Analysis of Figurative Language in a Poem
The poem that was chosen for the purpose of analyzing the figurative language contained therein is William Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” . This poem is selected because it is replete with elements of figurative language such as simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and symbolism.
The type of figurative language in the form of a simile is evident through the use of words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’. For instance, in the first line, Wadsworth compared the narrator, who was speaking in the first person, with a cloud. It was evident that the narrator was described to be lonely. As such, like a cloud which is high up in the sky and seems to be isolated from the world, the description of loneliness was evident through using the figurative language.
Likewise, in the second stanza, the object of this poetry, the daffodils, were apparently compared to the stars through the use of a metaphor. As learned, a metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things which are basically different. From Wadsworth’s statement that:
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay” .
Personification, as a figurative language, was effectively used when Wadsworth compared the daffodils to people who could exhibit “fluttering and dancing in the breeze” (Wordsworth line 6); “tossing their heads in sprightly dance” . In addition, these daffodils were also compared to the waves which, apparently manifested human-like qualities: “waves beside them danced” ; and also “out-did the sparkling waves in glee” as if the waves and the daffodils could express happiness and outdancing themselves.
There was also the presence of hyperbole through the poet’s indication that “Ten thousand saw I at a glance” when he was referring to seeing these daffodils and was therefore exagerrated since he could not possible have counted that exact number at one glance.
Finally, symbolism was also present in the poem through the daffodils, which allegedly represented images of a crowd or people who could dance, express glee, and even unknowlingly provide happiness to the lonely poet in his moments of isolation and reflective stance. This message was clearly indicated in the last stanza when it was stated that:
“when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude” .
Overall, the poem written by Wadsworth is a perfect example of a literary work filled
with figurative language. These were intended to enhance the meaning of the message relayed by
the poet, and to enhance emotional appeal to the readers. Likewise, they contributed to making the tone of the poem less formal and providing a more vivid and lively discourse that captured the interest of audiences from diverse demographic, cultural, and educational backgrounds. As such, it is one of the most admired poems that spanned the tests of time.
Work Cited
Wordsworth, William. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." 2013. The Literature Network. http://www.online-literature.com/donne/514/. 8 May 2013.
