…extended metaphor for the experience of being biracial in a prejudiced society. The “Cross” of the title itself is a powerful metaphor, representing the burden, challenge, and intersection of carrying…
500 search results for "metaphor"
Sonnet 7: How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth
…personification, Milton uses powerful metaphors. The comparison of youth to a “spring” that should produce “bud or blossom” is a poignant metaphor for potential and growth: But my late spring…
The Harvest Moon
…leaves; This declaration underscores the poem’s central message about finding deeper meaning in the natural world. Metaphor: The poem subtly employs metaphor to convey deeper meaning. The birds are implicitly…
The Brain Is Wider Than the Sky
…and “The Brain is deeper than the sea” are not meant to be taken literally but serve to underscore the immeasurable capacity of the human mind. Metaphor and Extended Metaphor:…
A Drop Fell on the Apple Tree
…the ability to “bring” musical instruments, and these lutes are described as “dejected,” suggesting a melancholic mood that the rain then transforms. Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things…
The Man With The Hoe
…ages in his face”, and “aching stoop” create a powerful and unforgettable visual of the man’s suffering. Metaphor: Markham uses powerful metaphors to convey complex ideas. The phrase “on his…
The White Man’s Burden
…with “child,” creating a clear, predictable rhythm. Figurative Language: Painting Pictures and Shaping Perceptions Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, equating the act of governing colonized lands…
If
…deeper into the poem’s counsel. Metaphor and Personification: “Triumph and Disaster” are famously referred to as “two impostors.” This is a potent metaphor, suggesting that both success and failure are…
If You Forget Me
…relationship. The Metaphor of Roots and New Lands The metaphor of roots is introduced to further illustrate the speaker’s capacity for resilience and self-preservation: If you think it long and…
This Is My Letter To The World
…or acknowledgment. It speaks to the inherent human need to communicate and connect, even when faced with silence or indifference. Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor for…
Marking Time
…a calm, undisturbed surface that has been profoundly altered. Metaphor: The poem is rich in metaphorical language, where one thing is directly compared to another without using “like” or “as.”…
No Coward Soul is Mine
…an unshakeable foundation for belief. Metaphor and Symbolism: Layers of Enduring Truth Metaphor and symbolism are skillfully employed to convey profound layers of meaning. Faith itself functions as an extended…
She Was a Phantom of Delight
…compares her hair to the subdued hues of twilight, adding to her ethereal charm. Metaphor: Metaphors create direct comparisons, equating one thing with another to reveal deeper meaning. “She was…
Life Is Fine
…merely physical details but also evoke the visceral fear and shock that ultimately deter the speaker. Metaphor: Life as a Rich Experience The poem’s most striking metaphor compares life to…
The House of Life 19 Silent Noon
…nature, momentarily detached from its origin. Metaphor: So this winged hour is dropped to us from above. The “hour” itself is personified and metaphorically described as “winged” and “dropped…from above.”…
Sonnet 43
…show To the clear day with thy much clearer light, When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so! Metaphor and Hyperbole: The beloved is described as one “whose shadow shadows…
Lot’s Wife
…her departure. Metaphor and Symbolism Akhmatova uses powerful metaphors and symbols to deepen the poem’s meaning. The transformation into salt is a central metaphor. While it represents punishment, it also…
Daystar
…time stretches and contracts depending on circumstance, and the constant anticipation of the next demand. Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to create rich layers of meaning. The mother’s imaginative construction…
Patterns
…“a pattern called a war” extends the poem’s central metaphor beyond personal life to the larger, destructive patterns of human conflict. Literary and Poetic Devices in Patterns Amy Lowell employs…
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
…of the natural gifts he intends to bestow, making his offer seem irresistibly generous. Extended Metaphor: Love as an Idyllic Retreat While not a single, isolated metaphor, the entire poem…