How Does Steven Herick Use Poetic Techniques In The Simple Gift

Steven Herrick’s verse novel “By the River” is very successful in conveying the significant ideas about human nature. He uses key themes such as grief, environmental influence and coming of age to explore these ideas. To convey the themes Herrick uses multiple techniques such as imagery, repetition, personification and positive and negative influence throughout his text.

Caitlin loves Billy’s character even though he is homeless. Caitlin is fascinated with Billy’s character rather than what he has and his status. Caitlin is engrossed in Billy because he is clean. Billy keeps his clothes clean, himself clean and his carriage clean. In the passage Billy’s cave (p. 62).Caitlin says that his carriage is clean and warm. Caitlin is also attracted to billy’s character because he is not a normal hobo. Billy is smart, clean, polite and calm. In the passage Caitlin and mopping (p. 35).Caitlin says that Billy as ‘so calm’ when he exited McDonalds. This shows that Caitlin enjoys Billy’s company despite Billy not having any

The vivid imagery incorporated throughout “The Gift” is characteristic of Li-Young Lee’s writing style. Li-Young Lee specifically portrays vivid imagery through the use of metaphors. For instance, in the poem, Li-Young Lee states that his father’s voice was “a well of dark water, a prayer.” This metaphor used by Li-Young Lee allows readers to vividly picture the type of man his father was. By comparing his father’s voice to “dark water,” the poet illustrates the gentleness of his father. This is because the sound of water tends to bring peace and comfort to those who listen. Similar to water, the sound of his father’s voice radiated with

• What are the characters’ emotions, attitudes, and behaviors? What do these indicate to the reader about the character?

the plot in the story, the minimalistic style, and theme, the author better develops and conveys

Another technique this poem takes use of is alliteration. The alliteration used helps to express the themes importance through repletion of sound devices. A specific example of alliteration

Sharon Olds utilizes figurative language throughout the poem, Rite of passage including hyperbole, similes, and alliteration. When olds introduces the characters as “short men, men in first grade” it is to hyperbole which highlights the fact that the young boys consider themselves to be very mature. Olds continues the poem by using alliteration when with the phrase “jostling, jockeying” which sounds nice and helps make the poem flow. In order to enhance the reader’s visualization of the story olds employs a simile. See writes that the son has “freckles like specks of nutmeg on his cheeks”. The freckles simile also allows the reader to see that the mom still views her son as an innocent boy. Sharon Olds puts in another simile about how they

When Billy first met Old Bill in the early chapters of the book, it happened to be his birthday which he decided to celebrate with a bottle of beer. Billy describes old Bill as a man is his late forties with long messy hair and a grey beard stained with smoke. Old Bill gives Billy a bitter welcome to the Brendarat Hilton,(the train yard) and says "I've been here since March 2nd 1994. May your stay be as long if you wish." Then Billy shivers as he watches the sunrise. Seeing old Bill for himself makes Billy realise the real effects of homelessness, how a man in his forties can look 20 years older, how he is alone

First, in chapter 2 it says, “I was in bed one night trying to figure out a way I could get some dogs...” This shows the theme because Billy is not giving up on getting his dogs. Also because Billy is thinking about something he can’t go a while without thinking about, just like the quote states.

Herrick shows that a relationship has ‘centred’ Billy. His life has direction, routine and meaning. Billy’s identity at first was seen as a loner, he was isolated and a rebel. His mother was absent and his relationship with his father was intimidating. The lack of connection to family extends to Old Bill, whose daughter and wife died, and to Freya and Danny, who do not have the guidance of responsible adults. Herrick symbolises his disconnection and loneliness in ‘I didn’t go inside for hours./I looked through the back window/watching him/reading the paper/in front of the television/as if nothing happened’. Billy’s sense of belonging allows him to reforms his identity. Herrick shows this by juxtaposing Billy eating like a hobo in the first person narration in ‘And wait for the family of five to leave. / I can see dessert/ waiting for me’ and later eating like a refined mature adult via the descriptive language in ‘with a white tablecloth/and napkins/ and proper cutlery and plates.’ Comparatively, Freya grows up after Danny helps her deal with her miscarriage. This highlights that a person’s identity is defined by their connection to others. Both composers show an understanding of each other, allow them to nourish one another.

insight into his life and personality that he is not aware of giving. While the poet

The novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, is an everlasting story that shows the importance of individuality. This novel is about a young boy named Jonas who was elected as the Receiver of Memories, a person who is given the memories from the world that existed before their current society, Sameness. In this society there is no individualism. People can not choose who to marry, or what they want to do for a living. Over time Jonas becomes more and more wise, and realizes that the supposedly perfect community actually has some very dark and negative aspects. The author, Lois Lowry is a 76-year-old writer who focuses her writing on helping struggling teenagers become individuals. Lowry had a very tragic childhood. After both of her parents were

The reflection of each poet's childhood is displayed within these lines helping to build a tone for the memories of each narrator.

Along with “Introduction to Poetry,” in “The Lanyard,” the speaker recalls making a lanyard at camp for mother, and illustrates the powerful memories and connections ordinary objects can bring. By repeating “and I gave her a lanyard” (20), “and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard” (26), “And here is your lanyard” (29), or “and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp” (34), Collins emphasizes the humor and irony it rouses simultaneously: although his mother “gave [him] life and milk from her breasts,” all the narrator could give was “a boxy/ red and white lanyard” (19, 17-18). Collins creates a comical effect as the speaker continuously derides his gift; thus comparing the greatness of the mother’s nurture and the meagerness of what he could return. However, Collins narrates an irony that “this useless, worthless thing [he] wove/ out of boredom would be enough to make [them] even” (41-42). Though the two-tone plastic strips speaker braided are trivial, the action of giving touches his mother’s heart, and showed the genuine love towards each other. Collins’ usage of irony is also described in “Forgetfulness”: “It has floated away down a dark mythological river/ whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall” (14-15). Yet the speaker only recalls the letter “L” from the entire name due to his “forgetfulness,” it is, however, possible to discover the rest of the

Langston Hughes also uses characterization in this poem. The poem is a narrative on a specific character. Hughes describes in detail the background and interests. As soon as he leaves the classroom he starts thinking about his assignment and what he is going to write. This speaks to the characters drive and strive for his education. His race is also his struggle that allowed him to move to the north. Hughes shares what he loves to do, what he is passionate about, his knowledge, and his choice of music. His identity is clear and never questioned. Hughes knows who he is and what he is capable of accomplishing.