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Sound Devices Discovered in "The Raven"

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Sound Devices Discovered in "The Raven"
I have chosen ‘The Raven’ written by Edgar Allen Poe because this poem manifests quite a selection of figurative language. Through his writing style and illustration of words, I have observed many examples of sound devices. Such as,

* Alliteration – When you repeat the first letter or group of sounds in a specific part of the sentence so basically, so basically tongue twisters.

* Onomatopoeia – Using a word that has the same action as the word * Personification – Giving an inanimate object the traits of a human. * Hyperbole – A statement that is true but an exaggeration. * Idioms – Words that are not understood when joined together.

Edgar A. Poe has supplied a varietal selection of figurative language, refreshing the use of the devices within my mind, thus being aware and able to locate them even more frequently throughout the poem. “Not the least obeisance made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he; / But, with mien of lord or lady, Perched above my chamber door— / Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more” (39-41).
The antagonist describes the raven, the protagonist, with human traits which is classified under sound devices as personification throughout the poem. The man said the raven came into his home and manner ably sat above his chamber door. The importance of this figurative language is because throughout the poem he is constantly going back and forth from himself to the bird. “Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore” (90).” It’s unusual for a bird besides a parrot to speak, thus very uncommon to hear a raven speak over and over even if it’s the same word. Also showing the individual’s state of mind is at throughout the story.

Personification has a big part in this poem because the majority of the time, the raven is described with an action or trait of a man. The importance of this sound device is that it adds to the imagery while every description of the raven assists to

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