Holding Hands Analysis - Literary devices and Poetic devices

Holding Hands

by Lenore M. Link

Elephants walking
Along the trails

Are holding hands
By holding tails.

Trunks and tails
Are handy things

When elephants walk
In circus rings.

Elephants work
And elephants play

And elephants walk
And feel so gay.

And when they walk-
It never fails

They’re holding hands
By holding tails.

Meanings of Holding Hands

The poem “Holding Hands” by Lenore M. Link presents two different actions: one of the animals and the other of human beings. Through these actions, Link tries to present the main idea of collaborative unity, happiness, and assistance.

Meanings of Verses 1-4

Elephants walking
Along the trails

Are holding hands
By holding tails.

The speaker presents elephants walking on a trail and holding each other by tails. They are walking as if they are holding hands with each other. This shows their unity, collaboration, and support for each other. These four verses show the main idea of unity and happiness with mutual assistance for each other.

Meanings of Verses 5-8

Trunks and tails
Are handy things

When elephants walk
In circus rings.

The speaker presents the same elephants in another image. They use their trunks and tails to perform different tasks in circus rings while walking in a circle. They again show the same thing, that is, happiness in unity and happy collaboration in support of each other. These four verses add to the main idea of unity, happiness, and collaboration.

Meanings of Verses 9-12

Elephants work
And elephants play

And elephants walk
And feel so gay.

The speaker concludes the collaborative work as the main reason for the enjoyment of the elephants. He states that when they work, play, and walk together, they feel happiness. This is their teamwork which teaches them the social skills of assisting each other. These four verses add to the main idea of unity and mutual assistance.

Meanings of Verses 13-16

And when they walk-
It never fails

They’re holding hands
By holding tails.

The speaker concludes again that when elephants walk together, they never fail to perform any task. It also means that they never fail to help each other as they hold tails as if they were their hands. This shows the collaborative spirit in animals that present the idea of human support to each other. These four verses make up the main idea of collaboration, unity, support, and mutual assistance.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Holding Hands

literary devices such as similes, personification, and irony are very important elements of any literary text. Their use not only brings richness to the text but also makes the reader understand the story. Similarly, Lenore M. Link has also made this poem superb by using figurative language. Here is an analysis of some literary devices used in this poem.

Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /e/ in “And when they walk/It never fails.”
Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /h/ in “Are holding hands.”
Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. Lenore has repeated the word “and” in the last lines of the poem to emphasize the point, such as;

“And elephants walk
And feel so gay.”

Allegory: It is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events. The speaker uses allegoric expression at the beginning of the poem when he informs the readers how animals walk while holding hands and tails to show their resemblance to human beings.
Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /h/ in “Are holding hands” and the sound of /n/ in “When elephants walk/In circus rings.”
Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;

“Elephants walking
Along the trails

Are holding hands
By holding tails.

Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate any statement for the sake of emphasis. Link exaggerates the unity of the elephants such as;

“Elephants walking
Along the trails

Are holding hands
By holding tails.”

Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Lenore has used imagery in this poem, such as; “When elephants walk/In circus rings” and “And elephants walk/And feel so gay.”
Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. The poet personifies elephants throughout the poem, such as “Elephants work/And elephants play.”
Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem uses symbols like human attachment, the advantages of working together and having a plausible relationship.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Holding Hands

Poetic devices are tools that writers use to shape their texts in a better way. The use of rhyme, rhythm and meter helps them mold their poems into better structures. Lenore M. Link, too, has used some poetic devices in this poem. An analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem is given below.

End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. Lenore has used end rhyme in this poem such as; “trails/tails”, “things/rings” and “play/gay.”
Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, and this pattern continues till the end.
Repetition: There is a repetition of the following verses, which has created a musical quality in the poem such as;

“They’re holding hands
By holding tails.”

Refrain: The lines that are repeated again at some distance in the poems are called a refrain. The following verses are repeated with the same words, it has become a refrain as it has been repeated in opening and ending lines of the poem, such as;