Alliteration: Alliteration is when two or more words that start with the same sound are used repeatedly in a phrase or a sentence. ... For example, 'tasty tacos' is considered an alliteration, but 'thirty typist' is not, because 'th' and 'ty' don't sound the same. Alliteration is a type of repetitioRead more
- Alliteration: Alliteration is when two or more words that start with the same sound are used repeatedly in a phrase or a sentence. … For example, ‘tasty tacos’ is considered an alliteration, but ‘thirty typist’ is not, because ‘th’ and ‘ty’ don’t sound the same. Alliteration is a type of repetition- a repetition of sounds. There are many usages of alliterations in the poem such as ‘ happy heart’. The effect of this is that even though the two words are very positive, the alliteration helps it by adding more effect into it as the two h sounds make the words much more pleasing to the ear and help us grasp a better view of it
- There are points that two words with opposite meanings are put next to each other such a Youth and Age. This is done as the two are put together to show a better contrast between the two concepts.
- The rhyming scheme of the poem is “abbaabba cddcee”
- The language used here is quite simple. Soothing and soft words are used such as friendship, smooth, sought, and soul. This emphasizes the fact that the journey of life is an enjoyable one and is best to accept what it has to offer rather than go against it.
- Anaphora: An anaphora is a rhetorical device in which a word or expression is repeated at the beginning of a number of sentences, clauses, or phrases. A well-known example of this may be found in the speech given by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons on June 4th, 1940: “We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air…”. The poet used anaphora at the beginning of some neighboring lines however the same word not is repeated.
- The form of the poem might be a sonnet with iambic pentameter or an irregular meter.
- The poem is written more of a speech than a poem judging by how it is structured and how each line flows into one another. For example:“So let the way wind up the hill or down, O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:”
Life Poem by Henry Van Dyke Summary & Line by Line Explanation
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Henry Van Dyke is one of the greatest American short story writers and poets, who has excelled in the act of writing delicately soothing and infallibly inspiring poems and the poem ‘Life' is undoubtedly one of his literary gems. This poem describes life taking on life in its truest form, an adventurRead more
Henry Van Dyke is one of the greatest American short story writers and poets, who has excelled in the act of writing delicately soothing and infallibly inspiring poems and the poem ‘Life’ is undoubtedly one of his literary gems. This poem describes life taking on life in its truest form, an adventure.
The poet wants to live a joyful and fearless life. He neither wants to hurry nor moves away from his goal. He does not want to mourn the things that he has lost. He does not hold back for fear of the future. He wants to live his life with a whole and happy heart which cheerfully travels with him from the youth to old age.
Therefore, it does not matter to him whether the path goes up or down the hill, rough or smooth, the journey will be looking ahead. He will continue to seek what he wanted as a boy – new friendship, high adventure, and a crown (fame). His heart will remain courageous and pursue his desires. He hopes that every turn in his life’s journey will be the best.
This poem as an apogee of soulful embarkment on the quest of self-revival from the morose beats of dullness has a very deep and clairvoyant meaning held within it and this is evident from the very beginning of it.
Life Poem by Henry Van Dyke Summary & Line by Line Explanation
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