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What are the poetic devices used in the poem On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book?

What are the poetic devices used in the poem On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book?
Charles Tennyson TurnerEnglish PoetryOn Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book

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    2. Radhika
      Best Answer

      • Metaphor: The central and most powerful device is the extended metaphor comparing the crushed fly to human existence. The book represents death, its closing pages symbolizing the finality of life. This comparison makes the poem’s message clear and relatable, using a seemingly insignificant creature to ponder a universal human experience.

      • Apostrophe: Turner directly addresses the dead fly in lines like “thou” and “thine,” creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. This personalizes the event and draws the reader deeper into the speaker’s contemplation.

      • Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words (e.g., “survive,” “hand,” “harm”) add a musicality and emphasize certain keywords, drawing attention to their significance.

      • Imagery: The poem creates vivid images of the fly’s crushed wings and the closed book, making the scene real and impactful for the reader.

      • Personification: Attributing human qualities to the book, like it “seizes” the fly, makes the object more menacing and reinforces the connection with death.

      On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book Summary

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