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Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! This blog is devoted to exploring the wonderful world of prose and poetry. I will avail you with deeper understanding of poetry that will enhance your personal journey in  analysing  both classic and contemporary pieces, delving on your own into their deeper meanings and implications. I  In addition share some personal poems that I have written. My hope is that through this blog, you will come to appreciate these literary forms in all their complexity and beauty. So please join me, stay awhile, browse around, and feel free to leave your comments as we journey together into the fascinating world of epic words.

 

  

Mood

 Mood.

This is closely associated with tone. It is a certain aroused emotion that projects a certain atmosphere in the poem. It is important to note that a poet can write about a sad subject matter in a way that causes laughter. Mood does not get swayed by the manner in which the subject matter was approached rather with what we associate the topic with; joy or sadness, the mood follows suit.

It is therefore important to note the manner in which language is used, and also take note of the feelings that the poem stirs up in you. How does it make you feel? Does it make you happy, amused, sad or is it simply serious? These are important indicators of the mood. We do not describe mood as good or bad. Instead, we use words like happy, angry, bitter violent, nostalgic, melancholy, quiet, resigned, sad, depressed or jolly, anxious, somber/solemn, serious, romantic, etc depending on the subject matter. c.f. poems; ‘The woman I married’, ‘Grass will grow’, ‘Love apart’, ‘War chant’

Mood varies with irregular or regular lines.

Tone

 Tone.

This is a kind of emotion in the poem. When a person is talking on a given topic, he does so in a particular manner. For example, a mother talking about her child may speak to him in a loving manner. A father who is angry with his child may speak to him in a manner that reveals his anger. Tone reveals the persona’s feelings towards his subject.

To discover the tone that the poet is using, you ask your-self whether he is speaking angrily, sympathetically or calmly; whether his speech is relaxed, neural, sad, serious, sarcastic, whether he is using bitter, playful, shouting, whispering or a complaining tone; whether he is using mockery, or ironical, frank and precise, formal, solemn or imploring tone, colloquial (ancient tone etc.) The poet’s tone may change in the course of the poem; You must watch his signals and listen to his hints. 

Attitude

This refers to the persona’s feelings towards his subject matter, i.e. how they regard or feel about the subject matter. It also refers to the feelings of somebody else that the poet is writing about. Attitudes shown are not necessarily those of the poet.

A persona’s attitude is revealed by his tone. The language and especially the stylistic devices that the poet employs reveal his attitude. For instance, if he compared someone to a ‘hungry hyena’, the image would show his contempt towards that person. His attitude is therefore contemptuous.

We use terms such as dissolve, hate, disgust, pity, loving, disillusionment, liking, empathy, etc to describe attitude. c.f ‘Appreciating poetry’-

ATMOSPHERE

 

The atmosphere of a poem can be best described as the emotions or feelings that it evokes. It can be created by using words and phrases that are suggestive of a particular mood or feeling. This can be done by employing figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, allusions, diction, images, and symbols. By using these devices, the author can create a more vivid and descriptive poem that will help to engage the reader -

make them feel something, whether it is happiness, sadness, anger, or fear.

In poetry, the use of figurative language is often even more exaggerated to produce a stronger emotional response from the reader. This is often done by playing with sound, rhythm, and structure. When used effectively, a poetic atmosphere can create a sense of wonder.

Some poems can create a dark and eerie atmosphere, while others a bright and cheerful one. It all depends on the poet's intentions and what they hope to achieve with their work.

 

How does the atmosphere of a poem make you feel? Does it make you feel happy, sad, scared, or something else? In this essay, I will be discussing the atmosphere of the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe. 

The atmosphere of this poem is dark and depressing. It makes you feel scared and sad. The use of words such as "dead", "frozen", "night", and "grave" create a spooky and foreboding feeling. The poem is about love that was cut short by death, and it's clear that the speaker is still grieving for the departed beloved.

Poetry is often associated with a certain tone, attitude, and mood. In order to create poetry that effectively communicates these ideas, it is important to understand what they are and how they are used. Tone is the author's attitude towards the subject of the poem. It can be conveyed through the words used, the images invoked, and the overall feeling of the poem. Attitude is the author's feelings about the subject of the poem. Mood is the atmosphere or emotional tone of the poem.

