Comparing two great writers poems is no easy task. Tennyson and Eliot both uniquely explain their feelings about a characters old age. Nonetheless, both poets explain their details in an existentialist point of view. Throughout these two poems we will see a great deal of imagery and alliteration. Comparing some of the qualities of both poets will help understand their differences and what they have in common. Presenting mundane details about there surroundings is something both authors tend to do throughout there poems.
Tennyson distinctly makes alliterations such as “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me”. Throughout his poem there are also examples of imagery. “Much have I seen and known” is a good example of imagery in this poem. His writing style in this poem is; nonetheless, existentialist and completely optimistic. Tennyson makes it a point to explain the characters need to do everything possible while he's still alive, even at old age he can still do a lot with his time. Tennyson's poem is twice as long as Eliot's and contains more description on the characters life. Such as the places he's visited, how he had drank, and the wars he's been in. He places empathy in the reader, as he explains life is almost over for this character, and that he is trying to enjoy what is left of it.
Eliot's poem differs from Tennyson poem in more then one way. His poem is much shorter and contains less information on his life. Eliot's poem is explaining details of the current situation that this character is living. This poem is also very mundane as he is speaking about normal details he sees. Such as the water, the rain, a boy reading a book to him. This poem does contain imagery as well as alliterations like in Tennyson's poem. Examples of Imagery are, “ being read to by a boy, waiting for rain”. Also an example of alliterations is found in 10, “patched and peeled in London.”
Both poems contain imagery and alliteration, but Eliot's poem is much more mundane. They share the same subject, which are the consequences of old age. Both writers have an existentialist point of view. Although Eliot has tendencies to be shorter and blunt, there a lot of qualities are shared.
