Eros by Robert Bridges and Anne Stevenson are both well crafted poems that are based around the story of Eros the Greek god. Throughout both poems the authors use a great deal of tone indicators, beginning with a question, and being told from the point of view of a women.
Both tones of the poem hold a different response to the God of Love. Stevenson holds a much more disappointed tone towards Eros in the first stanza the line "Eros my bully boy" is used revering to the boys actions towards others in a more hurtful rather then caring way. Later the poem goes into farther disappointment towards him with his explanation towards the reasoning his face looks the way it does. He makes a very self centered statement towards the speaker, that the "blows" of lust from the speaker has caused his terrible appearance. As the poem comes to an end the speaker is very disappointed in the idea of love and the way that it can rot or be dissolved with loss. Her tone stays the same throughout the poem no matter who the speaker telling the story might be. Bridges begins with a much different approach then Stevenson by beginning with a more complementary tone then disappointed. The speaker begins with stating ever quality that Eros has to make the blow to come off a lot less harsh. For explain she uses complimentary words like "proud dress," "flesh so fair," and "idol of the human race" all of these help convey the speakers tone towards Eros. Though as the poem progresses the speaker becomes concerned with the thoughts of Eros and begins to question the God himself. This creates a more thoughtful and concerning tone rather than depressing like the other poem held.
With Bridges version of the poem, the question of why the God of love isn't showing any emotion is the forefront of the poem. This is creating a dreamy and elevated tone towards the God to portray that though he isn't being himself he is still held on a very high pedestal towards the rest of the world. Ironically the ending question creates an "ironic tone" the concern becomes so strong that the question is asked to provided Eros a way to express his feelings. Stevenson poem also begins with a question this time to show the women's disappointment towards the love she is receiving from Eros himself prompting the hurtful feeling towards him. Later this shifts into a shaming of the women herself for even thinking that she could say the things she did about Eros.
But what I believe is a key piece to both poems as a whole is the speakers are both women showing their feelings towards the God himself. Stevenson portrays Eros as a much more meticulous and evil figure who holds a more self-centered attitude towards lust and love. Later the poem switches to the point of view of Eros who tries to turn her attitude towards him into blaming her that her actions are the reason she can't find the type of love she would like. Bridges shows a different perception of women. She holds him in a very high place with lots of complements towards him, rather then hate she has a more caring attitude towards him. She later becomes more concerned rather than hateful and resentful towards him.
Eros the god of love can be portrayed as a hateful and spiteful man but also a caring man in need of love himself. Tone, Speaker, and questions all play key roles throughout the poems to create a different yet similar story line.
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