Poetic Devices – CBSE – Class 12 –English Core – NCERT – Definition of Poetic Devices, My Mother at Sixty Six, An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum, Keeping Quiet, A Thing of Beauty. A Roadside Stand, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Class 12 – English Core
Poetic Devices – By Shahrukh Mehta (Vice Principal, VGS Baben)
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
The poem "My Mother at Sixty-Six" by Kamala Das is a poignant and evocative poem that explores themes
of aging and the changing relationship between a daughter and her mother. The poem employs various
poetic devices to convey its emotions and themes. Here are some of the poetic devices used in the poem,
along with their meanings:
1. Imagery: Imagery is the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader.
In this poem, the poet uses imagery to paint a clear picture of the scene, describing the mother's face, the
airport, and the journey.
2. Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as." For example, in
the line "Her face loses its glow/Two small pimples sit on her nose," the comparison of the pimples to small
dots is a simile.
3. Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly equates two unrelated things. In the line "her
vigour her voice," the mother's vitality is compared metaphorically to her voice.
4. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity.
For instance, in the line "She looks out at the rain," the repetition of the "r" sound in "rain" and "looks" is an
example of alliteration.
5. Enjambment: Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry flows into the next without a pause or punctuation.
It's used to create a sense of continuity and movement in the poem. For example, "When she was young,"
continues onto the next line without a pause, creating a sense of ongoing reflection.
6. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In the poem, the journey to
the airport symbolizes the passage of time and the daughter's emotional journey as she watches her mother
age.
7. Repetition: Repetition is the use of a word, phrase, or line for emphasis. In this poem, the phrase "My
mother at sixty-six" is repeated throughout, emphasizing the central theme of the poem.
8. Personification: Personification is when human qualities are attributed to non-human entities. In the
poem, the rain is personified as "a driving rain," which suggests a sense of urgency and restlessness.
9. Irony: Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to their literal meaning or situation.
In the poem, there is a subtle irony in the fact that the daughter is worried about her mother's health while
her mother remains cheerful and unconcerned.
10. Oxymoron: An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposite words for effect.
In the poem, the phrase "half-awake" is an example of an oxymoron, as it combines two contrasting states of
consciousness.
These poetic devices contribute to the overall impact of the poem, helping to convey the complex emotions
and themes explored by the poet.
, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM
"An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" is a poem written by Stephen Spender. It's important to note
that the interpretation of poetic devices can vary, but I can provide you with some common poetic devices
found in the poem along with their meanings:
1. Imagery: The poem uses vivid and evocative language to create mental pictures that appeal to the senses,
helping readers visualize the scene and emotions described.
2. Metaphor: Metaphors are comparisons that do not use "like" or "as." In the poem, the classroom is
metaphorically described as a "dark, shambled" place, suggesting the dismal conditions in which these
children are educated.
3. Simile: Similes are comparisons using "like" or "as." An example from the poem is "The children who come
early are glad," comparing the children's happiness to something else using "like."
4. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a line or
sentence. For instance, "Shiver" and "Shrug" in the line "Shiver in wretched ignorance, and pray— / Imitating
flies on a ceiling to break" create a rhythmic and musical effect.
5. Enjambment: This is the continuation of a sentence or phrase beyond the end of a line or stanza. It creates
a sense of movement and continuity, emphasizing the flow of thoughts and ideas in the poem.
6. Symbolism: The poem employs symbols to represent deeper meanings. For example, the "slum"
symbolizes poverty and social inequality, while the "children" represent innocence and the hope for a better
future.
7. Personification: Personification attributes human characteristics to non-human entities. In the line
"Murmur of maternal lamentation," maternal lamentation is personified, giving it human qualities.
8. Irony: Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to their literal meaning. The poem
contains a sense of irony as it juxtaposes the dire circumstances of the slum with the children's natural
curiosity and desire to learn.
9. Metonymy: Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely
related word or phrase. In the line "A lump of a little crippled bird," the "lump" represents the child's
unfortunate condition.
10. Allusion: Allusion is a reference to a well-known person, event, or piece of literature. The poem doesn't
directly reference any specific allusions, but it does allude to the broader issue of social inequality and the
challenges faced by disadvantaged children.
These are some of the poetic devices and literary techniques that you can find in "An Elementary School
Classroom in a Slum." Analyzing these devices can help you gain a deeper understanding of the poem's
themes and emotions.
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