Figurative Language essays

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Analysis of Section 24 of Walt Whitman’s Poem ‘Song of Myself’ and the Literary Devices Used in It

In section 24 of Walt Whitman’s poem ‘Song of Myself’, Whitman announces himself as the speaker of the poem. This is the first time that he announces himself as the author and speaker in the poem and it is 24 sections in. Whitman calls himself a ‘kosmos’, meaning that he is very knowledgeable, especially about things that most people are not. He makes it seem as if he is capable of knowing everything and represents everyone in the world. He...
2 Pages 681 Words

Essay on Literary Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's Poem ‘Dream-Land’

When thinking about dreams, usually somewhere uplifting and happy comes to mind. Not some dark and lonely place with skies of fire and spine-chilling creatures everywhere. This vision can be seen more as a nightmare, if anything. For some reason, this particular author does not consider it as such a bad thing. In the poem ‘Dream-Land’ by Edgar Allan Poe, the author uses imagery, symbolism, figurative language, allusion, and mood to pull the readers into his thoughts and feelings, as...
3 Pages 1238 Words

What Does Face Paint Symbolize in William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies': Critical Essay

William Golding encompasses an abundance of symbolism in his book ​‘Lord of the Flies’.​ From the island to each and every kid, all are symbolic representations of Golding’s notion of the true nature of mankind. Mankind, depicted in an allegorical novel of a couple of boys from England between the ages of six and twelve who have crash landed on an island during the Cold War in the 1950s. One of the notable symbols Golding incorporates is Jack’s dazzle paint....
2 Pages 783 Words

Symbolism of Simon's Death in William Golding's Novel 'Lord of the Flies': Critical Essay

“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us” (Golding, 89). In the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding, a group of schoolboys fights to the death to escape their fear of themselves. Golding uses the scene where Simon is murdered to show how fear can dehumanize a man. Throughout the novel fear becomes a much bigger idea than just being frightened, by the savage acts of schoolboys. In this scene, Piggy and Ralph are given the choice...
1 Page 596 Words

Symbol of the Conch in William Golding's Novel ‘Lord of the Flies’: Critical Essay

In the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’, Golding uses many symbols that foreshadow the boys, mirror them, and give a deeper meaning to the story. The conch is one of many in the story that has its own meaning and importance in the story as it is a symbol of order and hierarchy amongst the group and boys. Later, this conch would fall to destruction just as the boys would fall into savagery and lose their sense of order and...
1 Page 576 Words

Symbol of the Beast in William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies': Critical Essay

All people are born evil. It is the environment and society that people grow up in that causes them to seem like they are virtuous and moral. However, in pressured situations, Golding claims that the natural evilness that is within people reveals itself. In his novel ‘Lord of the Flies’, William Golding paints the setting as an unknown island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He introduces many characters including Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Jack, Roger, etc. as they land...
2 Pages 823 Words

Use of Point of View in Andy Weir's Short Story 'The Egg': Analytical Essay

Life after death, reincarnation, and past lives have been topics that are being explored by countless authors. These themes have mostly been explored through a religious lens, whether that is Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. While the religious influences, if there are any, aren’t immediately recognizable in Andy Weir’s short story ‘The Egg’, the narrative itself attempts to explore the idea of life after death. It also explores the interconnectedness between humans and the world they live in, through the...
3 Pages 1466 Words

Rhetorical Analysis of Brent Staples' 'Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A's'

In the exposition 'Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A's', Brent Staples argues that an unrivaled measure of undergrads has been getting decent evaluations and higher averages they don't deserve. Staples states, “As a consequence, diplomas will become weaker and more ornamental as the years go by”. Staples additionally contends that consumerism has influenced the advanced education system because of rivalry and student interest in A's. In his reading, Staples addressed his request for an adjustment in the assessing course...
2 Pages 911 Words

‘The Veldt’ Essay: Literary Devices

Introduction In Ray Bradbury's science fiction short story, "The Veldt," various literary devices are employed to enhance the narrative and convey the underlying themes. Published in 1950, the story delves into the dark side of technology and the potential consequences of its misuse. In this literary criticism essay, we will examine the effective use of literary devices such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and imagery in "The Veldt," highlighting their impact on the story's meaning and readers' interpretation. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a...
1 Page 582 Words

‘The Monkey's Paw’ Essay on Foreshadowing

Introduction In the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs, the element of foreshadowing plays a crucial role in building suspense and foretelling the tragic events that unfold. Through carefully crafted hints and subtle clues, the author masterfully guides the readers' expectations and sets the stage for the haunting consequences of the fateful monkey's paw. This essay will explore the various instances of foreshadowing in the story and analyze their significance in creating an atmosphere of impending doom....
1 Page 631 Words

