The two poems describing Helen of Troy and her physical features as well as her personality, have two contrasting moods and opinions on whether or not she was the woman everyone looked up to her to be. These two poets (Edgar Allan Poe and H.D) both show the speakers in the poems and their opinion on Helen through their use of diction, imagery, alliteration, form, and tone as well.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, the speaker shows admiration and affection towards Helen of Troy and diction is used to prove this. The speaker describes Helen as possessing “hyacinth hair” meaning she owns the hair of a beautiful flower, and flowers are beautiful in the first place so that there shows his affection towards her. The speaker also explains how she has “thy classic face” or also describing her as being beautiful in physical features. This use of words, or diction, also links to the imagery of the speaker and his view on Helen as well. Calling Helen beautiful and saying how she is similar to a flower is showing the image of a woman who has amazing facial features and is one of a kind. Describing Helen as beautiful and comparing her and describing her in the way he does, proves the tone of the poem as well. The tone would have to be positive and sincere, continuously complimenting Helen of her beauty and the way she is. Also, the speaker uses alliteration to show his affection for her as well by explaining how a “weary way-worn wonderer” is longing to come home to see her, and to see her because of her beauty.
In H.D’s poem, the speaker is showing a negative and hateful feeling toward Helen. This is proven by the speaker’s use of diction. She repeatedly explains Helen to be white in facial features and her as a person. Although white is usually shown as purity and goodness, the speaker’s diction changes the usage of the color. Instead, the color white is used to describe Helen as cold person, and to show her lifeless soul and negativity. By describing her as having “white...