Solitary Reaper Poetic Devices

1. Rhetorical Question: Rhetorical question is a sentence that is posed

to make the point clear. For example, “Will no one tell me what she
sings?”, “That has been, and may be again?” and “Familiar matter of
to-day?”
2. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same
line such as the sound of /i/ in “Behold her, single in the field” and
the sound of /o/ and /a/ in “Yon solitary Highland Lass!”
3. Imagery: Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things
involving their five senses. For example, “Reaping and singing by
herself”, “I saw her singing at her work” and “More welcome notes to
weary bands.”
4. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and
qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from literal
meanings. “Cuckoo” and “nightingale” are the symbols of sweet
melodies whereas the song of the lady symbolizes her intense pain
and distress.
5. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the
same line such as the sound /r/ in “Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain”
and the sound of /m/ in “Or is it some more humble lay”.
6. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come
to an end at a line break; instead, it continues to the next line. For
example,

“Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.”

7. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the

same line in quick succession such as the sound of /p/ in “Perhaps the
plaintive numbers flow” and the sound of /n/ in “No Nightingale did
ever chaunt”.
8. Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate any statement
for the sake of emphasis. For example, the below verses exaggerates
the impact of her song,

“O listen! for the Vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The Solitary

Reaper”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry.
Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
1. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows the ABABCCDD rhyme
scheme and this pattern continues till the end.
2. End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. For
example, “profound/sound”, “still/hill”, “lay/day” and “grain/strain.”
3. Iambic Tetrameter: It is a type of meter having four iambs per line.
The poem follows iambic tetrameter such
as; “Stop here, or gently pass!”