Figurative Language In Mary Oliver's 'Journey'

Jorge Navarro

Per.3

3/13/17 Many authors use figurative language to interpret an objective that may not be understood because of its indefinite nature, and to illustrate the theme. In the poems, "Journey", by Mary Oliver, and "La Belle", by John Keits, both use connotative language that express how to stay strong when under pressure and the importance of independance, as well as things not always being what they seem. In both pieces of poetry, the authors use various forms of figurative language to promote the current theme, such as in Oliver's and Keits poem, they both utilize symbolism throughout their poems. Eventually, both authors inform their reader's that they should never be discouraged by the road ahead, and not depend on others. To begin with, in Mary Oliver's poem, "Journey" the author expresses the theme of being able to work well under pressure by the use of symbolism. For instance, Oliver uses symbols to convey a significance to her poem, as she states, "...the road full of fallen branches and stones"(S.1 V.21-22). Oliver uses "branches and stones" as a motif to try and help prove the theme by stating

To demonstrate, Keits foreshadows the "faery's child" as he writes, "I met a lady in the meads full beautiful, a faery's child..."(Q.4 V.13-15). The "faery's child" is a faery, and has traits of being unreal, and magical which portrays that the "faery's child" love for the knight can be insubstantial. The author further emphasizes, how a "lily" represents death as he cites, "I see a lily on thy brow..."(S.3 V.9). Keats designates how the "lily", although beautiful, assumes the role of death, implying that the beauty of the "lily" could be decieving. Ultimately, the author implies the importance of knowing the realistic qualities of a person's side instead of not knowing who one really