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What are the poetic devices/figures of speech used in the poem The True Beauty?

What are the poetic devices/figures of speech used in the poem The True Beauty?

1 Answer

  1. The poem includes a myriad of poetic devices, some of which are as follows:

    1. Simile: ‘star-like eyes’ is a clear example of a simile where eyes are compared to stars with the usage of the word ‘like’.
    2. Synecdoche: Phrases such as ‘rosy cheek’, ‘coral lip’, and ‘smooth and steadfast mind’ refer to not just parts of the body but the whole, that is, the love of the ‘He’, a woman in this context.
    3. Metaphor: ‘fires’ and ‘flames’ represent desire and passion. Here, it denotes the passion of ‘He’.
    4. Personification: ‘Old time’ is personified. It is shown to decay physical beauty.
    5. Alliteration: One example of alliteration found in the poem is ‘smooth and steadfast mind.’

    The True Beauty Summary

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