Similarities:
* Emphasis on the mundane: Both poems focus on ordinary, everyday activities happening around a significant, but unnoticed, event. In Williams' poem, the focus is on the "sun's" "motionless" rays and the "splash" of Icarus' fall, while Auden depicts the "old Masters" painting a scene with a ship "compelled to sail" and "a boy falling out of the sky".
* Lack of reaction to tragedy: Neither poem shows any dramatic reaction or acknowledgment of Icarus' demise. In Williams' poem, the "splash" is simply described without any commentary on its significance. In Auden's poem, the "people" are busy with their "struggles" and "anguish" as if the falling boy is a mere footnote in their lives.
* The indifference of the universe: Both poems suggest that the universe is indifferent to human suffering and the grand events that shape our lives. In Williams' poem, the sun's "motionless" rays and the fisherman "who was already fishing" highlight the indifference of nature. In Auden's poem, the "icy" detail of the boy falling "out of the sky" emphasizes the detached nature of the world and the "heart-ache" that is "no more tragic than a cow in a field."
* Focus on perspective: Both poems challenge the reader to consider the relative importance of events and the different perspectives on the world. In Williams' poem, the focus shifts from Icarus' fall to the ordinary scene of the fisherman. In Auden's poem, the reader is invited to consider the scene from the perspective of the old Masters, who might be more interested in the "ship" than the falling boy.
Differences:
* Tone: While both poems share a similar theme, "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" adopts a more detached and minimalist tone, while "Musée des Beaux Arts" uses a more reflective and conversational tone.
* Form: "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" uses a concise, imagistic style with short, simple lines. "Musée des Beaux Arts" is a longer, more lyrical poem with a more complex structure and rhyme scheme.
Overall, both poems present a powerful and disturbing vision of human existence, prompting readers to consider the vastness of the universe and the fleeting nature of human life.