Carl Sandburg's Buttons Rhetorical Devices

"Who would guess what it cost to move two buttons one inch on the war map..."(12). Carl Sandburg writes "Buttons" in 1915, during the early stage of World War 1. Sandburg uses the poetic element irony in addition to symbolism, and imagery as a way of showing how World War 1 is a serious event; however people turn war into a laughing matter. Carl Sandburg's use of various poetic elements in his poem "Buttons" helps the reader understand the speaker's main idea of irony. The first stanza in "Buttons" is brimming with symbolism. "..Watching the war map slammed up for advertising" (1) and "Buttons- red and yellow buttons- blue and black buttons-..." (3), are perfect examples of symbolism. In the first line the speaker describes the map as being a "war map". To me, the "war map" is symbolic to death. Similarly to the map, the buttons too are a symbol. As the man "fixes a yellow button one inch west/ and follows the yellow button with a black button one inch west" the reader begins to draw together the buttons symbolizing troops. The colors presented on the buttons themselves also hold symbolism: ally and foe troops. The speaker hints to the reader how easy the buttons are being moved across the "war map"; however, the impact of moving a single inch could cost many lives.

Irony is a literary element that the author may use to reveal a reality different from the actual reality. Though World War 1 is currently taking place, " A laughing young man" is arranging buttons to the corresponding locations of the troops on the map. To me the "laughing young man, sunny with freckles" placing buttons on the war map is ironic. Though World War 1 is a devastating catastrophe, this "young man" is joking to the crowd while marking the locations of where many military forces have died to