Following literary devices have been used in the poem The Ball Poem:

Personification: Personification is a finger of speech which shows attribution of a personal nature or

Metaphor: It is a literary device in which a word or phrase is symbolically applied to a thing to which
it is not literally applicable. In the poem, poet says, “balls will be lost always“. Balls here symbolise
possessions which we lose. It also refers to the childhood which if lost never comes back.

Apostrophe: It is a literary device in which a person is addressed who is either dead or physically not
present. In the poem, the poet says, “balls will be lost aways, little boy“. The boy is physically not
present with the poet.

Repetition: It is a literary device in which a word or phrase is repeated two or more times. In the
poem the poet repeats the word “what” two lines. “what, what is he to do?”.

Alliteration: It is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely
connected words. e.g. “who has lost his ball”, “what, what is he to do?”, “no one buys a ball back”,
“the deep and dark floor of harbour”, “move my mind and my heart move with all that move me”.

Enjambment: It is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet,
or stanza. e.g. “I saw it go merrily, down the street”

Symbolism: It is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In the poem, ball and balls
represent childhood, possessions and even the father of poet.

Read summary of this poem.

Figures Of Speech Exercise

OCTOBER 12, 2019 - pdf

Identify the figure of speech used in the following sentences.

1. Let him be rich and weary.

Paradox

Oxymoron

Hyperbole

2. So innocent arch, so cunningly simple.

Antithesis

Oxymoron

metaphor
3. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

Hyperbole

Oxymoron

Antithesis

4. All the world is a stage.

Metaphor

Paradox

5. The mountains sing together, the hills rejoice and clap hands.

Antithesis

Personification

Metaphor

6. Many are called, but few are chosen.

Antithesis

Euphemism

Personification

7. Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever.

Oxymoron

Personification

Antithesis

8. The child is the father of man.

Epigram

Oxymoron

Simile

9. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Irony

Epigram

Alliteration

10. I desired my dust to be mingled with yours.

Hyperbole

Epigram

Antithesis
11. An ambassador is an honest man who lies abroad for the good of his country.

Euphemism

Pun

Hyperbole

12. The soldier fights for glory and a shilling a day!

Climax

Anticlimax

Pun

Answers

1. Let him be rich and weary. (Paradox)

2. So innocent arch, so cunningly simple. (Oxymoron)

3. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. (Hyperbole)

4. All the world is a stage. (Metaphor)

5. The mountains sing together, the hills rejoice and clap hands. (Personification)

6. Many are called, but few are chosen. (Antithesis)

7. Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever. (Antithesis)

8. The child is the father of man. (Epigram)

9. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. (Epigram)

10. I desired my dust to be mingled with yours. (Hyperbole)

11. An ambassador is an honest man who lies abroad for the good of his country. (Pun)
12. The soldier fights for glory and a shilling a day! (Anticlimax)

Literary Devices to bring uniqueness and depth in the simple texts. They also allow multiple
interpretations of the texts. Robert Frost has also used some literary devices in this poem. The
analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem is given below.

Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the long sound of
/o/ in “I hold with those who favor fire”.

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound
of /f/ in “I hold with those who favor fire”.

Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example,
“Some say the world will end in fire” and “To say that for destruction ice, is also great”.

Symbolism: Symbolism is a use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic
meanings different from their literal meanings. “Fire” is the symbol of desires and “Ice” symbolizes
hatred. Similarly, “green” and “gold” are the symbol of beauty and happiness.

Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. For
example,

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.”

Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. In this poem, “Fire”
and “Ice” are capable of destruction. Therefore, the poet personifies fire and ice by giving them a
mind which is capable of destroying almost anything.

Enjambment: It is defined as a thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break;
rather, it moves over the next line. For example,

“From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Fire and Ice”

Poetic Devices refer to those techniques a poet uses to bring uniqueness in his text. The analysis of
some of the poetic devices used in this poem is given below.

Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. It is a short poem having one stanza in it.
Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme followed by the entire poem is ABA ABC BCB.

Iambic Tetrameter: It is a type of meter having four iambs per line. The poem follows the iambic
tetrameter such as, “Some say the world will end in fire”.