“London, 1802” by William Wordsworth and “Douglass” by Paul Lawrence are two sonnets written to honor a freedom fighter in history and as a plea for them to rise again and fix what is wrong. However, they differ strongly in structure and literary techniques used such as similes.
Both poems are written directed to one major character who has been prolific in his life but died. Evident with statements such as “Milton!” (London, 1) and “Ah, Douglas” (Paul, 1), both works are examples of apostrophe. The authors do not attempt to communicate to the mentioned characters but creates in the reader an understanding of need in the fallen country and honor and respect for the freedom fighters. However, their approaches to the subject are very distinct from each other.
William Wordsworth’s “London, 1802” has some end rhyme with the pattern (abbccddefgghih), and is therefore well structured, consisting of only one stanza. “Douglass,” on the other hand, has two stanzas to divide the poem in two parts; one reflecting on the past and the second on the present. Another aspect in which these two works differ is in the way they express their ideas. Wordsworth uses extensive comparisons, similes such as “The soul was like a star” (9) and “pure as the naked heavens” (11) to express his idea. The speaker does this as an outside spectator, explaining to Milton the need that England, personified throughout the poem, has for him. The speaker in Douglass uses no similes but simply expressed his own need, as part of the country, as a freedom fighter for a fallen nation.
Lawrence and Wordsworth both show the world’s need for a rescuer, each, however, using a different approach. Those needs are simply England’s need for Milton and the speaker’s personal need for Douglass in his poem.
