Figurative Language In What Lips My Lips Have Kissed
Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why” encompasses a woman’s emotions regarding her lifetime of past lovers through figurative language as well as sonic and structural qualities indicative of the lack of fulfillment from which she quietly suffers. Millay begins her sonnet by revealing her dismay, saying “What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why, I have forgotten.” In this, she sets up her audience’s understanding of her experiences. In plain language she states that the love she has shared and experienced in her lifetime has lacked substance and fulfillment. Thus, the poem is read within a scope of sharing in Millay’s disappointment and sympathizing with her painful reflection. In the first …show more content…
Scaffolding, serving also as its title, is employed as an extended metaphor throughout the poem. Heaney likens the structure and function of scaffolding in the construction of a building’s walls to the development and progression of his own romantic relationship. With confidence, Heaney links the tangible object of a building and the scaffolding that supports it while in its liminal stage to the more abstract subject of his romantic relationship. Through this, he implies that the fortitude of a wall built under a meticulously formed scaffolding is congruent to the strength of a romantic relationship which has progressed over …show more content…
In comparing the two poems, a contrast is made between a life of complete and total romantic fulfillment and a life spent searching for love in vain. Heaney’s “Scaffolding” does so through the extended metaphor of a building’s scaffolding which is then connected directly to his own life experiences and relationship. In forging this connection, he employs a structured rhyme scheme that reinforces the rigid and unwavering confidence of the conclusions he has made about love. The uniform, block-like structure of the aabbccddee rhyme scheme conforms to the poem’s general theme of solidity and permanence. Similarly, Millay follows a rhyme scheme throughout her poem. The more scattered abbaabba cdedce rhyme scheme plays a role in the expression of a more restless, dissatisfied tone. This cyclical yet unconventional pattern highlights the contrasting theme of fluidity and
Summary Of For That He Seen Not Upon Her By George Gascoigne
362 Words | 2 PagesEven the rhyming continues to emphasize his thoughts and actions. For example, his use of rhyme, like "Fire and Desire", show how his betrayal has fueled him up so much that he can't get the feeling of her out of his head. Her eyes are a misery to him, his attitude continues
Comparison Of Forgotten And Hanging Fire, By Audre Lorde
685 Words | 3 PagesThe poems “Forgotten” and “Hanging Fire” demonstrate the possibilities of the similarities and differences that two different topics can represent. The two poems ‘Forgotten” and the poem “Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde, share a similarity of a parent's absence. In “Forgotten” the text states, “...nobody else’s dad had gone away nine years ago./ Nobody else’s dad had been so loved by a four-year-old./ And so forgotten by one/ now/ thirteen.”
The Century Quilt Poem
308 Words | 2 PagesIn the poem “The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Waniek, Waniek is able to craft a complex, contemporary poem using a variety of literary devices. Through enjambment, imagery, and chronological succession, Waniek describes the complexities of her quilt and reflects on it’s beauty and uniqueness. In lines 1-2 of “The Century Quilt” Waniek uses enjambment to start her poem with ambiguity and suspense. In addition, her use of enjambment slows the pace and forces the reader to digest each line as an individual thought, rather than a cohesive statement. In turn, the slowed pace and ambiguity of the opening couplet offers a preview to Wanieks unique style and syntax.
Ain T No Sunshine And Frankenstein Comparison Essay
767 Words | 4 PagesThe longing for affection, the longing for someone to hold and cherish you is something every human might’ve experienced. Becoming affectionate to one another is something every human will do in some period of their life, not only because society says so, but also because that’s what the human mind and body desire. Although, if the longing gets out of hand, it might lead to some trouble. Today, I am going to analyze and compare two literary texts who both illustrate the theme “longing for love” in two different ways. I would like to start off with “Ain’t no sunshine”, a song written by Bill Withers back in 1971.
Analysis Of Cloudy Days By Jimmy Santiago Baca
586 Words | 3 PagesJimmy Santiago Baca is an ex-convict turned poem writer. During his stay in prison, he developed a love for poetry and literature. This poem, “Cloudy Days” was written to show his strength in the face of adversity and hardship, both in and out of the prison. That strength is something he’s needed all his life since his abandonment from his parents and grandmother, through the U.S. prison system, and after, in getting back on his feet. Through the use of metaphors and repetition, Jimmy Santiago Baca effectively conveys this.
