Effect of Literary Devices and Elements on Communication, Understanding and Enjoyment of Poems

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Effect of Literary Devices and Elements on Communication, Understanding and Enjoyment of Poems

Poetry is just like any other form of creative writing, which means it uses similar techniques and elements found in other kinds of literature. Some of them include allegory, personification, alliteration, metaphors, rhyme, rhythm and tone amongst others to communicate and change the meaning of the content. One of the most common literary devices found in poems is symbolism, where the writer uses something to represent another. For instance, the poem, Hymn to the Sun talks about the sun. While it can make sense when read literally, it has a deeper meaning. Such symbolism is used to make a poem more enjoyable and effective, as well as more appealing to he reader. Therefore, each of the literary devices and elements used in a poem play a crucial role in communicating its meaning and making it more enjoyable.

Literary devices and elements are very important in making a poem more effective. For instance, in the Hymn to the Sun a lot of imagery is used. Imagery creates mental pictures of a situation to the reader, which bring out their imagination. Without imagery, a reader would not be in a position to relate the event or situation to their experiences. An example is the line that says, “You are majestic, awesome, bedazzling, exalted,” (Montserrat 38). In this line, the word bedazzling means something bright and impressive. This creates a mental picture of the sun when one reads it. Such words not only facilitate in understanding that the sun is considered a supreme being, but also make the poem more enjoyable to read. Other example include, “fashion the years” and “make the zone of night sparkle,” which shows that despite the sun being so powerful, it helps the earth and humans by shedding light and providing warmth that facilitates life hence the praise (Montserrat 51). Without such words, it would not be easy to understand the main purpose of praising the sun. More important, is the ability of such words to evoke the imagination of the reader. When one reads a piece of literature with such elements, it enhances their imagination and helps in creating vivid pictures of the whole situation hence understanding it more. This is quite different from viewing a film where everything is created for the viewer, requiring no imagination.

Other literary devices used in this poem are similes and metaphors. Similes compare something to another using the words ‘like’ and ‘as.’ On the other hand, a metaphor compares one thing to another by saying that something is another thing. These devices add another layer to the poem’s meaning, helping the reader to understand it better by comparing the characteristics of the two things. For instance, in The Leiden Hymn, the line “God is a master craftsman,” compares God to an artisan (Montserrat 40). This means that he is good at creating things into existence. In Hymn to the Sun, the line “Earth lies in darkness like death,” represents a simile that compares darkness to death,” (Montserrat 39). This makes the meaning deeper. One character of death is silence, which compares to darkness when people are not engaging in any activities. In addition to adding another layer of meaning, similes and metaphors allow the reader to have vivid images by comparing things to each other.

Another element of poetry is tone. Tone is about how the writer says something as a way of indicating what he or she feels thinks concerning something, as well as the attitude. This is facilitated by other devices such as metaphors and similes. For instance, in the Love Songs there are sensuous lines such as “Love, how I’d love to slip down to the pond” and “I wish I were her Nubian girl”, highlight how people share their deepest desire for each other (Montserrat 45). The metaphors and similes are used to create vivid images of women’s physical features, which allow the leader to understand why they are praised. In addition, they help in setting an erotic tone for the overall song. Through the tone, one is able to understand the whole poem by highlighting the attitude of the writer to women.

In the Leiden Hymns, words are used evoke vivid images of sun god as the overall Supreme Being, who is the father of all creation and facilitator of life. By praising the sun as the ultimate god, the writer not only portrays the sun as a supreme being, but also other fixed celestial bodies that include moon, stars and the horizon as well. This meaning is not expressly written. Rather, one gets it from how the sun is praised as well as the characters of the other bodies and what they offer the earth and man.

In addition to praising the sun, it allows one to understand the religious views of Egyptians during the time it was written. Although it is interpreted as a piece of literature, the words and elements used indicate that it is a form of worship to the Supreme Being. This further helps in understanding the meaning of the poems. It is not only for enjoyment, but also for giving thanks and praising the source of life. “You are the one God, shining forth from your possible incarnations as Aten, the Living Sun, Reveled like a king in glory, risen in light, now distant, now bending nearby,” (Montserrat 38).

In conclusion, it is evident that literary elements and devices such as similes, metaphors, imagery and tone help in developing the meaning and enjoyment of the poem. Through words of praise, we understand the purpose of the poems. The Hymns to the Sun and The Leiden Hymn are religious pieces while The Love Songs are romantic and express love. In these poems, the techniques and elements of literature have been used to help the reader understand the religiousness of the writer. In addition, through comparison, they have enhanced communication of the message.

Work cited

Montserrat, Dominic. Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt. Washington D.C. D.C: Psychology Press, 2003