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What are the poetic devices of the poem When all the others were away at mass?

What are the poetic devices of the poem When all the others were away at mass?

1 Answer

    1. Imagery: The use of vivid language to create sensory impressions and evoke imagery in the reader’s mind. Example: “peeled potatoes,” “gleaming in a bucket of clean water.”
    2. Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause or punctuation. It creates a sense of flow and can emphasize certain ideas. Example: “They broke the silence, let fall one by one / Like solder weeping off the soldering iron.”
    3. Repetition: The intentional repetition of words, phrases, or sounds to create emphasis or a rhythmic effect. Example: “And again let fall. Little pleasant splashes / From each other’s work would bring us to our senses.”
    4. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words nearby. It can create rhythm, emphasize certain words, or add musicality to the verse. Example: “solder weeping off the soldering iron.”
    5. Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two different things by stating that one thing is another. It adds depth and figurative meaning to the text. Example: “our fluent dipping knives,” comparing the act of peeling potatoes to a graceful dance.
    6. Personification: Attributing human qualities or characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. It creates vivid and imaginative descriptions. Example: “Cold comforts set between us,” giving the idea of comfort a human quality.
    7. Symbolism: The use of objects, actions, or concepts to represent deeper meanings or ideas beyond their literal sense. Example: The act of peeling potatoes symbolizes a shared domestic task and the intimacy between the speaker and the other person.

    When all the others were away at mass Summary

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