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What are the poetic devices used in the poem Howl?

What are the poetic devices used in the poem Howl?

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    • Repetition: The deliberate use of repeating words, phrases, or structures for emphasis or effect. Example: “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness” – The repetition of “I saw” emphasizes the speaker’s personal observation and sets a rhythmic pattern throughout the poem.

    • Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses. Example: “who poverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high” – The repetition of “and” creates a rhythmic pattern and emphasizes the various aspects of the described individuals.

    • Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. Example: “who bared their brains to Heaven under the El and saw Mohammedan angels staggering” – The repetition of the “b” and “s” sounds creates an alliterative effect, enhancing the poem’s musicality.

    • Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words nearby. Example: “who sank all night in submarine light of Bickford’s floated out and sat through the stale beer afternoon in desolate Fugazzi’s” – The repetition of the long “o” sound in “sank,” “submarine,” “floated,” and “desolate” creates an assonant effect.

    • Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences. Example: “who poverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high sat up smoking in the supernatural darkness of cold-water flats” – This line evokes visual and tactile imagery of impoverished individuals sitting and smoking in dimly lit apartments.

    • Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds they represent. Example: “who bared their brains to Heaven under the El” – The word “bared” imitates the sound of the speaker’s action, emphasizing the vulnerability and openness described.

    • Stream of Consciousness: A narrative technique that presents thoughts and feelings in a continuous and unfiltered flow. Example: The poem often employs a stream-of-consciousness style, where thoughts and images flow seamlessly without clear boundaries, reflecting the spontaneous and unfiltered nature of the speaker’s voice.

    Howl summary

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