All of these elements work together to create a unified effect. The tone, attitude, and mood of a poem should be consistent with each other.. This means that the tone, attitude, and mood should be appropriate for the content of the poem. 

The tone, attitude and mood of a poem are conveyed through the words the poet chooses (diction). They set the tone for the poem and help to create the atmosphere. The tone can be sad, happy, angry, peaceful, etc. The attitude can be positive or negative, and the mood can be light or dark.

 Some poets choose words carefully in order to create a certain tone, attitude or mood. Others may not be as deliberate in their choices, but their words will still create a certain feeling. It's important for poets to be aware of the effects their words have on readers.

The atmosphere of this poem is dark and depressing. It makes you feel scared and sad. The use of words such as "dead", "frozen", "night", and "grave" create a spooky and foreboding feeling. The poem is about love that was cut short by death, and it's clear that the speaker is still grieving for the departed beloved.

Refer to Tone, Attitude and Mood

Form or Structure.

Poetry is one of the oldest and most versatile forms of literature. It is often seen as a free form of writing where the writer can let their emotions and thoughts roam free.  It can be used to tell stories, convey emotions, make a statement, or simply entertain. While this may be true to some extent, poetry still has a form and structure that the writer must adhere to. To make your poetry effective, it's important to understand the form and structure of poetry.

The most basic unit of poetry is the line. A line can be as short as one word or as long as an entire line of a page. Most poems are composed of multiple lines, which are usually grouped into stanzas. A stanza is a unit of poetry that typically contains multiple lines and is self-contained. The most common form of poetry is the sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure. Other forms of poetry include the haiku (from japan), cinquain, and ghazal.

THE STRUCTURE/FORM.

The form of a poem has to do with its external shape which fives the poem a précised measured tone that makes the reader clearly follow the sequence of events. “The concrete shape of a poem acts out the message of the poem in a more vivid and immediate way even than the sentence says it.’’- Nortie and Chooara.

The form of a poem may be regular or irregular. A regular structure usually reflects and consistency in subject matter; while an irregular one. Reflects change, contradiction, or difference in subject matter. Form is also a poet’s craft in making words meaningful so that the ideas can begin to mean.

Form is divided into two;

1. The External structure

2. The internal structure.

 

1. External structure.

This has got to do with appearance of poem in a page. It deals with the shape of the general poem; the stanza shape and size, and the lineation. The external shape of a poem may suggest a subject matter.

a. The stanza structure form.

 Apoem can have a one line stanza; However, the form of the structure is concerned with the ways in which the lines are grouped to make the bigger structure or unit.

The stanzaic structure is divided into formal division of lines that form separate unit of sense. A stanza can have one line that makes a unit of sense.

- A two lined stanza is called a couplet. The two lines normally rhyme.

- A three lined stanza is called a tercet/triplet.

- A four lined stanza is called quatrain.

- A fived lined stanza is called quintet.

- A six lined stanza is called a sestet. This might be composed of three couplets in it that rhyme.

- A seven lined stanza is called a septet. It’s also known as rhyme royal (because it was first used by king James of England).

- An eight lined stanza is called octave (you can have four lines rhyming).

- A nine lined stanza is called a Spenserian. It is called so because it was first used by a great poet called Edman Spenser.

- Stanzas of nine to thirteen lines are not very common although the ninth (9th) line of the Spenser is usually longer than all other lines and is often a conclusion of a subject matter. It’s called a lexardria. The fourteen (14th) line stanza is called a sonnet. It normally has a regular rhythm and rhyme.

 

Sonnets.

a) Shakespearean Sonnet.

Shakespearian Sonnet has a rigid and strait structure. This includes; the Octave (which makes the first part of the poem) and the Sestet which makes the last part of the poem.

The octave usually posses a question, bears burden entertains doubts, shows reflection, advances and arguments.

The sestet eases the burden in an Octave and provides an answer to resolve issues raised in the Octave. The whole poem consists of three Quatrains. The typical rhyme scheme of Shakespearean Sonnet is - ab ab cd cd ef ef gg.

