This is a regents essay for english.

It is often said that having one great friend is better than having one a great number of acquaintances. However, one does not usually take the time to rationalize why this statement is true. The answer is quite simple. The world in which we live in is often times a cruel and unwelcome one, but when two friends devote each other to themselves entirely to one another, together they can survive the elements of the …showed first 75 words of 411 total…

…showed last 75 words of 411 total…would take an enormous amount of power to make Dionysius do something kind. This metamorphosis in Dionysius illustrates how the true power of friendship can produce dramatic results. In both of these passages, the authors are attempting to convey the power of friendship and why true friendship should be cherished. The author of the poem does this largely through imagery, while the author of the myth chose to do this through the use of characterization.