How is a literary device used to develop the tone in the stanza below?
Excerpt from Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “The Fish”
his brown skin hung in strips
like ancient wallpaper,
and its pattern of darker brown
was like wallpaper:
shapes like full-blown roses
stained and lost through age.
A fearful tone is developed through the use of symbolism
A happy tone is developed through the use of imagery
A mysterious tone is developed through the use of onomatopoeia
A tone of wonder and awe is developed through the use of imagery
ugh...this is wrong..tsk
and simile, comparing the fish's skin to "ancient wallpaper" and "full-blown roses stained and lost through age." This creates a tone of wonder and awe at the beauty of the fish and its long life, despite its physical imperfections.
In the given stanza from Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish," the literary device used to develop the tone is imagery. Imagery is a technique in literature where vivid and descriptive language is used to create mental images and evoke the senses in the reader's mind. By using detailed descriptions, the poet paints a visual picture that helps in establishing the tone of the stanza.
In this particular stanza, a tone of wonder and awe is developed through the use of imagery. The poet describes the fish's appearance, such as its "brown skin hung in strips" and its pattern resembling "ancient wallpaper." By comparing the fish's skin to "ancient wallpaper," the reader can visualize the fish's weathered and worn appearance, suggesting its age and experience. The imagery is further enhanced by the comparison of the fish's pattern to "shapes like full-blown roses," which are then "stained and lost through age."
These vivid descriptions through imagery create a sense of fascination and amazement, instilling a tone of wonder and awe. The reader is invited to contemplate the beauty and significance of the fish's physical features, evoking a sense of marvel and curiosity. Therefore, the use of imagery effectively contributes to the development of a tone of wonder and awe in this stanza.