Analysis of Literary Devices in Poetry

Answer

Analysis of Literary Devices in Poetry

            Literary devices refer to the writing technique implemented to provide emphasis on an idea or promote clarity in the works of art. Literary devices are used by authors to assist the readers in establishing a strong connection with the theme or the story presented in the literary work (Muniz, 2020). Having a proper understanding of the literary techniques utilized in poetry promotes the motivation and the understanding behind the choices of the poet’s message (Muniz, 2020). The focus of this paper is to explore the usage of literary devices in different poetries.

Population Drifts by Carl Sandburg

            The use of figurative language can be seen in Population Drifts. For instance, Sandburg has relied on the use of metaphor in his work to twist the meaning allocated to the word. One of the common metaphors evident in this piece is “her hands were tough for work” (Sandburg, 1967). This statement cannot be taken literary since it has a hidden meaning providing a depiction that the woman was strongly focused on hard labor.

Imagery is a common literary device used in Population Drifts. Imagery is implemented to create a sensory impression and a mental image for intensity and emotional effect (Sandburg, 1967). For instance, Sandburg indicates that “one child coughed its lungs away.” This statement is used to communicate a message about the seriousness of the child’s health as depicted by the cough. Moreover, the use of imagery is also seen in the first stanza where Sandburg points out that “a woman whose ribs had the power of the hills.” The use of imagery in this statement is used to depict the strength in the woman’s ribs and the desire to conceive as relayed in the line, “…passion for life in her womb.”

The use of hyperbole is also common in Popular Drifts as Sandburg uses statements such as “one child coughed its lungs away”. This statement provides an insight into an extreme and yet intentional exaggeration utilized for emphasizing on the general health and condition of the child as reflected by the cough. The use of similes can also be visualized in the work. For example, Sandburg points out that “neither talk nor run like their mother” (Sandburg, 1967). The use of simile in this line is focused on drawing a comparison between the children’s qualities in relation to that of their mother, hence bringing them out as less capable in comparison to their mother. Onomatopoeia is also a common literary device evident in Popular Drifts. Notably, this is a feature whereby a word used sounds like the sound it generates (Muniz, 2020). For example, Sandburg outlines in the second line of the fourth stanza that “wishing is and the wistful glory in them that flutters” (Sandburg, 1967). The word “flutter reveals the onomatopoeia literary feature.

Knowing Rob Us by Chinua Achebe

            Personification is a literary technique utilized to provide non-human element with humanity features. In Knowing Rob, personification has been used in the first stanza. For instance, in the first line, Achebe mentions that “knowing rob us of wonder” (Achebe, 1990). Knowing or knowledge is a skill and is innate. However, the poet provides it with humanity features by indicating that it has the power to rob. The use of personification in this piece is mainly focused on reinforcing the Achebe’s idea and stressing on the detail about the effects of knowledge. Moreover, in the last line of the first stanza, Achebe states that “…of an amazed world” (Achebe, 1990). In this illustration, the world is provided with humanity features when the word “amaze” is used for its definition. Notably, the world is innate and does not have the power to be amazed. However, the poet utilizes the literary device for the purpose of reinforcing his idea and promoting clarity about the image he creates of the world in the poem.

            Hyperbole is also a common feature displayed in Achebe’s work. Evidently, the poet states that “assurance that day will daily break” (Achebe, 1990). This is seen in the second stanza of the poem which is majorly used to provide some form of exaggeration about assurance as visualized. Consonance is also a literary device used by Achebe in the poem. For instance, in the first stanza, lines 3 and 4 show the use of consonance are displayed by the words “robes” and “force.” In these words, the consonant sounds are repeated at the end of the words as shown in bold in the illustration. Additionally, rhyme is also evident in the poem. In the second stanza lines 2 and three, the words “day” and “array” rhyme with each other. This is also shown in lines 7 and 8 of the same stanza with the words “royal” and “festival.” Alliteration is also common in the poem as illustrated through the repetition of sounds at the beginning of the words. For example, line 3 in stanza three shows “was now past noon” (Achebe, 1990). The words “now” and “noon” shows alliteration as the sounds at the beginning of the words are repetitive.

The Sky by Manuel Bandeira

            In Manuel Bandeira’s poem, The Sky, a common rhyme scheme is seen as depicting in the first stanza, lines 2, 3 and 4. The rhyming words as presented in the lines include “sky”, “tiny” and “sky” respectively. Hyperbole is also a common literary device utilized by the poet for exaggeration. Notably, Bandeira outlines that the child believes that he does not have the power to hold the sky “when he hold it in his hand” (Bandeira, 1989). Arguably, it is impossible to hold the sky in one’s hand, hence providing an indication of the exaggerated aspect utilized by the poet to reinforce his ideas in the work.

            Symbolism is a common literary device evident in Bandeira’s poem. Evidently, the sky is considered as a symbol of eternity and infinity. That is why the poet depicts that it cannot be perceived. Additionally, the use of metaphor is also seen in this literary work. According to Bandeira, “the sky is an illusion” (Bandeira, 1989). This is a metaphor which indicates that it is almost in exist in that what people see and consider as the sky is only a reflection of something else such as air or dust particles which are further reflected to be visualized by the eyes.

Conclusion

            Conclusively, the use of literary devices such as alliteration, imagery, consonance, rhymes, personification, symbolism and onomatopoeia are common in different woMunrks of literature such as Population Drifts, The Sky, and Knowing Rob Us. The devices are focused on reinforces the ideas of the poets and promoting clarity through unique figurative speech usage techniques.