Political Allegory in 'Lord of the Flies': Research Paper

Lord of the Flies can be seen as a political allegory for different methods of leadership with Golding's ideas on the subject being made clearer as the novel goes on. In the novel, there are two main opposing methods of leadership: one of democracy and one of dictatorship. However, Golding does not fully condemn nor fully praise either method for they both seem to have their own flaws in the novel. Instead, Golding's view on leadership seems to be that...
1 Page 582 Words

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Allegory Essay

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a children’s fantasy novel by C.S. Lewis published in 1950. Set in Britain during World War II, the novel portrays the lives and adventures of four young siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie as they discover the magical land of Narnia through the portal of an old wardrobe. Through Lewis’ thoughtful portrayal of the children and the childhood magic and fantasy of Narnia, the reader can see the importance that he...
2 Pages 848 Words

Piers Plowman as an Allegory Essay

Margery Kempe and William Langland have in common an acute sense of the dysfunctionality of the late medieval Church but where Langland seeks ecclesiastical reform for the communal good, Kempe’s critique is motivated by more personal aims. Defend, refute, or qualify this statement. It is clear from readings of Langland’s The Vision of Piers Plowman, that there is a satirical cry for ecclesiastical reform. The Book of Margery Kempe, however, doesn’t appear to disapprove of the church’s practice but instead...
5 Pages 2278 Words

Reflective Essay about Plato Beliefs Allegory of The Cave'

Plato was a philosopher born in Athens, Greece in 427 BCE and later died in 347 BCE. He was the founder of the first university, the Academy, where his students would read Socratic dialogues that he wrote. (Palmer, 2001). He was a student of Socrates and became the teacher of Aristotle. He is best known for his idealism in philosophy and the creation of theories such as the theory of forms. The Theory of the forms was his most notable...
3 Pages 1525 Words

Critical Essay on Edgar Allan Poe's 'A Dream within a Dream' with an Analysis of the Various Poetic Devices Used in It

‘A Dream Within a Dream’ by Edgar Allan Poe is a poem about the loss of love, the heartbreaking sadness that one faces, and the short nature of time. The poem is well known due to Poe’s various poetic devices that have been used to represent the intense context that Poe expresses in this poem. One can easily notice that Poe wrote this poem after he had lost someone he loved. Poe wrote the poem as a reflection of his...
3 Pages 1340 Words

Metaphor in 'The Crucible': Literary Criticism Essay

Arthur Miller’s 1953 play- the Crucible - explores the consequences of a dogmatic and paranoid community, highlighting the restrictions placed on women through the witch-hunt accusations. Similarly, Geraldine Brooks in her novel, A Year of Wonders, demonstrates the strength of women's cooperation through her protagonist, Anna Frith, and other women attempting to hold a grief-ridden community together. Both texts portray women gaining personal autonomy despite the patriarchal zeitgeist of the seventeenth century, simultaneously reminding the audience that there are those...
3 Pages 1225 Words

Sonnet 116 Metaphor: Critical Analysis Essay

Shakespeare’s theme is about the permanence of love. He expresses love as a powerful and unstoppable force. He builds on this theme by saying that love is not something that can be “alter[ed]” nor “bend[ed]” to the lover’s content. It's an “ever-fixed mark” that never moves or changes. In the first two lines of Sonnet 116, Shakespeare says that no “impediments” or obstacles can ever get in the way of true lovers. Through every storm, every fight, and every obstacle...
1 Page 440 Words

Metaphor in 'The Road Not Taken': Literary Criticism Essay

Introduction I Am is a poem composed by an English poet, John Clare. He was born in 1793 and died in May 1864 – Clare was well known as the “Northamptonshire Peasant Poet” due to his lowly class origin and brief education. Suffering from bouts of depression, Clare’s poem revolves around his life circumstances and despair. Robert Lee Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, explores the theme of choice and the ramifications of decision making. These poems have been selected...
3 Pages 1240 Words

Metaphors in Malala's Speech: Literary Criticism Essay

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to two advocates for children’s rights, including a Pakistani teenager named Malala Yousafzai, at seventeen the youngest Nobel laureate in history. In her speech after receiving the Nobel Prize, Malala Yousafzai claimed that all children deserve to receive a proper education. At the beginning of the speech, Malala uses rhetorical devices and appeals such as metaphors and pathos to convey her main argument. When she is thanking her parents for their “unconditional love”...
2 Pages 910 Words

Metaphors in Letter From Birmingham Jail: Critical Analysis Essay

Near the beginning of the civil rights movement in America on April 12th,1963, eight clergymen announced that Dr. Martin Luther King's protests in the streets should end because they promoted “hatred and violence”. In Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he emphasizes that he has a duty to fight for justice without the use of violence. King uses rhetorical appeals, provides examples and personal anecdotes, and strong use of literary devices. King successfully conveys his message to his fellow...
2 Pages 921 Words

