A Comparison between Kay Ryan's "Turtle" and G. K. Chesterton's "The Donkey"

In the two poems The Donkey and Turtle, both writers provide a viewpoint of creatures that seemingly appear to be animals, completely useless in design but endearing in their own ways. These poems are similar in their construction by how they both completely ridicule and shame these animals. In the end, they state the creature's have one redeeming quality. This one quality seems to make up for all the pathetic traits and unfortunate mishaps these …

…annoyed by the turtle and doesn't try to play up its redeeming factor anymore than necessary. On the other hand, with the biblical references, Chesterton turns the donkey into a sort of holy animal, that is worthy of our respect. He comes off as actually respecting the donkey for what he is and what he did. What we have are two creatures chastised for what they are, but both are unique in their own way.