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The Use Of Figurative Language In Edgar Allen Poe's A Dream

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All established writers and poets understand that literature goes beyond the rhymes and literal meaning; The work’s personal relation with the author has more than a substantial amount of importance as well. The behind the scenes aspect to literature is what allows both the figurative language and story to thrive. This is especially true in the iconic Edgar Allen Poe poem, A Dream Within A Dream, as it is heavily connected to his life and philosophy which further enriches the writing. However, the overwhelming significance of the historical factors in the poem does not diminish the value of the peculiar yet erudite syntax, structure, and unembellished plot. These two factors work in unison to successfully create the unity of effect, evoking emotion in any reader: an art in writing that Poe mastered and reveals through …show more content…

Within A Dream Within A Dream, the literal meaning arguably promotes Poe’s theme of psychological torment and loss of sanity more than the common metaphorical interpretations. In stanza two, Poe stands in anguish over the “Grains of the golden sand” (16) in his hands that he screams, “can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp?” (20-21) making the literal meaning comparably stranger than the more reasonable, non literal metaphors for the sand. The use of syntax in the poem also creates an atmosphere in which the narrator’s speech and tone is felt by the reader. Through continuous italicization and dashes, stress is added upon keywords and phrases to clearly articulate his thoughts. Emphasis is placed onto lines such as “Thus let me avow --” (3) and “All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream” (11-12) due to its syntax and structure, establishing a deeper connection with his audience. By analyzing the poem through a literal lense, the reader is able to fully experience the distress of the

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