Comparison and Contrast

Comparison and Contrast

In literature, such as poetry, the author wrote comparison and
contrast when he or she described the difference between two or
more entities. Contrast is a conceptual separation or distinction.
The author set in opposition in order to reveal or emphasize the
difference, which often showed one thing that was comparable to
or strikingly dissimilar to another. Some of the ancient poets had
done a great job in this respect, for example:

蟬噪林逾靜，鳥鳴山更幽。（南朝•王籍•入若耶溪）

Although this might have been the poet’s philosophical perception
of nature, I am in agreement with him. 蟬 “噪” does make 林逾 “靜”;
and I feel 山更 “幽” because of the periodic 鳥 “鳴”.

And:

大漠孤煙直，長河落日圓。（唐•王維•使至塞上）

In this windless and quiescent “大漠”, you see “孤煙” 直; and
just above the “長河”, there is the nice , round “落日”.

Again we are talking about comparison and contrast, and here are
more:

野曠天低樹，江清月近人。（唐•孟浩然•宿建德江）

潮平兩岸闊，風正一帆懸。（唐•王灣•次北固山下）

人閑桂花落，夜靜春山空。（唐•王維•鳥鳴澗）

山隨平野盡，江入大荒流。（唐•李白•渡荊門送別）

星垂平野闊，月湧大江流。（唐•杜甫•旅夜書懷）

千江有水千江月，萬里無雲萬里天。（宋•雷庵正受）

Comparison and Contrast can be static, and dynamic as well,
ie. “一靜一動” or “無聲 vs 有聲”, such as:

月出驚山鳥，時鳴春澗中。（唐•王維•鳥鳴澗）

空山松子落，幽人應未眠。（唐•韋應物•秋夜寄丘員外）

月落烏啼霜滿天，江楓漁火對愁眠。（唐•張繼•楓橋夜泊）

天蒼蒼，野茫茫，風吹草低見牛羊。（北朝民歌•敕勒歌）


Yeh Tze