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  • Essay / Study of Ae Houseman and Robert Hamblin's Poem in Relation to the December 13, 1977 Plane Crash

    The Death of a Young Athlete AP EssayPoems often delight readers with their diction and tone because literary organization further conveys the poet's purpose. AE Houseman's "To An Athlete Dying Young" glorifies the premature deaths of young athletes while "On the death of the University of Evansville basketball team in a plane crash, December 13, 1977 » by Robert Hamblin condemns this premature disappearance. Through contrasting language, organization, and tone, Houseman and Hamblin's poems offer two conflicting perspectives on the death of a young athlete. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Houseman and Hamblin use two opposing forms of diction that further describe their purposes. On the one hand, Houseman's poem strictly follows traditional organizational rules. Each stanza has four phrases with a distinct rhyme scheme. On the other hand, Hamblin's poem roams freely, without any boundaries. Lacking a rhyme scheme, his poem remains extremely disorganized. Each poet specifically adopted their respective diction as it broadcasts their opinions on the premature death of young sportsmen. Championing adolescent death during athletics, Houseman's poem depicts conformity and acceptance through its organizational language, thereby associating infant death with the dominant status quo. Yet Hamblin takes another stance, critiquing a young athlete's sacrifice for athletics, through his unorganized poem, as the chaos in his writing depicts his rebellious angst over this fatal question. Houseman's triumphant tone and Hamblin's dismayed tone further establish their purpose as their tones describe their mood towards the issue and influenced the reader's opinions on the matter. Throughout Houseman's poem, he evokes a sense of approval and pride in the lives of these deceased athletes by describing a sense of accomplishment. When Houseman describes "the ever-defended challenge cup," he uses a victorious tone because he glorifies the achievement of athletics, thereby valuing triumph over life. Hamblin, however, constructs a bitter scene that denounces the athletic atmosphere: “So shout, all-knowing coaches, scolding priest, shout. Swear, chew ass, make us work…” The poem illustrates the disgusting presence of sports coaches to highlight the side effects of an athletic life. In other words, he uses a dismayed tone in suggesting that all the suffering of athletics, including death, fails to provide adequate rewards. The tone of each poem achieves the purpose of their respective authors because it provides a deeper sense of emotion that strengthens their argument for or against an early death. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Article Essay Through diction and tone, each author develops a stronger platform to strengthen their position on the premature death of young athletes. Although the basic plot of the poem addresses their belief, it fails to capture the true essence of the author's meaning. Diction and tone help provide a deeper level that truly encapsulates the author's purpose..