Robert Frost wrote the poem "Acquainted With The Night" (Frost pg.
and William Carlos Williams wrote the poem "Young Woman At A Window" (Williams pg.749). I will take a journey to compare and contrast the similar themes. Both poems imply a certain level of loneliness and hope of personally being a part of the world. .
In "Acquainted With The Night", I see someone who has walked all over this city (lines 1-4). I feel that lines 5 and 6 tell that this person is ashamed of being out at night. This person's walk was interrupted by a cry, which stopped the sound of feet (line7), in hope that it was for their inner self. I believe this person wanted to make this cry personal, "but not to call me back or say good-bye"(line 10). This person is acquainted with the night, but there is no relationship forming with the cries of the night. In "Young Woman At A Window", I see a young woman crying while sitting at the window (lines 1 and 2). She has her cheek on her hand (lines 4 and 5), which tells me that she is sad and thinking with intensity. The poet doesn't tell me her thoughts, but perhaps while looking out the window at the world, she is hoping of relationships with the world, because she is without and trapped inside with a child on her lap (line 6 and 7). .
Sherry 2.
She is detached from the life that is outside the window, looking at life, but not being apart of it. Both characters in these poems are dealing with life but with a distance. Rather physically or mentally, both are isolated. Both poems address loneliness, yet they paint the picture with different colors in the lives of the characters. .
In "Acquainted With The Night", the poet tells us a lot of information through the eyes of the character. The character walks throughout the city, placed into the world as still a part of it. Contrary to "Young Woman At A Window", when the young woman is inside looking out. She is not in position to develop any relationships with the world.
