First, thought: many of Li Bai's poems show the idea of pursuing immortality and eating, drinking and enjoying in time; Many of Du Fu's poems show the thoughts of worrying about the world and caring for others. So Li Bai is called "Poet Fairy" and Du Fu is called "Poet Saint". Second, style: Li Bai often uses exaggerated techniques and vivid metaphors to express his warm feelings; Du Fu often shows his deep sympathy for social reality with vigorous skills and profound thoughts. Li Bai tends to be romantic, while Du Fu tends to be realistic.
Third, the genre they are good at: both of them can write poems of various genres, but Li Bai's seven-character ancient poems and quatrains are the best, and Du Fu's metrical poems are the best. Li Bai and Du Fu are two peaks in the history of China's poetry. Li Bai's poems can better express the vigorous and enterprising spirit of the literati in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, while Du Fu's poems can better reflect the social reality that the country broke the poverty of the people. Li Bai is a genius among geniuses, and his poems are self-contained. He is a genius. Du Fu is an outstanding contemporary man, and his poems are the acme of human ability. Li Bai's poems have a far-reaching influence on later poets who love bold poetic style and fancy. Du Fu's poems have a great influence on poets who care about social reality and pay attention to the change of poetic methods and language use. Han Yu put it well: "Du Li's article is there, and the flames are endless." Both of them are great poets in our country, and their poems have their own merits.
Li Bai's poems have their own characteristics and varied styles, so it is difficult to sum up their styles in different periods with the word "elegance". Before and after Li Bai left Sichuan, he was deeply influenced by Taoist thought, and his poetry was characterized by elegance. He was depressed when he entered Chang 'an, but he didn't lose hope. His poetic style is bold and unrestrained, and his feelings are passionate. He sang repeatedly that he was very talented and useful. After Li Bai entered Chang 'an, his career was bumpy, his state affairs declined day by day, his life was in a desperate situation, his poetic style was close to reality step by step, and his boldness was full of melancholy for the country and the people. When Yelang was exiled in his later years, Li Baiduo expressed his feelings, exposed reality and lashed the society in a gloomy, resentful and sad style, and his poetic style obviously turned to tragedy.
Du Fu's poetic style was formed in the period of An Shi Rebellion, and gradually took shape in suffering. Du Fu went deep into the society, cared about the sufferings of politics and people's livelihood, and attached importance to realism. He shoulders the heavy responsibility of the country and the nation and faithfully depicts the face of the times and inner feelings. Du Fu's artistic style is gloomy and frustrated. Du Fu's realistic style has been passed down from the Middle Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, especially the Jiangxi Poetry School with Du Fu as its ancestor, which has a great influence. The above is for reference.