The last couplet (often rhyme) in the last sestet commends whatever is stated in the Quatrain of the first octave and are epigrammatic in character (8:4:2) but in meaning its (8:6).

ii) Petrechian Sonnet. (13th century)

Patrician Sonnet is an original form of a sonnet discovered by an Italian poet called Francesco Patriarch. It permits strictly two rhymes in the Octave and not more than three in the whole poem. Its rhyme scheme is abba abba cde cde

iii) Sperceran Sonnet.

Combines the two above. It uses three Quatrains and a couplet but with a linking rhyme between the two couplet. For example, ab ab bc bc cd cd ee.

iv) Mitonic sonnet.

This is a special patriarch but the thought or the content runs through the fourteen lines uninterrupted. Example is a poem by John Hillstone,

‘On his blindness.’

The emphasis of the Sonnet is on the exactness and perfection of expression.

The size of a stanza usually gives a suggestion of the kind of content. Most of the big or long expressing things (it masque) or expressed stanzas give a lot of detail and more often than not show a relaxed mood or state of mind of the poet or persona.

b) Lineation Structure.

Lineation structure deals with or is concerned with lines.

i) Regular lines: Regular lines suggests stability of the subject matter.

ii) Irregular lines: Irregular lines reflect instability of the subject matter. They also suggest cheers, contradiction, tragedy and usually an informal subject matter.

iii) Run-on/Enjambed lines. These are lines whose unit of sense connects to the next line i.e. run on. They usually have no punctuation at the end of the line because the sense runs onto the next line.

iv) End-stopped lines:

They reflect the factor that at the end of the line, we have a complete unit sense. (They have punctuations at the end). 

2) Internal structure.

Internal structure is not different from the external except that, the internal takes a detailed study of rhythm in relation to subject matter.

Rhythm is the musicality of a poem or a sonnet of a poem. It has got to do with what the reader hears in the mind’s ear than what he sees in mind’s eye.

It is also a movement – pace of poem that is determined by line of natural stretching of voice on curtain syllables. It is fundamentally a repetition of pattern accompanied by the subject month of development and variation. Rhythm is enhanced by the patterning of stress and unstressed syllables in a line.

It is said to be regular when the pattern is constant and irregular when it is not.

 An irregular rhythm

- Has a varied beat

- May depict confusion

- May reflect aroused feeling

- Sometimes is pointer to a tragedy.

Regular rhythm

- May show consistent move

- It may also portray unity of subject matter.

- It gives musicality and hence pleasurable.

- May portray restrained motions.

 Rhyme Type.

a) End rhyme:

This reflects similar end sounds of the syllabus that end the line. It also forms the rhyme scheme of the poem.

 Example.

Jack and Jill^a

went up the hill^a

To fetch a pan of water^b

Jack fell down and broke his heel^a

And Jill came tumbling after^b

The rhyme scheme of the above poem is: aabab.

b) Complete/internal rhyme:

It occurs within the line. It deals with the ending sounds of the words within the lines. For example, Refer to the poem: Tarantella.

These are individual lines

And the cheers and jeers of the young muleteer

in the walls of the halls where falls

And the fleas that tease in the high Pyrenees

c) Incomplete rhyme/internal eye rhyme

These are rhymes that appeals to the eye rather than the ear. It’s a deceptive rhyme. The words within the line look alike and could sound the same but in sense, they are not. For example; Rendezvous and obvious or suit/suit/ and suite/swit/

d) Alliteration:

This is where the initial syllables within the line sound the same with a consonants sound. Sometimes the initial consonants are repeated.

A good example is in Hillarie Bellocs poem,

‘Tarantella.’

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers under the vine of the dark veranda?

Do you remember an Inn, Miranda.

And the hammer at the doors, and the din

And the Hip! Hop! Hap!

And the Ting! Tong! Tang! Of the guitar?

Notice the reparation of the initial/v/, /d/, /H/, and /T/ sound in the repeated lines.

