Analysis Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry 1

I'm Nobody! Who are you? By Emily Dickinson (1861)

I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there's a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd banish us – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell your name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

Analysis: 

1. I'm Nobody

 Metaphor:

• The term “Nobody” is used as a metaphor for someone who is not part of the public sphere, not seeking recognition or fame. It’s a figurative way to describe anonymity or the choice to remain unnoticed. So, 'Nobody' is a word which the subject "I" is compared without any comparation words. 

2. How public – like a Frog –

Simile:

• The comparison of a "Somebody" or "I" to a “Frog” is a simile, using the word “like” to highlight the negative qualities of being famous. 

3. To tell your name – the livelong June –

Hyperbole:

• The phrase “the livelong June” is a hyperbole, exaggerating the length and monotony of the experience. It implies that fame feels like an endless cycle—repetitive and unchanging, much like a frog’s croaking in the bog.

4. To an admiring Bog!

Personification:

• The “Bog” is personified in the phrase “admiring Bog”, giving it human-like qualities. The bog is a stagnant body of water, and by describing it as "admiring,"

Poetry 2:

Dream By Langston Hughes (1922)

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Analysis: 

1. Metaphor

• "Life is a barren field / Frozen with snow."
  • Hughes uses a metaphor to compare life without dreams to a barren field, one that is lifeless, empty, and unproductive. The image of a frozen field suggests that, without dreams, life becomes cold, stagnant, and devoid of growth or vitality. Snow symbolizes harshness and inactivity, emphasizing the negative effects of living without hope or ambition.

2. Personification

• "Hold fast to dreams"
  • The phrase "Hold fast" gives dreams a human-like quality, as if dreams can be something tangible or physical that can be held on to, much like a cherished possession. This personification emphasizes the importance of dreams in life, as they are something to protect and nurture.

3. Imagery

• "Frozen with snow"
  • This phrase creates a visual image of a field covered in snow, giving a sense of coldness and desolation. The snow's frozen quality conveys the lifelessness of a world without dreams, where everything is immobilized or stuck.

4. Alliteration

• "Hold fast to dreams"
  • The repetition of the "d" sound in "Hold fast to dreams" creates a rhythmic flow, emphasizing the strong emotional pull behind holding on to one's dreams. This technique helps drive the point home that dreams are something to be valued and held onto tightly.

Analyzed by:  Bella Anastasia Damanik

Class: 4SA05

NPM: 10621381