Figures of Speech
Simile (Comparison using like or as)
Examples:
- “And the branches… bow like grief-stricken mourners.”
- “bent-backed elms bowing and swaying to the winter wind like white-robed Moslems salaaming at evening prayer.”
Explanation: The elm trees are compared to mourners and to Muslims praying at evening time. Both comparisons show humility, sadness, and peace.Definition: A simile compares two different things using like or as.
Metaphor (Indirect comparison)
Examples:
- “white funeral cloth is slowly unrolled over deathless earth.”
- “oil palms bearing suns for fruits.”
Explanation: The falling snow is compared to a white funeral cloth covering the earth. It suggests death and stillness. The “suns” on oil palms mean light, hope, and renewal. Definition: A metaphor directly compares two different things without using like or as.
Personification
Examples:
- “The snow flakes sail gently down from the misty eye of the sky and fall lightly lightly on the winter-weary elms.”
- “and the earth lying inscrutable like the face of a god in a shrine.”
Explanation: The “misty eye of the sky” makes the sky seem alive and human. The “earth” is also described as if it has a calm and mysterious face. Definition: Personification gives human feelings or actions to non-living things.
Alliteration
Examples:
- “Snow flakes sail gently down.”
- “Winter-weary elms.”
Explanation: The repetition of s and w sounds creates a soft, musical rhythm that matches the calm movement of snow.Definition: Alliteration repeats the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.
Imagery
Examples:
- “The snow flakes sail gently down from the misty eye of the sky and fall lightly lightly on the winter-weary elms.
- “White funeral cloth is slowly unrolled over deathless earth.”
- “Bent-backed elms bowing and swaying to the winter”
Explanation: These lines help the reader see the soft snow, feel the cold air, and sense the quiet beauty of nature. Definition: Imagery uses words that appeal to our five senses.
Symbolism
Examples:
- “White funeral cloth” – symbolizes death, silence, and peace.
- “Oil palms bearing suns for fruits” – symbolizes fertility, hope, and new life.
- “Snow flakes” – symbolizes purity and spiritual calm.
Explanation: Common natural images like snow, trees, and suns are used to express deeper ideas about life, death, and rebirth. Definition: Symbolism means using symbols to represent larger ideas or meanings.
Repetition
Examples:
- “Lightly lightly on the winter-weary elms.”
- “Then I awoke. I awoke.”
Explanation: The repetition of “lightly” shows the softness of snow. The repeated “I awoke” marks the poet’s movement from dream to reality. Definition: Repetition is when a word or phrase is used more than once to stress an idea or feeling.
Contrast
Example:
- “The weight of the weightless snow.”
Explanation: The poet contrasts “weight” and “weightless” to show how something light and gentle like snow can still make the trees bend. Definition: Contrast means placing two opposite ideas together to make the difference clear.
Hyperbole
Example:
- “The weight of the weightless snow.”
Explanation: The poet exaggerates by calling the snow “weightless” yet “heavy,” to show the emotional or symbolic pressure of sorrow. Definition: Hyperbole means using exaggeration to create a strong effect or emotion.
Metonymy
Example:
- “From the misty eye of the sky.”
Explanation: The word “eye” stands for the whole sky, giving it a human-like watching quality. Definition: Metonymy is when one word is used to stand for something closely related to it.