The proponent of the study will attempt to compare and contrast Maya Angelou’s The Lesson and Elizabeth Dandy’s The Parable of Talents. These two poems will be analyzed using the elements of poetry, such as, speaker, content, theme, form, tone, and diction. The proponent of the study will also attempt to decipher the type of poetry utilized for these two examples. Finally, the proponent of the study attempts to uncover the deeper meaning of these two poems and its significance to contemporary society.
The Elements of the Poem
At first glance there is similarity that the examiner can detect from a casual overview of the two poems. Both literary works contrast sharply with each other, and there seems to be no common ground between the two. An analytical procedure filtered through the elements of poetry reveals more significant differences between the two.
In terms of the speaker, it is obvious that Maya Angelou was the narrator. Maya Angelou is not only an excellent poet; she is also a celebrity in her own right, someone who benefited from the power of mass media in the 20th century. A casual reading of the poem makes one realize that Angelou was speaking through those lines. The same thing cannot be said of Dandy’s work. It can be argued that The Parable of the Talents was narrated by someone who was either an eyewitness to the events mentioned in the poem or someone tasked to tell the story like the herald of ancient times burdened with the job of a spokesperson.
With regards to the content, one can argue that certain similarities abound, however, it will require a certain degree of artistic license to see the connection between the two. At a superficial level Angelou’s poem talked about living and dying while Dandy’s poem talked about investing money. Nevertheless, one can argue that in a deeper level both poems inspire people to live life to the fullest.
With regards to the theme of the poem, Angelou’s literary output seems to imply a certain message regarding the need to combat depression and negative thinking. The poem starts with a negative thought, as if the speaker is drowning from the combined impact of terrible circumstances (Angelou 1). There is nothing more terrible than death, and the speaker says that she is right in the middle of the most terrible test known to man.
Furthermore, Angelou was not only suffering from the effects of a near death experience, she is constantly barraged by that awful feeling, the one experienced by those who are on the brink of death. In addition, the unpleasant feeling is made more problematic by the type of suffering she is experiencing because her body is waiting away. The them contrasts sharply with Dandy’s literary output; it is a poem that talks about the wisdom of investing and hard work. The poem seems like a straightforward narrative of cause and effect phenomenon of investing (Dandy 1). It is like listening to an investment banker trying to explain why it is better to invest a sum of money in a legitimate money-making scheme than to hide it in a secure place for fear of losing it to robbers or thieves.
With regards to the form and shape of the poems, Angelou utilized an unstructured form to write it down. There are no discernible rhyming words and there is no discernible pattern when it comes to the number of words per stanza or the syllables used in every line. This shape or form is in stark contrast to Dandy’s structured approach to writing her lines. In The Parable of the Talents the reader can discern a pattern, especially when it comes to the number of syllables used per line. There is also an attempt to supply rhyming words in order to create music to the ears. For example, in the third stanza, the last word in the first line is zeal, and then, the last word in the second line is skill.
With regards to the mood or tone, Angelou’s poem is more somber, and it elicits a solemn feeling. There is a seriousness to her voice, and one can imagine her serious demeanor when she wrote the lines. The solemn mood is brought about by the feeling of helplessness and pain experienced by those who are sick and dying. It can be argued that Angelou was on her deathbed when she wrote these lines. If this is not the case, then, perhaps she was battling a dreaded terminal illness like cancer.
This perhaps explains the lines that describe her veins throbbing and mimicking the motion of a baby’s fist as it curls and uncurls throughout the night. The solemn mood in this poem contrasts starkly with that of Dandy’s poem, because the mood of the literary piece reminds the reader of the same mood required in narrating children’s parables. The use of words elicit a playful sense of communicating a warning about misbehavior, however, the message is conveyed using easy to access language.
With regards to the element of diction, Maya Angelou utilizes words to express abstract ideas. It is interesting to note that the author uses concrete words to express abstract thoughts. For example, she used the terms rotting flesh and rotting worms. Without a doubt, Maya Angelou did not suffer from a debilitating sickness that involved rotting flesh and worms. She was referring to a sickness that eats away the spirit of vigor that gives her life. In the case of Dandy’s poem, words were used to paint a picture of people carrying something more than money.
In the context of the poem, talent was not utilized in the same way that talent is applied in everyday circumstance. Based on the narrative the term “talent” is used as a measuring device. Dandy took inspiration from the Bible and if one uses the Bible as a reference, the term “talent” denotes an ancient measuring device. For example a talent of silver or a talent of gold. It is through this measuring device that the reader is able to grasp the varying levels of investment capabilities available to the three men in the narrative.
Significance to Contemporary Society
These two poems share common ground when it comes to the message on how to live life to the fullest. It can be argued that Maya Angelou’s poem serves as one of the farewell messages she made before her death. If one can assume that she was dying of cancer, then, the poem carries on extra meaning, and extra significance for the people who considers Angelou as one of the more influential people who ever lived in the 20th century. If she was dying from cancer, then, people should listen to her courageous words.
Her struggle to survive was made more graphic by the use of stunning imagery. She said that her veins seem to have a life of its own. It seems like the vein was not just throbbing but trying to break free in order to escape the death grip that she is suffering. She also describes the way her body wastes away and she knew that her end is near. However, she did not succumb to the pressure. She could have chosen the easier path. There are many patients around the world who dreamed of assisted-suicide. The practice of asking the help of a physician to end suffering is a popular topic in many circles. She could have done that but she proposed a different tactic.
With regards to The Parable of the Talents the goal was not just about money and investing. There is a deeper message that the author wants to convey to the readers. The author wants the readers to understand that they should learn the value of stewardship. The concept of stewardship is the key to understanding the rich lessons embedded in the text. The King or the ruler rewarded the servant who displayed the characteristics of a faithful steward. If the King was a mean ruler who was only interested in making a profit, then, there is no way to explain his generous nature towards those who made the investments grow. There is no way to explain the fierce anger aimed at the one who was afraid to invest.
Conclusion
Angelou and Dandy’s poems pose a challenge to modern day readers. In their own unique way both authors attempted to inspire the readers. In the case of Angelou she wants her audience to look at how she bravely fought the illness that was ravaging her body. It means that she had every excuse available to her in order to make her quit. Nevertheless, she chose to live.
In the case of Dandy’s poem, the zest for life is manifested through the investment of talents. Although the imagery utilized in the poem denoted the use of a measuring device to apportion money or gold, the deeper meaning is the innate talent in the person. Therefore, the parable was a mirror that reflected the attitude of the people. The servant was not rewarded or punished on account of the money they made. They were rewarded or punished based on how they use the gift that was given to them.
Works Cited
Angelou, Maya. The Lesson. 2003. Web.
Dandy, Elizabeth. The Parable of the Talents. 2009. Web.