Sunday, November 11, 2007

Brief Comparison of “Ave Maria” and “Howl” part I

Brief Comparison of “Ave Maria” by Frank O’Hara and “Howl” part I by Allen Ginsberg.

“Ave Maria” is written by Frank O’Hara, a poet member of the New York School. Its narrator addresses the mothers of America and advises them to be more open towards their growing kids, especially when it comes to encouraging them for frequent outdoor activities away from parental supervision.
“Howl” is written by Allen Ginsberg, a poet of the school of “Beats”. The part I of this poem describes the turmoil that various inhabitants of the world are going through while completing their mundane activities.
Both poems are in a free verse style without any directly recognizable rhyme or meter system. In addition, small case letters mark the beginning of all the verses, to the exception of their respective first lines.
The narrator of “Ave Maria” advocates strongly for the implementation of a new order in an American society deprived of the authoritarian parenting style. Thus, according to the narrator, the growing kids would supposedly benefit out of it. Lines 1 to 3 read:
“Mothers of America
let your kids go to the movies
get them out of the house so they won’t
know what you’re up to

Furthermore, lines 32 to 36 read:
“so don’t blame me if you won’t take this
advice
and the family breaks up
and your children grow old and blind in
front of a TV set
seeing
movies you wouldn’t let them see when
they were young.”

In the “Howl” of Allen Ginsberg, the narrator displays a strong influence of Walt Whitman writing style. In addition, he begins all his verses with small case letters, except the first verse. The narrator also insinuates implicitly for the gradual enrooting of a new order in an American society that tolerates any form of sexual language in literature.
For example, lines 37 read: “who left themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and
screamed with joy…”

And also line 41 reads:
“who copulated ecstatic and insatiate with a bottle of beer a sweetheart…”

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