The Beauty of Figurative Language
First Last Name
20 March 2013
Eng 113
Poem Essay, pg 519
The Beauty of Figurative Language
Nobody wants to read a boring story. Figurative language is used to make
sentences more interesting. William Wordsworth uses figurative language to allow his
words to be more imaginative and vivid. William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770
in the scenic area of Great Brittain. He was a major English Romantic Poet (wikipedia). In
the poem "[I wandered lonely as a cloud]" by William Wordsworth, he takes readers on a
journey reflecting visions of nature. Figurative language is used to clarify the poet 's
response to nature. Wordsworth shares his experience in nature through an emotional
response. "[I wandered lonely as a cloud]" has many poetic devices. Three examples are
similes, personification and hyperboles.
One of the most obvious poetic devices in figurative language are similes. Similes
are one way Wordsworth describes how he wanders alone as part of the landscape. "I
wandered lonely as a cloud" (line 1) is the first distinct simile in the poem. By using the
word "as" the author helps the reader understand how he wanders alone by comparing it
to a cloud. The author goes on to mention how long he wanders by using similes.
"Continuous as the stars that shine" (7) expresses how long he wanders. Wordsworth
uses the word "as" to assist the reader in understanding the steady and continuous length
he travels.
Personification is often used to give a non-human object human traits. Wordsworth
uses personification to describe a cluster of golden daffodils. An evident use of
personification in the poem is "When all at once I saw a crowd" (3). The daffofils are
described as if they are a group of people. The author uses personification to describe
how lively the daffodils move. "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" (6) is an apparent use
of personification. Wordsworth helps the reader
20 March 2013
Eng 113
Poem Essay, pg 519
The Beauty of Figurative Language
Nobody wants to read a boring story. Figurative language is used to make
sentences more interesting. William Wordsworth uses figurative language to allow his
words to be more imaginative and vivid. William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770
in the scenic area of Great Brittain. He was a major English Romantic Poet (wikipedia). In
the poem "[I wandered lonely as a cloud]" by William Wordsworth, he takes readers on a
journey reflecting visions of nature. Figurative language is used to clarify the poet 's
response to nature. Wordsworth shares his experience in nature through an emotional
response. "[I wandered lonely as a cloud]" has many poetic devices. Three examples are
similes, personification and hyperboles.
One of the most obvious poetic devices in figurative language are similes. Similes
are one way Wordsworth describes how he wanders alone as part of the landscape. "I
wandered lonely as a cloud" (line 1) is the first distinct simile in the poem. By using the
word "as" the author helps the reader understand how he wanders alone by comparing it
to a cloud. The author goes on to mention how long he wanders by using similes.
"Continuous as the stars that shine" (7) expresses how long he wanders. Wordsworth
uses the word "as" to assist the reader in understanding the steady and continuous length
he travels.
Personification is often used to give a non-human object human traits. Wordsworth
uses personification to describe a cluster of golden daffodils. An evident use of
personification in the poem is "When all at once I saw a crowd" (3). The daffofils are
described as if they are a group of people. The author uses personification to describe
how lively the daffodils move. "Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" (6) is an apparent use
of personification. Wordsworth helps the reader
Cited: "William Wordsworth" Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 17 March 2013. William Wordsworth. "[I wandered lonely as a cloud]." Approaches to Literature: Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. 2nd Edition. New York: Mc Graw-Hill, 2008. Print.