Which literary device is shown in this line from the poem “Love after Love”?
"You will love again the stranger who was yourself"
The literary device shown in this line from the poem "Love after Love" is personification.
The line "You will love again the stranger who was yourself" from the poem "Love after Love" exhibits the literary device known as paradox.
To identify the literary device in a line, you can follow these steps:
1. Read the line carefully.
2. Identify any contradictory or seemingly conflicting elements in the line.
3. Consider whether those elements create an unexpected or surprising effect.
4. Determine if the contradiction is intentional and carries deeper meaning.
In this line, the contradictory elements are "stranger" and "yourself." At first, these words may appear to be in opposition to each other. However, upon closer examination, the paradox becomes evident. The line suggests that through self-discovery and self-love, one becomes a stranger to themselves. This realization leads to the possibility of loving oneself again, or in other words, embracing the stranger within. This paradoxical statement promotes the idea of personal growth and transformation.
By analyzing the line and looking for contrasting elements, we are able to identify the literary device being utilized. In this case, the line demonstrates the use of paradox to convey a deeper meaning about self-love and self-discovery.