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In Richard Wilbur’s poem “A Barred Owl” and Billy Collins' "The History Teacher," both poets explore the theme of adults attempting to shield children from the harsh realities of life, sugar-coating events that might harm their innocence. Whether it's an elementary school teacher altering historical truths or parents reassuring a frightened child, the poets delve into the complexities of preserving a child's innocence and the potential consequences of such efforts.
Wilbur's "A Barred Owl" vividly portrays a common scenario of a scared child seeking comfort in the arms of their parents.
The poet employs a distinct mood and setting with lines such as, "The warping night air" and "darkened room," creating an atmosphere of fear within the child's bedroom. The use of AABB rhyming pattern and carefully chosen diction enhances the significance of each line, emphasizing the fear present within the child’s room.
Through the lines, "The warping night air having brought the boom of an owl’s voice into her darkened room," Wilbur captures the essence of parental reassurance.
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The poem reflects the actions parents take to comfort a child and preserve their innocence, offering a poignant snapshot of the delicate balance between protection and truth.
In "The History Teacher," Collins paints a picture of a casual classroom setting where an ignorant teacher imparts altered historical events to shield students from the harsh realities of the world. Using lines like "the Ice Age was really just the Chilly Age" and "the Stone Age became the Gravel Age," Collins illustrates the teacher's attempt to create a sanitized version of history for the students.
By adopting a third-person point of view, Collins allows the audience to grasp the full extent of the teacher's misguided efforts.
The lines, "The children … torment the weak and the smart," and, "he gathered his notes … wondering if they would believe," reveal the unintended consequences of altering the truth to protect innocence. The poem serves as a commentary on the potential harm inflicted on education when attempting to shield children from inevitable truths.
Both Wilbur and Collins explore the consequences of preserving innocence in their poems. In "A Barred Owl," Wilbur presents the comforting actions of parents as they send a child to sleep with white lies, maintaining the child's ignorance of the harsh realities of the world. However, in "The History Teacher," Collins reveals how the teacher's attempt to protect students from the cruelties of the world results in a skewed understanding of history, leading to negative behaviors among the students.
The poems suggest that preserving innocence is a delicate task, and attempts to shield children from certain truths may have unintended repercussions. While parents in "A Barred Owl" succeed in sending their child to bed with peace and understanding, the teacher in "The History Teacher" inadvertently contributes to a distorted worldview among the students, fostering ignorance rather than genuine protection.
Both poems shed light on the delicate balance required when guiding children through the complexities of life. Adults, whether parents or teachers, must navigate the fine line between preserving innocence and providing the necessary tools for understanding the world. The poets suggest that outright alteration of truth, as seen in "The History Teacher," may lead to unforeseen consequences.
The conclusion drawn from these poems is that adults should aim to guide children through troubling times rather than shield them entirely from the realities of the world. The poems encourage a more nuanced approach to education and parenting, advocating for an honest dialogue that acknowledges the complexities of life while preserving the essential innocence of childhood.
In conclusion, Richard Wilbur’s "A Barred Owl" and Billy Collins' "The History Teacher" provide thought-provoking insights into the attempts of adults to preserve children's innocence. Both poems navigate the complexities of guiding children through a world filled with known and unknown fears. While Wilbur highlights the comforting actions of parents in "A Barred Owl," Collins critiques the misguided efforts of a history teacher in "The History Teacher."
The poems caution against the pitfalls of altering reality to shield children, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between truth and protection. The delicate task of preserving innocence requires a nuanced approach that acknowledges the inevitability of certain truths while offering guidance and reassurance. Ultimately, both poets invite readers to reflect on the responsibility of adults in shaping the worldview of the next generation, urging a thoughtful and considerate approach to preserving the precious innocence of childhood.
Preserving Innocence: Analysis of Childhood Protection in Poetry. (2016, Sep 12). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/a-poetic-analysis-on-a-barred-owl-and-the-history-teacher-essay
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