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What are the poetic devices used in the poem Come Slowly?

What are the poetic devices used in the poem Come Slowly?

1 Answer

    • Sibilance- Sibilance is a literary device characterized by the repetition of sibilant (hissing) sounds, usually involving the letters “s,” “sh,” or “z.”In the first stanza, sibilance is present in the line “Lips unused to Thee,” where the repeated “s” sound creates a soft, hissing effect

    • Personification-Personification is a figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to non-human entities or abstract concepts. The second stanza personifies the bee, describing it as reaching its flower, circling the chamber, counting nectars, and being “lost in Balms.”

    • Allusion- Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. The mention of “Eden” can be seen as an indirect allusion to the biblical concept of the Garden of Eden, a symbol of paradise or an idyllic state.

    • Symbolism- Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning. The entire poem is rich in symbolism. “Eden” symbolizes a paradisiacal state or an intimate realm, while “Jessamines” symbolizes both romance, sensuality, and purity. The bee and its interaction with the flower symbolize the delicacy and intimacy of the speaker’s experience, and the act of entering Eden represents a transformative journey.

    Come Slowly Summary

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