How is the style of Elemental Odes different from the style of Residence on Earth?

The stylistic differences between Pablo Neruda’s Residence on Earth and his Elementary Odes reflect distinct phases and thematic focuses in his career:

• Residence on Earth: Written during a period of personal loneliness and depression, this work is characterized by a dark, "subterranean" tone. It employs Surrealist free-association techniques and extravagant, fertile imagery to explore themes of universal decay and despair. The poetry is often hermetic and intense, reflecting an individual self untrammeled by decorum.123
• Elementary Odes: Toward the end of his career, Neruda shifted toward a style defined by simplicity. In these odes, he focuses on the "prosaic," celebrating commonplace items—such as an artichoke or wood—as well as animals and plants. This style highlights his attention to the details of daily life and his appreciation for things grown or made by human hands, contrasting sharply with the complex, angst-ridden atmosphere of his earlier work.31

While Residence on Earth delves into the dark recesses of the self, the Elementary Odes represent a turn toward the tangible, everyday world.31