The poems “Tall Nettles” by Edward Thomas and “Thistles” by Ted Hughes contain similar yet different themes. Both of them contain not one but many themes of their own.
“The Tall Nettles” contains a theme of abandonment, a theme of nature fighting back against man, and man-made objects, as well as the theme of “inner beauty” i.e., beauty that is not obvious to the eye. The poet is showing that the plant is fierce, yet protective over a place that “belongs” to them, simply because no one else wants it. It portrays how the nettles have triumphed over man by covering the machines. Thomas shows this conquest over man in a positive light. It portrays the nettles as beautiful, yet they are not aesthetically pleasing. This seems to show that Thomas sees the “inner beauty” of the nettles; he portrays their resilience and strength.
“Thistles” also contains the theme of nature fighting back against man as well as the theme of survival. Unlike in the previous poem, the thistles are......
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