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What are the poetic devices used in the poem Whose Mouth Do I Speak With?

What are the poetic devices used in the poem Whose Mouth Do I Speak With?

1 Answer

    1. Metaphor: The poet employs metaphors to create vivid comparisons between different elements. For example, the line “The spruce gum was so close to chewing amber” compares the act of chewing spruce gum to the experience of chewing on amber, evoking a sense of preciousness and nostalgia.
    2. Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to create sensory experiences and evoke emotions. For instance, the lines “Our skin would stick to Daddy’s gluey clothing” and “we’d smell like Mumma’s Pine Sol” create visual and olfactory images, immersing the reader in the scene and adding depth to the description.
    3. Allusion: The mention of Coyote in the line “as though in our mouths we held the eyes of Coyote” is an allusion to Native American mythology and folklore. It adds a layer of cultural and symbolic significance to the act of chewing spruce gum, suggesting a connection to ancestral heritage and the natural world.
    4. Repetition: The repetition of certain phrases, such as “spruce gum” and “Daddy’s gluey clothing,” creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes the significance of these elements in the speaker’s childhood memories.
    5. Enjambment: The lines in the poem often run on without a pause or punctuation, creating a sense of flow and continuity. This technique adds to the natural and conversational tone of the poem, enhancing the reader’s immersion in the speaker’s memories.

    Whose Mouth Do I Speak With Summary

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