Comparison of two poems

With an almost identical name, the two poems, "Mosquitoes" by David Campbell and "Mosquito" by John Updike share the theme on mosquitoes. However, both composers had used different language techniques and tone to express their differing opinions on mosquitoes. Whereas Campbell describes mosquitoes as "our babies", Updike displays mosquitoes in a more negative view such as our opponent.

In addition to presenting and sharing the same subject, the poems also similar in the following ways, such as the structure used and the employment of numerous poetic devices. Firstly, the structure of both poems is arranged in stanza form, breaking the poem into manageable parts. As for the poetic devices, the most common ones used are metaphor, as in "mosquitoes are blood relations", simile, "they work like surgeons" and personification, "stealing through the windows" Another language feature is the use of emotive words such as "remorse", "jealous" to provoke an emotion and persuading the reader into emphasizing with the composer.

English: John Updike giving the 2008 Jefferson Lec...

English: A female mosquito of the Culicidae family...

Three Tributes: Updike the Husky

Despite the similarities, the two poems are very different in many ways such as tone, the relationship between the insect and human, the use of imagery and the different rhyming patterns. Firstly, the tone between the poems is very dissimilar. Whereas "Mosquitoes" by Campbell present a close, humble and familiar tone like a family; "Mosquito" by Updike display a hostile and resentful tone. The tone can be depicted from the use of bias word such as "blood relationship" and "babies" to create a positive tone while words like "traitor" and "murderer" generate and resentful mood. Thus the image portrayed of the mosquito is different. Where in Campbell's poem the mosquito is shown as a harmless insect that is dependent on us for survival, "we are their livelihood", "Loving us..." the poem by Updike shows us that a...