Read the stanza below from the poem “Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall and answer the question that follows.
She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,
And bathed rose petal sweet,
And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,
And white shoes on her feet.
Which literary technique does the stanza demonstrate?
metaphor
personification
sensory imagery
simile
Answers
Answer :
The given stanza from the poem 'Ballad of Birmingham' by Dudley Randall demonstrates the literary technique of sensory imagery.
Cambridge English Dictionary defines 'imagery' as 'the use of pictures or words to create images, esp. to create an impression or mood.'
The poet uses descriptive imagery in his description of the daughter getting ready for church. Her innocence has been described in this stanza by the use of the word 'white in 'white gloves' and 'white shoes' as the color white stands for purity and innocence. The reference to flowers in 'rose petal sweet' describes her loveliness.
Moreover, metaphor has been used in the line 'She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair.'
Cambridge English Dictionary defines 'metaphor' as 'an expression that describes a person or object by referring to something that is considered to possess similar characteristics.'
The reference to night in the line describes the darkness of her hair.