The Secret Life Of Books Poem Analysis

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Recommended: Diction in poetry analysis

Through written communications, writers use a myriad of literary devices, to communicate ideas. With the use of metaphors, diction, and personification, writers are able to construct articles, books, and poems. Two examples of these included “Birthday” by M. T Buckley and “The Secret Life of Books” by Stephen Edgar. Each of these poems is trying to show an opinion toward the topic. The author in “Birthday” is trying to show how being born is similar to being in World War 2. On the other hand, “The secret Life of Books” is trying to show how books change the readers. Both poems use conceit, diction, and personification with the structure in order to convey their meaning of the poems. The views of M.T Buckley towards being born and Stephen …show more content…

"Birthday," utilizes diction to present the idea of control that the world, and the people within it, have on the baby. It reads "Sentenced me to life. I guess I deserved it." With the use of the word "sentenced", it is implying that the baby is being forced to live life. Another example is the use of the word "enemy territory”, which refers to a territory of opponents against you. By using that word, the author is implying that the baby is being forced into an unfamiliar world. Lastly, M.T Buckley wrote, "Made sure I wouldn't escape". By using a word such as “escape,” instead of “secure,” it is inferred that the baby wants to escape and is being forced to stay there. On another note, in, "The Secret Life of Books," Stephen Edgar uses personification to illustrate how books control their readers. He writes "In the end they have written you". The author personifies the books, by allowing an inanimate object to perform an action, in order to display the ability of books to take control over their readers. Such control displays the power that they posses over whoever is reading. By utilizing these literary devices, both authors demonstrate the control that was …show more content…

The organization of lines in the poems is included in the structure. The lines of each poem are arranged in certain lengths to convey an image pertaining to the main idea of the poem to the readers. In “Birthday”, the lines of the poem begin short and then increase as they progress from the beginning to the middle. From the middle, the lines become shorter and then begin increasing again. That arrangement represents a journey in life. The journey would begin and improve as the poem progresses, until some issues appear (Where the lines get shorter). Afterwards, as they are resolved, it will continue to improve. On the other hand, in “The Secret Life of Books”, the structure conveys an image of books through the line structure. By presenting an illustration of the main topic discussed throughout the poem, the author assists the reader to understand the poem and makes the poem aesthetically

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