Note that, some words may begin with the same consonant letter but may not alliterate because they will not necessarily begin with the same sound. For instance, still and shall,

Poets take nothing for granted, every art of it (poetry) has role to play. They often use alliteration to create a particular effect that you must always forge to identify. For example Hillarie Bellocs uses it to help in imitating the state of violent mental agitation of the dance in her poem.

e) Assonance:

This is when the initial syllable within the lines sounds the same with vowel sounds regardless of the position. For example, c.f Tarantella again.

 

Of the girl gone advancing backing

Dancing

Backing and advancing

Snapping of the clapper to the spin

Out and in

And Aragon a torrent at the door:

No sound in the walls of the halls where fall

Only the boom of the far waterfall line.

 

f) Consonance:

These are words with syllables that sound alike within the line but with consonant sound.

Example from Tarantella.

And the tedding and spreading of the straw for bedding

And the wine that tasted of the tar

Under the vine of the dark veranda?

Snapping of the clapper to the spin

g) Repetition:

This is when a word or a group of words is repeated by the poet for special effort. It is normally used for emphasis. 

h) Linking/linkage:

It is a kind of repetition in the poem where the ending word or words of a line begin the next or the ending words or line of the first stanza begin the next stanza. 

i) Refrain:

This is a repetition of a whole phrase represented by a line or group of lines, It can be a whole line or stanza. Refer to poems, ‘I beg you’, ‘I see a road’ ‘A freedom song.’ etc. 

i) Parallelism:

This is where the sense rather than the words are repeated. For example: ‘The village well.’

LITERARY AND RHETORICAL DEVICES

 Literary and rhetorical devices are essential to effective writing and produce a specific effect. They add color, interest, and power to writing, making it more interesting and memorable. When used correctly, they can also make your point clear.  There are many different literary devices, and they can be used to achieve various effects from enhancing the plot to creating a more vivid description. Some devices are more commonly used than others, but each has the potential to create a powerful impact on the reader.

 

Some of the most commonly literary and rhetorical devices include alliteration， onomatopoeia， allusion, and personification. These devices are often used to create vivid images in the reader's mind or to make the story more interesting. Other devices include irony, symbolism, and stream of consciousness. Each device can be used to convey a different message or emotion. These devices are often used to create a more poetic or expressive effect in the text. Other devices, such as irony and satire, are used to create a specific effect on an audience. Irony is used to create humour, while satire is used humorously to make a political or social point

The irony is often used in advertising, where the product or service being sold is completely different from the message being sent. For example, an ad for a funeral home that says "We're here for you when you're gone" is using irony to create humour.

 

Satire is often used to make a political or social point. For example, an article that takes a satirical approach to climate change might be titled ‘’How to Stop Worrying and Love the Climate Change‘’

Lets look at some of the many literary devices there are;

1) Rhetorical question:

    These are questions that do not need (expect)an answer. They are meant to sway the emotions of the audience, to persuade or to impress.

For example, Derek Walcott’s poem,

‘parades, parades’

The rhetorical questions in Walcott’s poem communicate bewilderment and hopelessness.

2) Euphemism.

Euphemism is the use of a polite, pleasant, mild and indirect words or phases in place of more direct ones e.g. My father has died or my father kicked the bucket.

 3) Cacophony.

Cacophony is the use of direct words or phrases without an attempt of making it mild and indirect. For example, my father was slaughtered last night. I am going to defecate.

 4) Parody.

Just as she would suggests, parody is imitating one’s style of singing or writing (artistic style of speech and writing). Example: Timothy, Wangusa’s poem ‘Psalms 23 part II’.

 

Original Psalm 23.

The lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever.

 

PSALMS 23 PART II

The state is my shepherd, I shall not want;

It makes me to lie down in a subsidized house.

It leads me into political tranquility;

It restores my faith in a lucrative future.

It leads me into paths of loans and pensions, for its international reputation’s sake.

Yea, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Kivvulu I will fear no Kondos;

For the state is with me, its tanks and guns comfort me.

It preserves for me a bank account, in the presence of devaluation;

It fills my pocket with allowances, my salary over flows.

Surely increments and promotion. Shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in senior staff quarters for ever.

- Timothy Wangusa (Uganda)

5) Paradox; -

A paradox is a self-contradictory statement which may seem absurd, but expresses a felt truth, for example:

a. Eloquent silence

b. A good wedding without food

c. Sweet odor (smell)

d. Ugly beauty.

