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Poetic devices and figurative language
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Poetry analysis figurative language essay
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Throughout this poem the speaker contemplates stealing a book of poetry. The poet Julia Alvarez gives the action of stealing the book a deeper meaning while portraying the significance of the book to the speaker. Julia Alvarez does this through the use of many poetic devices. Throughout this excerpt of the poem “On Not Shoplifting Louise Bogan's ‘The Blue Estuaries’” by Julia Alvarez, the poet conveys the speaker's discoveries through the use of imagery and diction in order to portray the overall meaning of the work as a whole. Through the course of this poem the speaker discovers many things. Some discoveries made are physical while others are mental and emotional. On a physical level the speaker discovers a book, a new author and the power
In The Color of Water, author James McBride writes both his autobiography and a tribute to the life of his mother, Ruth McBride. In the memoirs of the author’s mother and of himself, they constantly face discrimination from their race in certain neighborhoods and of their religious beliefs. The trials and tribulations faced by these two characters have taught readers universally that everyone faces difficulties in life, but they can all be surmounted.
The novel, The Color of Water follows the author and narrator James McBride and his mother Ruth’s life, through their childhood—when they were both embarrassed about their mother—through the part of their lives where they began to accept themself for who they are and became proud of it. Moreover, this memoir is quite distinctive as McBride cleverly parallels his story to his mother, Ruth’s story by using dual narration which further helps to contribute to the theme of self-identity. Throughout the novel, McBride searches for identity and a sense of self that derives from his multiracial family and through the use of two different narrations, McBride slowly establishes his identity. Plus by integrating both narratives at the end, McBride also shows that although both narrators at the beginning had different upbringing, in the end they come together and understand each other’s perspective.
Good poetry provides meaningful commentary. One indication of a poem’s success in this is the depth of thought the reader has as a result of the poem. The poems I anthologized may take different
The Color of Water Book Review In this memoir, the author chooses to have two narrators, himself as one, and his mother as the other. This style makes for quite an interesting story, skipping back and forth in time, from the child's life, to that of his mother. Although many time changes occur, they are quite easy to keep up with, as the two narrator's of the book, James, and his mother, alternate chapters. For this reason, it is also very easy to compare the childhood of each of the main characters. Although the chapters aren't always during the same time periods of the respective characters, they are close enough that similarities can be seen, and parallels can be drawn.
It is hard to sympathize with someone when you have no idea where they are coming from or what they are going through. It is similar experiences that allow us to extend our sincere appreciation and understanding for another human being’s situations and trials of life. Anne Bradstreet’s “The Author to Her Book” expresses the emotions that Bradstreet felt when her most intimate thoughts were published to the world without her consent. The average person would not see the cause for distress that Bradstreet feels in this situation. She had written a collection of near perfect poetry, which expressed her feelings in a way that the majority of women during that time did not have the talent or training to do. Many would wonder why she would be disturbed about these works being printed when they had brought many people pleasurable reading and had brought Bradstreet herself much personal fame. Therefore, Bradstreet can not just write a straightforward poem to tell how she feels about her stolen thoughts. Unless her reader happens to be a writer, he or she would not be able to sympathize with Bradstreet in this matter. Instead, she had to use a situation in which her readers could comprehend the many emotions she experienced. No doubt, many women read her poetry, and the majority of women during that time were, or would one day be mothers. This similarity opened a door for understanding. By comparing her writing to a child, Bradstreet is able to win the compassion of her readers and help them understand the feelings that she experiences.
People become inspired from all sorts of unique things from a play or a quote to a book of poems. Julia Alvarez’s “On Not Shoplifting Louise Bogan’s The Blue Estuaries” conveys the speaker’s discoveries and the passion and inspiration they created through the use of tone, imagery, similes, and alliteration.
The fish described as old and ugly, worn down, but is relentless. The fish has been through a lot as described by author Elizabeth Bishop. While getting beat down throughout it stayed strong and powered throughout and stayed alive.
