Literary Terms

• Ode: An Ode is a long lyrical poem that starts with someone’s agony or praise and ends with consolation. 

Figures of Speech

• Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: “There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream…” Creates vivid pictures of nature and childhood memories.
• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two things without using like or as. Example: “The glory and the dream” Refers to the beauty and purity of childhood as something divine.
• Simile: A comparison using like or as. Example: “Like a glory from the sky” Compares a child’s soul or presence to something heavenly.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: “The earth fills her lap with pleasures of her own”. Nature is described as a nurturing, caring figure.
• Symbolism/ Symbols: Use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Example: Rainbow, rose, child, light. All symbolize purity, transience, beauty, and divinity of childhood.

• Rainbow: Symbol of Beauty and joy of childhood — something magical but short-lived.
• Rose:  Symbol of Fragile beauty — like childhood, it fades quickly.
• Child:  Symbol of Purity, innocence, and closeness to the divine.
• Light/Glory: Symbol of Spiritual connection and divine truth we are born with, but forget as we grow.
• Nature (meadow, grove, stream): Symbol of the natural world that reflects the wonder and freshness of a child’s view.