Poetry is used as a device to convey concepts that are confronting to the reader, to create works of intent and explore a specific or array of opinions, which the author communicates through poetic language. In Margaret Atwood’s ‘Christmas Carols’ and Sylvia Plath’s ‘Stillborn’ the application of extended metaphor, persuasive language, creation of tone and mood, repetition, allusion and juxtaposition generates thought and feeling through poetry. In Sylvia Plath’s potent emotive work addressing the failure experienced through writing uses the metaphor of a stillborn child, while ‘Christmas Carols’ a political piece is centralized on society’s generalized adoration of birth. These poems use the symbolism, detailed language and theme of birth…show more content… In this piece the application of allusions to events in which pregnancy is traumatic or leads to dangerous acts, creates a powerful mood, which adds emotive strength behind her intentions. Through using highly detailed references with specificity “raped thirty times” brings with it a haunting image of a reality in which to have conceived is not joyous. The juxtaposition of “hope” and ‘despair’ to symbolise views of society in their perspective of the “magic mother […] perfect and intact” contrasted to circumstances of “everyone else” often being traumatic like those expressed in Atwood’s allusions to different eras. These highlight the social hypocrisy of idolizing the Virgin Mary and therefore all births, whilst many are not ‘holy’ or implied blessings. Margaret Atwood forms a vivid image with these references to a nativity play and historical events by contextualizing the scenes with her direct purpose of her piece, the tone and voice, which shapes ‘Christmas Carols’ as a powerful political…show more content… In Margaret Atwood’s work a sense of urgency and didactic tone is used to directly address those in a politically and socially powerful position. In addressing instances where birth and pregnancy is undesirable and dangerous, Atwood recognises the poems intent as a persuasive and politically provocative piece. By the use of a change from conversational to cold detached language she emphasises the clinical view of using a mother as a vessel for a child to be “extracted” from. In addition to affirming her position on society’s views, the poems use of questions and warning tone of “though who knows when it may come?” and “think twice then” suggests that the speaker is addressing the audience, assumed to be men and people of political power. Through this ‘ Christmas Carols’ directly attempts to pressure for change in how humanity at large sees childbirth encouraging and challenging those in political power to ‘put their money where their mouth is’, using deliberately graphic and occasionally vulgar language to articulate that change only comes from providing the basic rights. While Atwood’s poem is created for a political purpose by contrasting and exposing generalized societal ignorance, poetry can present controversial and unfamiliar ideas with the sole purpose of articulating