My Mother at Sixty-six
Poetic devices
Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of an initial consonant sound in words that are in close proximity to each other.
- my mother
- all I said was, see you soon
Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another.
- "face ashen"
(The colour of her face is compared to the colour of ash.)
Simile- A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as”.
- her face ashen like that of a corpse
- she was as old as she looked
- wan, pale as a late winter's moon
Imagery- Imagery is a literary device that uses vivid description that appeals to a readers’ senses to create an image or idea in their head.
- "Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes"
(The above phrase creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind using descriptive language.)
Personification- Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics to nonhuman things or inanimate objects.
- "Young Trees Sprinting"
(The Human action of sprinting or running is attributed to trees.)
Chremamorphism- Chremamorphism is the inverse of personification: it attributes non-human characteristics to a human (or humanoid) entity.
- "Merry children spilling"
(The children are attributed with the non-human characteristic of spilling, a characteristic typically associated with liquids.)
Tautology- Tautology, as a literary device, is a repetitive use of phrases or words which have similar meanings used for emphasis.
- wan, pale as a late winter's moon
(Both "wan" and "pale" convey a similar meaning related to a lack of color or a sickly appearance.)
Repetition- Repetition is a literary device in which a word or phrase is used multiple times to create rhythm or emphasise a word or phrase, or evoke a particular emotion.
- all I did was smile and smile and smile……