Overview of Poetic Overview of Poetic Elements Elements
Part IIPart II
5 More Poetic Elements5 More Poetic Elements
► SymbolSymbol► ParadoxParadox►Overstatement Overstatement
(hyperbole)(hyperbole)
► UnderstatementUnderstatement► IronyIrony
VerbalVerbal DramaticDramatic SituationSituation
Figurative Language Part IIFigurative Language Part IISymbol Symbol
►Symbol: Something that means Symbol: Something that means moremore than what it is.than what it is. Image: means what it is—”A shaggy brown Image: means what it is—”A shaggy brown
dog was rubbing its back against a white dog was rubbing its back against a white picket fence.”picket fence.”
Metaphor: means something other than what Metaphor: means something other than what it is—”Some dirty dog stole my wallet.”it is—”Some dirty dog stole my wallet.”
Symbol: means what it is and something Symbol: means what it is and something more, too—You can’t teach an old dog new more, too—You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”tricks.”
►““The Road Not Taken” (p. 734) is an The Road Not Taken” (p. 734) is an example of the use of symbol.example of the use of symbol. The literal meaning describes an The literal meaning describes an
experience by a traveler in a wood.experience by a traveler in a wood. The symbolic meaning describes any The symbolic meaning describes any
major choice in life and the feelings major choice in life and the feelings surrounding it.surrounding it.
Other Poems Which Use Other Poems Which Use SymbolSymbol
►Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
by Robert Frost (p. 793)by Robert Frost (p. 793)►““To the Virgins to Make Much of Time” To the Virgins to Make Much of Time”
by Robert Herrick (p. 742)by Robert Herrick (p. 742)►““Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost (p. 746)Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost (p. 746)►““The Writer” by Richard Wilbur (p. 751)The Writer” by Richard Wilbur (p. 751)►““Because I could not stop for Death” by Because I could not stop for Death” by
Emily Dickinson (p. 752)Emily Dickinson (p. 752)
ParadoxParadox
► An apparent An apparent contradictiocontradiction that is n that is nevertheless nevertheless somehow somehow truetrue
Examples of ParadoxExamples of Paradox
►““Much Madness is Divinest Sense” by Much Madness is Divinest Sense” by Emily Dickinson (p. 757)Emily Dickinson (p. 757)
►““Batter my heart, three-personed God” Batter my heart, three-personed God” by John Donne (p. 766)by John Donne (p. 766) ““Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”
►““A Considerable Speck” by Robert Frost A Considerable Speck” by Robert Frost
(p. 771)(p. 771) Also employs the use of ironyAlso employs the use of irony
Overstatement/Overstatement/UnderstatementUnderstatement
►hyperbole hyperbole = exaggeration= exaggeration►Understatement = saying less than Understatement = saying less than
one meansone means►Examples of hyperbole:Examples of hyperbole:
““The Road Not Taken” (p. 734)The Road Not Taken” (p. 734)►““I shall be telling this I shall be telling this ages and ages hence”ages and ages hence”
““Incident” by Countee Cullen (p. 769)Incident” by Countee Cullen (p. 769)►““That’s all that I remember”That’s all that I remember”
More Examples of More Examples of Overstatement/UnderstatementOverstatement/Understatement
► ““Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost (p.746)Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost (p.746) ““for destruction/ice is also great/and will suffice”for destruction/ice is also great/and will suffice” UnderstatementUnderstatement
► ““Sorting Laundry” by Elisavietta Ritchie (p. 767)Sorting Laundry” by Elisavietta Ritchie (p. 767) Overstatement: “a mountain of unsorted wash”Overstatement: “a mountain of unsorted wash”
► ““The Sun Rising” by John Donne (p. 759)The Sun Rising” by John Donne (p. 759) OverstatementOverstatement also employs extended use of apostrophealso employs extended use of apostrophe
Verbal IronyVerbal Irony
►Saying the opposite of what one Saying the opposite of what one meansmeans ““To every woman a happy ending.”To every woman a happy ending.”
►Example—”Barbie Doll” by Marge Example—”Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy Piercy
(p. 762)(p. 762)
Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony►Discrepancy Discrepancy
between the between the speaker’s speaker’s meaning and the meaning and the poem’s meaningpoem’s meaning
► Example—”The Example—”The Chimney Chimney Sweeper” by Sweeper” by William BlakeWilliam Blake
(p. 763)(p. 763)
Another Example of Dramatic Another Example of Dramatic IronyIrony
►““My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning (p. 775) (p. 775) Click on link for a full-screen version of Click on link for a full-screen version of
the poemthe poem
http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~jdavis6/poem.html
Irony of SituationIrony of Situation
► Something unexpected Something unexpected happenshappens Ozymandias (p. 764) Ozymandias (p. 764) Poem on next slidePoem on next slide
