"To Helen" and "Helen" by Edgar Allen Poe and H.D respectively both discuss the same woman yet contain vastly contrasting views of her. In both poems Helen of troy is the subject. In "Helen" the speaker believes Helen is the embodiment of all Greece hates while in "To Helen" the speaker believes Helen is the embodiment of all Greece loves and represents.The tone of "To Helen" can be guessed by it's title. The use of apostrophe suggests the speaker respects and feels close to Helen. This intern implies a favorable view of Helen. Indeed the speaker not only displays respect throughout the poem but also adoration. In lines tree the speaker uses simile to compare Helen's beauty to a ship on a "perfumed sea" For the speaker the thought of Helen's beauty is like a ship taking a "weary, way worn wanderer" home. It transports him to "the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome." The tone of "Helen" can also be guessed by it's title. The use of her name, Helen, shows less respect and intern implies a less favorable view of Helen. Indeed the speaker not only displays disrespect throughout the poem but also hate. Unlike the speaker of "To Helen" The speaker of "Helen" does not celebrate Helen's beauty. She believe it is tainted because of the character of the woman who posses it. Because of Helen's "past enchantments and past ills" the speaker believes Greece can only love her "if she were laid, white ash amid funeral cypresses." Contrastingly the speaker of "To Helen" imagines Helen alive in his window holding an agate lamp. For him Helen is the embodiment of all Greece love in contrast to the speaker in "Helen" who believe Helen embodies everything Greece hates.In stanza two the speaker of "to Helen" uses descriptive language to express his adoration for Helen. Describing Helen with diction like "hyacinth hair", "classic face" and "Naiad airs." The speaker of "Helen" also uses descriptive language to express her hate for Helen. Describing Helen with diction "wan face", "past enchantments" and "past ills." In the third and last stanza of "To Helen" the speaker imagines Helen is standing by his window with a lamp in her hand. In the third and also last stanza of "Helen the speaker wishes Helen were dead.
