Show how poets have used poetic devices to deliver the message in the society
With reference from two poems show how poets have used poetic devices to deliver the message in the society. Provide three points from each poem.
Poetic devices are tools that a poet uses to create rhythm, to enhance a poem’s meaning or intensifying a mood and feeling. The poet uses different devices so as to deliver the message and make their works beautiful. This can be verified using the two poems “THE DYING CHILD” by Freeman Lwanda and “DEVELOPMENT” by Kundi Faraja.
Starting with THE DYING CHILD the poet has used the devices to deliver the message as the following:
The use of paradox, this is poetic device in which a poet uses two conflicting words in the same verse. In the poem the poet says:
“Ten years old
But he looks older than ten And younger than young”
These words older than ten, younger than young are conflicting each other and they have been used to describe the boy’s condition and show a lack of balance diet. This helps to deliver the message that eating balance diet is so important for the boy’s health.
The use of parallelism, this is the poetic device in which two or more verses have identical words structure and meaning. In the poem the poet says:
Swollen stomach Full of waste Thin legs
Thin arms
These words have been used to show the issue of malnutrition. Due to poverty the boy lack proper nutrition and suffer malnutrition. The society get the message that poverty should be alleviate for the development of the nation.
The use of symbolism, this is the use of words or thing to represent another thing. The poet has used the symbol of an empty plate to represent poverty and deliver the message that people should fight to alleviate the problem of poverty. The poet says:
“As the boy Fight with flies
Over the empty plate”
Coming to the poem DEVELOPMENT the poet has used the following poetic devices to deliver the message;
The use of simile, is the comparison of two dissimilar things using the words of comparison. In the poem the poet has used this to deliver the message to the readers. The poet says:
“Their response to egoism,
Is faster than camera film to light But as slow as tropism
To national building”
The poet has used this poetic device to deliver the message that the country cannot develop with selfish leaders. So people should fight to remove those selfish leaders.
The use of parallelism, is the poetic device in which two or more verses have identical words structure and meaning. In the poem the poet says:
“Health centres More schools Clean water
Better transport facilities Better living conditions”
Through this device the poet has shown the issue of poor social services and society get the message that social services should be improved for the development of the society.
The use of hyperbole/exaggeration, is the figure of speech that intend to exaggerate to emphasis the message in the society. The poet has used this device to show selfishness and deliver the message that people should fight alleviate the problem of selfishness.
“I plead the stomach Of the privileged few
Greater than the Rift-valley They cannot be satisfied With a normal share”
Generally, the poets are more creative and imaginative by employing various poetic devices to make their works look beautiful, however at the same time intend to deliver the message in the society concerned.
