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Literary devices in the poem 'Wind'
Metaphor:
A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. Metaphors are used to elevate the expression to a higher intensity.
Example:
1. Jack was fishing for compliments - In the real sense, Jack cannot be casting a lure to catch compliments from a river! It just means he was looking for compliments.
2. John was so hungry that he could eat a horse - In the real sense, it means he was extremely hungry, and he could eat a lot of food, but not a whole horse!
3. The sun is a golden ball - In the real sense, one cannot throw and play with the golden ball that the sun is!
Metaphor used in the poem "Wind"
In this poem, the author refers to 'wind' as a destructive force without comparing it to someone or something else. As a result, the poem uses wind as a symbol of metaphor.
Repetition:
Repetition is a literary device that allows a particular word or phrase to be repeated in a poem twice or more. It may occur both in speech or written work.
In this poem, 'Wind' 'Crumbling' is used many times to bring out the wind's effective and destructive nature.
Example:
crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, crumbling hearts
Personification:
Personification is a figure of speech, a poetic device in which human attributes are given to animals, non-living things or ideas. The objects speak/behave like humans, with human emotions in such cases.
Personifying animals:
Example:
1. The cat asked the mouse for a dinner treat.
2. The dog asked his master to let him inside.
2. The dog asked his master to let him inside.
Personifying ideas:
Example:
1. Love is blind.
2. His anger oozed out in his words.
2. His anger oozed out in his words.
Personifying non-living things:
Example:
1. The popcorn popped out of the bowl immediately in the oven.
2. The sun shined and smiled upon us, early in the morning.
2. The sun shined and smiled upon us, early in the morning.
Uses of personification:
1. When human qualities are given to objects, the writer/poet can convey the meaning easily.
2. The understanding of the idea is made easier when objects are personified.
3. It helps to build a character around the object.
4. Makes the text/poetry more interesting and fun to read.
5. Literal meanings are to be ignored in such cases.
2. The understanding of the idea is made easier when objects are personified.
3. It helps to build a character around the object.
4. Makes the text/poetry more interesting and fun to read.
5. Literal meanings are to be ignored in such cases.
In this poem, 'Wind', words such as, 'You', 'he' brings out the fact that wind is personified. The poet treats wind as a person in this poem.
Personification used in the poem:
Wind, come softly.
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.
There, look what you did — you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.
There, look what you did — you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts —
the wind god winnows and crushes them all.
He won’t do what you tell him.
So, come, let’s build strong homes,
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.
The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
We praise him every day.
The highlighted ones in the above poem are the personified words.
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