Describe all the poetic devices in the poem 'Keeping quiet'

Dear student
 
Here are the poetic devices used with examples,
 
1. Repetition - Repeating words or phrases.
 
"Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still."
 
"without rush, without engines,"
 
"wars with gas, wars with fire,"
 
 
2. Alliteration - Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
 
"Now we will count to twelve - w, w
and we will all keep still." - w, w
 
wars with gas, wars with fire," - w, w
 
"we would all be together - w, w
in a sudden strangeness." - s,s
 
"would look at his hurt hands." - h, h, h
 
"would put on clean clothes" - c, c
 
"If we were not so single-minded" - w, w
 
 
3. Personification - An inanimate object, or animal, endowed with human qualities.
 
"Perhaps the Earth can teach us" - Here teaching is a human quality, and the earth being inanimate is personified as the teacher.
 
 
4. Antithesis - Bringing together, two opposing or contrasting ideas
 
"Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still."
 
"victory with no survivors"
 
"as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive."
 
 
Regards  

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Language: the usage of the term ‘language’ is an instance of metonymy, in which a symbol or sign is used for the thing signified. Language here stands in for culture/race.
Arms: ‘Arms’ is an instance of pun. In puns, duplicity of sense is created because of the unity of sound. Arm here stands for a body part as well as weaponry.

Sudden Strangeness: Instance of alliteration. The same syllable is repeated at the beginning of successive words.

His hurt hands: This is an instance of alliteration.

Wars with fire, Wars with gas: This is an instance of Palilogia. In Palilogia, there is a repetition of same words in a line or sentence – ‘Wars with’ occurs twice.

The Earth can teach us: This is an instance of personification. Earth is given the human attribute of teaching.

Extended Metaphor: An extended metaphor can be found in the lines – “Perhaps the earth can teach us/as when everything seems dead/and later proves to be alive”. Here the stillness which Neruda advocates is being compared to the stillness of winter. Just like winter leads to rejuvenation, even the quietness recommended by Neruda leads to re-growth.

Symbolism: Symbolism is abundant in Keeping Quiet. Fisherman and whale stands for the oppressor and oppressed respectively. Salt gatherer is symbolic of humanity whereas ‘clean clothes’ symbolize peace.

hop u got it!!
 

 
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