 

6) Spoonerism.

    Spoonerism is a faulty speech usually accidental whereby there is changing of initial sounds of words, for example, instead of saying oiled bicycles, one says boiled bicycle or coiled bicycle, instead of saying; district one says biscuit.

7) Ambiguity.

Ambiguity is when words, statements or phrases have two or more possible meanings compressed into this one word, statement, or phrase or even a whole poem. All the meanings may be important for example, spacious house (can mean, has a good or disorganized arrangement) it can also mean, the house is very large. 

8) Apostrophe/apostrophize.

This is an exclamatory address to a person or thing that may even be death as though they are present. It is also a direct address to a thing as if it were a person (human begin) For example the poem,

“Death be not proud”

Refer also to the, ‘Obituaries.’ In the news papers….

9. Oxymoron

This is a combination of contradictory or incongruous worlds such as cruel kindness, “…to make haste slowly”, “open …” Jumbo shrine’. They are used for a variety of purposes to create drama for the reader, to make a person stop and think, to reward a paradox.

10.  Metonym.

This is when a thing a concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept e.g. use of capital cities to represent nations, chain to ref. to chairperson. 

11.  Synecdoche

In this, a part of something is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Uganda lost by six wickets (meaning ‘the English Cricket team’ It is used to add to visual imagery of the passage/poem and enhance vendors experience. e.g calling a car “wheels”, skirt walking.

 

 

Figures of Speech

 Figures of speech

(also known as rhetorical devices) are expressions or words that have a special meaning or effect beyond their literal meaning. Figures of speech often add colour, depth, and emphasis to writing. There are many different types of figures of speech, but they can generally be divided into three categories:

 a. Similes and metaphors: These are comparisons between two things, using the words "like" or "as." For example, "My love for you is as strong as a rock."

"Her thoughts in the morning are as tangled at her lain"

"He burst out of the door like an explosion."

A metaphor however compares two unlikely things or ideas without using "like" or "as"

 b. Hyperbole: This is an extreme exaggeration, used for emphasis or to make a point

Figures of speech make writing more interesting and can help to get a message across more clearly. They are often colourful expressions or comparisons that are not meant to be taken literally. Figures of speech can be divided into three categories:

 Similes are comparisons of two unlike things, using the words "like" or "as." For example, "My love is like a red, red rose."

 Metaphors are comparisons of two unlike things, without the use of the words "like" or "as." For example, 

"My love is a rose."

"A shirt walking."

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."

-Bacon.

 NB: Many slang expressions are metaphors.

Metaphors are more effective than similes e.g.

Simile would put it this way; “It’s laugh was shrill and high, like the sound of a cock crowing”

While a metaphor would put it this way.

“He had a shrill, high cock-crow of a laugh.”

c. An analogy is a comparison of two things that are alike in some way. Analogies can be used to help explain things or to make a point. They can be fun to use in writing and speaking, and they can help you to better understand complex concepts.

There are many different types of analogies. Some common ones include:

metaphor and similies.

d. Personification.

Personification is a kind of metaphor and it consists giving human (personal) attributes to inanimate objects (non human things) or abstract ideas.

For example, pregnant clouds, smiling shoes, laughing toes.

“The wind whistled, waited, sobbed, and whispered.”

e.  Deification.

Deification is a sister to personification; it is the giving of spiritual or godly attributes to non godly or spiritual beings. For example, Calling your beloved or referring to them as, ‘My angel.’

f. Hyperbole (figurative contrasts)

Hyperbole is an over statement. This is a deliberate exaggeration not intended to deceive. Some humorists like Mark Twain, for example uses hyperbole freely as a device for making people laugh.

Examples of hyperbole are;-

- His hands dangled a mile out of his sleeves.

- When he told me the joke, I almost died laughing.

- The movie bored me to death.

- His voice could be heard a mile away.

- Sea of porridge

- He was so tall that you could see the whole town through his legs.

 

g. Litotes: (figurative contrasts)

Litotes are under statements (under stating something) for example; The fruit was so small that it remained in my teeth.

 h. Irony; (figurative contrasts) 

In speech or writing, it is saying the opposite of what is meant in a tone or manner that shows what the speaker thinks. In other words, it’s the opposite meaning (contrary).

