simile repetition alliteration personification
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
The wind whistles through the willow trees,
And the birds sing sweetly in the sky.
Repetition: The wind whistles through the willow trees
Alliteration: Till its blood is red on the cruel bars
Personification: And the birds sing sweetly in the sky
The given sentence contains several literary devices: simile, repetition, alliteration, and personification. Let's break them down one by one:
1. Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." In this sentence, the phrase "flows like a stream of glass" is a simile. It compares the smooth and gentle movement of the river to that of a stream made of glass, emphasizing the tranquility and beauty of the river.
2. Repetition: Repetition is a technique where words, phrases, or ideas are repeated for emphasis or to create a certain rhythm or pattern. In this sentence, the repetition occurs with the use of the word "and" at the beginning of each clause. This repetition creates a flowing rhythm and adds to the poetic quality of the sentence.
3. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. In this sentence, there is no specific alliteration present.
4. Personification: Personification is a literary device where human characteristics are attributed to non-human entities or inanimate objects. In this sentence, the phrase "its blood is red" is personification. The river is personified as having blood, which adds a dramatic and vivid element to the description.
To identify these literary devices, it is important to analyze the sentence, identify any comparisons, repetitions, repeated sounds, and any human characteristics given to non-human objects or entities.
1. Simile: "And the river flows like a stream of glass" - This is a simile because it is comparing the way the river flows to the smoothness and transparency of glass.
2. Repetition: There is no repetition in the given line.
3. Alliteration: There is no alliteration in the given line.
4. Personification: "Till its blood is red on the cruel bars" - This is personification because it is giving the river the human-like attribute of having blood and feeling pain. In this line, the river is personified as if it is being imprisoned and experiencing suffering.