Both Edgar Allan Poe and Hilda Doolittle wrote poems inspired by Helen. However, they have totally different attitude towards her, which results in the contrast in the diction, the form and the imagery between their works "To Helen" and "Helen."

The different word choices bring contradictory tones to the two poems. Poe used flattering, positive words such as: beauty, gently, perfumed, native, hyacinth, classis, Naiad, glory, grandeur, brilliant, statue-like, Holy... The speaker idealizes worships and admires her beauty and dignity. To him, she seems to be the most beautiful woman in the world. In contrast, H. D. used negative, hateful, death words and phrases like hates, white, reviles, wan, ills, unmoved, laid, white ash, funereal cypresses... The speaker in this poem expresses her hostility and hatred towards Helen. In her opinion, Helen is evil and is the cause of trouble and misery. The only way she can be...