He then goes onto describe how the lamp fades as the day gets brighter and he begins to shave. He thinks of some idyllic fantasy he has thought of before and then glimpses himself in the mirror. He is shocked to see his own tired face and “exhausted eye”. He then goes onto describe the mutilation or pruning of trees in the third stanza, and begins to think if maybe there are positives to human suffering. There are many examples of poetic techniques in this poem, for example the mirror is a metaphor for his reflection or thinking back on his life in the second stanza “mirror of my soul”.
A simple poem, and seemingly short compared to the other two, it simply tells of the narrator’s views of the young lady he is admiring. Also unlike the other two, Poe uses positive words and rhythms to create an ending mental vision that illustrates Helen to be that of graceful beauty, with her placed in a window with a glowing lamp that signifies to him of the “Holy Land” or Heaven, for which he sees Helen to be the Angel of in representation. However, a poem such as “Lenore” is told in a much more saddening, although not completely depressing element. This poem exemplifies Poe’s more frequent theme of death combined with beauty is presented. Guy De Vere, however, is not completely saddened by the deathly occurrence; but he is rather outraged because he believes that everyone had “wished her dead” due to loving the wealth that she had carried but rather hating the pride that she carried along with it.
The use of the adverb “mildly” makes the situation seem much less scary and daunting and the verb “whisper” is a very calming word which suits the intention of the stanza. The use of sibilance is effective because the phonological sound of a repeating “s” almost sounds like the poet is saying “shh” which is a well known way of comforting. “The breath goes now, and some say no:” This line is expressing that the death was so peaceful that some did not believe it as it was so subtle and quiet. The reason the poet says this is because he is showing how like the death, she will not even realise his absence because it was so subdued. There is a definite choice of theological lexis such as “virtuous” and “souls” in this stanza, this helps to illustrate their special and scared love.
The first word of the poem sets a calm soothing slow atmosphere that is contrasted with the following word acid. This word has a sharp sound and gives a sharp image to the reader. Never the less, the remainder of the poem continues to have a slow atmosphere. In the first and last stanza the word slow is repeated, this is influential on the atmosphere for the repetition emphasises the word and as a result slows things down even more. Other examples of use of language add to the atmosphere.
Dickinson uses an image of someone abashing the bird of hope that gives comfort and warmth for many people. The one who destroys hope causes negative emotions that hurt their selves the most. In the last stanza, Dickinson gives another alternative to have hope. Hope is heard even in the coldest, saddest lands. The bird’s song of hope is even heard on the strangest sea.
In ‘Futility’, Owen utilizes personifications such as ‘The kind old sun will know’ and ‘Woke once the clays of a cold star’ to create a sense of desperation on the part of the soldiers. It makes it seem as though the soldiers worship the sun and look to it for guidance, which personifies it further; suggesting that the sun is wise and shows sympathy towards them. It also gives the sun omnipotence and omniscience, insinuating that it knows what’s happening and has the power to change it. This makes the reader empathise with and relate to the soldiers as everyone has felt insignificant and dependant at some point in their lifetime. On the other hand, Tennyson depreciates the soldiers, making them seem idiotic with phrases such as ‘Some one had blunder’d’.
The author’s use of the verb “camouflage” to describe him hiding his “torment with smiles” further enhances this war imagery—an internal war (also echoed by his churning, muddled “Sea Lung”-like thoughts at the end) brought on by the rejection of his family and his resulting shattered self-image. The author also creates sympathy for this character in his determination to put on an optimistic front (his smiles) rather than lash out in bitterness and hatred. Good syntax comment: The brief enumeration of Quoyle’s jobs, without any real descriptors or conjunctions (asyndeton! ), emphasizes both their overall lack of meaning (“third rate newspaperman”) and his own simplicity. To highlight Quoyle’s sense of desperation for purpose, the author notes that his destination (presumably in the pages ahead) lies in Newfoundland (its name ironic as it echoes Quoyle’s hope to find a “new land” of his own, where he’s accepted), “A watery place.” The author then develops Quoyle’s fear of water, how it is merely an example of one of several longstanding consequences of his father’s abuse.
The story ended tragically, but when the bindings worn and the last page is turned softly closed, you feel inspired. Maybe a little empty, but also a little fuller. The Chorus sang, “Wisdom first for a man’s well-being Maketh of all
In the poem “life” Dunbar uses simple diction, parallel structure, and a shift between his two stanzas to show how he only needs the little things in life. In the first stanza his description of “life” makes it seem like it is horrible. The speaker says “a crust of bread and a corner to sleep in.” Dunbar uses a lot of comparisons to make the bad things seem worse. The speaker says “a minute to smile and an hour to weep in.” This comparison makes the “hour to weep in” seem worse because he only gets “a minute to smile.” Another comparison Dunbar uses is “a pint of joy to a peck of trouble.” This comparison also has the same effect, “a pint of joy” seems nothing to “a peck of trouble.” In the second stanza there is a shit in tone. In the first stanza Dunbar is describing bad things, “an hour to weep,” “a peck of trouble,” “never a laugh,” but in the second stanza he starts saying how life is also full of good things.
The poet wants to show the meaning of life. He sheds light on the fact of death and the brevity of our life. The rhetorical question shows that the poet belittles man's life because it is short and transient. The word "division" shows that man's happiness is short and temporary. The word "short" shows the brevity of the earthly life.