How Does Amanda Gorman Use Of Figurative Language
291 Words | 2 PagesBy using the figurative language of alliteration, allusion, and personification in the poem “ New Day’s Lyric”, author Amanda Gorman emphasizes the theme of unity in today’s society. Amanda Gorman uses alliteration of repeating the same sound in lines to show unity. In line 5 of the poem states “Torn, we come to tens.” This illustrates alliteration by repeating the t sound the author puts more emphasis on words showing unity.
Edna's Step: A Short Story
368 Words | 2 PagesAlicia and I talk Edna’s Steps The 2nd house next to the corner of Sacramento and 29th Street. The old brick house with the green hedges, green railing, and green lamp post in the yard. The old windows are cracked, shattered, and splintered. The steps made of concrete are completely collapsing under the constant rain. The humongous tree’s legs are uplifting the sidewalk.
The Century Quilt Poem Summary
468 Words | 2 PagesShe sees her past and her future when she’s under the quilt, again furthering upon the idea of “The Century Quilt”. Through the use of imagery, tone, and structure, Waniek ties an ordinary everyday quilt into multiple complex meanings, not only giving the reader something to connect to, but also giving the poem an extraordinary feel to
William Street Kenneth Slessor Analysis
619 Words | 3 PagesEach stanza also makes the readers question their opinions and their understanding of the poem and the street. While analyzing Kenneth’s poem we see his use of imagery , personification, metaphorical language and repetition. With the end of each stanza repeating the words “you find this ugly, I find this lovely” the use of repetition gives the audience the sense of how the poet is displaying his message with this literary technique. The repetition also gives insight in how he see’s something that everyone calls ugly as something beautiful. The readers are also always drawn back to processing their opinions with his use
Comparing Carl Sandburg's Grass And At The Un-National Border
874 Words | 4 Pages“Grass” is written in a manner that could be construed as chaotic, with three stanzas each with a different number of lines. The first stanza is a tercet, the second a sestet, and the final stanza is a couplet. Furthermore, “Grass” does not follow a rhyme scheme and is therefore written in free verse. Conversely, “At the Un-National Monument…” follows a far more structured organizational system, with two cinquain stanzas, using ABCCB and ABACC rhyme schemes respectively. Despite their structural contrasts, the two poems share some mutual literary devices.
Lisa Parker's Snapping Beans
816 Words | 4 PagesParker introduces her poem by using imagery to announce the simple development in the setting. It begins by saying, “as the sun rose” (line 7) and continues until she writes, “We didn’t speak until the sun overcame” (line 10). It is an uncomplicated way to provide an additional thought of change. By mentioning the small difference in the setting, Parker wants the reader to understand the importance of the many different aspects, large and small, that are evolving.
Literary Analysis Of Daddy, By Sylvia Plath
838 Words | 4 PagesShe addresses her father as “daddy” like a little kid, speaks in a child-like abrupt manner, and begins the poem with “you do not do/you do not do/ anymore black shoe,” lines that resemble the old nursery rhyme “There is an old woman who lived in a shoe”. However, this is not a happy child, but one with frustration and unresolved conflicts with her father, as she calls him “evil” and a “bastard”. Furthermore, the way an adult woman completely turns into her childhood self suggests an obsession and a fixation within the past, a phenomenon commonly associated with psychological deficiencies stemming from unsolved childhood issues. These observations correspond to how the speaker metaphorically refers to her father as a “black shoe” that she had to live in, showing her inability to overcome the shadow of her late father. Thus, by addressing him directly instead of referring to him in the past tense, the speaker confronts her obsession and tries to escape the
Summary Of Natasha Trethewey History Lesson
1215 Words | 5 PagesIn order to change history, people must learn from their mistakes. Segregation in North America has been a big issue in North America that unfortunately still happens in the world today, however, it is not as bad as it once was. In the poem “History Lesson” by Natasha Trethewey, the author uses mood, symbolism and imagery to describe the racial segregation coloured people faced in the past compared to more recent times, where equality is improved and celebrated. The author uses language and setting to influence the mood and meaning of the poem.
The Lovesong Of J Alfred Prufrock Diction Analysis
558 Words | 3 PagesIn T.S. Eliot’s work “The LoveSong of J. Alfred Prufrock”, he uses diction to give an underlying meaning and tone to his poem in order to express the downfall of a man. The author uses his diction to give this poem Its tone as if he regrets what he did in life. He also shows great tone changes in this work, giving this poem a dramatic, almost tragic outlook. Many of his word choices also give his work an underlying meaning and adds to his theme and messages. A large part of his poem is also using metaphors to add to this underlying meaning and give more force to this tone he is trying to create.
Cather Love Queer History Essay
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