Following poetic devices have been used in the poem “An Introduction” by Kamala Das:

1. Enjambment: It is the continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break. In the poem An Introduction, the sentences continue to several lines. e.g. “I don’t know politics but I know the names Of those in power, and can repeat them like Days of week, or names of months, beginning with Nehru.”
2. Repetition: It is the repetition of a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work. e.g. the poet repeats the word “mine” several times to emphasise her right over her body and soul. Similarly the word “language” is repeated several times for poetic effect.
3. Anaphora: It is the repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses. e.g. we find the word “I” repeated ample of times for emphasis. Similarly, the word “be” is repeated many times.
4. Allusion: It is the indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text. e.g.”I know the names of those in power” refers to men who have been ruling India. “The language I speak, becomes mine” refers to the struggle of woman to be treated as human in a patriarchal society. “he drew a youth of sixteen into the bedroom and closed the door” refers to his husband satisfying his lust.
5. Alliteration: It is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. e.g. “very brown, born in Malabar”.

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