The poem told the story of a man who is inhibited by language, and has never quite had the ability to articulate his thoughts and feeling through words. It is said that his family members have tried
The introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins, encourages the reader to let the mind free and interpret the revelation of life experience through a spectrum of meanings for the true meaning lies in the heart of the poem not so much on the surface. Billy Collins while encourages the discovery of beauty in a poem, however Collins takes a darker tone when disappointed in the fact that the reader’s interest in what the poem can reveal.
In “Introduction to Poetry”, Billy Collins wants to share his passion and love of poetry. It takes work on the part of the reader to comprehend the meaning behind the words, and often times we feel the initial hesitation and apprehension by the lyrics we at first glance don’t understand. Billy Collins shows us that by confronting our fears, and giving poetry a chance, we will not only survive the battle, but possibly enjoy the beauty and adventure along the way. With an open mind, and dedicated time and effort, poetry is nothing to
When a writer sculpts a poem, they intend to release their feelings onto a sheet of paper, in which readers may relate to it in their own way. Most successful poets use impressive language and literary tools (such as simile, metaphor, and imagery) to show knowledge and prove that there is more than one meaning to a phrase. This helps us connect with the writings, allowing our own opinions to be introduced to the current situation. There are other poems that relate to readers more than others, however. Yet, at the same time, there are poems which are the same that relate us. The author’s stories connect one another with similar memories, such as in a particular poem. In the poem, The Writer, by Richard Wilbur, there are messages included in his poem, such as the power of memory, the indifference between novice and expert writers, and constant life struggles.
“The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop illustrates the art of capturing a fish from water, an act once used merely as a food source. When the narrator first caught the fish, she felt sickened by it. As the poem proceeds, the narrator starts to develop an admiration towards the fish. This poem is saturated with colorful imagery and sufficient descriptions, which helps the reader envision the narrator’s view of the fish transform. At first glimpse, the reader would believe that this poem is just about a regular fishing trip, but the central theme has a much greater meaning. Through imagery, similes, and paradox Bishop demonstrates that beauty and bliss can be uncovered in the most ambiguous things.
Let us begin by recognizing that one comes to a poem--or ought to come- -in openness and expectancy and acceptance. For a poem is an adventure, for both the poet and the reader: a venture into the as yet-unseen, the as-yet unexperienced. At the heart of it is the notknowing. It is search. It is discovery. It is existence entered. "You are lost the instant you know what the result will be," says the painter Juan Gris, speaking or and to painters. But what he is speaking of is true of art in general, is as appropriate to poetry as to painting. What he is reminding us of is the need to remain open to discovery, to largess--the need to give over our desire to define, to interpret, to reduce, to translate, We need to remind ourselves, in short, that in a poem we find the world happening not as concept but as percept. It is the world happening. The world becoming. The world allowed to be--itself. Another way of putting the same thing, this time from the per-spective of thinking (the perspective of the mind in its engagement of the world), would be to say that the poem is an enactment of thinking itself: the mind in motion. Not merely a collection of thoughts, but rather the act of thought itself, the mind in action. The poem is not trying to be about something, it is trying to be something. It is trying to incorporate, to realize. Not ideas about the thing, writes Wallace Stevens, but the thing itself. As Denise Levertov has said, "The substance, the means, of an art, is am incarnation--not reference but phenomenon."
The first thing that comes to mind upon reading this poem is a sense of calmness and relaxation. Described well is an attempt at reminiscing at one's past, and how it may have affected life at present. It is a poem of truth, and the joy that comes with the realization of one's self, the inner being. In the poem is a character who has injured himself during work, and has taken a recess to tend to the wound. During this time th...
...otional assurance over many years or decades. Poetry imparts the comforting sense that we are on familiar ground, that we have the perceptual tools to make sense of what we are encountering. The essential social function of poetry is first, the most obvious function, – to give answers. A poem must perform this function if it is to perform any. Poetry occurs between primaries, the page and the mind, and the world and the word. More than a thing, it is a transference of energy between poles. Poetry’s task is to mitigate but to mitigate by way of accelerant: it too becomes primary in range from rivaling the world to near exclusion and or/ creation of it, to a humble transparency that adds nothing but clarity. Behind every question and thought in uncertainty we can still hold on to some meaning through poetry. What passes for answers? Poetry is what passes for answers.