Literary Devices Used in Poems (Essay Sample)

Literary devices in poems and songs
First poem; I hear America singing-by Walt Whitman
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Second poem; Dulce et Decorum Est- by Wilfred Owen
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First song; war- by Edwin Starr
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Second song; War pigs- Black Sabbath
Retrieved from;  HYPERLINK "/b/black+sabbath/war+pigs_20019418.html" /b/black+sabbath/war+pigs_20019418.html
Introduction
The writing of songs and poems is significantly associated with the fusion of literary devices and elements that make it easier for poets or artists to convey information. In the same case, the usage of these literary elements in poems and songs yet again makes it interesting and amusing for readers and listeners respectively. It is important to note that the same elements aid in capturing readers soul and mind through comparison of ideas (Moreillon, 44). Poems and songs in similarity portray certain themes that showcase the happenings in the society; this paper aims at identifying and analyzing figures of speech that depict war in the society.
Body
Elements and figures of speech better refereed to as literary devices range from effects such as; personification, rhyme, imagery, metaphor, assonance, alliteration, rhetoric questions to allusion and so forth (Chin- Chun Sun, 13). Alliteration is one of the literary devices that poets use in poems. From the poem I hear America singing by Walt Whitman the use of alliteration is common. The first stanza Walt says ‘the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench’ (9). The s in the words shoemaker, singing and sits are precise clarity on alliteration. The use of this element is used to make emphasis on points and make ideas on a poem more interesting and memorable (Larson, 352). All these elements categorically achieve desired effects based on the theme that is being portrayed by the poet. Similes are also literary devices that come in handy when it comes to poetic writing. They compare situations to other objects that significantly create an image in the readers mind (Brown, 42). These images form the definite imagination that the poet had in mind. The poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen has used similes to expound the readers mind on war and its implications. The first stanza Wilfred says ‘Bent double, like old beggars under sacks’ (1). This is the use of similes as they use the words like and as, to effectively compare objects. The line according to Wilfred depicts soldiers who are returning from battle and are described as beggars who are old with sacks.
Songs ideally have lyrics in them and this lyrics act as perfect passage of information through a poetic forum that analyses ideas and information. Most teachers use songs that have perfect ordination of poetry to teach and elaborate more on figures of speech as it is what learners familiarize themselves with (Haight, 127). The song war by Edwin Starr uses metaphor to compare the life of mankind to war as an enemy. A metaphor as a literary device is used to identify and relates situations to another in the same poetic meaning (Herman, 307). In the second stanza from the song war by Edwin Starr he says that, ‘Oh war, war is an enemy to all mankind’ (1). This gives out the aspect that war can end the entire human race and this is consequently because of the violence and killing; war. Rhyme is one of the most common poetic devices used in poems and in song lyrics. This device is used mostly to create pleasure and musical pattern as rhyme is noted to be the mirror of life (Drury, 58). The song war pigs by the black Sabbath have the usage of rhyme to relate to the effects of war majoring in destruction. The first stanza in the song war by black Sabbath says’ evil minds that plot destruction/sorcerers of death’s construction’ (3 and 4). The words destruction and construction rhyme with each other and bring in the musical essence in the song creating a pattern of words.
The best poetry and songs in the poetic scenes are those that use varied styles on the aspect of figurative language. Thes...