Literary Devices English

Literary Devices

Class 12 English

Poem 1 My Mother at Sixty-six Poetic Devices

1. Assonance: Here we see the use of vowel sound that is 'o'. (To Cochin last Friday morning)

Use of vowel sound 'o', 'a', 'e' (doze, open-mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse)

2. Consonance: use of the sound 's' and 't'

3. Imagery: when the poet say trees sprinting, merry children spilling.

4. Repetition: Repeated use of 'looked', use of 'smile'

5. Rhyme scheme The poem does not follow any rhyme or rhythm. It has been written in free verse.

6. Simile: The colour of the mother's face has been compared to that of a corpse ashen. use of 'like' (her face ashen like that of a corpse)

Mother's face is compared to the late winter's moon both are dull and lifeless. use of 'as' (as a late winter's moon).

Poem 3 Keeping Quiet Poetic Devices

1. Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more closely placed words.

'we will' 'w' sound is repeated

we would 'w' sound is repeated, 'insudden strangeness' 's' sound is repeated, 'his hurt hands' - 'h' sound is repeated

'wars with' 'w' sound is repeated, 'clean clothes' 'c' sound is repeated

we were, so single - minded

2. Anaphora: Two consecutive lines starting with the word "Let's'

let's not speak in any language,

let's stop for one second,

3. Assonance: use of vowel 'o' (victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers)

Use of vowel sound 'o' and 'e' (Now we will count to twelve, not move our arms so much)

4. Enjambment: and for once could perhaps a huge silence......... of threatening ourselves with death. 5. Repetition: use of 'war'

Poem 4- A Thing of Beauty Poetic Devices

1. Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (Sleep -Sweet) 2. Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series ('b' in Band Bind, 'n' in Noble nature, 's' in some shape).

Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series ('h' in have heard) Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series ('s' in Sprouting Shady, Simple sheep, 'c' in cooling covert)

2. Anaphora: Use of same word in two consecutive lines (of noble natures- Of all the unhealthy)

3. Antithesis: opposite words placed together (old and young)

4. Metaphor: Immortal drinks (beautiful objects of nature are forever like a neverending portion of a drink)

wreathing a flowery band (the beautiful things of our life bind us to the earth)

bower Quiet (calmness of the bower is compared to the calming effect of a beautiful thing)

5. Inversion: normal order of words is reversed (Are we wreathing a flowery band)

6. Imagery: Bushes full of musk roses (sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms), books describing valor of fighters (grandeur-..mighty dead), god providing us with best things (pouring from the heaven's brink) 2. Trees giving shade (sprouting shady boon), growing process of daffodils (daffodils with the green world they live in), Clean river streams (Clear rills)

creating a sensory effect of beautiful things lined up in a string (A flowery band to bind us)

7. Rhyme scheme: aabbc (forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing)

8. Rhyme: Rhyme scheme is used in every stanza of the poem (forever, never, keep; sleep, dead; read etc.)

Poem 5-A Roadside Stand Poetic Devices

1. Metaphor: Trusting Sorrow

2. Oxymoron & Alliteration: 'Greedy good-doers' and 'beneficent beasts' of prey.

3. Personification: 1) A roadside stand that too pathetically pled

4. Transferred Epithet: (a) Polished traffic (b) Selfish cars

Poem 6 Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Poetic Devices

1. Alliteration: 'f' sound is repeated in finger fluttering

'p' is repeated in prancing proud

2. Anaphora: use of same word in two consecutive lines (they do not... and they pace in...)

3. Metaphor: Use of topaz to describe the yellow color of tigers (Bright topaz)

4. Rhyme scheme: aabb

The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet:

1. Irony; Situational Irony: Franz fears being scolded for not preparing his lesson, but instead finds it is the last French lesson ever.

The villagers who ignored school earlier attend the last class, showing regret.

2. Symbolism

The Blackboard: Represents the end of French instruction in Alsace..

"Vive La France!" written by M. Hamel symbolizes patriotism and resistance.

