John Keats Choose Something Like A Star

Words: 501
Pages: 3

The poems “Bright Star’ by John Keats and “Choose Something Like a Star” by Robert Frost are similar in their use of personification of a star, but vary in how they approach their topic. Not only do the poems give off different tones concerning the subject, they are separated by the style and technique used to create them.
A constant between both of the poems is the way that they personify a star. The two poems use apostrophe, as they directly speak to the star they are personifying. This is seen in line 1 one Keats’ poem, “Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art,” and line 1 of Frost’s poem, “O star (The fairest one in sight.)” These two lines have the speakers directly trying to communicate with the stars, treating them as though they can hear them.
Even though the poems are relative in their content, the way in which the subject is approaches is different. “bright Star” is written as a standard english sonnet, while “Choose Something Like a Star” has no set form or rhyme scheme. Using the sonnet form creates a lulling effect on the reader in Keats’ poem that isn’t present in Frost’s. Frost’s poem doesn’t let the reader
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A reader can feel the regret and loneliness in “Bright Star.” The diction and setting create a sense of tragedy and beauty, shown in lines 10-11, “Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast, to feel for ever its soft fall and swell.” The diction is remorseful and the imagery shows everything the speaker misses. The Frost poem has a significantly different impact. The speaker in “Choose Something Like a Star,” is looking to the stars as a sign of hope. He is looking for answers he cannot find among men. This is demonstrated in lines 9-10, “Say something to us we can learn by heart and when alone repeat.” This man is searching for answers and a source of hope that he isn’t able to attain due to his