What are some of the poetic devices used in this poem by Gladys Cardiff?
-diction
-end-stopped
-lyric
-symbol
-syntax
Bending, I bow my head
And lay my hand upon
Her hair, combing, and think
How women do this for
Each other. My daughter's hair
Curls against the comb,
Wet and fragrant--orange
Parings. Her face downcast,
Is quiet for one so young.
I take her place. Beneath
My mother's hands I feel
The braids drawn up tight
As a piano wire and singing,
Vinegar-rinsed. Sitting
Before the oven I hear
The orange coils tick
The early hour before school.
She combed her grandmother Mathilda's hair using A comb made out of bone.
Mathilda rocked her oak-wood
Chair, her face downcast,
Intent on tearing rags
In strips to braid a cotton Rug from bits of orange
And brown. A simple act,
Preparing hair. Something
Women do for each other,
Plaiting the generations.
I see lots of imagery, metaphors, and similes in there.
Diction simply refers to word choice; if you think the word choice is unusual or particularly effective, then this one is there.
Look up other terms here:
http://www.answers.com or http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
Let us know what you discover.
Ah, poetry, the magical land where language gets to have some fun! Let's put on our lyrical hats and explore the poetic devices in this Gladys Cardiff poem, shall we?
First up, we have diction, which is just a fancy way of saying the author's word choice. Cardiff treats us to some lovely and descriptive words like "fragrant," "coils," and "braids." It's like a vocabulary buffet!
Next, we encounter end-stopped lines. These lines bring little pauses and rhythm to the poem, like when you take a moment to appreciate a good punchline before moving on. Think of the lines that end with a period, creating a natural break.
Now let's talk about the lyric. No, not the kind of lyric that gets stuck in your head for days, but the poetic form characterized by emotions and personal perspective. This poem is full of personal reflections and emotions, like the speaker combing her daughter and thinking about the generations of women who have done the same.
Ah, symbols, those sneaky little things that make a poem feel like a clever puzzle. In this poem, we have the symbol of hair as a metaphor for the connection between women from different generations. It's like a poetic hair-itage!
Lastly, syntax joins the poetic party! It's not just about arranging words in a boring old order; it's about playing with the structure to create rhythm and meaning. Cardiff uses syntax in the poem to enhance the flow and musicality of the words.
So there you have it, a delightful mix of poetic devices in Gladys Cardiff's poem. Now go forth and embrace the beauty of diction, end-stopped lines, lyricism, symbols, and syntax with your newfound poetic wisdom!
Some of the poetic devices used in this poem by Gladys Cardiff include:
1. Diction: The choice of words used in the poem, such as "bending," "fragrant," "orange parings," "downcast," "intense," and "plaiting," contributes to the overall imagery and tone of the poem.
2. End-stopped: End-stopped lines occur when there is punctuation (such as periods or commas) at the end of a line, causing a pause. For example, "Bending, I bow my head / And lay my hand upon" and "Mathilda rocked her oak-wood / Chair, her face downcast."
3. Lyric: The poem has a personal and emotional quality, expressing the speaker's reflections and feelings. The use of first-person pronouns like "I" and "my" and the focus on personal experiences contribute to the lyricism of the poem.
4. Symbol: The symbol of hair and its care is used in the poem to represent the connection and continuity between generations of women. It signifies a tradition passed down from the speaker's daughter, to the speaker herself, and further back to the speaker's grandmother.
5. Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases in the poem creates a rhythmic and flowing effect. For example, the repetition in "Each other. My daughter's hair / Curls against the comb" and "Beneath / My mother's hands I feel / The braids drawn up tight" enhances the musicality of the poem.
In this poem by Gladys Cardiff, the following poetic devices are used:
1. Diction: Diction refers to the choice of words used in a poem. In this poem, the poet uses simple and descriptive language to convey emotions and imagery. For example, phrases like "Wet and fragrant--orange parings" and "Vinegar-rinsed" create vivid sensory experiences.
2. End-stopped: End-stopped lines are lines of poetry in which the punctuation marks create a pause or stop at the end. In this poem, many lines end with punctuation marks, such as periods and commas, creating a noticeable pause and emphasizing each line's individual meaning.
3. Lyric: The term "lyric" refers to a type of poetry that expresses personal emotions or thoughts. This poem by Gladys Cardiff is a lyric poem as it portrays the personal experience and emotions of the speaker as they reflect on the act of combing hair across generations.
4. Symbol: Symbolism involves the use of objects, actions, or events to represent deeper meanings. In this poem, the act of combing hair serves as a symbol for the connection between generations of women. It represents the passing down of traditions, knowledge, and care from one generation to the next.
5. Syntax: Syntax refers to the arrangement or order of words in a sentence. In this poem, the poet uses syntax creatively to give a rhythmic flow to the words. For example, phrases like "Bending, I bow my head" and "Curls against the comb" have a deliberate arrangement of words that adds musicality and rhythm to the poem.
To identify poetic devices in a poem, you can examine the language, punctuation, imagery, patterns, and structure of the poem. Look for repeated sounds, noticeable pauses, symbolic objects or actions, descriptive language, and the overall emotional tone of the poem. I hope this helps you analyze the poetic devices used in this poem by Gladys Cardiff!