English Notes Latest Questions

What are the poetic devices used in the poem Funeral Blues?

What are the poetic devices used in the poem Funeral Blues?
American PoetryFuneral BluesW.H. Auden

    1 Answer

    2. Radhika
      Best Answer

      • Alliteration- Alliteration, or the recurrence of opening consonants, is a device used by Auden to improve the poem’s melodic quality. In the sentence “Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,” for instance, the speaker’s anguish is emphasized by the repeated “c” sound, which also highlights its finality and urgency.
      • Hyperbole- Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which emphasis or comedic effect are achieved by purposeful exaggeration. The poem uses heightened and exaggerated language to show how deeply sad the speaker is. Hyperbole is used in lines like “Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun” and “Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood” to convey the speaker’s want for a halt to time.
      • Imagery- The use of words or figures of speech by a writer or speaker to evoke a strong mental image or visceral feeling is known as imagery. The poem paints a picture of sorrow and hopelessness with a wealth of colorful and moving images. The depictions of silent pianos stopped clocks, and the “muffled drum” all add to the depressing and melancholy mood.
      • Symbolism- Symbolism is a figure of speech in which another thing is represented by a person, thing, phrase, or circumstance. Auden uses symbolic language to convey the extent of the loss, such as allusions to time and heavenly bodies. The references to the moon, stars, and clocks are symbols for time passing and the relationship’s lasting power.
      • Refrain- When the poem has a recurring word or line, it is known as the refrain “He was my North, my South, my East and West,” which highlights how comprehensive the relationship was and the speaker’s profound sense of loss. And along with that, we can also notice the repetition of the word ‘My.’
      • Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech that draws a comparison between two unrelated ideas. It’s a means of metaphorically transferring one thing’s attributes to another. The speaker alludes to their departed love as a “sunken ship,” suggesting that their death was abrupt and terrible. This metaphor further conveys the enormity of the loss by equating the void left behind with the size of the ocean.

      Funeral Blues Summary

      • 0

    You must login to add an answer.

    Need An Account,