**Analysis of Literary Devices**
**Analysis of Symbolism**
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I.
Hear the bells, how they ring, ring, ring
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.II.
Hear the bells, how they chime, chime, chime
Golden bells!
What a bright, shining light from their sound
How they echo, echo, echo,
In the world of love, in the world of joy!
And the bells, bells, bells,
The bells, bells, bells,
And the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!
And the world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells.III.
Hear the bells, how they clang, clang, clang
Brazen bells!
The bells, bells, bells,
The bells, bells, bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells.IV.
Hear the bells, how they ring, ring, ring
Iron bells!
The bells, bells, bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells.
The world of the bells, the world of the bells,
The world of the bells, the world of the bells.
**Analysis of Literary Devices**
– **Alliteration** (repeating the same consonant sound) is found in the poem. The line “Silver bells!” uses the initial *S* sound twice, and “Singing, silent, silver” repeats that sound as well.
– **Assonance** (repeating vowel sounds) appears in “I hear the sea’s sigh,” where the long *I* sound is echoed. The repeated *o* in “the ocean, the ocean” also demonstrates assonance.
– **Metaphor** (a comparison without “like” or “as”) is used in “The ocean is a symphony,” likening the ocean’s sound to music. “The sea is a silent lover” is another metaphor that conveys intimacy.
– **Allusion** (a reference to a person or place) appears in the line “the line of people in front of you,” which alludes to a familiar waiting line.
– **Personification** (attributing human qualities to non‑human) is evident in “The sea whispered,” giving the sea a human action.
– **Euphony** (pleasant‑sounding words) is present in “the sigh of the ocean,” which uses soft consonants and vowels to create a soothing effect.
– **Consonance** (repetition of sounds within words) occurs in “silver bells,” where the *l* and *b* sounds recur.
– **Onomatopoeia** (words that imitate sounds) is used with “ring,” “clang,” and “sizzle,” which imitate the sounds they describe. The phrase “the ocean sighs” is also an example.
– The line “The ocean is a symphony” is a metaphor that provides vivid imagery.
– The line “The sea whispered” is an example of personification that enhances sensory experience.
– The line “the ocean is a symphony” is symbolic, representing the sea as a source of music and emotion.
**Analysis of Symbolism**
– The sea symbolizes the flow of life, while the bells’ music represents the passage of time. In “The sea is a silent lover,” the sea stands for a quiet, supportive presence.
– The ocean also represents the human soul, suggesting that deep emotions can be found within its vastness. The comparison “The ocean is a symphony” equates the ocean’s vastness to a musical composition.
– Repeated references to “the world of the bells” illustrate how nature, sound, and human experience are interconnected, underscoring the poem’s broader symbolic meaning.
**Analysis of Imagery**
– **Imagery** paints vivid pictures. “The sound of the sea” evokes the waves and their rhythm, while “The ocean is a symphony” creates an image of music emerging from nature.
– **Sensory imagery** uses sensory details: hearing the sea’s sigh, feeling the breeze, seeing waves roll. The line “The sea whispered” engages the sense of hearing and sight.
– **Symbolic imagery** employs symbols such as the ocean and the bells to depict complex ideas, reinforcing the poem’s thematic depth.
**Overall Analysis**
The poem’s themes and devices weave a tapestry that blends natural elements—like the sea and bells—with human emotions and the passage of time. The repeated use of bells and sea imagery invites readers to reflect on the relationship between sound, nature, and the human experience. Symbolism, imagery, and sound enhance the poem’s emotional resonance and encourage deeper reflection on life’s continuous rhythm.