indeed be either dream come true, or a living nightmare. In fact, it’s also quite possible for one partner to be happy in a marriage and the other one to be completely miserable. In this analysis, I plan on comparing the two poems, their similarities as well as their differences and how the poets used various writing techniques to illustrate their ideas on the marriage theme they have written about.
In “Most Like an Arch This Marriage”, poet John Ciardi uses symbolism, similes, metaphors, and imagery when comparing his marriage to an arch. The theme illustrates that marriage can be an ideal, happy, blissful union. Ciardi shows how he and his spouse are “two weaknesses that lean into a strength” (5), and how, when partners act alone, “what’s strong and separate falters” (10).
When first reading “Most Like an Arch This Marriage”, I truly didn't understand most of the meanings behind the similes and metaphors and therefore I really wasn't as captivated as I am now that I have researched how arches are successfully constructed. The poem is beautifully written, where I felt a strong sense of commitment from the author that gave a happy and secure tone to the poem.
The Merriam Webster
Cited: “Arch.” Def 1. Webster’s English Dictionary. 5th ed. 2009. Print. The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version. New York: T. Nelson, 1952. Print. Ciardi, John. "Most Like an Arch This Marriage." The Poetry Foundation. Web. 21 Sept. 2013. Minty, Judith. “Conjoined.” Paul 's Homepage Portfolio. BlogSpot, 29 Apr 2006. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.