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Robert Pack's An Echo Sonnet To An Empty Page

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In Robert Pack’s “An echo sonnet, to an empty page,” a very unique writing technique is used in this shakespearean format. The narrator an alter ego, who answers the narrator’s questions in echos that reveal the poet’s look and feelings toward life. The voice root of the poem (the narrator) has features of a timid man scared to explore his life in fear of the future and consequences. The echo (alter ego) is the alternate prospect on life who answers the voice’s question. The poem is written in a very witty form where every line has an “echo” word that rhymes with the last word of the line, answering the question in a clever format. Not only does the poem have bold form, but it shows, symbolism, juxtaposition, and imagery added for further effect on the message that one should take risks in life. The structure of what is effectively built to allow an understanding of the author’s intentions. The voice is the persona of those who have fears of the future. This allows an emotional connection for the reader to have to the poem. The poem builds from general questions of one with a blank life, here the metaphor of the title, “empty page” can be seen, because it is talking about …show more content…
The first answer of this poem is “start”, emphasizing that it is important to take the first step and the poem travels to answers like “grief” allowing this new juxtaposition of joy and grief. A sense of art is displayed with the answer “leaf”, symbolising nature and it’s powers of relief to an ailing heart. He asks of where the therapy of nature is, and the response is telling him to look at the beauty. Questions of death and future are asked as well. The narrator is impressed with the cool attitude the echo implies to death and if it is not pleasant, it should “end in sleep” or die. The answer to that question is

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Analysis of an Echo Sonnet: “to an Empty Page”

...In Robert Pack's, "To an Empty Page," the speaker discusses death and its consequences regarding relief to show the author's purpose as a feeling of loneliness and depression. He does this with the use of an echo sonnet form, foreshadowing within the title, and through the use of emotion evoking pathos. Pack's use of a sonnet for reveals his feelings and emotions toward love, which sonnets are normally about. Readers can feel the raw emotion that Pack reveals in his discussion regarding the speakers possible death and loss of love, thereafter. In addition, the fact that he wrote an echo sonnet aids in the author’s purpose because it allows the reader to be aware of the words meant to be emphasized. Along with its emphasis, the echo, in some cases, seems to answer a rhetorical question made by the speaker. For example, “what’s the end of my life’s long disease? Ease,” (line 7). Within this quote, the speaker is relaying his belief that the only way to relieve himself of life’s burdens is through death. Pack exposes his true feelings of loneliness, which in sonnet form allows readers to sense his passion. The title, "To an Empty Page," Pack eludes that his poem is dark and filled with sadness. A breakdown of the title shows that Pack's diction with using, "To," was as if the speaker was sending his sonnet to somebody; as if he were talking to an imaginary listener. But contrast to that idea, he is sending his sonnet to, "an Empty Page," meaning nobody. These words have a...

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Premium Essay

To an Empty Page

...of an Echo Sonnet: “to an Empty Page” In Robert Pack's, "To an Empty Page," the speaker discusses death and its consequences regarding relief to show the author's purpose as a feeling of loneliness and depression. He does this with the use of an echo sonnet form, foreshadowing within the title, and through the use of emotion evoking pathos. Pack's use of a sonnet for reveals his feelings and emotions toward love, which sonnets are normally about. Readers can feel the raw emotion that Pack reveals in his discussion regarding the speakers possible death and loss of love, thereafter. In addition, the fact that he wrote an echo sonnet aids in the author’s purpose because it allows the reader to be aware of the words meant to be emphasized. Along with its emphasis, the echo, in some cases, seems to answer a rhetorical question made by the speaker. For example, “what’s the end of my life’s long disease? Ease,” (line 7). Within this quote, the speaker is relaying his belief that the only way to relieve himself of life’s burdens is through death. Pack exposes his true feelings of loneliness, which in sonnet form allows readers to sense his passion. The title, "To an Empty Page," Pack eludes that his poem is dark and filled with sadness. A breakdown of the title shows that Pack's diction with using, "To," was as if the speaker was sending his sonnet to somebody; as if he were talking to an imaginary listener. But contrast to that idea, he is sending his sonnet to, "an Empty Page...

Words: 356 - Pages: 2