There are several types irony. That is,

- Situational irony:- This is when an event is contrary to what is expected or appropriate.

- Dramatical irony;- Occurs when the reader or spectator knows more about the true state of affairs then a character does.

- Verbal irony;- This is when what is said or written is the opposite of the intended meaning.

- Non-verbal irony;-

- Socratic irony;- a person pretends to be ignorant. Example of irony;

i) To cry like a baby – that is a fine way for a man to act.

ii) It was very kind of you to remind me of my humiliation.

iii) After Norman had wasted his evening in nonsense his father remarked, “Don’t you think you have studied too hard this evening?”

 

i.  Juxtaposition.

Juxtapositioning is putting two things or ideas side by side for the purpose of comparing.

 

 k.  Contrast:

Constrast is striking difference between objects or ideas. For example, “As communism calls for the collective co-operation of individuals for the greater good of the productive society, capitalism will call for individual independence of persons or firms in productive society. Its therefore a Laissez-fair type of government system.
                                                                                                             Opolot Simon.

h) Imagery;

Imagery is a figure of speech that develops from similes and metaphors appealing to the sense. Its formulation of pictures out of words or sensuous element of poetry. Mental images are formed which include one’s interests, values tastes, temperaments, and visions. It is important to classify these metal images according to the sense they stimulate; look at the following task. Does it help you in identifying the senses you are responsive to? Are they just five as commonly known or more? What are they?

 

Task 

Since “we interact with our environments so effectively and so effortlessly, it is difficult to appreciate the extensive computations that underlie even the simplest sensory experience”. In regard to this, let’s try to appreciate.

Picture yourself cycling along a quiet country road. As you pedal, sensors in your legs enable you to apply just the right pressure to maintain your speed. Your organs of balance keep you upright; your nostrils smell the aromas; your eyes absorb the panorama; your ears are attuned to the chirping of birds. Thirsty you grab your drink bottle, aided by touch receptors in your fingers. Your taste buds and hot and cold sensors reveal the flavor of the liquid and it is temperature. Sensors in your skin and those attached to your body hair tell how strong the breeze is and, in cooperation with your eyes, how fast you are going. Your skin also informs you of the ambient temperature and humidity, while your awareness of time tells you approximately how long you have been on the road.

Eventually, internal senses will compel you to rest and to eat. Yes, life truly is a superb symphony of the senses!

Extracted from Watch Towers publications

 

Where they just fine senses?

During such a bicycle ride, how many senses come into play-just the traditional five - sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch? If not what others have you registered in play interaction in you.

1) .Visual imagery;

This appeal to the sense of sight and yet stimulated by cloudily, brightness, colour and motion.

2) Audile/Auditory imagery;

Audile or Auditory imagery; appeals to the sense of hearing and are stimulated by sound.

3) Olfactory imagery;

Olfactory imagery appeals to the sense of smell.

4) Gustatory imagery;

Gustatory imagery appeals to the sense of taste. That is, sweetness, bitterness and sour.

5) Tactile imagery

Tactile imagery appeals to sense of touch. This has to do with the temperature and texture.

6) Thermol imagery

Thermol imagery specifically deals with temperature that is, how cold or hot.

7) Motile imagery; (appeals kinesthetic sense)

Motile appeals to the sense of movements and are concerned with muscle movement, action and tension.

8) Organic imagery;

Organic imagery appeals to the sense of organs (internal organs) figurative Associations(This is under imagery to)

9) Synecdoche;

Synecdoche is the calling of an object by a part of it, For example. Calling men, beards and women, breasts, or a skirt.

10) Metonym.

a figure of speech in which the name of one object or concept is used for that of another closely associated or suggested by it to which it is related:

Four common relations that give rise to metonym are;

i) Container and thing contained. e.g. please address the chair (chairman)

“A bottle is a metonym for alcoholism”

ii) Sign and thing signified e.g. The pen is mightier than the sword. In this example, the pen metonyms; books, news papers, magazines or in general education, where as the sword metonyms armies or navies.

