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Matthew Arnold & John Donne

 

            John Donne and Matthew Arnold, two poets of different time periods both wrote two very similar poems, which were very well recognized for their extended metaphors. Their poems compare life and society to an island or a continent, and there is a force either trying to, or is connecting humans to one another.
             In both poems, they are using an extended metaphor in comparing life in their present society to an island or continent. The common ground of the poem is the metaphor, and how there is a social situation being compared to this island or continent. Other than that idea, the views of Arnold and Donne differ, but are connected together at the same time. .
             Arnold explains how society was once all connected as a whole, and how their society was broken up into many little islands within a sea. The sea represents life and how it is always flowing, and the islands symbolize the people within this sea. Arnold tells how these islands were all once connected as a whole, but then were separated and isolated because of diversities and beliefs. The channels between the islands are the emotions and experiences of all the different people that cannot be shared and are isolated from everyone. There are many attempts to connect the islands, but people's diversities get in the way. Within all of these differences there is a common ground within all of the islands, and that is the signing of the nightingale. Everyone can hear it, and it is the only hope that there is to reunite all mankind again. When everyone can hear that song and forget the differences, only then will man be as one again. These people were all once connected as one society, and there is hope that eventually will happen. There is a need for change in accepting diversity and the isolating human experience does not feel any connection with other people as easily as it should. .
             Donne is comparing life and society as one unified continent, rather than being separated and not feeling others emotions.


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