The poem “Moonlight on Manila Bay” by Fernando Maramag uses english Romantic diction. It is kind of hard to understand because it very much like sonnets of Shakespeare. It is very well written. He made it very expressive and creative through his diction. He uses adjecttive such as “light serene.. lambent light”, cresting wave.. wavy crest”. The use of these words made painted a very good picture for the readers and helps us picture what he is trying to say.
The main technique that maramag uses in the poem is a metaphor. I think that whole poem is a metaphor. The poem was written in 1912, this was the time during the American colonization. He is very nationalistic and he uses the bay as metaphor for the Philippines. It is about our country and its struggles. In the first line “ Light serene, ethereal glory” it is a metaphor for the beauty of our country. The light represents the fighting spirit of the Filipino people.
‘The din of fight Has swelled the murmur of the Peaceful air; Here east and west have oft displayed their might.”I think this verse is a metaphor for the struggles, sacrifices and suffering of the Filipinos. From the war between the Islam and Christianity, the fight between America and the Philippines. I think the east symbolizes the Philippines and the west symbolizes the Americans. “Dark battle clouds have dimmed this scene so fair;” this symbolizes the victory of America on manila bay. The happiness and the fighting spirit of the Filipinos was “dimmed’ because of the defeat.” The deep's bare bosom that the breeze molests” is a metaphor for American colonization.
The writer tried to tell the story and ordeals of the Filipino people through his poem. It is short but he effectively and dramatically painted a picture of what happened during the colonization. He uses the moonlight as a metaphor for the Philippines (metaphor for the bay) being conquered but by using this he also senses hope because after the moonlight the sun will shine.
The summer solsctice
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