French Language: Represents identity, culture, and freedom.

3. Foreshadowing. The unusual quietness and presence of villagers at school hint that something serious has happened.

5. Personification. The French language is described as the "most beautiful language," almost like a living treasure that must be protected.

6. Repetition: The importance of the French language is repeated to emphasize its value and emotional weight.

8. Contrast

1. The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet

Irony People value their language only when it is taken away.

Symbolism The French language symbolizes identity and freedom.

1. The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet

Irony People value their language only when it is taken away.

Symbolism - The French language symbolizes identity and freedom.

Imagery - Vivid description of the classroom atmosphere.

Foreshadowing Early hints of the importance of the last class

2. Lost Spring Anees Jung

Metaphor "Lost spring" represents lost childhood.

Symbolism Garbage poverty and survival.

Imagery - Detailed description of slums and bangle-makers.

Contrast Between rich and poor children.

3. Deep Water William O. Douglas

Metaphor Water as fear and challenges.

Imagery Sensory details of drowning experience.

Repetition Emphasizes fear.

4. The Rattrap Selma Lagerlöf

Extended Metaphor World compared to a rattrap.

Irony Thief treated with kindness.

Symbolism Rattrap symbolizes temptation.

Personification

5. Indigo Louis Fischer

Symbolism Indigo as exploitation.

Irony: Historical narrative style

7. Going Places - A. R. Barton

Fantasy vs Reality (Contrast)

Symbolism Dream of meeting a celebrity symbolizes ambition.

Imagery

Poetry: 1. My Mother at Sixty-Six Kamala Das

Simile "Pale as a late winter's moon."

2. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Stephen Spender Metaphor "Rootless weeds" for children.

3. Keeping Quiet Pablo Neruda

5. A Roadside Stand Robert Frost

6. Aunt Jennifer's Tigers - Adrienne Rich

Symbolism Tigers = freedom; Ring = oppression.

Vistas - Literary Devices

1. The Third Level

Fantasy & Science Fiction Time travel to escape reality.

Symbolism The "third level" represents escapism

Irony Modern man longing for a simpler past

Suspense Mystery of time shift

Imagery Vivid depiction of railway stations (old vs modern)

2. The Tiger King

Satire Criticism of autocracy and blind power

Irony Death caused by a wooden tiger

Symbolism Tiger symbolizes fate and power

Foreshadowing Prediction of death by a tiger

Humour Dark and political humor

3. Journey to the End of the Earth

Imagery Detailed visual descriptions of Antarctica

Contrast Past vs present Earth

Symbolism Ice as purity and fragility

Reflective Tone Philosophical thinking about humanity

4. The Enemy

Conflict Man vs society, man vs self

Characterization - Moral strength of Dr. Sadao

Suspense Risk of sheltering the enemy

Symbolism The sea (danger and escape)

Theme - Humanity above nationalism

5. On the Face of It

Symbolism Garden represents hope and growth

Contrast Isolation vs companionship

Dialogue Reveals character emotions

Irony People fear the scar, not the person

Motif Inner beauty

6. Evans Tries an O-Level

Irony Police outwitted by Evans

Suspense Examination and escape plot

Characterization Moral strength of Dr. Sadao

Suspense Risk of sheltering the enemy

Symbolism The sea (danger and escape)

Theme - Humanity above nationalism

5. On the Face of It

Symbolism Garden represents hope and growth

Contrast Isolation vs companionship

Dialogue Reveals character emotions

Irony People fear the scar, not the person

Motif Inner beauty

6. Evans Tries an O-Level

Irony Police outwitted by Evans

Suspense Examination and escape plot

Humour Light-hearted crime narrative

Foreshadowing - Hints of escape

Dramatic Irony Reader understands before officials

7. Memories of Childhood

Autobiographical Style - Personal experiences

Contrast - Childhood innocence vs social cruelty

Symbolism - Food packet / education as resistance

Theme - Oppression and identity

Tone Reflective and critical