Figures of Speech

Irony

• Definition: Irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens. This type of irony is called Situational Irony.
• Example: “It was roses, roses, all the way.”
• Explanation: The line is ironic because the patriot was once welcomed with roses and joy, but now, only a year later, he is being taken to die. The same people who loved him now hate him. It shows the cruel change in public attitude.

• Definition: A Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other (without using “like” or “as”).
• Example: “Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun.”
• Explanation: The poet compares his great deeds to “leaping at the sun.” It means he tried to do something too great or impossible for his people, which later brought his downfall.

• Definition: Repetition is when the same word or phrase is repeated to give emphasis or musical effect.
• Example: “It was roses, roses, all the way.”
• Explanation: The word “roses” is repeated to show the huge love and honor the patriot once received from the people. It also makes the line sound more emotional and memorable.

• Definition: Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.
• Example: “With myrtle mixed in my path like mad.”
• Explanation: The /m/ sound is repeated in “myrtle,” “mixed,” and “mad.” It creates a musical rhythm and draws attention to the joyful, chaotic welcome scene.

• Definition: Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis.
• Example: “The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway.”
• Explanation: The poet exaggerates to show how huge and excited the crowd was. The roofs did not really move, but it felt like they did because so many people were cheering and waving.

• Definition: Imagery is the use of words that create pictures in the reader’s mind.
• Example:

A rope cuts both my wrists behind.”

• Explanation: These lines create a painful image of the patriot’s suffering. We can imagine him walking in the rain, bleeding and tied up. It gives a strong visual and emotional effect.

Symbols

• Roses: The “roses” symbolize love, fame, and honor. A year ago, people threw roses to welcome the patriot as a hero.
• Rain: The “rain” in the poem symbolizes sadness, pain, and punishment. It reflects the patriot’s suffering and the gloomy mood of his final journey.
• The Sun: The “sun” in the poem is a symbol of pride, fame, and unreachable glory. The patriot says he “leaped at the sun,” which means he tried to achieve something too great or impossible for the people. Like Icarus in Greek myth, his pride led to his fall. The sun thus symbolizes his over-ambition and downfall.