English Notes Latest Questions

Explain literary devices used in the poem “Of Mothers Among Other Things”.

Explain literary devices used in the poem “Of Mothers Among Other Things”.

1 Answer

  1. Following literary devices have been used in the poem Of Mothers, Among Other Things:

    1. Metaphor: It is a literary device which represents direct comparison between two things, without the use of as or like. In the poem, we find ample of examples of metaphor. e.g. the poet uses the phrase “twisted blackbone tree” for the old age of his mother and “silk & whitepetal” for her youth. Next he calls the rays of sun as needles. Crying cradles symbolise children. In the next stanza, the poet compares his mother with the eagle (because of her sacrificial nature.
    2. Enjambment: It is the  continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break. In the poem, we find the continuation of lines in the stanzas.
    3. Alliteration: It is the repetition of  initial consonant sounds in two or more neighbouring words or syllables. e.g.twisted blackbone tree”, “my mother”, “crying cradles”, “the tree tasseled”, “her hands”, “I see her four still sensible fingers slowly flex”.
    4. Symbolism: The poem Of Mother, Among Other Things” is symbolic in nature. In this poem, the poet compares different stages of his mother to different things in order to show her youth, middle age and old age.

    Read summary of this poem.

You must login to add an answer.