Robert Frost's "The Figure a Poem Makes"

An illustration of Robert Frost's "A Road Not Taken"

           Robert Frost, an American poet, wrote The Figure a Poem Makes in order to explain to the general public how a poem should be formatted and what a poem should include. Frost describes how a poem should surprise both the writer and the reader, how the poem should start, and how it should end. He explains that the poem should find “it’s own name as it goes” and it “begins in delight and ends in wisdom” (Frost 177). In his description of the poetry, he includes numerous rhetoric devices that sprinkle the essay with graceful and melodious statements. His audience, the general public, is kept interested by his use of personification, similes, metaphors, and beautiful imagery. As stated above, Frost declares that a poem should find “it’s own name” and that, at the end, it “run itself and carried away the poet with it” (Frost 177-178). This personification and the other rhetoric devices incorporated into the essay give the readers a visualization of the poetry and help them to understand how they should feel while writing a poem; thus, convincing his audience about the way a poem should be created. Frost also includes strong diction, creating an informative yet graceful and wonderstruck tone. This tone gives the readers insight to how Frost feels while writing and, thus, how they should feel. He effectively creates a vision of what a poem should be and how it should be created by doing this, informing his audience well. With these rhetoric devices, The Figure a Poem Makes was quickly published in 1939 as a preface to Collected Poems. Collected Poems is a book of Robert Frost’s poetry up to that point in his life, giving Frost credibility in The Figure a Poem Makes by showing he has experience with his topic. As the book was open to the public, Frost’s essay was also posed to the public, showing them how to construct a poem. Frost uses a combination of strategies to create an awe-inspiring essay about poetry that has helped to inform the public and will continue to for many years. 

Picture Citations

"Road Not Taken Drawing." Oahow.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.

Works Referenced

"Collected Poems by Robert Frost, First Edition, Signed." Abebooks.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Aug. 2016. 

James Thurber's "Sex Ex Machina"

A turing machine, invented in 1936

          James Thurber, cartoonist, author, and playwright, wrote Sex Ex Machina in 1937, during the build up to World War Two. Published in the New Yorker, Sex Ex Machina is an argumentative essay that considers and then refutes that the fear of machines is connected to sexual desires. The industrial world was still booming during this time, with machines becoming part of everyday life. The fear of machines, however, remained abundant. Thurber proposes that the “menace of the machine” (Thurber 153) is caused by negative experiences connected to machines as opposed to sexual desires. He first presents the counter argument by analyzing a study done by a psychologist on reactions of three men to a car. This psychologist, Dr. Bish, formulates a connection between the reactions of each man and their sexual desires. Thurber then presents his argument by giving a possible explanation of why people fear machines and uses that argument to combat the experiment. Thurber’s argument is well supported by many examples from his life as well as from his friends’ lives. Thurber also brings to light the flaws in the opposing side’s argument, therefore strengthening his own. He uses rhetoric devices throughout the essay to add depth to his writing and to keep his audience interested. He includes ethos, pathos, and logos as well as strong diction and a surplus of figurative language, such as similes and personification. For example, he writes “menace” instead of “fear” and he states that his car “screamed” when he shares about his fear of car alarms (Thurber 157).Thurber uses these many examples to not only inform the public about the how the fear of machines is caused, but to comfort those who have experienced or still experience this fear. With the rhetoric devices creating a knowledgable yet comforting mood, the essay seems to be targeted towards the people who fear machines. His personal anecdote offers validity of the fear and builds Thurber’s credibility as he shows he has has experience with his topic. Thurber’s use of rhetoric devices and many examples makes Sex Ex Machina a strong and well supported essay. 

Picture Citation

"A Turing Machine Overview." A Turing Machine. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Aug. 2016. 

Rachel Carson's "The Marginal World"

           Rachel Carson, American marine biologist, conservationist and full-time nature writer, wrote many books and other writings including her most popular book Silent Spring and her essay The Marginal World. The Marginal World was published in The Edge of the Sea in 1955, after World War Two. The post-World War two world inspired the public to be more environmentally active and gave them a new out look towards nature; a better environment would make for a better quality of life. Carson’s essay includes these new thoughts by using description, highlighting the animals, plants, lighting, and landscape of the shore. She goes into detail about how the environment makes her feel, saying she “gain[s] some new awareness of its beauty and deeper meanings” and that she senses “that intricate fabric of life by which one creature is linked with another” (Carson 215). Her description includes a surplus of imagery and figurative language. She utilizes personification to bring life to the surroundings, saying that the “delicate flowers heads would stir with life” (Carson 216), connecting her audience to nature, therefore giving the general public perspective on the feelings Carson felt while in this environment. Among this, she incorporates an allusion, citing that she  saw “what Audubon saw” (Carson 217). Being a painter, Audubon found the beauty and nature and painted it accordingly to create masterpieces. These rhetoric devices combine to create an inspiring essay about the beauty of the edge of the sea with an underlying message to help save the environment. The rhetoric devices cause the description to flow and advance the essay while keeping the general public interested in her writing. She was able to clearly and effectively describe to her audience the symbolism behind the animals and plant life and well as share her feelings that the nature arouse in her. With the craftsmanship of a writer and the knowledge of a marine biologist, Rachel Carson wrote a breathtaking essay that will inspire the public for years to come. 

Louisiana Heron, By John James Audubon 

Picture Citation

McNee, Lori. "The Importance of Being an Artist in Today's Modern World." Finearttips.com. N.p., 30 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.

Works Referenced 

Chowder, Ken. "John James Audubon: Drawn from Nature." PBS. N.p., 25 July 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.