Poetic Elements in Three Spiritual Poems Biblical

¶ … Poetic Elements in Three Spiritual Poems

Biblical poetry (50): Both Sample Poem 1 and 2 could be considered examples of biblical poetry, as both Thomas and Hopkins explore themes relating to divinity, spirituality and faith. Hopkins' poem "God's Grandeur" in particular demonstrates the tenets of biblical poetry.

Figurative language (161): Each of the sample poems contains numerous examples of figurative language, as this is a cornerstone of poetic expression. In Sample Poem 1, for example, Thomas writes that "my youth is bent by the same wintry fever," even though youth cannot be bent and winter cannot be feverish.

Figure of speech (161):

Implied author (208):

Implied reader (208):

Rhetorical figure (391):

Structural Elements

Rhyme (392): Out of the three sample poems provided, the use of rhyme is most evident in Sample Poem 2, as Hopkins writes "It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;/It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil/Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?/Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;/And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;/And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil/Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod."

Rhythm (392): Each of the three sample poems demonstrates a particular sense of rhythm, as this is an essential structural element in the formation of all poetry. In Sample Poem 2, for example, Hopkins stresses two syllables consecutively in the fourth line of the poem, "Why do men then now not reck his rod?," which serves to heighten the urgency of the question being posed to the reader.

Repetition (387): In the fifth line of the first stanza of Sample Poem 2, Hopkins writes "Generations have trod, have trod, have trod." This repetition of the phrase "have trod" is a structural element designed to emphasize the depth or scope of the poet's rhetorical focus -- in this case, the age old struggle of humanity aspiring but failing to reach its godly origins.

Refrain (383): A example of refrain -- in which a word, phrase or line is repeated at intervals -- can be found in Sample Poem 1, when Thomas asks "how" about something previously mentioned in the second, third, fourth and fifth stanzas.

Anaphora (16): This term describes the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of two or more lines of poetry, and this structural element can be found in Sample Poem 1, when Dylan Thomas begins the fourth line of every stanza with the phrase "And I am dumb to…" Thomas also employs anaphora in the opening line of his first two stanzas, beginning with "The force that…"

Chiasmus (69): No examples of chiasmus -- or the inverse repetition of words or lines -- could be identified in any of the sample poems.

Inclusio (209): In Sample Poem 1 an instance of inclusio can be found when Thomas frames the beginning of his poem with images of growth, vitality and youthful vigor, before framing the end with images of death and decay.

Acrostic (2): None of the three sample poems use the structural element of acrostic.

Alliteration (12): An example of alliteration can be found in the last line of the second stanza of Sample Poem 1, when Thomas writes "How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks." Three of the last five words in this line begin with the letter 's.' The last line of Sample Poem 2 also contains alliteration, as Hopkins writes "World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings," using five words beginning with the letter 'w' in a single line.

Assonance (33): This structural element can be found multiple times in Sample Poem 3 when Hopkins uses the same vowel sound multiple times in a line or stanza. An example of assonance in Sample Poem 3 is the line "And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;" as the "ear" vowel sound is repeated three times in succession.

Rhetorical Elements