“The crown” is a metonym for “royalty.”

iii) An Author and his books e.g. We are reading or acting out Richard Bolt. Here, Richard Bolt refers to his works of art e.g. His play; A man for all seasons.

iv) The part for the whole e.g. a) She has seen sixteen summers.

a) All hands to the deck!

The former takes ‘summers’ to refer to years while the latter uses ‘hands’ to refer to men.

k. Symbolism;

Symbolism is a presentation of one thing by another. In other words, it’s a representation of one object/idea by another. Symbolism builds images which have a fixed and universal profound significance and power. However, actual ‘meaning’ will vary in accordance with the context and the understanding of the reader. For instance, others may take a lion for symbols of courage and royalty yet others, for cruelty and terror depending on the context.

 

l.  Time symbol;

i. Morning:

The setting of a poem in morning in literature represents a new beginning. The sun is usually just rising, mild and even comfortable.

The subject matter usually tallies with physical conditions. Activities are usually at a beginning or in usual (normal) stages.

i. Midday afternoon.

As the day grows and the sun’s heat grows ups activity increases. There is an improvement or change of the subject matter. When the sun heat is at a peak, a subject matter also reaches a peak in either negative or positive.

 

ii. Evening/Night or Dusk; With the sun setting, activity could be coming to an end. A change in the opposite direction. If negative initially, by night, would have reached to an end. If position, then the situation gets back to normal. If, however, the subject matter begins at night, by the middle of the night, it is at the peak and, by dawn or morning, there is a definite change.

 

iii. Colour symbols.

a) White: White colour symbolize purity, innocence,

b) Black: Red Symbolize; evil, sorrow, death sadness.

c) Red: symbolize, love; danger, brotherhood.

d) Yellow: This symbolizes hope, jealousy

e) Green: Green symbolize; peace, nativity (childless, immaturity, and joy)

f) Blue: symbolizes romantic love.

g) Pink: Symbolizes love

Purple: This symbolizes royalty.

Poetic Techniques

 There are many poetic techniques or devices that can be used to make writing more effective, interesting, lyrical and powerful or to add emphasis. Some of the most common ones are Language, alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simile.

 Alliteration is the repetition of a letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within a sentence or phrase. For example, “The seething sea ceaseth and thus the seething. Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds. Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sound they represent. A metaphor is a comparison between two things that are not alike.

1. Language.

a. Diction.

    Diction is a choice of individual words  and expressions. That is appropriateness, valid, relevant and deliberate.

i) Denotative: This is the choice of words that maintain their dictionary meaning.

ii) Connotative: This is the choice of words that have derived/extended or hidden meaning. The poem, 'Piano and Drums.' is full of connotative meaning in almost every line of it. The use of connotative language in poem hides the true meaning of a poem and presents to us the surface meaning in plain text. it does not mean the hide meaning is hard to discern, no. This brings a whole new meaning to a poem when you finally discover what its. This new realisation, is a eureka moment for every reader. Below is a table analysis

some of the lines in the poem. I have divided it into signifier and signified.

Signifier

Signified.

Break of day at a riverside (early morning)   Jungle drums telegraphing           Raw like bleeding flesh Primal (first, fundamental) Walking a simple path with no innovation. Wailing piano Solo speaking (performed by one person) Concerto for an orchestra   Diminuendo (gradual decrease in loudness) Counter point (a melody added as accompaniment to given melody and providing decoration or contrast to it) Crescendo (a loud climax) Labyrinth (a maze; the music is different to follow) dagger point lost in the meaning wandering in the mystic rhythm

Culture-(rivers and wind-ring and water is life) Culture has no end and it’s the people’s life. Drum-way of communication - Culture - Common factor (unifier) - African heritage Telegraphing-sending message. Fresh, uncontaminated. Pollute free Something very important to us. Simple ways of life without any needs that call for creativity. Western culture. Capitalistic tendencies Western ways Western(ways/world new to Africans)     Complexities in western culture lead to infinite confusion       Dangerous point in thought or decision to make. Failed to decide which culture is okay for me.

NB: Signifier is the meaning of the word or phrase in the poem and Signified is the implied meaning.