Figures of speech in the poem To Helen Edgar Allan Poe - uses many figures of speech in To Helen These devices make Helen s beauty strong calm and bright They help us feel the poet s emotion Here are the main figures of speech Metaphor The poet compares Helen s beauty to ships He says her beauty is like Nic an barks of yore These boats carried tired sailors home This shows that Helen brings peace and rest to his heart He also compares her to Psyche Psyche is the spirit of the soul This shows spiritual beauty Simile Poe uses a clear simile when he says her beauty is like those Nic an barks He uses like to show a soft and gentle comparison It helps us feel the calm movement of the boat and the comfort Helen gives Allusion The poet uses many cultural references He talks