Literary techniques - A bird came down the Walk" by Emily

Dickinson

Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory imagery, describing the bird's

actions in detail, such as biting the angle worm, eating it raw, drinking
dew, and hopping to the wall. These vivid descriptions create a clear
and visual picture of the bird's movements and interactions with its
environment.

Personification: The speaker personifies the bird by attributing human-

like qualities and emotions to it. For example, the bird's eyes are
described as "frightened beads," and the bird is said to "row" and
"unroll his feathers." This personification helps readers relate to the
bird and understand its behavior from a human perspective.

Simile: The poem contains similes to make comparisons between the

bird's actions and other elements. For example, the bird's movement is
"like one in danger," and its motion is "like butterflies off banks of
noon." Similes enhance the reader's understanding of the bird's
behavior by likening it to familiar experiences or phenomena.

Metaphor: The comparison of the bird's head to "stirred velvet" is a

metaphor that creates a sensory and tactile image, emphasizing the
softness of the bird's feathers.
Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. In this poem, alliteration can be found in phrases
like "rowed him softer home," "Butterflies, off Banks of Noon," and
"leap, plashless as they swim." Alliteration adds a musical quality to the
poem and reinforces the rhythm.

Enjambment: The poem uses enjambment, where lines continue

without a pause into the next line, creating a sense of continuity and
fluidity. This technique mirrors the bird's natural and uninterrupted
movements.

Symbolism: While not as overt as other techniques, the poem uses

symbolism to represent the bird as a symbol of nature and the
interconnectedness of all living creatures. The bird's actions and
interactions with its environment reflect the delicate balance of the
natural world.

Contrast: The poem employs contrast between the bird's small,

seemingly insignificant actions and the grand natural elements it is
compared to, such as oars dividing the ocean and butterflies off banks
of noon. This contrast emphasizes the beauty and significance of even
the smallest moments in nature.
Irony: The poem contains an element of irony in the contrast between
the bird's natural behavior and the speaker's human gestures of
offering a crumb. The bird's response to the offered crumb is
unexpected, and this irony adds depth to the poem.