Question

Read the poems "I dwell in Possibility" and "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night." Compare and contrast the poems. Write two paragraphs in answer to the prompt. How does each poet use form to create meaning? How does the form affect the poem? Use specific examples from the poems as evidence to support your answer.

I dwell in Possibility

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of Eye –
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –
For Occupation – This –
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise –

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Answer 1

That is very good. But maybe you can add that the first poem is in a softer but still strong tone whereas the second one is more firm and aggressive, commanding people to be strong. But I think that the poem doesn't tell you to fight death, but to be strong and not give up even against the biggest of things, like the sun going to dusk. But is was very well written.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I think your analysis is good, but since they are specifically asking you to analyze the formal aspects of each poem, I would add a few more things.

In Dickinson's "I dwell in Possibility," the use of capital letters does emphasize those words, but there are many other poetic devices that create meaning and affect the poem, such as metaphors ("A fairer House," which refers to poetry, for instance), a vivid imagery (it is impossible not to picture a house in your mind when you read this poem, beautiful, ample, with many windows, and the sky as its roof), and assonance (words such as "Prose" and "Doors" or "Eye" and "Sky" have resembling sounds), among others. These devices have been carefully chosen in order to convey a very praising description of poetry.

"Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night," by Dylan Thomas, is a call to resist death and fight for life with tenacity, and the use of specific formal elements contribute greatly to convey that message. Thomas uses repeatedly the verbs "rage" and "do" in their imperative form, in an attempt to convince his dying father to resist and to not accept death without fighting for his life first. He also uses various poetic devices, such as alliteration ("go, gentle, good"), simile ("Blind eyes could blaze like meteors"), oxymoron ("curse" and "bless" have opposing meanings, yet he places them together) and hyperbole (he is exaggerating his father's qualities when he says "Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight"), among others. In addition, throughout the poem there are many terms ("night," "dying of the light," "sad height") that speak symbolically, yet tactfully, of the unavoidable death.