Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2017

underlying hope that shines through all of his works. Again, cummings uses second person

narration to address the reader directly and relay his advice on a personal level. He captures

the fire and stubbornness of youth, urging readers to trust themselves and their heart, even if

“the seas catch fire” or the “stars walk backward”. This willfulness brings to mind the idealism

of a teenager who has the world at their feet. References to nature are dispersed all throughout

cummings’ poetry with energy filled references to ‘seas’, ‘fire’, ‘stars’ and ‘wind’, comparing

the energy of nature to the passion for life evident in youth.

i will wade out 5 employs a similar passionate tone created in both dive for dreams 4 and you

shall above all things 3 . It focuses on how one should capture their passion and youthful energy

and use it to live an abundant life. i will wade out 5 delves into awakening, life and drive. The

rhythmic flow and active language used, causes the poem to pulsate with life and breath. This

evokes feelings in readers rather than an urge to rationalize and understand. These feelings can

be linked to the spontaneous delight evident in youth as they observe the world. The

incorporation of active verbs like “steep[ing]”, “burning”, “wad[ing]”, “tak[ing]”, and

“dash[ing]” captures the idealistic passion for life that cummings advocates, painting a picture

of boundless energy. It also creates a song-like rhythm that engages the reader, a technique

cummings is said to have learnt from the poetry of the Romantic Poet, William Blake.

Like in dive for dreams 4 , i will wade out 5 contains prominent references to the power of nature.

It is used as a metaphor for growth, youth and hope and can be aligned with the spontaneous

delight that embodies the spirit of youth.

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