Which one of the following poems depends heavily on the use of allusion for effect?
A. "Death, Be Not Proud"
B. "God's Grandeur"
C. "Grass"
D. "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"
To determine which poem depends heavily on the use of allusion for effect, we can look at the definition of allusion. Allusion is a literary device that makes reference to a person, place, event, or literary work outside of the text being analyzed. It enriches the meaning and depth of a poem by connecting it to other works or ideas.
To identify allusion in a poem, we should look for references to other texts, historical events, or cultural figures. By considering the options given, we can analyze each poem to identify any instances of allusion:
A. "Death, Be Not Proud": This poem by John Donne is a Petrarchan sonnet that primarily explores the theme of death. Though the poem is powerful and emotional, it does not heavily rely on the use of allusion. It relies more on imagery and metaphors to convey its message.
B. "God's Grandeur": This poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins explores the theme of the power and presence of God in nature. While it may contain some indirect references to religious and biblical ideas, it does not primarily depend on allusion.
C. "Grass": This poem by Carl Sandburg is a powerful and evocative war poem that uses the image of grass to symbolize the memory of the soldiers who have died. It does not heavily rely on allusion.
D. "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night": This poem by Dylan Thomas is a villanelle that passionately urges the reader to fight against death. It incorporates allusions to various figures, such as wise men, good men, wild men, and grave men, to emphasize the universal struggle against mortality.
Based on the analysis, the poem that depends heavily on the use of allusion for effect is "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas (Option D).
Here are some sites that discuss allusion in poetry. After you have read them I am sure you will be able to pick out the poem that contains quite a bit of allusion.
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http://www.textetc.com/traditional/allusion.html
http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/glossary_of_poetic_terms.htm