Final answer:
The first two lines of a poem can heavily influence the reader's understanding of the speaker's tone and perspective towards death, using elements like imagery, diction, and tone to shape the overall mood. As a reader, one can discern whether the speaker views death with tranquility, apprehension, or inquisitive contemplation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first two lines of a poem are essential in setting the tone and the speaker's perspective towards death. In poetry, tone refers to the attitude or emotional ambiance that the speaker adopts towards the subject of the poem, which, in this case, is death. A poem's opening lines can frame this perspective by using specific imagery, diction, and sound, which can either depict death as ominous, serene, or even welcoming.
For example, a poem that starts with a serene and gentle image may suggest a peaceful or accepting attitude towards death, while a poem that opens with dark and harsh imagery might indicate a more fearful or ominous perspective. Additionally, if a poem poses rhetorical questions or seems to ponder the nature of death, it can create a contemplative or inquisitive tone, signaling the speaker's curiosity or confusion about death.
Both poems are elegies, and they use their opening lines to establish their unique approach to death. The contrasting tones – one might be foreboding and filled with morbid fascination, while the other might be more reflective and seeking understanding – demonstrate the poets' different perspectives on this universal theme. The use of imagery like whiteness in reference to death or direct address to the reader creates intimacy and frames the speaker's view on the topic.