Compare the atmosphere between The Prisoner of Chillon and Morte d’Arthur Essay Example

weakening state and the urgent tone in his command to hurry because he fears he may not make it.

Throughout this poem, assonance and alliteration are used to create an effect, and the language reflects the described feeling. As Bedivere struggles to carry Arthur to the lake, the language appropriately conveys the difficulty. Words such as "dry clash'd", "barren chasms", "bare black cliff clang'd around him", "slippery crag", and "sharp-smitten" are primarily composed of monosyllables. The diction is precise, measured, and concrete. The alliterative effects of words such as clash'd - chasms - cliff - clanged - crag suggest harshness and the difficulties that Bedivere encounters. The description is not just visual but also aural, as the reader can hear the clash of armor and the ringing of heels on the crags echoing off the cliffs.

In a similar fashion, Byron's poetry delves into the struggle between accepting one's suffering or holding onto the hope of freedom. In the poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon", the speaker laments the loneliness that follows after his siblings die, leaving him to cope with his despair on his own. The line "we were seven - now we are one" adds to the sense of pathos, highlighting just how challenging it was for the prisoner to endure the feeling of isolation. He had "no strength to stir, or strive" as he had lost his entire family, leaving him as the only one "bound to my [his] failing race". Both poets emphasize their characters' emotions in their respective poems, particularly honing in on the feeling of loneliness. In "Morte d'Arthur", Arthur's death signifies not just the end of an era and the dissolution

of the Round Table, but also leaves Sir Bedivere destitute and bereft of companionship. In tears, he implores Arthur's direction: "Ah! my Lord Arthur, whither shall I go? For now I see the true old times are dead". As the last knight standing, Bedivere is now "companionless" and must venture forth alone.

Arthur orders Bedivere to cast Excalibur into the lake, asserting that it will play a crucial role in the story's retelling, "wheresoever I am sung or told/ In aftertime". But when Bedivere tries to throw the sword, he fails due to its striking beauty and perceives it as a valuable, aesthetically pleasing object. Arthur is furious not just because of Bedivere's unsuccessful attempt but because he has lied: "Thou has betrayed thy nature and thy name", undermining all that the Round Table symbolizes. In his second attempt, Bedivere assumes that Arthur "knows not what he does" and refuses to obey his command, regarding the sword as a reminder, a "record" or "relic" of Arthur, so that his story remains alive. The feeling of loneliness is also a notable feature in Byron's "The Prisoner of Chillon".

The death of Francois' brothers had a profound impact on him, leaving him feeling utterly empty and disconnected from his emotions. Byron's use of somber colors, such as "blank, bleak, and grey," vividly portrays the joyless and melancholic nature of the prisoner's state of mind. Despite these pervasive negative feelings, there are contrasting moods within both poems that contribute to the overall atmosphere. "The Prisoner of Chillon" begins on a bleak note, establishing a mood of depression and sorrow that persists throughout the poem. However, a sudden change of tone

occurs as "a light broke in upon my [his] brain," introducing an unexpected element of hope and light into the otherwise dark atmosphere. This contrast is further emphasized when Francois observes a bird outside his window.

The bird in the poem is referred to as a "lovely bird, with azure wings", creating a contrast with the dark atmosphere of the poem. The use of color is the first instance of joy in the poem, however fleeting, before the bird flies away and sorrow sets in. Similarly, in "Morte d'Arthur", the opening is bleak and sad. But when Bedivere throws the sword into the lake and it is received by an arm "clothed in white samite, mystic and wonderful", light is introduced to contradict the tone of death.

In summary, both poems utilized various techniques to create the atmosphere, including delving into the characters' emotions and contrasting settings. Tennyson's poem begins with a sorrowful tone but ends with a slightly uplifting yet sad atmosphere. Each poem includes a reference to birds: Byron symbolizes the prisoner's lack of freedom by comparing him to a bird, specifically young eagles that are free.