Metaphors in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': Critical Essay

This passage from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare is situated at the beginning of the play and forms part of the exposition. In it, Lysander and Hermia are together alone for the first time on stage. They are both upset because Hermia is forced, by her family, to marry Demetrius or to become a nun when she is completely against it. However, Hermia is passionately in love and physically attached to Lysander, we can see this from the...
2 Pages 1000 Words

Mending Wall' Metaphor: Literary Criticism Essay

Mending Wall is a poem by Robert Frost. Robert Frost: Robert Frost was a leading American poet of the 19th & 20th centuries who is well known for his use of imagery in poetry. He dabbled with both farming and was also an English teacher but was always convinced that his real calling was to be a poet. He is one of the most famous and influential poets in American history. He is not known as an experimental poet but...
3 Pages 1331 Words

Metaphors in 'The Grapes of Wrath': Critical Essay

I think the setting is important in this piece because I believe the setting will affect many events in this book. I also believe it is important because the author believes the setting deserves its own chapter. “Every moving thing lifted the dust into the air: a walking man lifted a thin layer as high as his waist, and a wagon lifted the dust as high as the fence tops, and an automobile boiled a cloud behind it.” The author...
5 Pages 2383 Words

Metaphors in 'Invisible Man': Literary Criticism Essay

In chapter one of “Invisible Man,” through his use of imagery and metaphors, Ralph Ellison conveys the premise of how vulnerable and powerless the people of color are made by the whites while living in such an unequal and racist society. Ellison describes a battle royal scene in which a group of 10 young black boys was blindfolded, stripped, and put into a ring to fight each other for the entertainment of white men. In the book, it states, “Blindfolded,...
1 Page 471 Words

Metaphors in 'Heart of Darkness': Critical Analysis Essay

Blacklight “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.” (King Jr.) Heart of Darkness, a novella written by Joseph Conrad, takes place on the River Thames and follows a narrator listening to a retelling of Marlow’s journey along the Congo River. While traveling into the heart of Africa, Marlow learns of the origins of Kurtz, a remarkable ivory trader seeing over the Inner Station, and obsesses over their potential future meeting. However, once arriving at the Inner Station...
2 Pages 897 Words

Fragmentation and Despair in 'The Second Coming' by W.B. Yeats and 'In a Station of the Metro' by Ezra Pound

The poems 'The Second Coming' by William Butler Yeats and 'In a Station of the Metro' by Ezra Pound have a strong sense of fragmentation and despair in them. Fragmentation is one of the major features of modern poetry. Modern poets use fragmented images in their poems to give us the sense of fragmentation. Despair is another common feature of modern poetry. This essay will be focusing on how both the poems portray the qualities of fragmentation and despair, why...
2 Pages 764 Words

Dramatic Irony in ‘Julius Caesar’: Critical Analysis

What do you first think of when hearing the word Shakespeare? When I hear Shakespeare, I think of the greatest playwright of all time and an actor. But also all the stereotypes that come with it such as how boring his plays are, and hard to understand. But believe me, after studying Shakespeare for over a term now, I have come to learn his language and show an interest in his plays. He has given me a personal understanding and...
2 Pages 766 Words

Why Does Orwell Use Allegory in 'Animal Farm': Analytical Essay

Allegory: The story Animal Farm is an allegory. To begin with, The eminent windmill symbolizes the pigs' control of different creatures for their benefit. Regardless of the promptness of the need for nourishment and warmth, the pigs abuse Boxer and the contrary typical creatures by causing them to attempt backbreaking work to build the windmill, which will, at last, again the pigs more cash and along these lines blast their capacity. The pigs' attestation that Snowball is chargeable for the...
1 Page 374 Words

What is the Extended Metaphor in 'The Road not Taken': Essay

In life, taking the known route does not necessarily have the most beneficial ending- this is partially due to the fact that the unknown road provides options for personal growth and new experiences. This idea is conveyed throughout ​The Road not Taken​ and is specially reinforced in the last stanza. ​The Road Not Taken​ was written by Robert Frost in 1915. This poem functions as an extended metaphor about someone who is faced with a simple yet significant decision. The...
2 Pages 965 Words

What Is the Extended Metaphor in 'O Captain, My Captain'

O Captain! My captain is a poem composed by the American poet Walt Whitman who is called the bird of democracy. Most of his works reflect his ideas about women's rights, immigration laws, and labor issues. This poem in particular is an elegy written after the death of former American president Abraham Lincoln. Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" stands as a testament to the profound impact that poetry can have in capturing the collective emotions and mourning the loss...
1 Page 662 Words
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