Poetic Devices in the Highwayman

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ENG4U Monday, January 14th. 2013 The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes is a captivating, narrative poem published in 1906 that exhibits many poetic traits and devices; a poem in which was ranked 15th in BBC’s (British Broadcasting Corporation’s) poll for “The Nation's Favourite Poems” in 1995. The poem contains many poetic devices including the following: imagery, symbolism, a strong sense of rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, form, similes and personification. By adding in the above stated devices, Noyes adds to the meaning of the poem and causes an emotional connection with the reader. The most notable aspect of the poem are the themes within it, such as love, promise and trust. These themes are illustrated in the poem by the two main characters and their undying love. Their love is so strong that they would go to any length to protect each other, even if this results in a death. “The Highwayman” is a poem which compels its readers to read the entire poem at once to absorb its true emotion. Because of its well-versed eloquence, one could go so far as to say it is one of the worlds most prized poetic works. Alfred Noyes creates a vast amount of imagery and symbolism within this poem. The imagery that Noyes speaks of is present through many passages within the text, and is exceptionally seen through the characters and location in “The Highwaymen”. An example of this resides in the second stanza: “He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin, | A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin; | They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh! | And he rode with a jewelled twinkle, | His pistol butts a-twinkle, | His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.”(Noyes) By writing with so much detail and precise wording, it gives the reader a broadened

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