Overview of Poetic Elements Part II

5 More Poetic Elements

Symbol Understatement

Paradox
Overstatement

Irony

(hyperbole)

Verbal Dramatic Situation

Figurative Language Part II Symbol

Symbol:

Something that means more than what it is.

Image: means what it isA shaggy brown dog was rubbing its back against a white picket fence. Metaphor: means something other than what it isSome dirty dog stole my wallet. Symbol: means what it is and something more, tooYou cant teach an old dog new tricks.

 The

Road Not Taken (p. 734) is an example of the use of symbol.

The literal meaning describes an experience by a traveler in a wood. The symbolic meaning describes any major choice in life and the feelings surrounding it.

Other Poems Which Use Symbol

Stopping

by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost (p. 793) To the Virgins to Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick (p. 742) Fire and Ice by Robert Frost (p. 746) The Writer by Richard Wilbur (p. 751) Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson (p. 752)

Paradox
An

apparent contradiction that is nevertheless somehow true

Examples of Paradox
Much

Madness is Divinest Sense by Emily Dickinson (p. 757) Batter my heart, three-personed God by John Donne (p. 766)
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
A

Considerable Speck by Robert Frost (p. 771)

Also employs the use of irony

Overstatement/Understatement
hyperbole

= exaggeration Understatement = saying less than one means Examples of hyperbole:

The Road Not Taken (p. 734)
I

shall be telling this ages and ages hence all that I remember

Incident by Countee Cullen (p. 769)

Thats

More Examples of Overstatement/Understatement

Fire

and Ice by Robert Frost (p.746)

for destruction/ice is also great/and will suffice Understatement

Sorting
The

Laundry by Elisavietta Ritchie (p. 767)

Overstatement: a mountain of unsorted wash

Sun Rising by John Donne (p. 759)

Overstatement also employs extended use of apostrophe

Verbal Irony
Saying

the opposite of what one means Doll by Marge Piercy

To every woman a happy ending.

ExampleBarbie

(p. 762)

Dramatic Irony
Discrepancy

between the speakers meaning and the poems meaning ExampleThe Chimney Sweeper by William Blake (p. 763)

Another Example of Dramatic Irony

My

Last Duchess by Robert Browning (p. 775)

Click on link for a full-screen version of the poem

http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~jdavis6/poem.html

Irony of Situation
Something

happens

unexpected

Ozymandias (p. 764) Poem on next slide