Comparing ‘The Affliction of Margaret’ (TAOM) and ‘On My First Sonne’ (OMFS)

1. Comparing ‘The Affliction of Margaret’ (TAOM) and ‘On My First Sonne’ (OMFS) By Estelle and Sarah and Leanne

2. Similarities Both children have been gone for 7 years. ‘Seven years, alas! to have received No tidings of an only child.’ (TAOM) ‘Seven yeeres tho’ wert lent to me,’ (OMFS). Differences However the child in OMFS is dead. We know that he died of the plague, so the father wrote a poem about the love he felt for his oldest son. We don’t know what has happened to the child in TAOM. We know that he disappeared, and no one knows what has happened to him. It is the not knowing that is making her crazy, and no one wants to talk to her. ‘And all the world appears unkind.’ Meaning

3. Similarities Both parents love their children lots. In TAOM it says ‘Years to a Mother brings distress; But do not make her love the less.’ This quote is showing that a mothers love is unconditional. In OMFS it says ‘My sinne was too much hope of thee, loved boy.’ Differences In OMFS the father thought his son had died because he loved him too much, and he thought God had taken him away. ‘Seven yeeres tho’ wert lent to me, and I thee pay’. The word lent shows God lent him a son, but took him back because he loved his son too much instead of God. Now he is paying for his mistakes. In TAOM the mother wants to know what has happened to her son ‘ Then come to me, my son, or send Some tidings that my woes may end; I have no other earthly friend’. This shows she just wants her son to get in contact, or for someone to tell her what happened. Meaning

4. Similarities Both poems use rhetorical questions. In ‘OMFS’ the rhetorical question is ‘Will man lament the state he should envie?’ In ‘TAOM’ one rhetorical question that was used is ‘Where art thou, worse to me than dead?’. Differences In ‘OMFS’ the rhetorical question is asking why am I sad? However in ‘TAOM’ the rhetorical question is saying where are you, not knowing is worse to me than being dead. Language

5. Similarities Both poem’s use old English language. Because they were both written ages ago. Differences However ‘OMFS’ was written in 1616. And ‘TAOM’ was written in 1807. This is a difference of almost 200 years. Language

6. Similarities Both use language techniques to show their feelings. Differences In ‘OMFS’ they use a metaphor which is ‘Ben. Jonson his best piece of poetrie.’ This showing that his son was the best thing he has made. In ‘TAOM’ a list of 3 is used, ‘Ingenuous, innocent, and bold;’. This is saying how great her son was. Language

7. Similarities Both poems have a strong rhyming pattern. Differences In OMFS the rhyming pattern is AABB. This rhyming pattern is neat and tidy because he is trying to move on from his sons death. In TAOM the rhyming pattern is ABABCCC. This is because it is a ballad and ballads tell a story. Structure

8. Structure • In ‘TAOM’ there is 11 stanzas. This is because she has been suffering for so long, and wants to know what’s happened to her son. • In ‘OMFS’ the first three lines are about how guilty the dad feels about the death of his son, because he loved his son too much. The next 4 lines is about how jealous he feels that his son is in heaven and misses all the bad things in life. The last 4 lines is him saying goodbye to his son, and he is saying he will never love anyone as much as he loved his son.

9. TAOM We do not like this poem because it is quite long and Margaret is on and on, sometimes repeating herself, about something she could say in three lines. OMFS We do not like this poem because we do not like the idea that God has lent someone a son, and your not allowed to love your child as much as you love God. We found it quite depressing. Personal opinion