Question

Mention the poetic device used in the poem 'prayer before birth '

Answer 1

Answer:

The following poetic devices have been used in the poem:

Metaphor

1. tall walls wall me

2. the man who is beast

3. who thinks he is God

4. those who would freeze my humanity

5. would dragoon me into a lethal automaton

6. would make me a cog in a machine

7. held in the hands would spill me

8. make me a stone

9. let them not spill me

Simile

1. would blow me like thistledown hither and thither  

2. or hither and thither like water

Alliteration

1. With water to dandle me,  

2. grass to grow for me,  

3. trees to talk to me,  

4. sky to sing to me

Personification

1.Mountains frown at me,  

2. the white waves call me to folly  

3.and the desert calls me to doom

Answer 2

Answer:

Prayer before birth is a poem written by Louis MacNeice.

Explanation:

This poem was written during the days of world war II. It elaborates about a baby born in the evils of this world and cries for protection. The poet then asks God for help against all the evils of this world.

Poetic devices are metaphors, similies etc used repeatedly in any poem to add depth. Following are the poetic devices used in this poem:

Personification

• Mountains frown at me  
• The white waves call me to folly  
• The desert calls me to doom

Metaphor

• Tall walls wall me
• The man who is beast
• Who thinks he is God
• Those who would freeze my humanity
• Would dragoon me into a lethal automaton
• Would make me a cog in a machine
• Held in the hands would spill me
• Make me a stone
• Let them not spill me

Simile

• Would blow me like thistledown hither and thither  
• Or hither and thither like water

Alliteration

• With water to dandle me  
• Grass to grow for me  
• Trees to talk to me  
• Sky to sing to me